This composite case is built from patterns I see repeatedly in practice. Names and numbers are fictional. I show every calculation so you can check it and reuse the method. This is Part 2 of a four-part case study. Read Part 1 here: Retirement Planning Case Study Part 1. Read Part 2 here: Retirement Planning…
Continue reading →Here is how you can be a successful equity mutual fund investor. This also applies to the long-term direct equity (stock) investing. Understand the true nature of the stock market: All those stories of “compounding” that you have been fed do not pan out in real life. See: Don’t get fooled: Mutual funds have no…
Continue reading →A reader asks, “How much should I invest to achieve Rs. 1 Crore in five years?”. Assuming you are sure that Rs. 1 Crores is the right amount of money, factoring in inflation for your goal, the answer depends on how important the goal is. If the goal deadline is non-negotiable, you “must”have the money…
Continue reading →Gold has always been more than just a precious metal in Indian households. It is part of weddings, family traditions, celebrations and, for many families, their approach to saving. Ask someone why they bought a few sovereigns of gold jewellery, and you will often hear something like: “It’s an asset. If we ever need money,…
Continue reading →We discuss how to plan for financial goals 5-10 years away. These goals are neither long-term enough to include equity nor short-term enough to avoid equity completely. Financial goal planning is all about setting the right priorities. If my need is within five years, it would be prudent to avoid all equity. Equity returns are…
Continue reading →Some investment decisions are prudent with reasonable risk, while others are reckless with unreasonable risk. Some risks have a reasonable chance (not a probability) of success based on common sense and/or history if given enough time, and other safety measures are in place. For other risks, the data (history) tells you that most people fail….
Continue reading →A reader asked an interesting question: “Kindly guide on a rebalance doubt. When you redeem from a mutual fund, the units brought first are sold back to the AMC, but those units give us more profits. Once we redeem such units yearly, we reduce the possibility of better profits, right?” Investors will go to any…
Continue reading →Let us be honest about something. You can build the most careful spreadsheet, run every projection, and still fall short in your retirement corpus. Life gets in the way. Sometimes through choices you made. Sometimes through things you never saw coming. A medical emergency. A job that ended before you were ready. Sibling’s education. A…
Continue reading →This article compares my stock portfolio with an equivalent investment in a Nifty index fund and the Nifty 100 Low Volatility 30 TR index. We post this comparison each month. Before we begin, new readers need to understand the context of these investments. Note: The stock portfolio has underperformed indices significantly over the last couple of…
Continue reading →A common response to the investment journeys shared by our readers is, Is financial independence impossible on a low salary? We can’t sugarcoat the truth: Yes, a high-paying job, a sought-after skillset, and an impressive CV make a big difference to the wealth we can build over time. To be precise, If Income minus expenses minus…
Continue reading →“Where should I park money for 1–2 years if not in a Fixed Deposit?” The post-tax return on FDs simply isn’t attractive enough for many investors — especially those in the highest tax brackets, who end up losing a large chunk of interest to tax. What’s often missed in this conversation is that FD returns…
Continue reading →Even in 2026, one of the most popular investment options for millions of Indians remains the traditional bank fixed deposit (FD). It’s easy to see why. An FD offers predictable returns, capital stability and simplicity. With interest rates around 6% in many cases, investors often feel that an FD is a better option than equity,…
Continue reading →This debt mutual fund screener supports portfolio selection, tracking, and learning. It also includes hybrid funds that invest in bonds. It suits investors looking to invest in money market funds, banking PSU funds, and similar instruments. The sheet tracks the credit quality of the portfolio’s bonds and the bond maturity profile. Instead of using average…
Continue reading →With each passing day, Indians consume more than previous generations. Their aspirations, dreams, and wants are often higher than their salaries. Whenever I am invited to speak to a group of employees on the basics of investing, I hear stories of excessive debt. There is a growing mismatch between income and aspirations. People buy cars,…
Continue reading →Readers often ask us if there is any ideal or optimal equity exposure after retirement. This question is tricky to answer as it depends on the individual, but some general guidelines or thumb rules are possible. Asking this question on the verge of retirement without prior market experience can be harmful. It is essential to…
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