M. Pattabiraman's Blog, page 2

Is the safe withdrawal rate dependent on age?

I encountered an interesting YouTube comment:  “3% withdrawal is safe to retire at what age? The withdrawal rate is clear, but I am not sure if it has age attached to it. The longer the post-retirement life, the higher the uncertainty?” What does the term “safe withdrawal rate” mean? The safe withdrawal rate, or SWR,...

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My Stock Portfolio Analysis: Aug 2025

This article compares my stock portfolio with an equivalent investment in a Nifty index fund and the Nifty 100 Low Volatility 30 TR index. We post this comparison each month. Before we begin, new readers need to understand the context of these investments. Update: We recently added a new tool to the freefincal investor circle...

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The 12 stages of retirement planning (accumulation phase)

Retirement planning is a life-long exercise. Ideally, it lasts from when we draw our first salary/income to when we (or the surviving spouse) draw our last breath. During this journey, there are several stages. Each stage teaches us something new. Retirement planning has two stages – accumulation (pre-retirement) and withdrawal (post-retirement). Here are 12 stages...

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Selling Property? Don’t Miscalculate Your Section 54 Reinvestment Amount

Last Updated on August 27, 2025 at 9:43 am In a previous article, we highlighted the common mistake made by many while claiming capital gain exemption under Section 54 and Section 54F – Claiming Capital Gains Exemption? Watch Out for This Common Slip. In this article, we shall deep-dive into how much one should invest to...

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How can a grandparent invest for their grandchild’s future?

“We recently received this question: My father (retired and getting a pension) would like to invest some amount in my son’s name yearly. He expects 1) to invest for his grandson’s future and 2) to get income tax benefits. Could you share some views on where & how we could proceed?” “Based on research, I...

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17 years of mutual fund investing: My Journey and lessons learned

This is an update on my mutual fund investing journey, which began on 19th June 2008. In the last three decades, I have gone from being a spendthrift to being in debt to financial independence. New community members can refer to these articles for an account. The Financial Arrow of Time and My Journey: Driven by the...

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Compare MFs, Indices, Stocks, Gold etc. with this simple plotting tool

Compare MFs, Indices, Stocks, Gold, etc., with this simple plotting tool. It can be used to compare two data sets with dates and values. The tool is now part of our freefincal investor circle. Rolling return (lump sum and SIP) calculators and multiple mutual fund analysis tools are already part of the investor circle (full...

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Claiming Capital Gains Exemption? Watch Out for This Common Slip

We all know that if we sell a residential property and purchase another one, no capital gain tax is required to be paid, provided certain conditions are fulfilled (Section 54 of the Income Tax Act, 1961).  We are also aware that such an exemption is also available on profit from long-term assets other than residential...

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How should I plan for retirement and owning a house with a 50K salary?

A viewer on YouTube asks, “I am 45 years old. After watching many videos regarding MFund, I thought of asking you about my investment plan. 50k is my monthly salary. I am in a rented house only. Can you suggest an investment plan for my retirement in my own home?” At 45, retirement should be...

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Debt and hybrid mutual fund screener (Aug 2025) for selection, tracking, learning

This is a debt mutual fund screener for portfolio selection, tracking, and learning. It also includes hybrid funds that invest in bonds. It will satisfy investors who wish to invest in money market funds, banking PSU funds, etc. The credit quality of the bonds in the portfolio and the bond maturity profile can be tracked....

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