How are multi-asset funds taxed?
Taxation of multi-asset funds can be complicated—a simple explanation of the rules and how to choose funds in this category.
Continue reading →Why the NPS must be modified to accommodate changing needs
We discuss modifications that can make the National Pension Scheme (NPS an attractive retirement solution accommodating changing needs. The New Tax Regime has made redundant the “extra Rs. 50,000 tax saving” (or reduction in taxable income). So, finally, NPS can attract the right kind of investor. The new-generation retiree wants the flexibility to retire early…
Continue reading →How should I invest my Rs. 5 Crores retirement nest egg?
A reader says, “I am investing next month with a nest egg of Rs. 5 Crores. Please guide me on how to invest this for a peaceful retirement. I am 55 years old. My wife is 56. Our annual expenses are Rs. 8 lakhs (including Rs. 20 lakh health insurance cover)”. We shall punch this…
Continue reading →ETF tracking error screener May 2024
This ETF screener is based on tracking errors and tracking differences (ETF return minus index return). The screener will help users evaluate how efficiently an ETF has tracked its underlying benchmark. 70-plus ETFs are now covered. The tracking error is the ETF’s standard deviation minus index monthly return differences. The lower the tracking error, the…
Continue reading →Which will fetch more returns over 15 years, a SIP or a lump sum investment?
A reader asks, “Which will fetch more returns over 15 years, an SIP or a lump sum investment?” Comparing the returns of a SIP with a lump sum investment has little practical use. After all, none of us will invest just once in the market or always systematically. Even if we did make the comparison,…
Continue reading →Investment & Financial journey of a 23 year old
I am a 23-year-old girl living in Mumbai and the sole breadwinner of my family of 4. I work as a Graphic Designer at a publishing company with an in-hand income of ₹27,000 a month. I am sharing with you how I started my investment journey, and I hope to learn more from Freefincal’s articles….
Continue reading →What are some tax-efficient alternatives for debt mutual funds?
A reader says, “Given the changes in debt fund indexation benefits, I come across market veterans recommending equity savings and multi-asset funds as alternatives. I have the SBI, Kotak and Parag Parikh conservative hybrid funds in three different portfolios in my family. Would you continue to recommend these conservative hybrid funds for a long term…
Continue reading →NPS Portfolio Tracker on Google Sheets
After repeated requests from users of our mutual fund and stock tracker, the freefincal team is happy to present an NPS Portfolio Tracker on Google Sheets. Readers may remember that we recently added a Sovereign Gold Bonds Tracker on Google Sheets to the tracker. Features: Users can choose from 123 NPS funds offered by various pension…
Continue reading →Why Personal Finance is Personal: Customized Solutions for Financial Success
I’ve recently started earning, and while my salary isn’t substantial, I’m eager to dive into investing. However, I’m uncertain whether the monthly investment amount I can invest will be sufficient to reach my financial goals. This dilemma isn’t unique to me, so I’ve decided to explore this topic further by writing an article. The solutions…
Continue reading →Is it Possible to Gauge Post-Retirement Equity Exposure without a Calculator?
A reader wants to know, “Can I find out how much I need to invest for retirement without a calculator? Is there any thumb rule for this? Similarly, can I determine how much equity exposure I can have after retirement without a calculator?” We discussed the first part of the question earlier: Estimate Your Retirement…
Continue reading →Equity Mutual Fund Screener May 2024: Shortlist consistent performers
The latest freefincal Equity Mutual Fund Performance Screener is now available. Use it to screen for consistently performing equity mutual funds. You can screen based on fund category & benchmark and spot mutual funds with a higher return than a benchmark at a lower risk. Inside, you get discounted links to our robo advisory tool…
Continue reading →How a couple reached their desired asset allocation after starting late
In April 2022, we met Arka and Rupali, who are trying to balance their aspirations, like travelling and exploring new opportunities, with their quest for financial independence. They followed it up with a sequel in May 2023. This is part 3. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives…
Continue reading →How to handle real estate in a retirement portfolio?
A reader asks, “If there is a Real estate component (physical) in a retirement planning portfolio, what is the best way to consider this during the rebalancing of assets? Or when considering the equity vs debt allocation”. “For example. Without considering RE investment, my portfolio is at 65: 35. ( 65 % equity). However, if…
Continue reading →Should Professionals or Business Owners File Form-10IEA for continuing in Old Tax Regime?
In this article, Manmohan Sethumadhavan, answers the question, “Should Professionals or Business Owners File Form-10IEA for continuing in Old Tax Regime for AY 2024-2025 (FY 2023-2024)” and considers several other scenarios. Note that this is only for people with business/ professional income, since others can choose any regime any year without any limits. About the…
Continue reading →Stocks with low volatility and momentum for May 2024
We publish a list of stocks with low volatility and momentum each month. We provide data for BSE 500 and BSE 100 stocks. There are now three different screener files available. (1) Stocks with low volatility and momentum from the BSE 100 large cap universe are available as a separate file (2) Stocks with low…
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