While eating food I often end up biting my inner mouth, lips etc, and I don't know why. I don't have misformed teeth, so it's very puzzling. Please help

Ans: Dear Anonymous,
Congratulations! Most couples wean off from sex citing old age and other health issues due to ageing...
The act of sex/lovemaking increases heart rate, blood pressure and respiratory cycles and that is the only thing that you need to be watchful of especially if you are under medications for any lifestyle ailments. This doubt can be cleared with your doctor who can advise you accordingly; other than this sex is the most beautiful sport to indulge in at any age and also it keeps a couple together emotionally as well. So, enjoy...

All the best!

Ans: Hello,

First and foremost, thank you for getting in touch with us. I am glad to hear that you have completed your Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) in orthodontics and now wish to immigrate to Europe. To answer your question first, I would like to tell you that the opportunity to immigrate to Europe and work as an orthodontist is based on a number of variables, viz., your credentials, the particular conditions put forth by the nation you want to move to, and any applicable professional laws.

Remember that in a number of European nations, you will be required to have your credentials recognized by the appropriate professional group or regulatory agency, in order for you to practice orthodontics. Assessment of credentials, language competency tests, and potentially further training or testing to adhere to regional requirements could all be entailed in this process.

I would like to let you know that for foreign-trained orthodontists who want to practice, every country in Europe may have its own unique regulations and procedures. I would suggest that you conduct a comprehensive study on the particular immigration and professional prerequisites of the country you want to immigrate to and practice in. Moreover, in order to acquire precise and thorough information specific to your circumstances, I would recommend that you get in touch with professional organizations, immigration officials, or legal professionals with specialized knowledge pertaining to healthcare and immigration laws as they would be in a better position to provide you with the same.

For more information, you can visit our website.

Ans: Your financial discipline and diversified income sources are commendable. Let's delve into your current financial situation and provide some suggestions:

Home Loan Repayment:
Extra Loan Repayments: Given the current interest rates on your home loans, making extra repayments can save you significant interest over the loan tenure. The max gain scheme allows you to park surplus funds in your home loan account, reducing the interest burden effectively.
Interest Rate Comparison: Ensure you compare the interest rates on your home loans with potential returns from other investment avenues to make an informed decision. If you expect higher returns from other investments, consider allocating a portion of your surplus funds there.
Investment Avenues:
Equity Mutual Funds: Given your age and investment horizon, consider increasing your allocation to equity mutual funds. Equity has the potential to offer higher returns over the long term compared to other asset classes.
Diversification: Diversify your portfolio across different asset classes like equities, debt, and gold to mitigate risks and achieve balanced growth.
Emergency Fund: Ensure you have an emergency fund set aside to cover 6-12 months of living expenses. This fund should be easily accessible and not invested in market-linked instruments.
PPF Maturity:
Loan Repayment: Using the PPF maturity amount to repay and close one of your home loan accounts is a prudent decision, as it will reduce your debt burden and interest outgo.
Educational Expenses: With major educational expenses for your elder son on the horizon, reducing your debt burden can free up cash flow to fund these expenses without straining your finances.
Financial Planning:
Goal Planning: Define your financial goals, including retirement, children's education, and other long-term goals. Allocate your investments based on the time horizon, risk tolerance, and expected returns for each goal.
Regular Review: Periodically review your portfolio to ensure it aligns with your goals, risk profile, and market conditions. Make necessary adjustments as needed to stay on track.
In conclusion, continuing extra loan repayments while exploring other investment avenues for higher returns is a balanced approach. Utilizing the PPF maturity amount to repay and close one of your home loan accounts is a good strategy, considering the upcoming educational expenses for your elder son. Ensure you have a well-diversified portfolio aligned with your financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon. Consulting a Certified Financial Planner can provide personalized advice tailored to your financial situation, helping you make informed decisions and achieve your financial goals over the long term! Keep investing regularly and stay disciplined to build wealth and secure your financial future!

