I was recently quoted in Mint in an article titled "Gold Rush - Know what lies beneath the glitter", where I shared my thoughts on allocation to gold in a long-term portfolio. You can access the article online here -…
Read More Quoted (Mint) – November 2026 – Gold’s Role & Allocation in Portfolio
SEBI has reportedly proposed that switching from one mutual fund to another shouldn’t trigger LTCG tax, if the units have been held for over a year (time required to qualify as long term). If this proposal becomes law (fingers crossed!),…
In Sept. 2024, Indian markets were making new highs. The trailing returns for Nifty50 looked fantastic back then at 33.3% over 1 year, 24.1% over 2 years and 17.8% over 5 years. Many investors, especially those who had started recently,…
Read More Nifty 1-5 year CAGR% – From Highs in 2024 Vs. Lows of 2026
If your home loan is complete, and you don’t want to take another loan again and repeat the Earn-EMI cycle (to purchase the next property), then what should you do next? You now have surplus money left over each month…
Read More Home Loan Done? How to Use Freed-Up EMI Money? – Economic Times Wealth (19-Oct-2026)
LTCG Taxation is in the news again. And the reason is that our finance minister has said the government is open to feedback on capital gains taxation. I am no one, but I have feedback on it too. I am…
A lot of people are highlighting how equity markets have done poorly compared to even Fixed Deposits giving 6-8% annual returns. And while they are right when it comes to the data, it is also not the best way to…
Read More Is it Right to Compare Low/No Nifty50 returns presently with Bank FD rates?
Between Sep-2022 and Sept-2024, the Nifty50 delivered four straight half-years of strong returns: 1.5%, 11.6%, 12.0% and 13.5%. Many investors quietly rebased their expectations, treating double-digit gains every six months as the norm (and their right!) rather than the exception.…
Read More Sept2022-24 vs Sept2024-26 Nifty Returns: Wrong Expectations Being Righted?
Every 3 months, around the last day of March, June, September and December, the Finance Ministry puts out a short notification about the interest rates of the small savings scheme. People treat that circular as if someone in the govt.…
Read More How Indian Govt. sets Small Savings Interest Rates each Quarter?
There have been No Changes in the small savings scheme for the quarter of October-December 2026. PPF interest rates - No Change (remains at 7.10%) Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana rates - No Change (remains at 8.20%) Senior Citizen Savings Scheme or…
Read More PPF 7.1% | SCSS 8.2% | NSC 7.7% | Sukanya 8.2% | No Changes for Oct-Dec 2026
Almost every investor knows they should stay invested when markets fall. Ask them, and you will get the textbook answer: think long term, don't panic, keep the SIPs running. But knowing is one thing, and doing is another. Take the…
Read More Knowing What To Do Is Not the Same as Doing It When Markets are Falling
The IRDAI consultation paper, Recalibrating Economics of Insurance Distribution (September 2026), has sent serious shockwaves through the banking and agent community. It proposes curbs on mis-selling and a reset of distribution commissions. To be fair, everyone knows how the commission…
Read More IRDAI finally targets the Real problem in insurance – Commission (& Mis-Selling)
If you have already made a decent amount of money (via a business that worked, a long career that paid well, or a chunky ESOP), then there is an assumption that follows you around. That the judgement which helped you…
You are neither too young, nor too old. Your children’s higher education is just a few years away. Your old parents increasingly need support, not just medical and emotional but sometimes financial. Plus you are either repaying a loan or…
The moment someone’s portfolio crosses a few crores, the phone calls change. The humble Agent or Relationship Manager, now becomes (better-sounding) Wealth Manager or Private Banker. Sadly, that is not where this ends. In fact, it is the start. Specially…
Most home loan borrowers treat their interest rate like the weather: the bank announces it, they accept it, and they get on with paying the EMI. That habit can quietly cost you lakhs over the life of the loan, and…
Read More Use your Improving Credit Score as a Negotiating tool to Save Lakhs in Home Loan Interest
