M. Pattabiraman's Blog, page 5

National Pension Scheme Fund Screener Oct 2025: Shortlist consistent performers

This is a National Pension Scheme Fund Screener to shortlist consistently performing NPS schemes. You can also identify NPS schemes that offer a higher return than the benchmark while maintaining lower risk. This is similar in design to the freefincal Equity Mutual Fund Performance Screener. Inside, you get discounted links to our robo advisory tool...

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How are Debt Fund Gains Taxed in FY 2025–26?

A reader asks, “I will be earning around ₹10 lakh as business income in FY 2025–26. Additionally, if I earn ₹2 lakh as gains from debt mutual funds. I’m confused about how these debt fund gains will be taxed this financial year.” “Here are two versions of what I’ve come across online: Some sources claim...

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Stocks with low volatility and momentum for Oct 2025

We publish a list of stocks with low volatility and momentum each month. We provide data for BSE 500 and BSE 100 stocks. There are now three different screener files available. (1) Stocks with low volatility and momentum from the BSE 100 large cap universe are available as a separate file (2) Stocks with low...

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Can I invest in Zerodha Multi Asset Passive FoF?

Over the past few weeks, many readers have asked us, “Can I invest in Zerodha Multi Asset Passive FoF?” – A discussion. Before we begin, it is worth noting that many investors appear to lack an understanding of the distinction between a passive fund and a passive fund of funds. A passive fund tracks a...

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We are still waiting for an Aggressive Hybrid Index Fund

Last Updated on October 5, 2025 at 2:43 pm In October 2022, we explained why we badly need an aggressive hybrid index fund! The situation remains the same ten months after SEBI announced a Mutual Funds Lite (MF Lite) framework for passively managed schemes of Mutual Funds, which includes passive Hybrid Funds. We determine how...

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Should we give more time for active mid and small cap MFs to beat the index?

In response to our recent articles on the performance of active mid-cap and small-cap funds versus the Nifty Midcap 150*, a viewer on YouTube suggested that 5-year rolling returns are insufficient to judge these funds, as they are typically recommended for longer periods. We should look at longer periods. These are the articles: Active Small...

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Dividend Option in PPFAS Flexicap Fund – Is this useful?

“Dividends are unethical. They give you the impression that you are getting something extra from the fund. However, you are not. The dividend is just your returns being given back to you.”  – Parag Parikh, in the first unitholder meet held in Chennai and Mumbai, Nov 2014. Sources: this author, who attended the Chennai meet...

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Start this rewarding monthly investment on Gandhi Jayanti

One of the first SEBI-registered investment advisors in the country, Melvin Joseph, is an amazing person. In 2018, he launched his movement to educate underprivileged children called Kids’ Education and You (KEY). A monthly investment of Rs. 2000 towards this cause will change lives and reward you in bear or bull markets! No better day...

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Evaluating mutual fund downside risk with the Ulcer Index

The Ulcer Index is a measure of downside risk in actively managed mutual funds. It is a simple way to find out how stressful it is to hold a fund compared to a benchmark.  Investors can make the analysis shown using the tools in the freefincal investor circle (details below). Context: The standard deviation (volatility)...

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The tools and platforms I use for investing

I was recently asked what tools and platforms you use for investing. I never stopped to think about it before. So, I did it in the hope that it may be of some interest to the reader. As older readers would know, I invest in NPS (mandatory), PPF (just enough to keep it alive and...

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