Every week, a new financial freedom story shows up on YouTube. A new video. A new podcast. A new educator who has “achieved financial freedom” and now wants to teach others how to do the same. Platforms like YouTube, podcasts, and finance apps are full of such stories, many with lakhs of views. And that…
Continue reading →A reader says, “I have invested in equity mutual funds for the last four years. Can I now start buying stocks?” Here are some guidelines to decide. Why do you want to invest in stocks? Is it because you heard multibagger stories on social media and feel you are missing out on something? Or did…
Continue reading →Budget 2026 has clarified the tax treatment of sovereign gold bonds. They are tax-free only for original subscribers who purchase from banks or the RBI, not from the secondary market and hold them to maturity (8 years). Those who purchase SGBs in the secondary market must pay capital gains tax. This shall take effect from “1st…
Continue reading →Budget 2026 has proposed that ” no deduction shall be allowed in respect of any interest expenditure incurred for earning dividend income or income from units of mutual funds, applicable for the Financial Year 2025-26 onwards. If one borrows money to buy shares or MFs and receives dividends or income from units (IDCW), the income…
Continue reading →An investor in an SDI (securitised debt instrument) recently shared with us his experience following a default on interest payments. Before we get to the story, a quick (simplified) primer on SDIs (it will remind you of The Big Short if you have seen it; if you have not, you should!). Suppose A, B and C…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we encounter a 12-year transformative personal finance journey. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives, which benefits us all. Some of the previous editions are linked at the bottom of this article. You can also access the full reader story…
Continue reading →After the mandatory NPS annuity was reduced to 20% in Dec 2025, I discussed two additional changes I would like to see in the NPS. (1) The inclusion of the RBI Retail Direct Portal as an annuity provider and (2) A short-term debt fund option for retirees. See: My NPS Wishlist: two changes to make it…
Continue reading →SEBI RIA Ajay Pruthi continues his discussion on the education loan. This is part 1: Education Loan for Higher Studies – Who Pays for the Borrowed Dream? The convocation ceremony is the peak of the mountain. The black gown is worn. The degree is held high. But as the applause fades, the real story begins. The…
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. Update: We recently added a new tool to the freefincal investor circle…
Continue reading →After each budget, many money managers get confused, raise all sorts of doubts, and blame the government for using confusing language. Here are simple steps to handle budget announcements without confusion! 1. The ideal approach: Ignore all pre- and post-budget noise and enjoy your life! This is because the budget is an event for content…
Continue reading →“You will have to quit your corporate job and become an entrepreneur to understand the tax benefits, – my friend said a while ago. He was spot on. Before we begin, I would like to point out that I am a layman. I strongly believe in paying taxes for the good of the country. This…
Continue reading →This new year, let us be the fund managers of our goals and dreams. To do this, we must do better than these common beliefs and questions we ask on money management or the issues we worry about: We naively believe that because the Indian economy is expected to grow, our portfolio returns will always grow,…
Continue reading →Many friends have shown interest in becoming SEBI-registered investment advisors (RIAs), offering unbiased advice to clients and earning a decent income from it. Several DIY investors are keen on helping others manage their finances. For them, it can be a second career. About the author: Melvin Joseph is one of the first RIAs in the…
Continue reading →When the NPS regulator PFRDA announced on 12th Dec 2025 that the mandatory annuity requirement for non-government subscribers had been reduced from 40% to 20%, I also assumed that the minimum 15-year lock-in period applied to all such subscribers. Since our article – NPS reduces annuity requirement to 20% – should you open an NPS account?…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we meet a 30-something tech consultant who often ignored logic and followed his heart, but still landed on his feet. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives, which benefits us all. Some of the previous editions are linked at the…
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