Dear Anu; This happened a long time ago. But i still need to get it off my chest. Over 15 years ago i used to chat with a boy Mr. Y on social media/ messenger. Both of us were in early twenties. We used to talk till late nights on messenger and i thought it was more of a one sided thing and i thought i was the only one who was emotionally involved. Until his brother once approached me saying that Mr. Y will never tell me about his real feelings for me since he is incredibly shy and introverted. And whether i wanted to take this forward . Anyway his Dad didnt really approve and Mr. Y didnt know about this either. We continued to chat on messenger and also met a few times but only with friends. We had also exchanged numbers and would send forwarded messages to each other; nothing personal. Over the next year the messenger conversations fizzled out and we would only exchange forwarded messages. He never did ask me out even once. However i heard from common friends that he was saying stuff like i am inundating him with mesages; and how he was really not into me. But he never asked me to stop sending forwarded messages either. One day he messaged me saying that he will be going out of country and then he didnot message me or stay in contact with me for almost a year. I changed my location to another city after a year( work) and did mesage him just updating about my new number. He then got in touch with me; visited me once all by himself( apparently he had some work in this city) and asked me out . I asked him why now and he replied that he had asked a close friend of his; and the friend had adviced him to ask me out. We spent some time together and next day he told me not to tell his other friends that we had met. By this time i was quite fed up and the year that he did a dissapearing act I was seeing someone who was confidant and wasnt afraid of showing his affection for me. So eventually i told Mr. Y that i am seeing someone and then we barely met after this. A year later; on his social media account i saw his conversations with another where he told about his love for a girl and how it did not progress since he never declared his feelings for her. Anyway what i need to know 1) why did he ghost me? 2) If he did love me as his brother proclaimed; why did he boast to his friends that he I was chasing him? 3) is this person narcissist? 4) Did i totally misjudge the situation? Somehow after all these years; I still fell i was misled or wronged and at times i feel that i dodged a bullet! I want someone i.e. You to give me a fresh perspective. We are not in touch now. Sometimes things trouble you later in life and this incident probably is one of those. Would appreciate if you could shed some light. Anju

Ans: No you need not pass FMGE exam. As long as you are graduate in the relevant field you can pursue MBA.

Ans: Do some online courses that are job oriented and simultaneously look for job in that area. Another option would be to do some full time courses like Executive MBA or other job oriented courses that could help you get a job.

Ans: Yes can. There are people who have started new career at later age - like starting successful business. If you are interested in any field start it as a hobby by doing some courses online. Once you feel that you are interested in it can work part time in it before getting into it full time.

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
It seems to me that you are doing a lot to get her attention and love, but you can try a few more things. You can set up a date with her and take her out for a romantic dinner or a movie. You can go for a drive with her; all of these are to spend some quality time together. If things don't get better even then, I suggest you speak to her openly about this. You are still just engaged and not married. You have the time to rectify this; in case she is not in love with you, this relationship can be reconsidered.

While I understand that falling in love just because you are engaged doesn't happen for all, there should be some level of interest and feelings. It is great that you are trying to put in more effort, but you should also communicate your concerns to her so that there's clarity.

Best Wishes.

Ans: You are 29 years old, with a stable monthly salary of Rs 22,000 and low monthly expenses of Rs 6,000–8,000. Your father’s pension covers household needs, giving you flexibility for investments. Current savings of Rs 5,000 per month (Rs 2,000 in mutual funds and Rs 3,000 in a recurring deposit) is a good start.

Priorities and Recommendations
1. Health Insurance
Health insurance is crucial to safeguard against medical emergencies.

Coverage for Self: Opt for an individual health insurance policy with a sum insured of Rs 5–10 lakh. Look for plans offering cashless treatment, comprehensive coverage, and no claim bonus.

Coverage for Family: If you wish to extend coverage for your parents, consider a family floater plan with Rs 10–15 lakh coverage. However, check premiums and benefits before including senior members.

2. Life Insurance
Term Insurance: A term plan is the most cost-effective option. Choose coverage of Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore to secure your family financially. Premiums for a non-smoker male at your age are low (approximately Rs 5,000–7,000 annually for Rs 1 crore coverage).