Ans: It's great to see that you have started investing at a young age. Investing early gives you a significant advantage due to the power of compounding. Let's evaluate your current investment:

Starting Early:
Starting to invest at 24 is a commendable decision. The earlier you start, the more time your investments have to grow, benefiting from compounding returns.
Investment Amount:
Investing 3000 per month in a small-cap fund like Quant Small Cap is a good start. Small-cap funds have the potential to offer higher returns over the long term due to their growth-oriented nature.
As your income increases over time, consider increasing your SIP amount to accelerate your wealth accumulation.
Risk Assessment:
Small-cap funds tend to be more volatile compared to large-cap or multi-cap funds. Ensure you are comfortable with the associated risk and have a long-term investment horizon to ride out market volatility.
Diversifying your investments across different categories and sectors can help in reducing the overall risk.
Goal Planning:
Define your financial goals, whether it's buying a house, planning for retirement, or any other goal. Having clear goals will help in aligning your investments and tracking your progress.
Review your portfolio periodically to ensure it aligns with your goals and make necessary adjustments as needed.
Emergency Fund:
Ensure you have an emergency fund set aside to cover 3-6 months of living expenses. This fund should be easily accessible and not invested in market-linked instruments to ensure liquidity during emergencies.
In conclusion, investing 3000 per month at 24 is a good start. Ensure you have a diversified portfolio aligned with your risk tolerance and financial goals. Consider increasing your SIP amount as your income increases and regularly review your portfolio to stay on track. Consulting a Certified Financial Planner can provide personalized advice tailored to your financial situation and goals, helping you make informed investment decisions. Keep investing regularly and stay disciplined to achieve your financial goals over the long term!

Ans: You've already taken a commendable step by starting your investments, and aiming for a significant retirement corpus is a great goal. Let's evaluate your current investments and suggest some adjustments.

Diversification:
While you have diversified across different categories like flexi-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap, you might want to consider adding a large-cap or a balanced fund to bring stability to your portfolio.
Diversification across different market caps and sectors can help in reducing the overall risk.
Consistency:
It's good to see that you've been investing consistently, which is the key to long-term wealth creation.
Review the performance of your funds annually to ensure they are aligning with your financial goals.
Risk Assessment:
Mid-cap and small-cap funds tend to be riskier but offer higher growth potential. Ensure you are comfortable with the associated volatility and risk.
As you approach closer to your retirement age, you might want to gradually shift towards more conservative investment options to safeguard your corpus.
Goal Planning:
To achieve a retirement corpus of 5 Cr by the age of 45, you need to ensure your investments are aligned with this goal.
Consider increasing your SIP amounts periodically or adding lump-sum amounts whenever possible to accelerate your wealth accumulation.
Professional Advice:
Consulting a Certified Financial Planner can provide personalized advice tailored to your financial situation and goals.
They can help in optimizing your portfolio, ensuring you are on track to achieve your retirement goal, and making necessary adjustments based on changing market conditions and your financial situation.
In conclusion, while your current investments are a good start, diversifying further and ensuring alignment with your retirement goal will be beneficial. Regularly reviewing and adjusting your portfolio as needed can help you stay on track. Remember, investing is a marathon, not a sprint, and staying disciplined and patient will be key to achieving your financial goals.

Ans: For a 35-year-old first-time investor with a monthly income of 1.25 lakh and a monthly investment capacity of 35,000, here are three mutual funds suitable for long-term investment:

Large Cap Fund:
Why: These funds invest in large, well-established companies that have a track record of stable growth. They are relatively less volatile and offer a good starting point for new investors.
Potential Choice: Large Cap Equity Funds that have a consistent performance history and a low expense ratio.
Multi-Cap Fund:
Why: These funds have the flexibility to invest across market caps, i.e., in large, mid, and small-cap stocks. This diversification can help in capital appreciation while managing risk.
Potential Choice: Multi-Cap Funds that have a proven track record of delivering consistent returns across market cycles.
Balanced Advantage Fund:
Why: These funds dynamically manage the equity-debt allocation based on market valuations. In bullish markets, they can increase equity exposure, while in bearish markets, they can shift towards debt, offering a balanced approach.
Potential Choice: Balanced Advantage Funds with a disciplined investment strategy and a focus on capital preservation along with growth.
Remember to consider the fund's past performance, fund manager's experience, expense ratio, and the fund house's reputation before investing. Additionally, reviewing and rebalancing the portfolio periodically can help in aligning it with your long-term financial goals. It's advisable to consult a Certified Financial Planner for personalized advice tailored to your financial situation and goals. Happy investing!

Ans: Firstly, I'm sorry to hear about your health issues but commend you for taking proactive steps towards financial planning, especially for your children's education and your future needs.

With your current savings and investments, there's a possibility to generate a monthly income of 1 Lakh, but it requires careful planning:

EPF and Property Sale: Your EPF corpus of 70 Lakh and the expected 50 Lakh from property sale can be significant contributors. Consider options like Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS), Post Office Monthly Income Scheme (POMIS), or even annuity plans to generate regular income without depleting the principal.
Mutual Funds & Bonds: Continue to let your Mutual Funds grow for future needs. Bonds maturing in 2024 can also be reinvested in income-generating avenues.
PPF: Once it matures in 2026, you can either reinvest or use a portion for your monthly income needs.
House: If possible, you could explore options like reverse mortgage or renting out a portion for additional income, without selling the property.
Expense Management: Since you have set aside money specifically for your children's education, avoid using it for your monthly income. Focus on optimizing other assets to generate the required 1 Lakh/month.
Health and Insurance: It's great that you have health and term insurance. Ensure they are adequate to cover unforeseen medical expenses and provide financial security to your family.
Remember, the goal is to strike a balance between generating sufficient income and preserving capital. Consulting a Certified Financial Planner can provide a tailored plan considering your unique circumstances, helping you navigate this phase with confidence.

Ans: Investing Rs.5 lakhs in an aggressive hybrid fund like Quant Absolute or any other fund with a similar profile can be considered, but there are some aspects to ponder upon.

Aggressive hybrid funds typically invest around 65-80% in equities and the rest in debt instruments. This balanced approach aims to offer potential for growth while reducing volatility compared to pure equity funds.

For a time horizon of 3-5 years, such a fund might be suitable, provided you are comfortable with the associated risks. While the equity component can provide growth potential, market fluctuations can impact short-term returns. The debt portion offers some stability but may not shield entirely against market downturns.

Before investing:

Risk Appetite: Assess your risk tolerance. Are you comfortable with potential fluctuations in the value of your investment?
Investment Horizon: Ensure your time frame aligns with the fund's strategy. Short-term investments can be more volatile.
Diversification: Consider diversifying across asset classes to spread risk.
It's advisable to consult with a Certified Financial Planner or do thorough research to understand the fund's strategy, past performance, and risks associated. Remember, investments should align with your financial goals and risk profile.

Ans: It's commendable that you're considering investing. With Rs. 5000/- per month, you have several options to consider. Each investment avenue you mentioned has its own benefits and risks, so let's break them down:

NPS (National Pension System): This is a retirement-focused investment with tax benefits under Section 80C. It offers a mix of equity, corporate bonds, and government securities, providing a balance between growth and stability. However, withdrawals are restricted until retirement.
Shares: Investing directly in stocks offers potential for high returns but comes with higher risks. It requires research and monitoring. With a long-term perspective and by diversifying across sectors, you can aim for better returns.
Mutual Funds (MF): MFs offer diversification and professional management. You can choose from equity, debt, or hybrid funds based on your risk appetite and investment horizon. SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) is a good way to invest regularly.
Gold: Gold acts as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainties. You can invest in physical gold, gold ETFs, or sovereign gold bonds. It's a good diversifier but doesn't offer regular income.
Considering your investment horizon and risk tolerance, a diversified approach combining MFs and NPS might be a balanced strategy. You could allocate a portion to NPS for retirement and the rest to MFs across different categories for growth. As you gain more knowledge and confidence, you could gradually venture into direct stock investments or gold. Always remember to review and adjust your portfolio periodically to stay aligned with your financial goals.