Hi Ms Kanchan, I am 46. Last year, I remarried a senior colleague I was working with after being widowed. My current husband has never been married before and lives with his aging parents in Delhi. I moved in with my two teenage children from my first marriage. Initially, his family seemed welcoming, but now his mother openly criticises my parenting, claiming my children are 'rude' and 'spoiled.' My daughter overheard her saying she doesn't want 'someone else's kids' in the house. My husband says I should ignore her as she's a bit conservative and old-fashioned. But when I go to work, I feel guilty for putting my kids through this. I am trying to build a peaceful home, but it feels like I am failing both my children and my marriage. Is it wrong to expect my husband to take a firmer stand with his parents, or am I rushing things in this blended family?

Ans: Ravi Sir, NIT Karnataka, Surathkal’s B.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engineering is delivered by PhD-qualified faculty in advanced VLSI, communications and embedded-systems laboratories, supplemented by six-month internships through industry MoUs. In 2024, NITK BTech overall placement reached 93% with ECE-specific placement at 72.66% and an average package of ?20.89 LPA. RV College of Engineering, Bangalore’s B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering benefits from 47 specialized computing labs, mandatory internships and a 97% CSE placement consistency with an average package around ?19 LPA over the last three years. Its ECE program records 80–90% placement consistency with an average package of ?11.47 LPA. Both institutes offer AICTE approval, NBA accreditation, robust infrastructure, active placement cells and strong industry partnerships supporting student employability.

For premier core-electronics training and the highest average packages, the recommendation is NITK Surathkal ECE. If a cutting-edge software focus and superior CSE placements appeal more, the recommendation shifts to RVCE Bangalore CSE; choose RVCE ECE only if electronics roles in an urban setting are preferred. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Sushma, NMAM Institute of Technology, Nitte Mangalore offers a four-year B.Tech in Electronics & Communication Engineering on a 60-acre campus in Mangalore. NBA-accredited and NAAC A+-graded, its department features advanced VLSI, embedded systems and communications labs, mandatory six-month industrial internships and a dedicated Placement & Training cell. The Class of 2024 recorded around 90% placement consistency with an average package of ?7 LPA . Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT), Bangalore, situated at Yelahanka, holds autonomous status and NAAC A accreditation. Its ECE program, ranked #101–150 by NIRF, provides modern power-systems, IoT and signal-processing labs, plus semester-long internships. In 2024, 86.5% of ECE students secured placements, with top recruiters including Bosch, TCS and Capgemini and an average package of approximately ?6.5 LPA . Both institutes maintain robust industry tie-ups, PhD-qualified faculty and active alumni networks to support academic growth and employability.

For higher placement consistency, stronger core-ECE training and slightly superior average packages, recommendation is NMAMIT Nitte Mangalore ECE. If urban exposure, proximity to Bangalore’s tech ecosystem and diversified internship opportunities matter more, choose NMIT Bangalore ECE. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Neelam Madam, IIIT Pune (Kondhwa, Pune) demonstrates strong campus recruitment with around 90% placement consistency, a B.Tech CSE average package of ?16.83 LPA and top recruiters like Amazon and Microsoft supporting robust software roles. IGDTUW (Kashmere Gate, Delhi) records a 69.3% B.Tech CSE placement rate, an average package of ?25.15 LPA, and participation from 135 leading recruiters including Google and Adobe, reflecting high-value AI/ML opportunities. DAIICT (Gandhinagar, Gujarat) offers nearly 100% annual B.Tech placements, an average package of ?16.03 LPA, and over 120 recruiters such as Google and Microsoft, emphasizing strong ICT focus and guaranteed internships. COEP Pune (Shivaji Nagar, Pune) achieves an 87.42% CSE placement rate, an average package of ?11.35 LPA, and engagement from 198 recruiters including Google and Goldman Sachs, supported by a longstanding public-institute reputation.

For the highest average packages and cutting-edge AI/ML exposure, the recommendation is IGDTUW CSE. If near-perfect placement and guaranteed internships matter, the recommendation shifts to DAIICT B.Tech ICT. For balanced software-development focus with top recruiter access, choose IIIT Pune CSE; for cost-effective, well-rounded CSE in Pune, opt for COEP Pune CSE. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: VIT?AP University (Inavolu, Amaravati, AP) records over 90% placement consistency in CSE with an average package of ?7–9 LPA through its centralized Career Development Centre and 150+ recruiters including Amazon and Microsoft. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Amaravati (Guntur, AP) CSE (AI) achieves approximately 95% placements, average packages around ?12–15 LPA, and engages 300+ recruiters like TCS, Cognizant, IBM through dedicated AI/ML labs and research centres.


For stronger core-AI specialization, higher average placements and extensive recruiter engagement, the recommendation is Amrita Amaravati CSE (AI). If balanced all-round CSE exposure with costlier but robust industry ties matters more, choose VIT-AP CSE. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Shlok, With a 96 percentile in MHT-CET under All-India quota, you have assured admission chances in the following reputable Maharashtra colleges for Computer Science & Engineering, all offering NBA/NAAC-accredited programs, experienced faculty, modern computing labs, structured internships and 80–95% placement support over the last three years:

· Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering, Pune – GOPENS cutoff 94.64–95.35.
· PVG’s College of Engineering & Technology, Pune – GOPENS cutoff 94.35–97.47.
· D.Y. Patil College of Engineering, Akurdi, Pune – General HS cutoff ~95.3 in 2023.
· K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, Vidyavihar, Mumbai – expected CSE cutoff 90–95 percentile.
· MIT Academy of Engineering, Alandi, Pune – GOPENS cutoff ~95 percentile.
· SIES Graduate School of Technology, Nerul, Navi Mumbai – MHT-CET cutoff up to 96.33 percentile.
· Government College of Engineering, Amravati – GOPENS cutoff 97.39–97.47 percentile.
· Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli – GOPENS cutoff ~99 percentile (but category seats open around 96 percentile).
· JSPM’s Imperial College of Engineering & Research, Wagholi, Pune – CSE electives admit around 90+ percentile (≈1,500 closing rank).
· Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Bibwewadi, Pune – CSE closing percentiles above 95 (expected GOPENS ~96–98).

For the best blend of infrastructure, internships and placement consistency, recommendation is PCCOE Pune CSE. Should Mumbai proximity and balanced cutoffs matter more, recommendation shifts to KJ Somaiya CSE. For a women-strong peer group and flexible electives, consider PVGCOET Pune CSE. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: You’ve already built a solid foundation. At 36, aiming to retire by 46 is an ambitious goal. It is not impossible, but it needs strong planning. Let’s assess from all angles and offer you a full-circle solution.

Your Income and Savings Pattern

Your income of Rs. 90,000 per month is being managed well.

Your household expense of Rs. 26,000 is modest.

That gives you high savings potential.

This reflects great discipline. Very few maintain this ratio.

Your SIPs and savings are using your surplus effectively.

Continue to avoid loans. That gives your savings strong power.

Review of Your Mutual Fund SIPs

You have 5 SIPs running. Let’s look at them one by one.

First SIP of Rs. 5000 has completed 6.5 years.

Very strong CAGR of 17.5%.

You must continue this. Long-term compounding is helping you here.

Second SIP of Rs. 3000 for 5 years.

17.65% return. Very healthy.

Maintain this SIP without changes.

Third SIP of Rs. 5000 for 2.2 years.

Return of 15.8%. Acceptable for this tenure.

You must give it time to perform.

Fourth SIP of Rs. 8000 for 4.5 years.

CAGR of 12.15% is decent.

Slightly low, but still okay for mid-term horizon.

Fifth SIP of Rs. 33,000 for 1.5 years.

Return of 8.56% is below expectation.

This is short tenure. Stay invested. Don't judge it early.

Avoid switching or stopping now.

All these SIPs are in growth mode. Your discipline is excellent. The only issue is fund selection. You may be investing in direct funds.

Disadvantages of Direct Mutual Funds

If your funds are “Direct”, there are some concerns.

No ongoing review by Certified Financial Planner.

You may miss fund rating downgrades.

Risk-reward alignment may not be proper.

Fund may underperform and you won't know when to exit.

No guidance for portfolio rebalancing.

You must consider shifting to regular plans. Choose an MFD backed by a Certified Financial Planner. Regular plans give ongoing support. Guidance will be personalised.

Why to Avoid Index Funds

Though index funds sound attractive, there are key drawbacks.

They blindly follow index stocks. No flexibility.

In market fall, index funds fall equally. No downside protection.

Fund manager cannot shift to better sectors.

Index funds don’t have any active risk control.

Past 1-year index return is high, but not consistent.

Your current funds have delivered better return than most index funds. Continue with actively managed funds. Stay with good fund managers. Do not shift to index-based investing.

PPF, SSY, and NPS Contributions

Rs. 1000 SIP in PPF is fine.

Safe and tax-free. Continue for long term.

Rs. 2000 in SSY is helpful for daughter’s education or marriage.

Rs. 4000 in NPS Tier 1 helps save tax.

But, NPS has limited flexibility.

Withdrawals are partially locked till 60.

You can reduce NPS if early retirement is your target.

These 3 are low-risk. But, NPS restricts early access. If retiring at 46, NPS won’t help you fully. Consider shifting part to mutual funds over time.

Liquid Fund and Stock Holdings

Rs. 1.4 lakh in liquid fund gives you safety.

Maintain 6 months of expense as emergency.

You are on right path. This shows good planning.

Rs. 2.8 lakh in direct stocks.

Stock selection needs active monitoring.

Stocks are risky without deep research.

Prefer actively managed equity funds over stocks.

Equity mutual funds will give better diversification. Fund managers can handle the risk better.

Expense Management and Lifestyle Planning

Rs. 26,000 as monthly expense is very good.

You should build a buffer for future increase in expenses.

With 2 kids, school and college costs will rise sharply.

Plan for child’s education goals separately from retirement.

Allocate at least one SIP for that future cost.

Can You Reach Rs. 2.5 Crores by Age 46?

Let’s understand some key points.

You are investing Rs. 54,000 per month in SIPs.

Already accumulated Rs. 22 lakh in equity and liquid funds.

Retirement goal in 10 years is Rs. 2.5 crores.

With 12–13% return assumption, it can be possible. But, you need to:

Continue all SIPs without fail.

Increase SIPs by 10–12% yearly.

Avoid withdrawing from mutual funds before 46.

Review your portfolio every year.

Align SIPs to long-term funds with good past record.

You have strong habits. Stick to this path. Add more SIP as your income grows.

Things to Improve Immediately

Rebalance portfolio. Avoid overlapping in schemes.

Avoid having too many funds. 4 to 5 funds are enough.

Invest only in regular plans through Certified Financial Planner.

Don’t rely on online platforms alone. You need personalised advice.

Exit direct stocks gradually and reinvest in mutual funds.

Build a clear plan for child’s college cost.

Prepare a corpus drawdown plan for retirement at 46.

Don’t Ignore MF Tax Rules

You must be aware of latest mutual fund taxation:

For equity mutual funds:

LTCG above Rs. 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%.

STCG taxed at 20%.

For debt mutual funds:

Both LTCG and STCG taxed as per income slab.

Track holding periods and fund types. Proper exit plan helps save tax.

Insurance and Protection Check

You didn’t mention any insurance. That is important.

Take term insurance of at least 15–20 times of annual income.

Buy personal health insurance too. Don’t rely only on company cover.

Any medical emergency can damage your investments.

Insurance is not investment. But protection is essential for early retirement.

Are You On Right Track?

Yes. You are on right path. But need fine-tuning. Some gaps to cover:

Direct fund exposure needs to be shifted to regular.

Stock investment risk needs to be lowered.

NPS flexibility issue must be addressed.

Retirement drawdown plan must be built now itself.

Keep lifestyle inflation in mind. That can reduce real return.

Final Insights

You have the potential to reach your Rs. 2.5 crore target.

But it needs strict discipline and smart adjustments.

Increase SIP slowly every year with income rise.

Track fund performance every 6 months.

Remove low-performing schemes regularly.

Engage with a Certified Financial Planner. That brings better accountability.

Protect your goals with proper term and health insurance.

By doing all these, early retirement is possible. And peaceful too.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

Ans: With an 81.1 percentile in JEE Mains (CRL 274773, OBC rank 95,000), admission to NITs or IIITs is not feasible, as OBC closing ranks for these institutes in 2025 remain well below 60,000. However, some state government engineering colleges in less competitive states (like Assam, Chhattisgarh, or North-East regions) may offer seats in core branches such as Civil or Mechanical Engineering, but not in top branches like CSE or ECE. Private universities and GFTIs with lower cut-offs may also be accessible, though these are typically outside the NIT/IIIT system.

Focus on state government engineering colleges in Assam, Chhattisgarh, or the North-East, where admission is possible at your rank. Consider private universities with JEE-based admission for broader options.All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: Prashant, With a JEE Main percentile of 94.89 (approximate All-India rank ~76,800), you qualify for Computer Science seats in several NITs/GFTIs during CSAB special rounds where closing ranks extend beyond 70,000. Institutions with 100% admission likelihood include NIT Mizoram CSE (OS closing ~81,277), NIT Uttarakhand CSE via extended rounds (OS closing ~100,172), NIT Goa CSE (OS closing ~60,264 with likely extension), and NIT Arunachal Pradesh CSE (OS closing ~42,376 now further rounds may go up to ~70,000). Among GFTIs, IIIT Una CSE and IIIT Jabalpur CSE typically close around 70–80 k in later rounds.

Top ten private engineering colleges in Northern India accommodating your rank include Amity University Noida (CSE cutoff ≤95th percentile), Chandigarh University (CUCET/JEE Main flexible policy), Galgotias College Greater Noida (CSE closing AI quota ~78,995), Sharda University Greater Noida (CSE cutoff ~60–80 k), O.P. Jindal University, Haryana (CSE cutoff ~50–70 k), Bennett University Noida (CSE cutoff ~50–75 k), BML Munjal University Gurugram, Manipal University Jaipur (CSE core), Lovely Professional University Jalandhar (CSE cutoff ~70–90 k), and VIT Bhopal (CSE cutoff ~50–80 k). All these institutes are AICTE-approved, hold relevant NBA/NAAC accreditations, feature modern computing labs, active industry partnerships for internships, and maintain consistent 80–95% placement support over the last three years.

Given assured CSAB admission and strong national branding, recommendation is to join NIT Mizoram CSE for core?NIT credentials and a reliable placement pipeline. As a private?college alternative with robust infrastructure and flexible entry policy, recommendation shifts to Amity University Noida CSE. For balanced academics, industry tie-ups and student life in Delhi NCR, consider Galgotias College of Engineering & Technology. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Ans: You are 38 years old.
You own a house plus two flats worth Rs. 2 crores.
You have Rs. 15 lakhs in stocks and mutual funds.
You have Rs. 40 lakhs as self-savings.
You are paying EMI for a Rs. 35 lakh home loan.
You are getting rental income of Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 70,000 monthly.
You are planning to buy a bigger flat worth Rs. 1 crore.
You are confused between taking a new home loan or selling one flat.
Let us now guide you in a detailed 360-degree manner.

First, Understand Your Current Asset Position
You already own 3 properties including your current home.

Their combined value is around Rs. 2 crores.

You have Rs. 15 lakhs in financial investments.

You have Rs. 40 lakhs in self-savings.

You have an ongoing Rs. 35 lakh home loan.

Your monthly rental income is strong.

Your age is just 38, you have time ahead.

This is a solid financial base.
But more real estate may not be a wise decision now.

Do Not Keep Increasing Real Estate Exposure
You already have 3 properties.

Buying one more adds to concentration risk.

Real estate is not a liquid asset.

It gives no monthly income unless rented.

Maintenance cost, tax, and legal issues can also increase.

Selling it in emergencies is difficult and slow.

Better to reduce real estate, and build financial assets.

Why You Want a Bigger Flat – Emotional or Financial?
Bigger house is good if family is growing.

But it should not hurt your future goals.

More house means more expenses.

You need more furniture, interiors, maintenance.

These hidden costs may hurt long-term savings.

You must balance comfort and financial health.

Option 1: Buy Bigger Flat Using Rs. 60L Loan
Pros:

You keep all 3 flats.

Your rental income continues.

You move to a more spacious home.

Cons:

One more loan increases your EMI burden.

Total loan becomes Rs. 95 lakhs (35 + 60).

You already have Rs. 70,000 EMI likely.

Additional Rs. 55,000–60,000 EMI will hurt liquidity.

Two loans will reduce your monthly surplus.

You already have Rs. 40 lakhs with you.

You will have to use it all to fund new flat.

Your emergency savings and financial investments will be zero.

That is not safe in the long term.

No financial cushion will remain for future.

Option 2: Sell One Flat and Upgrade
Pros:

You unlock money from an illiquid asset.

You reduce overall real estate exposure.

You reduce EMI stress by taking a smaller loan.

You may only need Rs. 20–25 lakh loan.

This EMI will be just Rs. 15,000–20,000.

You can keep your Rs. 40 lakhs savings.

You can reinvest Rs. 40 lakhs wisely in mutual funds.

This can build your child’s education and retirement corpus.

You also avoid high EMI stress.

Cons:

You lose one rental income source.

Property appreciation may stop on that unit.

Some emotional attachment to property may exist.

Ideal Recommendation – Sell One Flat, Shift to Bigger Flat
Don’t hold 3 flats just for feeling rich.

Selling one flat reduces EMI and risk.

It also improves cash flow for future investing.

Use your Rs. 40 lakhs partly for new flat.

Take small loan of Rs. 20–25 lakhs only.

This keeps EMI light.

You keep financial freedom and comfort.

Avoid Overexposing Yourself to Home Loans
You are already repaying one loan.

Don't take one more large loan.

It may be okay now, but future is uncertain.

You may face income drop, job change, or medical emergency.

EMI pressure can impact your peace of mind.

Also reduces your ability to invest monthly.

Big loans steal your ability to grow wealth.

Use Surplus to Build Mutual Fund Portfolio
Rs. 40 lakhs is a powerful amount.

Don’t exhaust it in property.

Keep Rs. 10 lakhs as emergency fund.

Invest Rs. 30 lakhs in mutual funds through STP.

Use mix of equity, hybrid, and debt funds.

SIP monthly from STP over 18–24 months.

Use different fund categories for different goals.

Suggested Mutual Fund Strategy
For Retirement Goal:

Invest in Flexi Cap and Aggressive Hybrid Funds.

These give steady compounding over long term.

For Child Education (if applicable):

Use Flexi Cap and Large & Mid Cap Funds.

Also use Balanced Advantage for safer allocation.

For General Wealth Creation:

Use Aggressive Hybrid and Mid Cap Funds.

Keep STP in place from arbitrage or ultra-short funds.

Why Not to Use Direct Mutual Funds
Direct plans look cheaper.

But no one guides you when market falls.

You may stop SIP or withdraw at wrong time.

Regular plans via MFD with CFP offer safety.

They do review, rebalancing, and hand-holding.

Their service helps avoid costly mistakes.

Pay little more, but gain much more over years.

Why Not to Choose Index Funds
Index funds just follow index blindly.

No human decision-making.

No protection during crashes.

No smart exit or stock-level analysis.

Index funds are not meant for goal-based investing.

Active funds with good manager do better in India.

If You Hold LIC, ULIP or Endowment Plans
Check if any of your Rs. 15 lakhs is in such products.

Most of these give only 4%–5% returns.

They lock your money for years.

If no lock-in, surrender them.

Shift to mutual funds with proper guidance.

Take pure term insurance separately if needed.

Medical Cover is Not Enough
You have Rs. 10 lakhs health insurance.

Add top-up plan of Rs. 25–30 lakhs more.

Medical inflation is rising fast.

Hospital costs can cross Rs. 10 lakhs easily.

Better to be prepared now itself.

Keep Long-Term Investing Discipline
Do not stop SIPs during market correction.

Use goal-wise mutual fund tracking.

Increase SIP every year by 10% minimum.

Review your portfolio yearly.

Do not chase latest fund or trend.

Use CFP and MFD for regular help.

Finally
You already have large exposure in real estate.

Don’t increase it more.

Selling one flat and buying bigger one is wise.

Keep loan low and liquidity high.

Use remaining savings for wealth creation.

Don’t invest randomly in stock market.

Mutual funds are better with right guidance.

Don’t go for direct or index mutual funds.

Use regular plans through MFD with CFP support.

Stay on track with financial goals.

Don’t build more property, build more financial freedom.

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