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💸 The One-Year Delay That Cost Me ₹42 Lakhs: A Personal Lesson in Investing Early

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By: A guy who wished he had listened sooner In the mid-1990s, fresh out of college, my best friend Murugan and I landed our first jobs. We had done everything together—college, celebrations, job hunting—and now we were both earning just under ₹20,000 a month. Life was good. Or so I thought. PC: vrouge.co 📢 The Advice I Ignored One day, Murugan told me his father, a retired bank manager, had given him a piece of golden advice: “Start investing now. Even a small, regular amount will grow more than you can imagine.” Inspired by that, Murugan immediately started a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) in equity mutual funds. ₹5,000 a month. That was nearly 25% of his salary! He didn’t stop there—he increased the SIP by 10% every year , no matter what. When he shared his plan with me, I chuckled and said: “We’re just 22, da! Why rush into all this investment stuff? We’ve got 30-35 years ahead of us.” Murugan just smiled and replied: “Every year counts. That’s what Appa...
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Should I Invest in an NFO? Why I Usually Don’t Fall for the Hype

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Every few months, a New Fund Offer (NFO) comes knocking — packaged with buzzwords, glossy brochures and a convincing pitch from your mutual fund app or distributor. “Limited window.” “First-mover advantage.” “Thematic opportunity.” It all sounds exciting. A total of  176 NFOs were launched in FY24 amassing an amount of ₹63,538 crore In the fiscal year 2024 with significant contributions from major players, indicates investor trust and various market approaches.(source Upstox) Top five fund houses for FY2024: Source: Value Research But here’s my honest take: I rarely invest in NFOs. And I’ll explain why — with some real 2024 NFO examples to back it up. 🚨  1. NFOs Come with Buzz — and Built-In Costs Let’s start with something most investors overlook: the cost of an NFO is often higher in the early years. Why? Because mutual fund houses spend a lot during the launch phase — marketing campaigns, distributor commissions, roadshows and promotions. And where does that...
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Health Insurance Isn’t a Trap — It’s Just Deeply Misunderstood

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 A recent article -  Why health insurance looks like a trap to so many Indians - The Times of India  claimed that health insurance “feels like a trap” for many Indians. As someone who works closely with this industry, I understand why people feel that way — but I also think this perspective misses several critical nuances. pc- unknown Let me share what I’ve learned from experience: 🩺 Premiums are rising — but so are healthcare costs Medical inflation in India is nearing 14% — among the highest in Asia. Hospitals often charge vastly different rates for the same treatment, and insurers have to recalibrate premiums just to keep up. It’s not about profit, it’s about sustainability. pc - The Economic Times 💰 Comprehensive insurance is more affordable than people think For instance, a family of 2 Adults can get ₹30Lac Accident Coverage +   ₹ 5Lac protection from major diseases for as low as  ₹ 7200 (that’s less than ₹600/month!). That’s not bad for peace o...
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Discipline and Patient Investing - A True Story of a 73 year old woman

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A few days ago, I was catching up with a friend when he casually mentioned something that truly blew my mind—his 73-year-old mother had built a stock portfolio of over ₹1.26 crores! Though I had met her a few times while dropping or picking up my friend many years ago-when we were working in the same company, my conversation was restricted to few formal greetings. Naturally, I was curious, so I asked him how she pulled that off and he asked me to ask her. What she shared was genuinely inspiring. When I met her, she welcomed me with confidence and aura that comes from a lifetime of experiences. During our chat, I discovered that her investment journey kicked off nearly 32 years ago. She isn’t a financial guru (in today's social media sense  😊 ), nor did she have a formal financial education (completed her PUC then). What she did have was discipline, patience and faith in the power of consistent, small efforts. Source: Unknown   She told me that her adventure began in the...
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Stranded With a Dead EV? Not Anymore—The Charging Revolution is Here!

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  Imagine being stranded in the middle of nowhere, your electric car running on its last few kilometers and no charging station in-sight. This fear of range anxiety is real and it’s one I’ve personally felt more than once. Image Source: Unknown           The good news? Things are changing. The proliferation of home chargers with capacities of 7 kWh and above, which take around six to seven hours to fully charge a car depending on the model, is bringing running costs down by nearly a third. Coupled with the increasing range of modern electric cars, this shift could trigger a massive surge in EV sales. I Image Source: Cars24           Last month, at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo in Delhi, I witnessed three major carmakers—Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Vinfast—unveil their latest electric models. But what caught my attention more than the cars was their aggressive push for a widespread charging infrastructure.  ...
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RBI Rate Cuts: Perspective on Navigating Changing EMIs and Financial Realities

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        I vividly remember the challenges and excitement of managing finances in my 30s. Back then, I juggled career growth, family responsibilities, and long-term financial planning—experiences that many of you in your 30s and 40s can relate to today. One decision that had a profound impact on my financial journey was the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) rate cuts. In this article, I share my personal account of how these rate cuts affected my Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs), my post-interest value evaluation (Post I.V.E), and some of the negative aspects that came with these changes—all while using real numbers from my own experience. Image Source: Freepik.com Understanding RBI Rate Cuts The RBI periodically adjusts its policy interest rate—the benchmark rate at which commercial banks borrow from it—to influence economic activity. A rate cut typically means that borrowing becomes cheaper, which can translate into lower interest rates on loans. When I was ...
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