For the third week in a row, both the Sensex and the Nifty continued to decline. For the past eighteen months, the main benchmark indices of the Indian stock market have been basically the same. This indicates that an investor's portfolio has either made no returns during the last 1.5 years or kept inactive. According to mutual fund managers , investors in the Indian stock market shouldn't be concerned because similar incidents have occurred in the past. The financial expert advised investors stay calm even if they might have a lot of questions at this point. These conflicts are: What should I do now that I haven't generated any money in the past 18 months due to geopolitical conflict and what lies ahead? These times also occurred in the past, according to the managers. However, the next 18 to 36 months have been quite profitable, with an annual return on investment of 12% to 13%, after the end of such a lean 18-month period. Thus, continue growing on each significant d...

A balanced approach to investing for your daughter’s future can provide both security and growth. The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a government-backed scheme designed specifically for the girl child, offering guaranteed returns at an interest rate of around 7.6%–8.2% per annum. It is virtually risk-free and comes with triple tax benefits — exemption on investment, interest earned, and maturity proceeds. This makes SSY ideal for building a stable, assured corpus. On the other hand, mutual funds are market-linked investments that can potentially deliver higher returns over a long horizon. Through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs), you can start with as little as ₹500 per month, with no upper limit. While mutual funds carry market risk, they offer flexibility, diversification , and the possibility of wealth creation over 10–15 years. Tax benefits are limited to ELSS funds , and other gains are subject to capital gains tax . Experts recommend combining both options — allocating a ...

I nvesting through a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) is not just about putting money aside every month—it’s about aligning your investments with clear financial goals. Goal setting gives direction to your SIP and ensures that your money works for you in the right way. Start by identifying your short‑term and long‑term goals. Short‑term goals could be buying a gadget, funding a vacation, or building an emergency fund . Long‑term goals may include children’s education , retirement planning , or purchasing a home . Once you know your goals, calculate the time horizon and the amount required. This helps you decide how much to invest monthly and which type of mutual fund suits your needs— equity funds for long‑term growth, debt funds for stability, or hybrid funds for balanced returns. Discipline is the backbone of SIP. By investing regularly, you benefit from rupee cost averaging and compounding . Tracking progress periodically ensures you stay on course and make adjustments if need...

No, you cannot take a loan against Gold/ Silver  ETFs in India. As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines (2025), Gold ETFs , digital gold , and gold mutual funds are not accepted as collateral for loans . Only physical gold jewellery, coins, and ornaments are eligible. Key Points on Loans Against Gold in India Gold/ Silver  ETFs & Digital Gold/ Silver : Not permitted as collateral for loans under RBI rules. Eligible Collateral : Physical gold/ Silver  jewellery and bank-issued coins are allowed. Loan-to-Value (LTV) Ratio : RBI caps the maximum loan at 75% of the value of the gold/ Silver  collateral . Conditions : Gold must be assayed and valued by standardized procedures . Collateral must be securely stored and released only after repayment. Transparency in auction procedures if borrower defaults. Comparison Table Asset Type Eligible for Loan? Max Loan-to-Value (LTV) Conditions Gold/Silver Jewellery/Coins ✅ Yes Up to 75% of value Assaying, valuation,...

One of the most well-known small savings programs in India is the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), which was introduced by the Indian government to support girls' financial security. Any post office or recognized bank will allow parents or legal guardians to open an SSY account for their daughter under the age of ten. The plan accepts contributions for 15 years and permits annual installments between ₹250 and ₹1.5 lakh. After 21 years or when the girl marries after turning 18 , the account matures. It is now one of the highest interest rates among government savings plans, with a compound annual interest rate of 8.2% from October to December of 2025 . SSY offers substantial tax advantages as well. Deposits are eligible for Both the maturity amount and the interest generated are entirely tax-free . Because of this, SSY is now an EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) plan , guaranteeing maximum returns with no tax obligation. Parents might accumulate a sizeable corpus for their daughter's ...

While SIPs (Systematic Investment Plans) are popular for their disciplined approach, lumpsum investing —where you invest a large amount at once—can be equally powerful, especially for long-term goals. 🚀 Immediate Market Exposure Unlike SIPs that stagger investments over time, lumpsum investing puts your entire amount to work from day one . This means you benefit from any market uptrend immediately, maximizing growth potential. 📈 Power of Compounding The earlier your money is invested, the longer it compounds. Lumpsum investments allow full capital to grow uninterrupted , which can result in significantly higher returns over time—especially in bullish markets. 🧠 Simplicity and Convenience One-time investing is less hassle —no monthly tracking or transfers. It’s ideal for investors who receive bonuses, inheritances, or have idle funds waiting to be deployed. 🕰️ Best for Long-Term Goals If your investment horizon is 5+ years and you’re confident about market conditions, lumpsum invest...