Avoid investment-linked insurance policies such as ULIPs or endowment plans, as they offer low returns and inadequate insurance coverage.

3. Building an Emergency Fund
Save at least 6–9 months of expenses in a highly liquid instrument like a savings account, short-term fixed deposit, or liquid mutual fund.
Given your expenses of Rs 6,000–8,000, aim for Rs 50,000–70,000 as an emergency fund.
4. Investment Strategy for Growth
You have significant surplus income after meeting expenses. Allocate it to high-growth investment instruments:

Increase Mutual Fund SIPs:

Increase SIPs to Rs 5,000–6,000 monthly.
Diversify across flexi-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds for long-term growth. Suggested categories include:
Flexi-Cap Fund: For diversification.
Mid-Cap Fund: For higher returns over a long horizon.
Small-Cap Fund: Allocate a smaller percentage (10–15%) for aggressive growth.
Recurring Deposit (RD):

RD is low-yield and taxed. Consider redirecting RD savings into mutual funds or a Public Provident Fund (PPF) for better long-term returns and tax benefits.
Public Provident Fund (PPF):

Invest in PPF for a secure, tax-free return (current rate: 7.1%). It’s an excellent long-term savings tool, especially for retirement.
5. Tax Planning
Leverage Section 80C: Maximise Rs 1.5 lakh yearly investment in tax-saving instruments like PPF, ELSS mutual funds, or 5-year tax-saving fixed deposits.

Opt for a health insurance policy to claim benefits under Section 80D (up to Rs 25,000 for self and Rs 50,000 for senior parents).

Suggested Allocation of Rs 10,000 Monthly Surplus
Mutual Funds: Rs 5,000
PPF: Rs 2,500
Emergency Fund: Rs 2,000 (till the fund reaches Rs 50,000–70,000, then redirect to other investments)
Health Insurance Premium: Rs 500–1,000
Final Insights
Prioritise health and term insurance immediately.
Focus on mutual funds and PPF for long-term wealth creation.
Avoid low-ROI options like recurring deposits once current tenure ends.
By maintaining discipline and increasing investment amounts annually, you can achieve financial independence while ensuring your family is protected.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
I am not sure how you can approach this relationship. I am sure your wife or her husband will have issues if they come to know of it. I am unsure of any religious rules but from a general perspective, all I can suggest is that you should open up to your wife about this relationship and maybe seek help from a marriage counselor to see what is going wrong in your marriage that you are seeking the same emotions outside of it.

Best Wishes.

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
If you have really decided that you will only marry him, then you should continue trying to convince your parents. Both of you are consenting adults and I am sure you both love each other since you have been together for so many years. Highlight these and any other positive points in your partner to your parents; let them know he is a nice person and he has been committed to you for so long.

I am not sure whether you two broke up for a while or just weren't sure about marriage, but either way, it looks like there was a break in the relationship. So this time around, if you want to rethink the relationship, there is no harm. And if you are not sure what you want, you should take some time to think about it. Don't rush.

Moreover, consider your parent's point of view. Why are they not convinced? Are they seeing something in your partner that you are overlooking because of love? You can ask them for the reason directly and evaluate how reasonable they are.
Hope these suggestions help

Best Wishes.

Ans: Please don't worry. 1) If you want to talk about the mistakes you made, please email the NTA Query Redressal System (QRS) or call the number given. You can just type "NTA Query Redressal System (QRS)" into Google to get the email address and phone number. The email addresses and phone numbers can be found by clicking on the first hit. When you send the email, make sure the subject line has your name and the application number that is on your 10th certificate. Keep your email as proof that you told NTA ahead of time about the mistakes you made on the application form.

2) The NTA will also open the CORRECTION window for two days in the first or second week of December 2025. Sign in to your account on the NTA site and check it often. You are empowered to fix the mistake you made.

2) Some applicants have different names (prefixes and suffixes) on their Birth Certificate, School Certificate, and Aadhar. This will make it very hard for them to fill out the application form and also when they go to the college to finish the admissions process.

3) This is my general advice to everyone who wants to take the JEE (Main) or any other entrance exam: Please check that your name is the same on all three documents: your birth certificate, your Aadhar card, and your 10th grade certificate. It's easy to change your name in Aadhar (based on your 10th grade certificate) because the process only takes one month. Please make sure that none of your names are the same (except for Passport), because the department that issues passports has its own rules about how names should be written. But please make sure that your name is exactly the same on the JEE application, the 10th grade certificate, and your Aadhar card.

I hope this answer clears up your question. Just Focus on your Preparation. All the BEST for your JEE-Main 2025.

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Ans: Your portfolio demonstrates diversification across flexi-cap, mid-cap, multi-cap, and small-cap categories, which is a good starting point for long-term growth. However, there are areas for improvement to enhance risk management and alignment with your retirement goals:

Observations
Overexposure to Small-Cap Funds:

30% of your SIPs are allocated to small-cap funds (Rs 15,000 out of Rs 50,000).
Small-cap funds are volatile and risky, especially for someone closer to retirement. Reducing this exposure is advisable.
Balanced Allocation Missing:

There’s no allocation to hybrid or large-cap funds, which offer stability.
For a retirement-focused portfolio, balancing risk and stability is essential.
Fund Overlap Risk:

Nippon India Multi Cap Fund and Nippon India Small Cap Fund could have overlapping holdings, which might reduce overall diversification.
Good Use of Regular Plans:

Regular plans ensure you receive ongoing guidance from your Mutual Fund Distributor (MFD) or Certified Financial Planner (CFP). This is beneficial for monitoring and rebalancing.
Suggested Asset Allocation
Given your retirement horizon and age (45 years), a balanced approach between equity and debt is prudent. Consider the following allocation:

Equity Funds (70%): Growth-oriented funds, primarily large-cap, flexi-cap, and mid-cap funds, with reduced small-cap exposure.
Debt Funds (30%): Stability-focused funds, such as short-duration or dynamic bond funds, to reduce portfolio volatility.
Suggested Portfolio Changes
Reduce Small-Cap Exposure:

Maintain one small-cap fund, such as Nippon India Small Cap Fund (Rs 10,000 SIP). Exit Quant Small Cap Fund to reduce overlap and risk.
Introduce a Large-Cap Fund:

Add Rs 5,000 to a large-cap fund like SBI Bluechip Fund or ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund for stability.
Add a Hybrid Fund for Stability:

Use the additional Rs 10,000 to invest in a hybrid fund like HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund or ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Fund. These funds offer a mix of equity and debt for lower volatility.
Monitor Multi-Cap Fund Performance:

Keep an eye on Nippon India Multi Cap Fund. If underperformance persists, consider switching to a better-performing multi-cap fund, such as Kotak Multi Cap Fund.

Recommended SIP Allocation (Post Changes)
Flexi-Cap Fund: Continue investing Rs 5,000 in Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund for diversified growth across market caps.

Mid-Cap Fund: Maintain Rs 10,000 SIP in Motilal Oswal Mid Cap Fund to capture mid-cap growth potential.

Multi-Cap Fund: Retain Rs 5,000 in Nippon India Multi Cap Fund but monitor its performance. Consider switching if it underperforms consistently.

Small-Cap Fund: Keep Rs 10,000 SIP in Nippon India Small Cap Fund and exit Quant Small Cap Fund to reduce overlap and risk.

Large-Cap Fund: Add Rs 5,000 in a stable large-cap fund such as SBI Bluechip Fund or ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund for consistent returns with lower volatility.

Hybrid Fund: Allocate Rs 10,000 to a balanced advantage fund such as HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund or ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Fund for a mix of equity and debt stability.

General Suggestions
Review Portfolio Annually:
Regularly assess fund performance and rebalance to ensure alignment with your retirement goals.

Shift to Debt Gradually:
Start increasing debt exposure around age 50 to reduce portfolio volatility closer to retirement.

Emergency Fund and Insurance:
Maintain an emergency fund covering 6–12 months of expenses and ensure adequate health and term insurance coverage.

Professional Advice:
Continue investing through a reliable MFD or CFP to adapt your portfolio as per changing market conditions and personal goals.

Final Insights
Your portfolio is promising but needs adjustments to balance growth and risk. Reducing small-cap exposure and introducing large-cap and hybrid funds will add stability and align your investments with your retirement vision.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment