Value Research Online

The tax bill that keeps bad funds alive

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 17:04:40 +0530

The tax on selling a mutual fund feels like a loss because of anchoring. Here is why the bill is smaller than it looks and how to clean up a cluttered portfolio slowly.

The number that wants you scared

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:31:28 +0530

A viral post claims SIPs have delivered just 6.7 per cent annual returns over 20 years. Here's what the calculation misses and what SIP returns really show.

The questions behind the thank-yous

Mon, 06 Jul 2026 13:21:40 +0530

Why the Portfolio Planner and Portfolio Analysis can disagree, what the new regular-plan cost numbers really show and where to watch last month's Advisor Live.

Know what to do with every fund you own

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:42:50 +0530

New fund opinions are live. Watch our Fund Advisor Live session on the new fund opinion framework. Understand how to read it for your own portfolio.

What to do with a fund opinion

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 13:19:50 +0530

A fund rating shows whether a fund beats its own benchmark, not whether you should own it. A fund up 100 per cent and one down 20 per cent can both rate well. Here's why.

A view on every fund you own

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:19:43 +0530

Fund Advisor now covers every fund you hold, not just the ones on our list. Here is how the framework works and why most opinions will tell you to do nothing.

50 funds need not be 50 problems

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:57:14 +0530

Held 50 mutual funds after 25 years of SIPs? Most are duplicate bets. Redirect fresh SIPs and use the annual capital gains exemption to consolidate at little tax.

International funds: 12 open. Only 4 are worth holding

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:23:09 +0530

SEBI's overseas cap has closed most international funds. Of the 12 still accepting money, four have beaten the BSE 500. Here are the funds and their SIP limits.

Half the job is saying no

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 13:21:17 +0530

Mutual fund PMS charges up to 2.5 per cent annually, triggers capital gains tax on every rebalance, and keeps 20 per cent of your upside. Here is why a direct-plan portfolio beats it.

A realistic note for uncertain times

Mon, 25 May 2026 13:59:30 +0530

When markets are turbulent, a confident forecast is the least useful thing an advisor can offer. Here is why staying with SIPs and honest uncertainty beats prediction.

Two stories. One signal

Mon, 18 May 2026 12:46:21 +0530

The war in West Asia and the PM's import-reduction appeals are the same story: a draining dollar pile weakening the rupee. Here is what to hold, what to expect and what to ignore.

The restaurant critic who tells you to cook at home

Mon, 11 May 2026 15:10:58 +0530

Large-cap active funds now rarely beat the index. But in mid- and small-cap categories, skilled managers still add value. Here is how to get the right mix for your portfolio.

The most expensive feeling in investing

Mon, 04 May 2026 15:03:15 +0530

SEBI's overseas cap pauses inflows, not redemptions. Your existing units are safe. Here is the right allocation for international funds and why the deadline fear is the real trap.

Your fund trailed its benchmark. Now what?

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:25:41 +0530

Not all fund underperformance is the same. Cyclical, structural and closet-index lag require different responses. Here's the checklist for reading which kind you are dealing with.

The one thing your portfolio cannot do for you

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 14:28:22 +0530

A careful investor of 30 years left no record of where his portfolio was. His family is still searching. Here is the two-part solution that protects everything you have built.

When the world is in chaos, your plan shouldn't

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 13:05:30 +0530

Gold is falling despite a war; Indian markets look cheap but dangerous. The right response depends not on headlines but on how long your money can stay invested.

I was wrong about gold. Here's what I've learned.

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:12:11 +0530

After years of dismissing gold, a veteran investor revisits the case for owning 5-10 per cent gold as portfolio insurance in a riskier world. We dig deeper.

Is your fund distributor a 15% partner in your wealth?

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:50:50 +0530

Regular mutual fund plans can quietly take 10-20 per cent of your lifetime wealth through commissions. Here’s why it’s worth switching to direct plans.

When fear feels logical

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:52:12 +0530

Technology funds are under pressure amid fears of AI-led disruption. Before exiting, assess your technology exposure and rebalance thoughtfully, not emotionally.

Why 'Hold' feels stuck and why we're slow to pull trigger

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:14:42 +0530

Hold isn’t hesitation. It avoids unnecessary exit tax while you reduce fund concentration gradually. Here’s when ‘Hold’ becomes ‘Sell’ and why patience pays.