Hello Doctor. My 20 year old son has constipation since last 2 months. I have given him isabgol/honey/fibrous fruits. When he takes isabgol it gets OK. I am afraid isabgol / medicines are habit forming. What diet should he take to improve? should we go to a gastro specialist doctor?

Ans: You can always do part time courses along with your job and then scout for relevant jobs. A lot of certificate courses are available. Even top B schools do conduct short term management courses which is another option to look out for. Leaving your job is definitely not recommended. About taking sabbatical, it will depend on how will it affect your promotion in your company.

Ans: You can definitely land up a job. There are quite a few jobs available, you will have to search for it. Apply to banks, other financial institutes and companies.

Ans: You need to consult a pediatrician or Pediatric gastroenterologist. SGPT being high means the liver is inflamed which could be due to an infection like hepatitis or some metabolic issue.

Ans: Hello Anbuchezhian,

To begin with, thank you for contacting us. I am glad to hear that your daughter is pursuing her Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Energy and Environmental Engineering and further aspires to pursue higher education in the United States. To answer your question first, I would like to let you know that with the right guidance and preparation, she can certainly navigate the admission requirements, including the TOEFL and GRE exams. At Edwise we do provide online Live coaching so you can get in touch with us for the same.

For more information, you can visit our website.

Ans: It's great that your son has started earning, and it's essential to guide him on saving and investing for the future. Here's a step-by-step investment plan tailored for him:

Emergency Fund: Start by building an emergency fund equivalent to 3-6 months of expenses. This fund should be easily accessible, like a savings account or a liquid fund.
Debt Repayment: If he has any high-interest debts like credit card bills or personal loans, it's wise to clear those first to avoid paying hefty interest.
Investment Options:
Equity Mutual Funds: For long-term wealth creation, he can start SIPs in diversified equity funds. A mix of large-cap, mid-cap, and multi-cap funds can provide growth.
PPF (Public Provident Fund): A tax-efficient and safe option for long-term savings with a lock-in period of 15 years.
NPS (National Pension System): A retirement-focused investment with tax benefits, offering a mix of equity, corporate bonds, and government securities.
Term Insurance: Since he's working, consider getting a term insurance plan to ensure financial security for his dependents.
Health Insurance: A comprehensive health insurance plan to cover medical emergencies can provide financial security and tax benefits.
Budgeting and Savings: Encourage him to create a monthly budget to track expenses and identify areas to save. Automating investments through SIPs can also help in disciplined saving.
Financial Education: Educate him about the importance of financial planning, saving, and investing. Encourage him to read books or attend workshops on personal finance.
Starting early with disciplined saving and investing can help him build a substantial corpus over time. Encourage him to consult a financial advisor for personalized guidance tailored to his financial goals and risk tolerance.

Ans: To estimate your corpus after 7 to 8 years, let's assume an average annual return on your mutual fund SIPs at 10-12% and a similar return on your other investments.

For Mutual Funds:

Future Value of Current Investments: Using the future value formula, considering an average return of 10-12%, your current 1.09 crore can grow to approximately 2.2 - 2.5 crores in 7-8 years.
Future Value of Additional SIPs: Investing 35k per month for 7-8 years, at an average return of 10-12%, you could accumulate around 50 - 60 lakhs from SIPs alone.
For Other Investments:

Future Value of Current Investments: Assuming an average annual return of 10-12%, your current 1 crore can grow to approximately 2 - 2.4 crores.
Future Value of Additional Investments: With 80k monthly investments for 7-8 years, at an average return of 10-12%, you could accumulate around 1.5 - 1.8 crores.
Total Corpus After 7-8 Years: Combining both, your total corpus could range from 5.2 - 6.2 crores.

Retirement Planning:
Considering your monthly expense is 1 lakh, with a corpus of 5.2 - 6.2 crores, you can generate approximately 40-50k per month (assuming a 7-8% withdrawal rate) post-retirement. This should be sufficient considering your current expenses, but inflation and unforeseen expenses should also be considered.

It's advisable to consult a financial advisor for a detailed plan tailored to your needs, considering inflation, tax implications, and other factors.

Ans: For consistent inflation-beating returns in the long term, consider a diversified approach combining equity and debt investments:

Equity Mutual Funds: Invest in diversified equity funds or index funds for potential high returns. Opt for a mix of large-cap, mid-cap, and multi-cap funds to spread risk.
Public Provident Fund (PPF): This government-backed scheme offers tax-free returns and is a good long-term investment option with compounding benefits.
National Pension System (NPS): NPS offers a mix of equity, corporate bonds, and government securities, providing potential for higher returns with some stability.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): Consider REITs for exposure to the real estate sector, which can offer capital appreciation along with regular income.
Diversify across these options to balance risk and achieve long-term growth. Consult a financial advisor to create a personalized investment strategy tailored to your risk tolerance and financial goals.

Ans: For a 10-year horizon, your portfolio is diversified across flexi-cap, multi-cap, and small-cap funds, which is good. However, the concentration in multi-cap and small-cap categories might make your portfolio more aggressive. Consider rebalancing by reducing exposure to small-cap funds and increasing allocation to large-cap or balanced funds for stability. Regularly review fund performance and adjust to align with your risk tolerance and long-term goals. Consulting a financial advisor can provide personalized guidance tailored to your situation.

Ans: For long-term investments of 10-20 lakhs, you can consider the following approach:

Initial Lump Sum Investment:

Liquid Funds: Park a portion in liquid funds to earn better returns than a savings account while maintaining liquidity.
Short-term Debt Funds: Allocate to short-term debt funds for stability and moderate returns.
Long-Term SIP Portfolio:

Diversified Equity Funds: Invest in a mix of large-cap, mid-cap, and multi-cap equity funds through SIPs for growth potential.
Balanced Funds: Opt for balanced funds or aggressive hybrid funds for a blend of equity and debt, suitable for long-term wealth creation.
Child Education: Start a separate SIP in a child education-focused fund to ensure funds are available when needed.
Sample Portfolio for Long Term:

Large Cap Equity Fund: 30%
Mid Cap Equity Fund: 20%
Multi Cap Equity Fund: 25%
Balanced/Aggressive Hybrid Fund: 15%
Child Education Fund: 10%
Adjust the allocation based on your risk tolerance and financial goals. Regularly review and rebalance the portfolio to maintain desired asset allocation. Consulting a financial advisor can help create a personalized investment plan tailored to your needs and goals.