Author: Satya Sontanam

Imagine this scenario: A joint demat account or a mutual fund account is created with someone else. But what happens if one of the joint account holders passes away? Who gets the share of the deceased account holder—the surviving joint holder or the legal heirs of the deceased? Well, SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of […]

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 […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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’ […]

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. […]

If you keep even a casual eye on the markets, you couldn’t have missed the reaction on election results day, June 4, 2024. In fact, that entire week was chaotic in the markets, with significant volatility. At one point, the market dropped nearly 8% on the results day but came full circle, closing flat by […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

“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.

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.

Missing just a few of the best days in the market can have a significant impact on long-term investment returns. In this article, we discuss what happens if you miss some of the best or worst days in the market.

While the retirement benefits that we can get from a job or a government have been emphasized for years, retirement planning that we ought to do for ourselves has not received the same level of attention.

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 […]

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 […]