When EPFO recently announced that PF withdrawals would soon be possible via UPI and ATM cards, i.e., you get instant access to your retirement(!) money, it sounded like a welcome move for many. But while this EPFO 3.0 reform does…
Investing MORE vs. Chasing Higher Returns – Economic Times Wealth (15-Jun-2026)
Chasing higher returns is a good aim to have. But you should not depend on it. Investing More is far more important than Chasing Higher Returns by taking higher risks. Doesn't sound obvious, but it is. I write about this…
Read More Investing MORE vs. Chasing Higher Returns – Economic Times Wealth (15-Jun-2026)
How much corpus can you create using Sukanya Samriddhi Account after 21 years?
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana account gives 8.2% per annum. As per rules, the account matures in 21 years (from the date of account opening, and not at the girl’s age of 21). Also, you can only make investments for the first…
Read More How much corpus can you create using Sukanya Samriddhi Account after 21 years?
Passive Investing Has a Noise Problem – Economic Times Wealth (18-May-2026)
The Indian PASSIVE fund space has a problem now - hyper ACTIVEness. The explosion in the no. of passive fund options launched by AMCs has made the erstwhile quiet corner of passive investing into something of a noisy park. And…
Read More Passive Investing Has a Noise Problem – Economic Times Wealth (18-May-2026)
Started investing in 40s-50s? Compensate for Lost Years (Economic Times Wealth (20-Apr-2026)
The earlier you start, the less you need to invest. But if you start late in your 40s, you don't have the comfort of comforting math. You need to save more. A lot more. My column in Economic Times Wealth…
My mutual funds are falling. I am Worried. What should I do now… (April 2026)?
The stock markets have been bleeding. And the fall in stock prices is also reflected in the fall in NAVs of mutual funds and the value of most investors’ mutual fund portfolios. To be fair, we have now seen a…
Read More My mutual funds are falling. I am Worried. What should I do now… (April 2026)?
Uncertainity > Negatives
One thing the markets hate more than negative news, is… Uncertainty. As long as the negative news is known and measurable, the uncertainty around it declines and the markets can 'price it in'. And more importantly, the market can then…
PPF 7.1% | SCSS 8.2% | NSC 7.7% | Sukanya 8.2% | No Changes for Apr-Jun 2026
There have been No Changes in the small savings scheme for the quarter of April-June 2026. PPF interest rates - No Change (remains at 7.10%) - Possible reason - I wrote this a while back. May still be applicable -…
Read More PPF 7.1% | SCSS 8.2% | NSC 7.7% | Sukanya 8.2% | No Changes for Apr-Jun 2026
No-Return, Flat Markets Are Not a Warning. It’s an Invitation.
If the markets have delivered little to nothing over the past two years or so, the first instinct for most investors (and specifically new ones) is to worry, and wonder if something is broken in the markets. But that is…
Read More No-Return, Flat Markets Are Not a Warning. It’s an Invitation.
PPF Interest Rate Chart (2003 to 2026 Heat Map)
This is the PPF Interest Rate Chart or the PPF Heat Map for interest rates of PPF accounts in the last 23+ years and updated till June 2026:
Stay Calm. And Remember God in Good Times & Equities in Bad Times.
The markets have been brutal lately. And if you have been investing in Indian markets, you are probably already feeling it. But is the brutal phase over? No one knows. And with the sharp decline in the recent weeks, and…
Read More Stay Calm. And Remember God in Good Times & Equities in Bad Times.
Bad Market timing Near Retirement can Derail Corpus Fast – Economic Times Wealth (16-Mar-2026)
Retirement has rightly been called the Nastiest Problem in Finance. There are so many variables at play and the fact that you get just one shot at retirement, it is incredibly critical to get it right. Or else, I am…
SEBI Announced New MF Category – Life Cycle Funds
Recently, SEBI issued a comprehensive circular on 26th February 2026 (link), making several big changes to the mutual fund categorisation framework. There is actually a lot in that circular, but I wanted to focus on one thing specifically – which…
Why Everyone Needs a Medical Contingency Fund for Later Decades of Life? – Economic Times Wealth (9-Feb-2026)
Unless you belong to the ultra-rich category, having health insurance is a must here in India. And more so if you are nearing retirement. The reason is that the chances of developing medical issues increase with age, and hence, you…
SGB Taxation Change (Budget 2026) – Returns Tax-Free Only if Original Subscribers Hold Till Maturity
Earlier, if you bought Sovereign Gold Bonds (in primary issue or from the secondary market) and held them till maturity (which is 8 years), then all the capital gains at maturity were 100% tax-free. But Budget 2026 has changed this…