Namrata Singh, CFP & Chaitali Shah, MA (Economics) Asset allocation - the process of distributing investments across various asset classes, such as equities, fixed income, real estate, gold, and cash aims to balance risk and reward according to individual goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon. This strategy is a key driver of a portfolio's long-term performance and  an essential approach for managing market volatility. As the saying goes, "Don’t put all your eggs in one bask...Read More

Namrata Singh, CFP & Chaitali Shah, MA (Economics) Debt funds are mutual funds that invest in a variety of debt securities such as treasury bills, government securities (gilts), certificates of deposits (CDs), commercial papers (CPs), bonds, and money market securities, among others. Unlike investing directly in bonds or debt securities, debt mutual funds provide diversification and professional management, especially in underdeveloped debt markets like India. Categories of Debt Mutual...Read More

By Namrata Singh, CFP & Chaitali Shah, MA (Economics) Equity Mutual Funds allocate their funds into stocks of various companies. According to SEBI regulations, these funds must invest a minimum of 65% of their assets in equity and equity-related instruments. These funds are for long-term wealth creation, have the potential to outpace inflation and generate substantial returns over extended investment periods. They can be categorized as follows: ~ Large Cap Funds: - Invest in ...Read More

By Namrata Singh, CFP & Chaitali Shah, MA (Economics) A Mutual Fund is a collective investment vehicle managed by a professional fund manager. It operates as a trust, gathering funds from numerous investors who share a common investment objective. These pooled funds are then diversified across various assets such as equities, bonds, money market instruments, gold, and silver in line with the investment objective of the scheme. Evolution of the Mutual Fund Industry: The Mutual Fund i...Read More

Namrata Singh, CFP & Chaitali Shah, MA (Economics)  The financial year is coming to an end in one week. If you are yet to finalise your tax saving investments, this article may help you. An Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) is a type of a diversified mutual fund scheme eligible for tax deduction under section 80C of the Income Tax Act. It has a statutory lock-in period of 3 years. A mutual fund is a pool of investors' money that is managed by a fund manager. The investment is mad...Read More

​​Namrata Singh, CFP & Chaitali Shah, MA (Economics) A real life story An old lady named Mrs.Veenu Shah – aged 68 years had lost her husband. She had no children and she lived alone in Mumbai.  Ramesh, who was her sister’s son, invited her to live with his family.  He told her, “Sell your house and come live with us. I will take care of you and manage your money.”  She was a simple lady with no experience in managing money and so she trusted her sister’s son. Eventu...Read More

By Namrata Singh, CFP & Chaitali Shah, MA (Economics) What is a Critical Illness? Critical illness is a serious health condition like Heart Attack, Cancer, Paralysis, Stroke, Kidney Failure, etc which can lead to one’s inability to work and thus loss of income. Why do we need Critical Illness Insurance? A critical illness insurance policy covers incidental costs that may arise due to any significant disease or disability that may hamper one’s ability to work or maintain the i...Read More

By Namrata Singh, CFP & Chaitali Shah, MA (Economics) Government of India had introduced the Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS) in 2004 through Post Offices. 17 years after its launch the scheme can now be availed through select branches of nationalised banks and Post offices. ICICI Bank is one of the private players that offers this product. Authorised banks or Post Offices do not provide a platform to open the account online. To open an account one has to visit the nearest bank br...Read More