Hi Anu; I had an altercation with a friend which was followed by him apologising about the same. The next day he stopped all communications completely. However when we met a month later he was absolutely sweet as if nothing had happened. At the same time he didn't keep much contact at all. He is very nice and courteous on watsapp and at other times when ee meet in person looks through me as if I dont exists at all. On phone whenever we have spoken with each other; he is absolutely charming. It is obvious that he doesnt want to be in touch. Let me add that there is no romance involved. Why do people behave the way they do? Hot one moment and cold the next? Its obvious he cannot stand me; but I wish he would stop playing games and be his normal self at all times. Keeping watsapp conversations charming but not interacting face to face is pretty confusing for me since I am straightforward person. Can you give your opinion regarding the same? Frankly speaking I feel he is a drama king and thrives on it. And honestly I dont really want to keep in touch but sometimes we do meet because of common friends. Just thought of asking you about this. Do some people always like to play mind games? Take care!

Ans: VJTI holds NIRF ranking #101-150 in Engineering category, while COEP maintains superior rankings among government institutions . SPIT ranks #4 in Mumbai for BTech programs, demonstrating strong industry recognition . VIT Chennai, despite being a private institution, maintains NAAC A++ accreditation and established industry partnerships .

Recommendation: Accept VIT Chennai CSE Category 2 as your primary choice (however, check the REFUND policy to ensure you do not incur heavy financial losses if you withdraw the seat)) given your son's 99.176 percentile falls short of VJTI (99.83), COEP (99.96), and SPIT (99.64) cutoffs, while DJ Sanghvi (99.40) remains marginally possible but uncertain. VIT Chennai offers comparable placement opportunities with 90%+ industry acceptance, extensive recruiter participation, and established CSE program quality, making it a superior guaranteed option over uncertain Maharashtra admissions. Simultaneously participate in all MHT CET counseling rounds targeting DJ Sanghvi as the most viable Maharashtra alternative, leveraging your domicile certificate for home state quota benefits. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: HI Meena,
TO PREDICT, KINDLY SHARE THE RANK DETAILS.

Ans: HI KRISH,
Possibilities are at less competitive GMC, and it depends on the state. So, kindly participate in the counseling process.

Ans: HI,
TO PREDICT, KINDLY SHARE THE RANK DETAILS.

YOGA FOR ONE EARTH, ONE HEALTH.

Ans: HI Suwalal,
YES.

Ans: HI SIR,
DON'T DO MULTITASKING WHILE PREPARING FOR COMPETITIVE EXAM.
Pursuing an undergraduate degree (BIOTECH) while preparing for the NEET exam can be a bit risky, as you may not have enough time to practice.
Really is she wants then, Instead of biotech, she can opt for Chemistry or Physics as your major (BSc.,), and choose Physics or Chemistry as her ancillary subject. Pursuing UG chemistry or physics has advantages over the other courses. She can clear her doubts with the help of lecturers while preparing for the NEET. She will gain more confidence while preparing for the NEET exam.
Without any assistance, she can prepare BIOLOGY at home.
Ultimately, the decision is yours.

DO PARTICIPATE IN THE YOGA CAMPAIGN.

YOGA FOR ONE EARTH, ONE HEALTH.

Ans: HI VANSH,
DON'T DO MULTITASKING WHILE PREPARING FOR COMPETITIVE EXAM.
Pursuing an undergraduate degree (BCA - WASTE OF TIME) while preparing for the NEET exam can be a bit risky, as you may not have enough time to practice.

Instead, you can opt for Chemistry or Physics as your major (BSc.,), and choose Physics or Chemistry as your ancillary subject.
Ultimately, the decision is yours.

DO PARTICIPATE IN THE YOGA CAMPAIGN.

YOGA FOR ONE EARTH, ONE HEALTH.

Ans: HI SATYA SAI AGRO,
FOR EWS AND ESIC IP RANK - BIT DIFFICULT
FOR EWS CATEGORY - DEPEND UPON THE STATE.
PARTICIPATE IN THE COUNSELLING.

DO PARTICIPATE IN THE YOGA CAMPAIGN.

YOGA FOR ONE EARTH, ONE HEALTH.

Ans: You are 35 and debt-free. That is a very good start.
You want to invest Rs. 30,000 monthly for 10–15 years.
That long duration gives you good power of compounding.

You have also asked about index funds vs active funds.
Let’s address that too.
We will build a full 360-degree plan for you.

Your Time Horizon is Long-Term
You are planning for 10–15 years.
This is ideal for wealth creation.
It also reduces market risk over time.

You can stay invested through multiple market cycles.
This means you can take equity exposure confidently.

A disciplined SIP of Rs. 30,000 monthly is powerful.
It can build a large corpus in 15 years.

But the portfolio must be well-structured.

