Debunking the Index Fund Misconceptions: A Balanced Perspective

Published on / By M. Pattabiraman Twitter: @pattufreefincal

Sebi-registered investment advisor Abhishek Kumar offers a balanced, data-driven perspective on a social media post that claimed index funds are “guaranteed” to underperform the market. About the author: Abhishek is part of a freefincal’s curated list of fee-only financial advisors and a fee-only India member. He can be contacted via his website, sahajmoney.com. The “Guaranteed Underperformance” Myth The assertion that…

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At what salary level should I hire a fee-only financial planner?

Published on / By M. Pattabiraman Twitter: @pattufreefincal

Two communities know the benefits of approaching a SEBI-registered fee-only financial planner who charges a flat rate (not a percentage of your assets): freefincal readers and members of the FB group Asan Ideas for Wealth. More than 1000 freefincal readers are working with the advisors on the site’s curated list. However, even in these communities,…

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IRDAI’s “Two-Hour Hospitalisation” Claim : What Really Changed and What Didn’t

Published on / By M. Pattabiraman Twitter: @pattufreefincal

A social media post last week had a striking banner: “From 1 July 2025, IRDAI allows health-insurance claims for hospital stays as short as two hours.”  SEBI RIA Abhishek Kumar explains what changed and what didn’t. About the author: Abhishek is part of a freefincal’s curated list of fee-only financial advisors and a fee-only India member. He can be…

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Revised Capital Gains Taxation Rules Ready Reckoner for FY 2025-2026

Published on / By M. Pattabiraman Twitter: @pattufreefincal

A reader has pointed out an error in the Capital Gains Ready Reckoner regarding the indexation of listed and unlisted bonds/debentures. According to the 4th Proviso under Section 48, indexation is not available for debentures/bonds.  Abdul says, “In your Freefincal capital gains tax ready reckoner, there is an error regarding the Indexation on the Listed…

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Equity Glide Paths for Retirement Buckets: Freefincal Robo Advisor Update

Published on / By M. Pattabiraman Twitter: @pattufreefincal

The freefincal robo-advisor tool will now feature equity glide paths for retirement buckets, providing enhanced risk management. We also have an updated video user guide. The updated version has already been sent to all existing users. Those who did not receive the notification can contact us. Those unfamiliar with the tool’s features can refer to…

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DSP Global Equity Fund: Should you invest in this retail offshore MF from GIFT City?

Published on / By M. Pattabiraman Twitter: @pattufreefincal

In this article, Abhishek Kumar, a SEBI-registered investment advisor, discusses whether one should invest in the retail offshore MF from GIFT City, specifically the DSP Global Equity Fund. About the author: Abhishek is part of a freefincal’s curated list of fee-only financial advisors and a fee-only India member. He can be contacted via his website, sahajmoney.com. I still remember being 11…

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National Pension Scheme Fund Screener July 2025: Shortlist consistent performers

Published on / By M. Pattabiraman Twitter: @pattufreefincal

This is a National Pension Scheme Fund Screener to shortlist consistently performing NPS schemes. You can also spot NPS schemes with a higher return than a benchmark at a lower risk. This is similar in design to the freefincal Equity Mutual Fund Performance Screener. Inside, you get discounted links to our robo advisory tool and…

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I cannot buy health insurance due to poor health – how can I plan for hospitalizations

Published on / By M. Pattabiraman Twitter: @pattufreefincal

A reader asks, “Would you please suggest how one can manage financially if one is not eligible for health insurance due to pre-existing diseases for younger folks? Medical expenses are an inevitability. How do we plan for that as best as we can?” Most private health insurers today are unlikely to accept the risk of…

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