M. Pattabiraman's Blog, page 6

Which mutual fund is an alternative to fixed deposits?

Last Updated on July 21, 2025 at 8:43 am The mutual fund industry frequently discusses how a specific fund or fund category is an “alternative” to a fixed deposit. Is this true? Which mutual fund is a good alternative to a fixed deposit? The short and factually correct answer is none! No mutual fund or...

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Mutual Fund Taxation Ready Reckoner FY 2025-2026

These are the mutual fund taxation rules for FY 2025-2026. These are derived from Manmohan Sethumadhavan’s fantastic Capital Gains Taxation Rules Ready Reckoner for FY 2025-2026. Surcharge and cess rates are to be added to the tax rates shown below. Equity-oriented MF (>= 65% Domestic Equity Shares) Investments redeemed on or after 23 July 2024...

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Lessons from investing for my son’s future for 15 years

I have been investing for my son’s future (college and other expenses) since Dec 2009 – a month before he was born (He is 15 now). Here are some lessons from this journey. When I started investing for this goal, money management basics were almost in place, except for term insurance, which I got a...

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Debt and hybrid mutual fund screener (July 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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What you need to know before buying super top-up insurance policies

Super top-up health insurance is designed to cover medical expenses that exceed a certain limit the d. Given the continuous rise in medical costs and the complexity of medical tests and procedures today, having extensive medical insurance coverage is crucial. However, while purchasing super top-up insurance is necessary, buyers must be aware of an important...

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Debunking the Index Fund Misconceptions: A Balanced Perspective

Sebi-registered investment advisor Abhishek Kumar offers a balanced, data-driven perspective on a social media post that claimed index funds are “guaranteed” to underperform the market. About the author: Abhishek is part of a freefincal’s curated list of fee-only financial advisors and a fee-only India member. He can be contacted via his website, sahajmoney.com. The “Guaranteed Underperformance” Myth The assertion that...

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At what salary level should I hire a fee-only financial planner?

Two communities know the benefits of approaching a SEBI-registered fee-only financial planner who charges a flat rate (not a percentage of your assets): freefincal readers and members of the FB group Asan Ideas for Wealth. More than 1000 freefincal readers are working with the advisors on the site’s curated list. However, even in these communities,...

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IRDAI’s “Two-Hour Hospitalisation” Claim : What Really Changed and What Didn’t

Last Updated on July 14, 2025 at 11:57 am A social media post last week had a striking banner: “From 1 July 2025, IRDAI allows health-insurance claims for hospital stays as short as two hours.”  SEBI RIA Abhishek Kumar explains what changed and what didn’t. About the author: Abhishek is part of a freefincal’s curated list of...

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Index fund tracking error screener July 2025

This index fund screener is based on tracking error and returns difference wrt benchmarks (aka tracking difference). It will help users evaluate how efficiently an index fund has tracked its underlying benchmark. It will also help them understand how tracking a midcap index or the Nifty 100 or 500 differs from tracking the Sensex or...

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How I learnt that investing is about finding the balance and not chasing returns

In this edition of the reader story,  “Two years ago, I made a decision that reshaped my relationship with money, risk, and peace of mind. Last year, I shared how after losing six months’ worth of income in futures and options (F&O) trading, I stepped away from the chaos and adopted systematic investing. It wasn’t...

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