Suresh Sadagopan

Should you be investing in shares directly than through MF?

Here is a cost benefit analysis of investing in stocks directly and through mutual funds.

Should you stay with FDs or go for debt mutual funds?

Falling interest rate has forced many investors to look beyond fixed deposits in search of better returns.

Why you should not be always chasing returns

Most people focus on returns and chase products that offer the best returns at any point.

Mistakes to avoid while planning for retirement

These four mistakes must be avoided when you plan for your retirement.

When the ice caves from the mountain face

Your best bet in these situations is to work to a plan. When you know where you are going & you know you will get there if you stick to the path, why worry?

Should you pay for financial advice?

We pay for all almost all services we avail of. It makes sense to pay for services as one can get the right advice which helps to achieve our financial goals.

Your financial freedom depends on how much you save

It is not how much you earn that counts, but it is how much you save that decides if you achieve your financial freedom.

Buying pension plans is not retirement planning

Traditional pension plans offer low rate of return in accumulation phase and annuities paid by pension plans are taxable in the hands of the annuitant.

Have you taken retirement planning seriously yet?

Though it may sound a goal too big and too far, retirement planning, if begins early in life can be less cumbersome.

What women need to learn about money?

They need to ask the right questions while forms are put before them to sign. Simple questions probing about features & benefits of investment products and how they address their needs.

Dividend transfer plan- low risk way to invest in equity MF

Risk averse investors, especially retired individuals want to take exposure to equities. But find it difficult to invest in equities due to possibility of capital erosion. DTP can offer them a means to invest in equities without risking capital.

Budget 2015: Count the blessingsâ€¦they do add up!

Union budget is seen as a let down by many individuals. However there are some positive announcements that can bring in some enhanced benefits

Long tenured tax free bonds may come back in Budget 2015

Budget may not introduce big changes. However there can be some small changes in tax rates, tax slabs and modifications in instruments that fetch tax exemption.

You need an open mind to invest and achieve goals

One should not have fixations about asset classes and be prepared to invest in an appropriate basket of securities as per the dictates of the life cycle

Clients need to have open mind to receive financial advice

We find clients who come to us for advice and then start advising us! Some of them come with fixed ideas of what they would want in the plan, irrespective of whether it is desirable or not. It is in those cases, we have friction. We may not know about it in the first consultation or when they send the information.

When should you buy your retirement home?

Retirement is another aspect that talks to the deeps. People want to have enough in retirement so as to be able to live in comfort. People dread the possibility of depending on their children, which today is indeed an uncertain prospect.

Should you consider investing in Liquid funds?

There is a way to manage liquidity/ contingency funding requirements while earning a decent return on the amounts deployed towards such funds.

Here's what couples need to know about managing finances

Joint bank accounts are fine when it comes to expenses. Each spouse can transfer a predetermined amount into that account for expenses. But from an income tax point of view, it is better to maintain separate accounts from where the investments are made.