personal-finance
16 articles about personal-finance.
EPF vs NPS vs PPF: The Three-Way Retirement Comparison for Salaried IndiansStep-by-step comparison of EPF, NPS, and PPF — contributions, interest rates, lock-in, withdrawal rules, tax treatment at maturity, and how to combine all three for a robust retirement plan.5 June 2026 · 5 min read
TDS on Rent Above ₹50,000: What Tenants Must Do Before the DeadlineMost tenants believe TDS on rent is the landlord's problem. It isn't. If you pay monthly rent above ₹50,000, the obligation to deduct, deposit, and file falls entirely on you — and the penalties for non-compliance are steep.3 June 2026 · 5 min read
How Your CIBIL Score Is Calculated — and the 5 Factors That Actually Move ItFAQ-style explainer: what makes up a CIBIL TransUnion score, why it matters for home and personal loans, which behaviours increase it fastest, and what actually hurts it that most people don't know about.1 June 2026 · 6 min read
NPS vs Mutual Funds for Retirement: Which Builds More Wealth in 2026?Side-by-side comparison of NPS and mutual funds for long-term retirement investing — returns, tax benefits under 80CCD, lock-in, annuity obligation, withdrawal rules, and a verdict for different investor profiles.30 May 2026 · 5 min read
Your SIP Return Is Not CAGR — Understanding XIRR and Why the Difference Is Larger Than You ThinkMost mutual fund investors confuse fund NAV growth (CAGR) with their personal return (XIRR). For SIPs, the gap can be 3–5 percentage points. Here's the math, a worked example, and how to calculate your actual return in minutes.27 May 2026 · 6 min read
ELSS vs PPF: Which Section 80C Option Actually Wins in FY2026-27?With RBI cutting rates 50 bps in 2025–26 and PPF at 7.1%, the ELSS vs PPF calculus has shifted. Here's which ₹1.5 lakh 80C investment makes more sense now — with 10-year return data, lock-in comparison, and tax treatment side by side.25 May 2026 · 6 min read
HDFC AMC Reports Cybersecurity Incident: What It Means for Your Mutual Fund InvestmentsHDFC AMC has disclosed a cybersecurity incident and activated containment protocols. Here's what happened, whether your mutual fund units are at risk, what data AMCs hold about you, and the exact steps to take right now.18 May 2026 · 11 min read
Form 26AS vs AIS: How to Read, Match, and Fix Discrepancies Before Filing ITRMost taxpayers file ITR using only Form 26AS — but the department already sees your savings interest, dividends, MF redemptions, and property deals via AIS. Here's how to read both, spot mismatches before July 31, and submit feedback when AIS is wrong.16 May 2026 · 14 min read
Your 2008 Mutual Fund May Be Silently Bleeding Money — Here's What Happened and How to Fix ItAgents in 2008 enrolled investors in dividend payout plans, left wrong bank details, and misspelled names. 15–20 years later, lakhs sit in money market accounts earning 4% instead of 12%+. Full recovery guide.16 May 2026 · 18 min read
Best Fixed Deposit Rates in India — May 2026: SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Small Finance Banks ComparedBank FD rates are falling as the RBI cuts the repo rate. Here's where rates stand in May 2026, which banks still offer the best returns, and whether to lock in now before the next cut hits.15 May 2026 · 11 min read
How to File ITR Online for FY2025-26 (AY 2026-27): Step-by-Step GuideITR filing for FY2025-26 is open. Deadline: July 31, 2026. Here's exactly how to file online — which ITR form to choose, documents needed, regime selection, and common mistakes that trigger notices.15 May 2026 · 14 min read
Old vs new tax regime: which one saves you more in FY2026-27?The new tax regime is now the default in India — but it's not automatically better for everyone. Here's the exact break-even analysis to find out which regime saves you more.14 May 2026 · 10 min read
How to build a ₹1 crore corpus with SIP: a step-by-step 2026 guideBuilding ₹1 crore through SIP is more achievable than most investors think. Here's exactly how much to invest, for how long, and which assumptions to stress-test before you commit.14 May 2026 · 10 min read
Gold and Silver Import Duty Just Jumped to 15%: What Every Buyer, Investor, and SIP Holder Should Do NowThe government raised gold and silver import duty to 15% effective May 13, 2026 — up from 6%. Here's the real ₹ impact on jewellery, ETFs, and gold SIPs.13 May 2026 · 9 min read
April CPI Prints at 3.48%: What India's Borrowers and Savers Should Do Right NowIndia's April retail inflation came in at 3.48% — well below the 4% RBI target. Here's the real ₹ impact on your home loan EMI, FD returns, and monthly fuel budget.12 May 2026 · 8 min read
CII Wants the ₹10 Fuel Excise Cut Rolled Back: What It Means for Your Petrol BillThe Confederation of Indian Industry has proposed a gradual rollback of the ₹10/litre fuel excise reduction. Here's the real ₹ impact on your monthly fuel spend.10 May 2026 · 8 min read