Personal Finance

Virtual retro tax overshadows many positives of this Budget

Governments, Mutual Fund, Personal Finance, RIA, Taxes, Uncategorized / By /

Budget 2026 offers several promising reforms, but one provision threatens to overshadow them all: taxing capital gains on Sovereign Gold Bonds bought from the secondary market. Previously, RBI redemption was tax-exempt regardless of how the bonds were acquired; restricting this benefit only to original subscribers is effectively retrospective, with an estimated impact of about ₹8,000 crore.

Other measures are constructive—TRS-based sell-downs could deepen the corporate bond market; overseas individuals of non-Indian origin may soon invest in Indian equities; and proposals such as exempting global income of returning experts and enabling online low-TDS certificates could ease frictions for talent and startups. Yet some areas fall short, including limited relief in TCS on overseas tours and a less calibrated STT hike.

Rolling back the SGB amendment is essential to avoid reviving concerns over retrospective taxation and to let the Budget’s genuine positives shine through

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Cryptos Risks are Structural, its Returns are not

Advice, Crypto, Fees, Financial, Investments, Mutual Fund, Personal Finance / By /

Ganesh’s winning bet in the 1983 World Cup final was worthless because it was unenforceable. Crypto carries a similar risk. Even when prices move in your favour, weak regulation, custody failures, fraud, and legal irreversibility can wipe out gains entirely. As crypto returns compress toward levels seen in traditional assets, its risks remain open-ended. Without enforceability or recourse, a “winning” investment can still end in total loss—making crypto suitable, at best, only for speculative “mad money,” not for serious financial goals.

Cryptos Risks are Structural, its Returns are not Read More »

Unclaimed Assets: Easy Searchability, Not Opacity, Cuts Fraud

Banking, Insurance, Investments, Mutual Fund, Personal Finance, RIA / By /

India’s ₹2 lakh crore pile of unclaimed assets remains largely out of reach not because citizens are unwilling to claim them, but because the system makes discovery nearly impossible. Official portals demand prior knowledge of assets, defeating their very purpose. As a result, meaningful restitution is rare, while private intermediaries succeed where the state does not. Without a unified, searchable database focused on discovery, initiatives like Aapki Poonji – Aapka Adhikar risk becoming symbolic rather than transformative. Truth be told, transparency—not opacity—is the real safeguard against fraud.

Unclaimed Assets: Easy Searchability, Not Opacity, Cuts Fraud Read More »

When paying fees hurts: Why investors favour commissions

Banking, Fees, International, Investments, Mutual Fund, Personal Finance, RIA / By /

When Paying Fees Hurts: Why Investors Favour Commissions
Nobel Prize–winning behavioural economist Richard Thaler showed that people spend far more when the payment feels painless — like using a credit card instead of cash. The “pain of paying” is strong when money leaves your hand, but much weaker when the cost is hidden or delayed. The salience also drops because the price of a ticket gets buried among dozens of items in the credit-card bill. A ₹10,000 ticket feels expensive on its own, but as part of an ₹80,000 bill it seems acceptable.
This simple insight explains why investors resist paying visible fees to advisers but readily accept commissions embedded in financial products. Fees deducted from investments (as in PMS) are also less painful than fees paid separately by cheque.

This pattern holds worldwide: wherever investors can choose between commissions and fees, most pick commissions because they feel painless. Only in countries like the UK and Australia — which have banned commissions — do large numbers of investors pay fees directly.

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Your credit is easier to steal than your money

Advice, Banking, Financial, Governments, Investments, Mutual Fund, Personal Finance, RIA / By /

Your credit is easier to steal than your money.
With just a phone number and an OTP, fraudsters can trick lenders into approving loans in your name — without your knowledge. Weak consent systems, no instant alerts, and rushed digital lending have made identity theft alarmingly easy. It’s time India strengthens its safeguards with verified consent, real-time alerts, and stricter ID checks to truly protect borrowers.

Your credit is easier to steal than your money Read More »

Steadiness trumps aggression in investing

Investments, Personal Finance, Retirement / By /

📈 Steadiness trumps aggression in investing.

Too often, investors go hunting for the next big winner—like picking Virender Sehwag over Mr. Average. But investing isn’t a sport. You don’t need to be spectacular. You just need to be consistent.

This column argues for choosing steady, reliable returns over flashy, high-risk bets—helping you get close to your goal, consistently.

👉 Worth reading for anyone planning long-term goals like education or retirement.

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Why splitting FDs across banks doesnt add up

Financial, Personal Finance / By /

💡 Why splitting FDs across banks doesn’t add up?
Chasing slightly higher returns by spreading your fixed deposits across multiple banks might seem smart — but it can lead to a logistical and emotional mess. From redundant KYC formalities to poor service, mis-selling, and hassles for your nominees, the hidden costs outweigh the tiny interest gain.

As the PMC Bank case shows, even insured money may not be accessible quickly or with interest.

👉 A better alternative? Hybrid funds that balance safety, returns, and liquidity without the stress.

🔗 Read the full article to understand why:

Why splitting FDs across banks doesnt add up Read More »

Competition in money matters can be damaging

Financial, Personal Finance, Press / By /

Not every race is worth running — in life or in money.
A childhood car ride taught Harsh a lesson he didn’t fully understand until much later in life.
In Harsh’ latest Truth Be Told column for Business Standard, he reflect on how the urge to compete — especially in financial matters — can quietly pull us off course.
This isn’t just about investing. It’s about resisting pressure, staying the course, and focusing on your own destination.

Competition in money matters can be damaging Read More »

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Vigilance Awareness Week 2025 (VAW2025)

Vigilance Awareness Week 2025 is being observed from October 27th to November 2nd, 2025, with the theme:

सतर्कता: हमारी साझा जिम्मेदारी (“Vigilance: Our Shared Responsibility”).

All stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the e-pledge initiative by visiting the CVC portal: https://pledge.cvc.nic.in/.