Insurance is more than a financial product—it’s a shield that protects your family’s future. In today’s uncertain world, rising medical costs, unexpected accidents, and life’s unpredictability make health, accidental, and term insurance essential. Health Insurance : With healthcare expenses climbing, a sudden illness can drain savings. Health insurance covers hospitalization , surgeries , medicines , and preventive check‑ups , ensuring you get quality treatment without financial stress. Accidental Insurance : Life is full of surprises, and not all are pleasant. Road accidents or workplace injuries can lead to loss of income and heavy medical bills . Accidental insurance provides compensation for disability , hospitalization, and even loss of life, acting as a financial cushion when you need it most. Term Insurance : While health and accidental insurance cover medical and injury costs, term insurance secures your family’s financial future if something happens to you. It offers a l...

The National Rajrajeshwari Women's Freedom Policy , launched by National Insurance Company Limited , is a specialized accident insurance product designed to support women across rural and semi-urban India. With lifetime renewability and inclusive eligibility, it offers both individual and group coverage for women aged 5 to 75 years , regardless of income or occupation. Target Audience Individual Proposers : Parents/guardians of girl children, women (married/unmarried), husbands of married women Group Proposers : Schools, NGOs , Self Help Groups , Employers, and other non-insurance-specific groups Insured Persons : Girl children (under 18), women (18+), multiple eligible family members under one policy Basic Coverage Benefits Description Girl Child (<18 yrs) Woman (18+ yrs) Sum Insured ₹1,00,000 ₹2,00,000 Permanent Total Disablement 100% of SI 100% of SI Permanent Partial Disablement 50% of SI 50% of SI Death Cover 100% of SI 100% of SI Death due to Surgical Procedure Available A...

For many years, Indian investors have been using Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) by default. However, Gen Z 's more discerning tools and well-defined objectives are changing the mutual fund environment. They do more than just invest; they also match portfolios to lifestyle goals, tech trends, and individual values. Thematic funds are becoming more popular, particularly those with an emphasis on ESG , AI , and climate technology . For managing volatility, flexi-cap funds provide a dynamic allocation across market caps . In order to lower cost ratios , Gen Z take help of advisors to build up there future profits. Generic wealth accumulation is being replaced by goal-based investing . Gen Z is linking mutual fund strategies to life events, such as financing an early retirement, a master's degree, or taking a vacation. Their proactive approach involves monitoring fund performance on a quarterly basis and modifying allocations in response to market changes. Gen Z is combining...

As India's financial situation is evolving rapidly with an increase in financial literacy and digital access , there has been rapid growth in the investment field. Prior to this investment, India used to save 70% of their income on real estate, gold, and bank deposits and only 30% in mutual funds , stocks , equities, and insurance, but now the data is changing; we can see an increase in the change of these ratios. ratios. India maintains a healthy savings rate of around 30% of GDP , supporting capital formation and economic growth. Tier 2–3 cities show the fastest growth in new investors. Despite cash still being widely used, high-yield savings accounts , treasury bills , and index funds are gaining traction. Investors are increasingly choosing low-risk instruments with better returns than fixed deposits. Retail investing in India has exploded in 2025. With over 4.18 crore demat accounts and ₹504.6 lakh crore in custody value, the middle class is no longer sitting on the si...

Making investments into   New Fund Offers can  represent  a  well - considered tactical choice if handled  with  careful consideration .  Despite numerous  investors  casting aside   NFOs due to  the absence  of  past  performance  records  and  elevated  initial  expenditures ,  these instruments have the capacity to unlock exclusive benefits  that may not  be  available in  already  existing funds. NFOs  tend  to  present novel  themes or  delve  into sectors  that are just starting to gain traction — for instance,  investing  based on environmental ,  social, and governance factors,  strategies  powered by artificial intelligence , or  specialized  markets  outside of the country — which are not commonly found  in  current  mutual funds.  This  provides  i...

SEBI In a significant advancement for investor protection and financial inclusion, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approved important modifications in the mutual fund sector during its board meeting on Friday (September 2025). These reforms aim to lower costs for investors, enhance fairness, and increase participation among new and female investors. SEBI’s new rules on mutual fund incentives are reshaping how distributors earn. Earlier, distributors in B-30 cities received payouts even when the same clients invested repeatedly, but now incentives apply  only for brand-new investors with fresh PANs . This means a loss of recurring incentive income and more effort needed to bring in new clients, with earnings capped at  1% of the first investment or ₹2,000 for SIPs in the first year .  While this reduces short-term payouts, it encourages genuine expansion of the investor base and strengthens industry credibility. On the positive side, SEBI has introduce...