Why Index Funds are Not Recommended
You said you saw many articles about index funds.
Some say they are best.
Some say they don’t beat the benchmark.

Here is the reality about index funds:

Index funds just copy a market index.

They have no active strategy.

They cannot exit poor stocks.

They do not protect capital in falling markets.

They give average performance only.

If market falls 30%, index also falls 30%.
You cannot expect smart management here.

They only work when markets go one direction – up.
But over 15 years, there will be ups and downs.
In those times, index funds do nothing.

They don’t suit goals like child education, retirement, or financial independence.

Benefits of Actively Managed Mutual Funds
You should choose actively managed funds.

These funds have full-time expert fund managers.
They adjust the portfolio based on market trends.
They avoid weak sectors.
They add strong companies early.

Benefits include:

Better downside protection

Flexible stock selection

Better return consistency

Human intelligence behind the portfolio

For long-term goals, active funds are better.
Not just for returns, but for peace of mind.

Problems with Direct Mutual Funds
If you are using direct mutual fund plans, please stop and rethink.
Many investors believe they are saving cost.
But they lose more due to lack of guidance.

Problems with direct investing:

You get no fund selection help

No yearly portfolio review

No rebalancing suggestions

No emotional support in market crash

You may over-diversify or under-diversify

A wrong asset mix is worse than paying small commission.

Invest through regular plans with a Certified Financial Planner – MFD.
You get:

Personalised investment map

Goal-linked investing

Proper risk alignment

Exit and entry strategy

Long-term hand-holding

This is more useful than saving 0.5% in expense ratio.

Suggested Diversified SIP Portfolio – Rs. 30,000 Per Month
Split your SIP across 3 to 4 high-quality fund categories.
Here is a suggested structure:

Flexi Cap Fund – Rs. 10,000

Multicap Fund – Rs. 8,000

Mid Cap Fund – Rs. 6,000

Small Cap Fund – Rs. 3,000

Balanced Advantage or Dynamic Asset Fund – Rs. 3,000

Why this works:

Flexi cap provides flexibility across market caps

Multicap gives broader diversification

Mid cap and small cap provide higher long-term growth

Balanced advantage reduces volatility

Keep the number of funds to 4 or 5 maximum.
Too many funds will not give extra returns.
They will only cause confusion.

Always Tag SIPs to Life Goals
Don’t just invest for returns.
Invest for a purpose.

Define your goals like:

Retirement fund

Child’s education

Marriage corpus

Wealth freedom

Assign SIPs to these goals.
This gives motivation to stay invested.

Also, this helps in portfolio review every year.

Rebalance Your Portfolio Every Year
After starting SIPs, don’t forget them.
Review your funds every 12 months.

Look for:

Fund performance vs peers

Consistency of returns

Changes in your life goals

Market valuation risk

Make changes if needed.
Use your MFD with CFP certification for review.
Don’t change based on news or social media.

Do Not Add Real Estate or Gold Now
You are starting with Rs. 30,000 SIP.
Focus only on mutual funds now.

Avoid real estate.
It locks your money.
It gives poor rental yield.
It has low liquidity.

Avoid gold also.
It does not generate income.
It performs well only during crisis.

Stick to mutual funds for growth.
They are transparent, liquid and well-regulated.

Don’t Forget Emergency Fund and Insurance
Before you start investing, check protection side.

Keep Rs. 3 to 6 lakhs in FD or liquid fund

This is your emergency cushion

Also ensure:

You have Rs. 50 lakh or more term insurance

You have Rs. 10–25 lakh health insurance

Without protection, your investments are at risk.
One emergency can derail your plans.

Taxation Awareness for Long-Term Investing
You are investing in equity mutual funds.

Please note the new capital gains tax rules:

Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) above Rs. 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%

Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG) taxed at 20%

Don’t redeem funds often.
Let compounding continue.
Exit only for your actual goal or rebalancing.

Increase SIP as Income Grows
You will earn more in the next 15 years.
So increase your SIP by 10–15% every year.

Even small yearly hikes can boost your final corpus.

This is called SIP top-up strategy.
Very useful for long-term wealth building.

Keep These Habits Always
Be patient with SIP

Don’t stop during market fall

Avoid new NFOs or sector funds

Do not switch funds often

Don’t compare with friend’s portfolio

Stick with your own goals

Focus on your own journey.
You will reach your destination.

Final Insights
You are starting at the right age.
You have enough time to build wealth.

Avoid index funds.
Use actively managed mutual funds.
Avoid direct plans.
Invest through a CFP-qualified MFD.

Start with Rs. 30,000 SIP monthly.
Review once a year.
Increase SIP every year.
Tag every SIP to a goal.

Stay disciplined.
Stay committed.
And you will achieve financial freedom.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment