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Help! My 17-Year-Old Son Is Obsessed With BeerBiceps's Show

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1622 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Feb 14, 2025

Anu Krishna is a mind coach and relationship expert.
The co-founder of Unfear Changemakers LLP, she has received her neuro linguistic programming training from National Federation of NeuroLinguistic Programming, USA, and her energy work specialisation from the Institute for Inner Studies, Manila.
She is an executive member of the Indian Association of Adolescent Health.... more
Asked by Anonymous - Feb 13, 2025Hindi
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Relationship

My son is a huge fan of Ranveer Allahbadia also known as Beer Biceps. Although he came across as one of those dumb so called influencers, some of his content on religion and politics have also been interesting. I recently came to know that my son has watched this show called India's got Latent and now he is clearly defending the guy and the entire team. My son is 17, uses a shared smartphone and accesses internet on WiFi. I don't know if he even understands what he is watching and how it can shape opinions. His father wants me to keep a watch on his internet usage, which I am not too sure of. In a few months, he will be 18. How do you think I can talk to him and help him understand that social media to be taken with a pinch of salt?

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
Social media influencers can be more responsible in what they share BUT well, whatever makes their channels famous, that is what it is!
It is almost impossible to keep teens away from this sort of content. It's everywhere...how many leaking pipes are you going to clean up? The best way is to work the other way around; work on giving your children a strong value system at home that is non-negotiable and unshakeable. Somehow after all the distractions, they end up coming back to what the family strongly holds onto. It can be unnerving seeing them go all over, but stay strong and somehow trust that what you have put out there for them as a safety net of values somehow shines in bringing them right back on track. So, trust yourself first!

All the best!
Anu Krishna
Mind Coach|NLP Trainer|Author
Drop in: www.unfear.io
Reach me: Facebook: anukrish07/ AND LinkedIn: anukrishna-joyofserving/

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Asked by Anonymous - Nov 06, 2023Hindi
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sir , i am 46 yrs with 16yrs of marriage and leading a normal life. I have 2 sons . My elder son is 15yrs (DOB 19/3/08). He is preparing for JEE mains and due to this he attends some additional digital classes apart from college.My problem is recently my son was caught watching porn videos . And when we doubt or tell him to avoid by telling the pros and cons of it ,he gets aggressive. At the ending of his 10th std, he was caught for the first time, but he said it just opened (porn link) by mistake.He was one of the topper in his school for 10th.He is good at academics. He does not have a personal mobile. Now in 11th std,only for online classes he has access to net. But this time i think he has got addicted.How to handle this addiction? And since last 1/2 month he is eating less, sleeping well. I know this is a natural feeling at this age , but he is watching perverted porn sites involving porn games.Please advise.
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
As much as this seems normal for his age, a bit of experimentation can also lead to addiction. When this has begun to affect focus and concentration, it requires a bit of Intervention.
Kindly approach an Adolescent Counsellor/Psychologist in your city who can assess the situation and do something beyond talk and advising.
What will work is a combination of talk and certain exercises that will cause a break in this habit and instil a better form of channeling outwards and inward.
So, do not hesitate to take that help and guidance. You will thank yourself for it.

All the best!

..Read more

Kanchan

Kanchan Rai  |607 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Feb 21, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Feb 13, 2025Hindi
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Relationship
My son is a huge fan of podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia. Initially, he came across as one of those dumb so called influencers, but some of his content on religion and politics have also been interesting. I recently came to know that my son has watched this controversial show called India's got Latent and now he is clearly defending the guy and the entire team. My son is 17, uses a shared smartphone and accesses internet on WiFi. I don't know if he even understands what he is watching and how it can shape opinions. His father wants me to keep a watch on his internet usage, which I am not too sure of. In a few months, he will be 18. How do you think I can talk to him and help him understand that social media to be taken with a pinch of salt?
Ans: At 17, he’s at an age where he’s forming his own opinions, and if you try to restrict or overly monitor him, he may just push back harder. The best approach is to have an open, respectful conversation with him rather than making it seem like you’re trying to police him.

Start by acknowledging his interests instead of dismissing them outright. You could ask him what he likes about Ranveer Allahbadia or India’s Got Latent—not in a confrontational way, but out of genuine curiosity. If he feels heard, he’s more likely to listen to your perspective as well.

Once he opens up, steer the conversation toward critical thinking. Talk to him about how media, especially social media, has biases. Encourage him to question what he watches, look at different perspectives, and fact-check before forming strong opinions. Instead of outright saying something is wrong or misleading, help him analyze things logically. You could even watch an episode with him and then discuss what parts made sense and what seemed exaggerated or one-sided.

Since he’s about to turn 18, it’s important to equip him with the ability to think for himself rather than simply filtering his content now. If he sees that you trust him to make informed decisions, he will be more open to discussions with you in the future. Instead of monitoring his internet usage, focus on fostering a mindset where he self-monitors what he consumes.

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8936 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 18, 2025

Money
Hi Sir, I am 45 years old. Salaried 1.6 Lakhs per month. I have two kids -Son is 15 years old and daughter is 11 years old. I would like to retire at the age of 55 and allocate 1 crores for children education and marriage. I have own house and would like to have 3 crores as retirement corpus at the age of 55. My current investments are - 40L in mutual fund , 9 Lakhs in stocks and 15 Lakhs in PF. Monthly contributing 15K in PF and having SIP of 60K per month in mutual funds. Pls advise whether the current investments are sufficient to acheive my goal. Thanks.
Ans: At 45, your commitment towards early retirement, children’s future, and disciplined saving is deeply appreciated.

Let’s evaluate your goals, current resources, and what changes you may need. This answer will help you take corrective steps and prepare a practical, structured plan.

Understanding Your Financial Vision
You wish to:

Retire at 55 with Rs 3 crores retirement corpus

Allocate Rs 1 crore for children's education and marriage

You are already:

Saving Rs 60K monthly in mutual funds (SIPs)

Contributing Rs 15K monthly into PF

Have Rs 64 lakhs accumulated already (MF + PF + Stocks)

Living in a self-owned house (no rent expenses in retirement)

These are solid and encouraging building blocks. However, the key question is — are these numbers enough?

Retirement Corpus Requirement Evaluation
Let’s begin with retirement.

You are targeting Rs 3 crores at 55

This needs to support at least 25-30 years of retired life

Your monthly income today is Rs 1.6 lakhs

Retirement expenses (without kids' education or EMIs) may be around Rs 70K to Rs 90K/month

Inflation will make these numbers higher by the time you retire

So, Rs 3 crores is a reasonable and safe retirement goal.

But let’s now assess if you are on track.

Reviewing Existing Investments and Monthly Contributions
You already have:

Rs 40 lakhs in mutual funds

Rs 15 lakhs in PF

Rs 9 lakhs in stocks

You are also:

Contributing Rs 60K/month into mutual funds

Contributing Rs 15K/month into PF

That’s Rs 75K/month of disciplined investing. Very strong effort.

Still, we must assess future growth of each instrument, taking inflation and realistic return assumptions.

Suitability of Investment Mix
Mutual Funds – Rs 40L corpus, Rs 60K SIP monthly

You’re doing well with equity mutual fund SIPs

Make sure these are active mutual funds and not index funds

Index funds lack downside protection and underperform in sideways markets

Actively managed funds provide flexibility in dynamic Indian markets

Focus on diversified equity mutual funds

You must have a mix of large cap, flexi cap, mid cap, and select sector/thematic

Avoid sectoral overexposure, stay away from new NFOs without track record

Stocks – Rs 9L

Direct stocks are high-risk and need continuous monitoring

Don’t treat this as core retirement corpus

Use stock portfolio for opportunity-based returns only

No need to increase stock exposure at this stage

PF – Rs 15L corpus, Rs 15K contribution/month

Good for stability and conservative fixed income

PF will provide a safe retirement cushion

But do not rely on PF alone for retirement corpus creation

Rate of return is fixed and may not beat long-term inflation fully

Children’s Education and Marriage Fund: Rs 1 Crore Target
Your son is 15 and daughter is 11.

So you will need:

Partial fund in next 2-3 years (son’s education)

Major amount by next 10-12 years (daughter’s education and marriage)

This means you need to create a parallel corpus of Rs 1 crore without disturbing your retirement savings.

Plan of Action:

Allocate a separate mutual fund folio for this goal

Do not mix it with your retirement investments

Choose balanced advantage, flexi-cap, and large-mid funds for this purpose

Withdraw from equity gradually once goal is near (start moving to short-term debt funds 3 years before need)

You may already be on track here if you dedicate part of the Rs 60K SIPs

But if all your SIPs are targeted for retirement only, you must either:

Increase your SIPs by Rs 15K–20K/month

OR

Allocate part of your stock portfolio and annual bonuses for kids’ goal

Evaluating SIP Sufficiency Towards Retirement
Rs 60K/month SIP in equity mutual funds for 10 years will build solid corpus only if:

Funds are actively managed by competent AMC

SIPs increase 10% every year (step-up SIPs)

You don’t stop SIPs even during market crashes

You rebalance regularly through a Certified Financial Planner

If you stay consistent, you are likely to reach Rs 3 crore, but without much surplus.

So, there is limited cushion in your current plan. You’re on track, but only marginally.

Required Adjustments for Better Safety
Increase Monthly Investment Gradually

From Rs 75K/month, try to increase SIPs by 10-15% yearly

Use salary hikes, annual bonus, or incentives to fund extra SIPs

Keep PF as it is; no need to increase PF contribution beyond current limit

Separate Goals and Tracking

Create two sets of SIPs: one for retirement, one for kids’ education

Avoid mixing funds or redeeming prematurely from retirement corpus

Avoid Index and Direct Funds

Direct funds lack advisory, tax planning, rebalancing, and behaviour control

You may miss correction opportunities or exit too late during volatility

Better to invest via regular plans with a trusted MFD or CFP

They offer active support, periodic alerts, tax strategy, and customised advice

Many investors earn less not because of bad funds, but due to bad timing and behaviour

Certified Financial Planner brings discipline and strategy in market fluctuations

Insurance and Risk Protection
You didn’t mention any insurance.

At 45 with family responsibilities, review:

Term insurance: Ensure Rs 1 crore+ coverage till age 60

Health insurance: Have Rs 10–20 lakh family floater + top-up

Critical illness cover: Optional but useful after 50

Without insurance, even the best investment plan can collapse under sudden medical or death risk.

Emergency Fund
You didn’t mention cash reserves.

Keep:

At least 6 months' expenses in liquid or ultra-short duration debt fund

Don’t keep this in equity or PF

You may use part of your PF loan provision only if very urgent

Investment Behaviour and Tax Awareness
Stay invested during downturns

Market cycles are natural

Many investors lose by stopping SIPs in bear markets

Those who stay invested enjoy strong recovery

Tax planning

Equity mutual funds LTCG: Only above Rs 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%

STCG in equity: Taxed at 20%

Debt funds: Taxed as per slab

Plan redemption accordingly with a Certified Financial Planner

Avoid real estate as an investment

Your house is an asset to live in, not a liquid financial tool

Real estate requires high maintenance, has low liquidity, and tax issues

Better to keep your future investments in mutual funds instead

Retirement Withdrawal Strategy
When you retire at 55:

Don’t withdraw entire mutual fund corpus

Keep equity portion invested and withdraw via SWP

Use bucket strategy:

First 3 years expenses in ultra short and liquid funds

Next 5 years in balanced or hybrid

Long-term part in equity

This protects you from selling during market crash

A Certified Financial Planner can set this up and track annually

Keep Reviewing Progress Every Year
Your current SIP discipline is very strong. But review:

Fund performance every 12 months

Goal progress every year

Increase SIPs gradually

Exit underperforming funds only under expert guidance

Avoid chasing star ratings or social media hype.

Key Action Points
Separate children’s corpus from retirement corpus

Increase SIPs by Rs 15K/month if possible

Avoid index and direct funds; shift to regular plans via MFD with CFP support

Keep investing during all market cycles

Maintain term and health insurance coverage

Create an emergency reserve now itself

Use a Certified Financial Planner for tracking and behaviour control

Do not withdraw from mutual funds prematurely

Review and rebalance annually

Finally
You are very close to being on track.

But only with continued discipline, increased SIPs, and expert guidance can you safely reach all goals.

You are doing far better than most. But don’t take comfort and stay static.

Make small changes now. They will give huge benefits later.

Retirement at 55 is fully possible — but only with strong control on investment behaviour and cash flow discipline. With a Certified Financial Planner by your side, you can fine-tune this further.

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

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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