Abhishek Kumar in Business Standard

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that art earns nothing while it is held and carries heavy transaction costs. He said a budget must cover fees, insurance and upkeep, and suggested keeping art to about 2 to 5 per cent of net worth.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that managers can differ in skill across asset classes, so they should not be picked on equity or debt returns alone. He said a switch makes sense only after persistent multi-year underperformance or a mismatch in style, and suggested weighing costs and consistency.

Abhishek Kumar said a signed panchnama made at the time of seizure should note the state of the vehicle, its odometer reading and any belongings inside. He also pointed out that breaking locks, intimidation and towing with people inside are unlawful methods.

Abhishek Kumar said borrowers should check pre-closure terms, compare the full cash price with the EMI price to find the net cost, confirm the lender is RBI-registered, and limit digital consent to the data needed for underwriting.

Abhishek Kumar suggested taking bundled offers only when every item was already planned, reading the fine print on no-cost EMIs for fees and penalties, and checking that a seller is an authorised retailer.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out the privacy concerns of usage tracking and cautioned that top-ups or penalties can erase savings for heavy drivers. He suggested estimating past mileage from service records, keeping a 15-20% buffer and checking whether add-on covers lapse.

Abhishek Kumar explained how pure pharma exposure differs from broader healthcare and the trade-offs of large-cap, mid and small-cap and global tilts. He suggested using three- and five-year rolling returns and maximum drawdown.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned against borrowing to apply for IPOs, since allotment and listing gains are uncertain while interest must still be paid, and against using emergency funds for an IPO.

Abhishek Kumar said a 36 to 48 month tenure can balance cash flow with the car's remaining life, suggested a 20–30% down payment, and said total vehicle costs should stay within 15–20% of net monthly income.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that heavy bets on a few sectors make a fund more volatile and that credit risk in the debt portion can weaken downside protection. He suggested comparing rolling risk-adjusted returns over full cycles and holding such funds for at least three to five years.

Abhishek Kumar said counting accrued interest in the LTV limit may cut bullet-loan disbursals by about 10–15%, and pointed out that the lump sum due at maturity and a thinner buffer raise risk for borrowers.

Abhishek Kumar said working out a policy's internal rate of return helps compare it with other investments of similar duration. On ULIPs, he suggested weighing risk appetite, comparing them with separate term cover and mutual funds, and examining all charges.

Abhishek Kumar said a separate health corpus can meet costs insurance leaves out, such as waiting periods, sub-limits and consumables. He suggested around ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh, kept in liquid, low-risk instruments.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out the costs and limits of these funds, including forex and remittance charges, Schedule FA disclosure, short track records and lower liquidity. He advised against frequent small remittances and explained how investors' gains are taxed.

Abhishek Kumar said these funds may suit investors who want disciplined rebalancing but not those chasing momentum rallies. He cautioned that broader universes raise volatility, suggested limits by risk profile and a horizon of five to seven years.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that high earners could see long-term wealth erosion if employers cap their matching contribution at the ₹15,000 wage ceiling, and said subscribers should keep a separate emergency fund of six to 12 months' expenses.

Abhishek Kumar said the large upfront payment may make multi-year cover unsuitable for senior citizens and people with uneven incomes, and cautioned against financing the premium with a loan.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that these funds still face equity volatility in early years and interest-rate swings later, and said investors should check whether they may need the money within the three-year exit-load period.

Abhishek Kumar explained that a protection plan's premium can be added to the loan but then attracts interest for the full tenure, while a term plan stays in place if the loan is prepaid or moved. He suggested pairing the two.

Abhishek Kumar said a strategy's data should be tested across bull, bear and sideways markets, and advised traders to verify exchange registration and, for black-box algos, the provider's Sebi research analyst licence.

Abhishek Kumar said the purchase limits may aim to curb speculation or reflect trouble sourcing physical gold, and suggested existing investors who are overweight trim gold while new investors build exposure gradually through SIPs.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that the choice of financiers may be limited and billing disputes can arise from telematics data. He suggested an RBI-regulated financier and said the model may not suit high-mileage, long-term owners.

Abhishek Kumar said families should stress-test repayment against Indian salaries, borrow conservatively and avoid putting key assets such as homes at risk. He also flagged often-missed costs, including inflation abroad, currency swings and initial deposits.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that insurers may treat driving an EV through deep floodwater, or charging it after it has been heavily exposed to water, as negligence by the owner.

