Financial Plan

It is raining offers and discounts and it’s difficult not to give into the temptation to buy the latest smartphone or an advanced home appliance. Online marketplaces also promise to make it easier for you to buy the products by rolling out schemes such as zero-cost EMI, buy-now-pay-later among others. However, it is wise to resist the temptation. To know more about the mistakes that people tend to make while shopping during festive seasons, Moneycontrol spoke to financial planner Pankaj Mathpal, Founder, Optima Money Managers. Tune in

Can a fee-only adviser give unbiased investment recommendations?

Fee-only advisers give advice for a fee, have no conflicts of interest and are client-centric

3 Investment habits of the elderly to follow and the ones to discard

The elderly have a system of recording expenses and reconciling with their bank statements every month  

DIY investing: You may know what to do, but could still mess up your finances

Many turn DIY investors because they are fed up with being at the receiving end of mis-selling by the financial industry

8 timeless money lessons reiterated during the pandemic

Regular and disciplined personal budgeting, if followed, can help one both financially and mentally

Having the right goal-based plan can set you financially free

It will also help you and your spouse to decide when to retire

Personal budget: Use the lockdown to take full control of your debts

Prepare a budget as if there will be a substantial or complete loss of income

7 steps for working women to get a handle on their finances

Aspirations and goals of working women are no different from those of their male counterparts

Inflated electricity bill: Should you pay in instalments or settle it in a single lump-sum?

You will have to stop or pause the auto-debt facility if you have disputes with inflated bills

Financial planning: In saving intensely for the future, don't forget to enjoy the present

Start focusing on how best to make your money work for you rather than on how to cut expenses

COVID crisis: Money matters NRIs must fix before returning to India for good

From clearing home loan dues, to changing bank accounts and buying insurance locally, NRIs must take a systematic approach to their finances before packing their bags

10 money steps to help you stay prepared in case of a job loss

In such times, every bit of your hard-earned money needs to be working hard for you

COVID-induced job loss: Fix your money matters to sail through all contingencies

The first step is to ensure that you have an emergency corpus that takes care of your most essential expenses for six months

Don't shop for non-essentials in COVID times, despite the discounts on offer

Avoid blocking your money right now by shopping for non-essentials. Cash is king for the immediate future, so spend wisely

Mother’s Day: How expectant moms must plan their money matters

Put a financial plan in place to cover your expenses during childbirth and career break

Don’t wait for a hard landing to set your money matters in order

Even 10-12 years of focused planning and investing will ensure that you are in a sound financial position

Choose the right investment mix to navigate volatile markets

For first-time investors, it makes sense to start with SIPs in both debt and equity funds

Moneycontrol's ready reckoner for your money matters in COVID-19 times

Download the ‘Your Money & COVID-19’ ready reckoner and you won’t miss a single deadline.

COVID-19 impact: Plan to study abroad this year? Tough money decisions lie ahead

Students and their parents need to consider the possibility of a prolonged slowdown in developed economies

How to navigate your finances during emergencies

The possibility of job losses and pay cuts has only underlined the importance of a contingency fund

Jet Airways fiasco: Never let your money matters hit an air pocket

Having an emergency corpus and a health cover is critical

COVID-19 Third Wave: 4 money mistakes to avoid during the pandemic

Don’t resort to panic selling of equities, going overboard on stocks or deferring of loan EMIs

Why the 30s are the best time to lay a solid foundation to securing your finances

The financial decisions that are made during this decade (30-40), have a big impact on how the rest of your financial life will be

Graduating amidst the COVID-19 pandemic? Money tips to wade through a tough job market

If you already have a job offer, but the company wants to re-negotiate, take it

The nitty-gritty of writing a Will during a lockdown

Mention all your wishes and how the assets and liabilities need to be distributed