Author: Satya Sontanam

Personal Finance, Varsity

 

Buying gold jewellery? Here’s how the pricing works

If you’re thinking about buying gold jewellery as an investment, it’s not the best option. You’ve probably heard this before. The making charges and the gold wastage that occurs during the making of an ornament increase the overall cost, which you might not fully realize later if you decide to sell or exchange it in […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
10
30 Oct 2024
 

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics explained in graphs: what it tells us about India’s prosperity

We typically think that a country’s wealth is determined by its climate or natural resources. However, Nobel Prize-winning research has shown that strong institutions—like fair laws and effective governance—are even more crucial. In 2024, Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson were awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for their research, which highlighted how […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
25 Oct 2024
 

P2P Platforms: What you need to know as a lender as well as a borrower

I have a friend whose family lends money to local stores at interest rates ranging from 24% to 40% per annum. While this return may seem like a great return on investment, the reality is quite different. The risk of shop owners defaulting or delaying payments is high, which can significantly reduce the actual returns. […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
2
22 Aug 2024
 

SGB issued in 2016 matures: Comparing returns of SGB vs. other forms of gold

Series I of the Sovereign Gold Bond, issued in July 2016, was due for redemption on August 5, 2024. We compared how different forms of gold—such as SGBs, gold funds/ETFs, physical gold, and gold in jewelry form—fared during this period. Remember that every form of gold ownership has its own merits and demerits. Based on […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
05 Aug 2024
 

New tax rules on property sales in Budget 2024: Do you have to pay more or less tax now?

In the recent Budget 2024, one of the many proposals announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is the removal of the indexation benefit on long-term capital assets. Since real estate properties are big purchase items, these assets would be significantly impacted. The new rules will also be applicable even for purchases made earlier without any […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
26 Jul 2024
 

Sectoral bets: The wait for returns can be longer..

Whenever a particular sector performs well, inflows into sectoral or thematic mutual funds surge dramatically, indicating investors chase returns. However, these sectors can underperform for extended periods, making timing crucial; for most investors, diversified mutual funds are a better option. The following charts show the sporadic returns from sectoral indices and highlight how some sectors […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
25 Jul 2024
 

Budget 2024: Top 5 budget proposals on personal taxes

In Budget 2024, the first budget in a decade presented by a coalition government, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several proposals that change the existing tax treatment for almost all asset classes. Top among them is the taxation on equity shares and mutual funds. Sitharaman also proposed a few tweaks to the new tax regime […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
2
23 Jul 2024
 

What’s the ‘new asset class’ that SEBI just proposed?

I recently read a Mint article discussing why people fall for unregulated schemes carrying great risk. The story cites the quote –  “There is nothing as disturbing to one’s well-being and judgement as to see a friend get rich. Unless it is to see a non-friend get richer,” from the book ‘Manias, Panics and Crashes’ […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
18 Jul 2024
 

Does investing early matter?

Remember that story of the chessboard and rice? A wise man presented a chessboard to a king, asking for one grain of rice on the first square, two grains on the second, four on the third, and so on, doubling the grains on each subsequent square. The king, thinking it was a modest request, agreed. […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
11 Jul 2024
 

Do more mutual fund units translate to higher returns? 

Recently, a Zerodha Varsity reader came up with an interesting question about direct vs. regular mutual funds. He understands that the return on a direct fund is higher, so buying a direct fund makes sense. But he also feels that one can accumulate more mutual fund units in a regular fund, given that the NAV […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
11 Jun 2024
 

Know Your Fund Manager: Sankaran Naren of ICICI Pru MF

Imagine you are on a flight, and suddenly, the plane hits turbulence. If you’re not familiar with flying and don’t understand why turbulence occurs, you might panic, thinking the plane is in serious trouble. But if you know that turbulence is common and that airplanes are designed to withstand it, you’re more likely to stay […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
01 Jun 2024
 

Do elections impact the stock market? Here are our five observations

One of the initial lessons we learn about stock markets is their inherent uncertainty. When higher uncertainty creeps into the underlying companies or the broader economy, you see higher volatility in the stock market. Elections in a country are highly unpredictable and ambiguous. Investors usually get jittery about the stability of existing policies and what […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
27 Apr 2024
 

Small and Medium REITs Explained: A New Investment Option for Indian Investors

SEBI’s recent regulations on small and medium REITs (SM REITs) have sparked interest among investors who are eager to explore new avenues for real estate investment. After all, real estate is one of the favourite asset classes for Indians. SM REIT (real estate investment trusts) is simply a younger version of the traditional REIT we […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
2
03 Apr 2024
 

What is the best SIP frequency for investing in mutual funds?

Unless you live under a rock, you would have probably heard the term – SIP (systematic investment plan) – in mutual funds. Using SIPs, one can conveniently invest a fixed amount in mutual funds periodically, usually monthly. Unlike lump-sum investments, where a large amount of money is invested at once, SIPs involve spreading the investment […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
09 Mar 2024
 

What if I invest at a market all-time high (2024)?

In February 2024, Japan’s benchmark index reached an all-time high, marking a significant milestone after a prolonged interval of 34 years. The stock market in the Land of Rising Sun is in stark contrast to India’s in terms of reaching all-time highs (ATHs) – we witnessed multiple ATHs within a single year. Many investors worry […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
1
02 Mar 2024
 

Know your fund manager: Rajeev Thakkar of PPFAS Mutual Fund

How well do you know the fund managers you invest with? Beyond the statistics and performance charts lies a deeper understanding that can help you make informed decisions: their core investment philosophies and personal beliefs. This is the heart of our Know Your Fund Manager series, where we delve into the minds of the individuals […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
9
12 Feb 2024
 

Cashless claim facility at any hospital, with no network limitations

You would have likely heard about it from someone or experienced it yourself: a medical emergency strikes, and you rush to the nearest hospital, only to discover your insurer’s network does not cover it. Dealing with upfront payments and waiting for reimbursements can be stressful. To ease the financial burden and speed up the claims […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
08 Feb 2024
 

Know the incentives of those selling you a financial product

“There is no such thing as a free lunch.” You may have heard this famous quote emphasizing the idea that you cannot get something for nothing. This is particularly true when it comes to selling financial products. People could have an agenda and/or an incentive to sell or not to sell a particular financial product to you.

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
26 Jan 2024
 

Old vs New tax regime: Which one is better for you?

In the year 2020, the government introduced a new tax regime under which taxpayers can choose to pay tax at lower rates. In this article, we compare old and new tax regimes, and help you understand which one could be more beneficial for you by discussing the differences in tax rates, deductions, and exemptions.

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
27 Dec 2023
 

Are you mixing insurance and investments? Here’s what you need to know

Keanu Reeves, a Canadian actor and the lead actor in the movie ‘The Matrix,’ was once asked in an interview, “What do you think happens when we die?” His response touched everyone emotionally for a moment – he said, “I know that the ones who love us will miss us.” Now, imagine if that person […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
26 Oct 2023
 

What India’s global bond inclusion means for you: Opportunities and risks

After a long wait, Indian government bonds have finally secured a spot in the global bond indices club. This is an interesting development for India. Starting June 28, 2024, Indian government bonds will be part of the J.P. Morgan Emerging Markets bond index. India’s share in its Global Diversified Index (GBI-EM GD) is expected to […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
28 Sep 2023
 

RBI’s new rules ensure faster release of property documents for borrowers

If you have a home loan or a loan against any property/security, then you have a reason to smile. RBI, on September 13, 2023, came out with a notification stating that banks and NBFCs (non-banking financial company) must release all the movable or immovable property documents given as collateral within 30 days from the day […]

Personal Finance, Varsity
0
18 Sep 2023