A warning for the future

Even though a 90 per cent plus vote bodes well for investors, the Franklin affair raises some troubling questions for the future

Your timing temptation

Investors can hear the clock ticking and are striving to time a perfect exit from the booming equity market. Don't make this mistake.

Two kinds of allocation

Do your asset allocation and your attention allocation match? We can help.

Is it advisable for a first-time investor to invest in index funds?

Ashutosh Gupta talks about the benefits of index funds and why they can be a suitable option for a first-time investor

Not much surplus? Here's how you can still save tax

Here is a financial plan for 34-year-old Gaurav who wants to save on income tax despite not having a large surplus

The rolling stone that does gather moss

The roll-down strategy in debt funds can help reduce the interest-rate risk and improve the predictability of returns. Here's all you need to know about it.

Should I book profits as my investments have gone up substantially?

Experiencing significant gains from the recent market rally, Smita feels that 'timing the market' is an easy and good strategy. Here is why she should avoid doing so.

SIPs: The antidote to volatility

Ups and downs in the market make many investors anxious. SIPs help you smoothly navigate the market's volatility

The capital-gains tax should be indexable

The unavailability of cost-indexing for gains made on equity-based investments is an avoidable inconsistency in the tax system

If I invest in debt funds now, will my returns be closer to YTM or trailing returns?

The returns may not be as good as what we see in the trailing one-year returns but hopefully, not as low as what the YTM suggests either, says Ashutosh Gupta

What is considered as the date and cost of acquisition of segregated portfolios for the tax purpose?

Ashutosh Gupta explains how the date and cost of acquisition of a segregated portfolio are calculated for tax purpose

Strategies for an overheated market

Many mutual fund investors are worried that since the market has run up, they may be investing at elevated levels. Here is what you can do for favourable investment outcomes.

Choosing between the old and new tax slabs

Here is a plan to help 33-year-old Manish make the right choice between the old and new income tax slabs

Is it better to do your SIP at the beginning of the month than the end of the month?

Stop worrying about the date of your SIP, instead be guided by the cycle of your cash flows, advises Ashutosh Gupta

What will be the impact of SEBI's new mandate for the multi-cap category on multi-cap index funds?

Index funds belong to a separate category as per SEBI classification and hence there would be no impact on them, informs Ashutosh Gupta.

How to choose a mutual fund

Mutual funds are meant to simplify the tasking of investing, but choosing the right one can itself intimidate many. Here's a primer to help you

How to calculate your retirement corpus

Calculating your retirement corpus is the first step of retirement planning. It requires you to make some educated guesses, based on which your retirement corpus can vary

'The best years are yet to come for the industry as a whole'

It has been over a year since Nippon Life Insurance of Japan took over the reins of its mutual fund joint venture with Reliance Capital. We speak to Sundeep Sikka, ED & CEO, Nippon Life India Asset Management, to understand the strategy and the focus areas of the fund house.

Should I exit Kotak Standard Multicap and SBI Small Cap?

One should exit a fund for two-three specific reasons, otherwise they should continue to stay invested, suggests Ashutosh Gupta

How to be a billionaire

A thousand here and a thousand there and pretty soon you're talking about real money

Do not mix insurance and investment

The mindset of getting 'something' on maturity is driving many to costly plans that offer very little insurance and only modest returns

Does the advice to avoid more than four-five funds apply to portfolios with both debt & equity funds?

The benefits of diversification diminish rapidly after four-five funds even when debt funds are considered as part of the portfolio, informs Ashutosh Gupta

A beginner's guide to mutual funds

Here's everything a first time mutual fund investor needs to know and do

SIPs - A habit to inculcate

Two subconscious habits that we could do without and one investment habit that we could do with

Isn't investing in thematic funds better than investing in stocks?

Thematic funds are more diversified than particular stocks and hence more suitable for investors looking for investment in a particular theme, suggests Ashutosh Gupta

Why SIPs score over lump sum investments

Here's how SIPs solve the two main problems that usually prevent investors from earning good returns from equity funds

What the expense ratio of a fund tells you

To manage your money, a mutual fund charges you a fee. But how much can they charge you and how much is acceptable?

The 10 per cent tax hit

This is the first year that meaningful tax harvesting is possible on the long-term capital-gains tax on equity holdings. Is it worth it?

TRUST Mutual Fund enters the fund business

With the launch of its maiden debt NFO, TRUST Mutual Fund forays into the mutual fund industry

These highs are not highs

Equity markets are suddenly hitting a series of all-time highs and some investors are getting spooked