Last Updated on September 27, 2023 at 3:52 pm
As 2016 draws to a close, a look at some of the personal finance developments that made a difference and the lessons from them. Before we begin, allow me to wish you a happy new year and pray for the ability to make informed decisions. If we get that right, the rest should take care of itself.
Also, this weekend Amazon has dropped the hardcover price on You Can Be Rich Too With Goal-Based Investing from Rs. 375 to Rs. 266 (prime) and Rs. 306 (normal). Infibeam also is at an attractive Rs. 278 The Kindle edition is also available at a discount of 30% at Rs. 244.30 The Google Play Book edition also has the same price. Do consider picking one for yourself or gift it someone who may need it. If you have read it/used the online calculator modules, we would be delighted if you can spare a few minutes to write a short review at Amazon or Infibeam.
Here we go. Do let me know if I have missed something. I get the feeling that I have.
1 The EPF Debacle
Budget 2016 was a nightmare for many, including me (as a blogger). First EPF was taxed and then it was not under “public pressure”. Not really the public – salaried individuals on social media (SISM) and then unions took it up.
Join 32,000+ readers and get free money management solutions delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to get posts via email! (Link takes you to our email sign-up form)
🔥Enjoy massive discounts on our robo-advisory tool & courses! 🔥
The result: plenty of confusion.
The learning:
Tax rules are not forever. The government can change them at any time. So don’t take those tax-free Excel projections too seriously. When the facts, change, ….
2 Rate Cuts
Not as many rate cuts as they were in 2015 (just two in 2016, four in 2015). Senior citizens learnt a hard lesson: They were keeping all their eggs in one basket and cannot afford to change now (both mentally and financially).
Hope not too many made the mistake of “investing” in Gilt funds, arbitrage-laced balanced funds.
When gold started moving up in early 2016, many wanted to invest in gold and sovereign bonds without understanding how risky they are. When gilt fund NAV started spiking after Nov. 8th, they suddenly realised it was a good idea to invest there. Gilt NAVs have been on the up move for nearly two years now!
The learning:
Don’t invest in what you never did, in the evening of your life
Don’t close the barn door after the horse has bolted
3 Direct Mutual Funds
Tomorrow is the fourth anniversary of direct mutual funds. I had called 2016 as the year of commission-free investing. I don’t know if that is right, but happy to see MF Utility grow in popularity among investors. Many direct investment portals have sprouted up. I will not be betting any money on how much they would grow, but it is clear that more and more people are recognising that there is no free way to invest in mutual funds unless you do it via MFU or with the AMC. And as for MFU, who knows who will own it in 2017 or if it will remain free!
You can invest directly with AMCs and still track everything “in one place”. It is not binary!
This 2017, Switch to Direct and DIY or Switch to Direct and get professional advice from a fee-only financial planner. I got a list here.
4 Demonetization
There was no hullabaloo (from the “public”) when Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes ceased to be legal tender. Why?
When EPF was taxed, it did not affect the rich guys. Now, even if I suffer, I am happy the rich black money hoarders will suffer more. That is more important I guess?!
I asked a washing machine dealer a couple of days back if his business was affected by this. He said yes, but that is how the cookie crumbles. Went on to add, “how many people do you think are foolish enough to keep the black money as cash”? Right!
Right!
Lesson: A good chunk of the educated elite would prefer to preach about going cashless because it suits them, rather than stand in a queue in an ATM.
The cashless space is seriously messed up and it silly to expect anyone born before 1990 to start using an app for money transfer. Exceptions make poor examples.
Ps. You need a smartphone for discounts (while your data is used for “analysis”). You do not need a smartphone for going cashless. A chequebook will do just fine.
You Can Be Rich Too
My new book with PV Subramanyam, published by CNBC TV 18
The book comes with 9 online calculator modules to create your own financial plan.
It also has detailed selection guides for equity and debt mutual funds.
Amazon
Kindle
Read a Sample Chapter and Buy Now!
What Readers Say
- Simple and powerful This book empowers the reader with the concepts in easy to understand & simple form. Those who have been reading blogs of both authors would know that they are not only good with finance domain but also have a knack of simplifying the methods of investing for their readers. This book by them is a gem of financial knowledge for people who are starting to invest or want to get better at it. The presentation and the thought process with calculators is extremely powerful.The book should be read & calculators used simultaneously to understand the concepts well. The calculators when used with real inputs will show you where you are & where you need to reach for each of your goals. Don’t ignore these numbers.Learnings from Chapters 7 to 11 will help you avoid going off path & saving your money from financially hazardous products. With discipline & right approach suggested here you wouldn’t need a financial advisor to build wealth.
- This is perfect book on personal finance. Very nicely explained about taxation about debt mutual fund. Topics like early investing and asset allocation are very well explained. – Mahesh Deshmukh
- Highly Recommended For anyone who wishes to take control of his/her finance this book is a must read. Very simply put, even an amateur in finance will be able to understand and implement. The author genuinely attempts to inculcate the habit of investing among the people who have the ability to invest but refrain from doing it, either due to lack of time , interest or understanding!. The message from the book is ” Investment done without setting a goal/ objective is like leaving for a trip without knowing the destination, not everytime the end result will be promising. Hence, it’s important to invest in a planned & disciplined manner.” A read is highly recommended ????
- A must book for everyone who wants to take control of personal finance. Nice explanation of how a debt mutual fund works. Bonds trading and indexation benefits in high inflation years were something new I learnt. After reading this book you will be able to easily choose any funds, because you will know what that fund does or how that fund works
🔥Enjoy massive discounts on our courses, robo-advisory tool and exclusive investor circle! 🔥& join our community of 7000+ users!
Use our Robo-advisory Tool for a start-to-finish financial plan! ⇐ More than 2,500 investors and advisors use this!
Track your mutual funds and stock investments with this Google Sheet!
We also publish monthly equity mutual funds, debt and hybrid mutual funds, index funds and ETF screeners and momentum, low-volatility stock screeners.
- Do you have a comment about the above article? Reach out to us on Twitter: @freefincal or @pattufreefincal
- Have a question? Subscribe to our newsletter using the form below.
- Hit 'reply' to any email from us! We do not offer personalized investment advice. We can write a detailed article without mentioning your name if you have a generic question.
Join 32,000+ readers and get free money management solutions delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to get posts via email! (Link takes you to our email sign-up form)
About The Author
Dr M. Pattabiraman(PhD) is the founder, managing editor and primary author of freefincal. He is an associate professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. He has over ten years of experience publishing news analysis, research and financial product development. Connect with him via Twitter(X), Linkedin, or YouTube. Pattabiraman has co-authored three print books: (1) You can be rich too with goal-based investing (CNBC TV18) for DIY investors. (2) Gamechanger for young earners. (3) Chinchu Gets a Superpower! for kids. He has also written seven other free e-books on various money management topics. He is a patron and co-founder of “Fee-only India,” an organisation promoting unbiased, commission-free investment advice.Our flagship course! Learn to manage your portfolio like a pro to achieve your goals regardless of market conditions! ⇐ More than 3,000 investors and advisors are part of our exclusive community! Get clarity on how to plan for your goals and achieve the necessary corpus no matter the market condition is!! Watch the first lecture for free! One-time payment! No recurring fees! Life-long access to videos! Reduce fear, uncertainty and doubt while investing! Learn how to plan for your goals before and after retirement with confidence.
Our new course! Increase your income by getting people to pay for your skills! ⇐ More than 700 salaried employees, entrepreneurs and financial advisors are part of our exclusive community! Learn how to get people to pay for your skills! Whether you are a professional or small business owner who wants more clients via online visibility or a salaried person wanting a side income or passive income, we will show you how to achieve this by showcasing your skills and building a community that trusts and pays you! (watch 1st lecture for free). One-time payment! No recurring fees! Life-long access to videos!
Our new book for kids: “Chinchu Gets a Superpower!” is now available!
Must-read book even for adults! This is something that every parent should teach their kids right from their young age. The importance of money management and decision making based on their wants and needs. Very nicely written in simple terms. - Arun.Buy the book: Chinchu gets a superpower for your child!
How to profit from content writing: Our new ebook is for those interested in getting side income via content writing. It is available at a 50% discount for Rs. 500 only!
Do you want to check if the market is overvalued or undervalued? Use our market valuation tool (it will work with any index!), or get the Tactical Buy/Sell timing tool!
We publish monthly mutual fund screeners and momentum, low-volatility stock screeners.
About freefincal & its content policy. Freefincal is a News Media Organization dedicated to providing original analysis, reports, reviews and insights on mutual funds, stocks, investing, retirement and personal finance developments. We do so without conflict of interest and bias. Follow us on Google News. Freefincal serves more than three million readers a year (5 million page views) with articles based only on factual information and detailed analysis by its authors. All statements made will be verified with credible and knowledgeable sources before publication. Freefincal does not publish paid articles, promotions, PR, satire or opinions without data. All opinions will be inferences backed by verifiable, reproducible evidence/data. Contact information: letters {at} freefincal {dot} com (sponsored posts or paid collaborations will not be entertained)
Connect with us on social media
- Twitter @freefincal
- Subscribe to our YouTube Videos
- Posts feed via Feedburner.
Our publications
You Can Be Rich Too with Goal-Based Investing
Published by CNBC TV18, this book is meant to help you ask the right questions and seek the correct answers, and since it comes with nine online calculators, you can also create custom solutions for your lifestyle! Get it now.Gamechanger: Forget Startups, Join Corporate & Still Live the Rich Life You Want
This book is meant for young earners to get their basics right from day one! It will also help you travel to exotic places at a low cost! Get it or gift it to a young earner.Your Ultimate Guide to Travel
This is an in-depth dive into vacation planning, finding cheap flights, budget accommodation, what to do when travelling, and how travelling slowly is better financially and psychologically, with links to the web pages and hand-holding at every step. Get the pdf for Rs 300 (instant download)