Abhishek Kumar said the annuity surrender rule gives families in distress a needed safety net, but cautioned that it should be a last resort. He advised checking that the illness meets policy terms and reviewing charges and taxes first.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that US drug-pricing policy and high concentration add risk, said these funds suit investors who understand sector cycles, and suggested limiting total sector exposure to below 10%.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that corporate deposits carry no statutory insurance, suggested checking an issuer's interest coverage and debt levels, said retirees may avoid them, and suggested limiting them to a small part of fixed income.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that long-short strategies can lose on both sides, that aggressive ones carry more unhedged short exposure, and that many allow only periodic withdrawals. He suggested limiting them to about 10 to 15 per cent of a portfolio.

Abhishek Kumar explained that a smaller base policy paired with a super top-up usually costs much less in total premium than one large policy, since the top-up pays only after the base cover is used. He also pointed out that buyers should check the no-claim bonus cap and what happens to the bonus after a claim.

Abhishek Kumar explained that many sovereign gold bond tranches trade below spot gold because of thin liquidity and recent tax changes, and said secondary market bonds can still make sense if the discount covers the tax impact.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that maintenance costs in such projects often rise sharply, noted that transfer fees or profit-sharing clauses can hurt heirs, and suggested checking billing transparency and keeping separate contingency funds.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that flexicap investors place a lot of trust in the fund manager's calls, so poor decisions can mean long underperformance, and cautioned that many investors overlook overlap with their other funds.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned buyers against overleveraging, saying that borrowing a modest share of the property's value keeps debt manageable if interest rates rise or income changes. He also suggested an emergency fund covering six to twelve months of expenses, including EMIs.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that the market-linked part of such plans can pay less when equities fall. He said deferred annuities let a buyer fix today's annuity rate for income that starts later, but their returns may trail a diversified portfolio.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that borrowing at a high loan-to-value ratio means even a small price fall can trigger a margin call. He said bullet repayment is risky when prices fall and suggested not pledging heirloom jewellery.

Abhishek Kumar said the jump in silver and gold had pushed portfolios well away from their intended asset mix, and suggested booking partial profits and moving the money into equity and shorter-duration debt funds.

Abhishek Kumar explained that high oil prices raised transport and packaging costs, squeezing the margins of consumer companies. He said stable raw material prices and supply chains could help margins recover, and that these funds give concentrated exposure to domestic growth.

Abhishek Kumar said spreading money across instruments helps balance safety and growth over a long retirement. He cautioned that leaning too heavily on FDs can eat into purchasing power, suggested limits on FD and annuity allocations, and stressed keeping cash for emergencies.

Abhishek Kumar said investors may stay if their view on India's credit growth holds, suggested exiting if overweight or if goals are met early, and recommended staggered entry with a five- to seven-year horizon.

Abhishek Kumar said homeowners can contest a rejection if an insurer labels a sudden pipe failure as seepage and offers no technical evidence. He also cautioned that insuring a home at market value rather than rebuilding cost can lead to a pro-rata settlement.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that many policies exclude damage to homes left empty for long periods without telling the insurer, and said failing to keep an inventory and purchase invoices makes losses hard to prove.

Abhishek Kumar said investors looking for quick gains or unable to bear long periods of underperformance should stay away from value funds. He suggested not holding both types if their portfolios overlap, and looking at execution style rather than the label.

Abhishek Kumar said a hawkish pick for US Federal Reserve chair pointed to tighter liquidity, cautioned that continued macro volatility could weigh on Bitcoin, and said investors should limit exposure to an amount they could bear to lose.

Abhishek Kumar suggested that borrowers first ask their bank for a debt restructuring plan and, failing that, seek a settlement. He said talking to the lender early can stop a case from going to outside agents.

Abhishek Kumar said a hybrid set-up of joint and separate accounts often balances shared goals with personal freedom. He suggested funding major goals from joint accounts, agreeing a no-questions limit for small personal spends, and making a structured plan to repay debt.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that buying at record highs carries timing risk. He suggested allocation ranges by risk appetite, partial profit-booking in rallies and rebalancing, and for new investors, using gold as the main defensive holding with silver as a smaller addition.

Abhishek Kumar explained that dropping the TAN requirement eases compliance for buyers of property from NRIs, since they no longer need a one-time registration and quarterly filings for what is usually a single deal.

Abhishek Kumar explained that investors who bought sovereign gold bonds on exchanges or through transfers will lose the maturity tax exemption, and said they should be ready to pay capital gains tax.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that traditional child plans may not keep pace with education inflation. He said term cover plus mutual fund SIPs gives more flexibility, and that child plans fit risk-averse parents who value certainty over growth.

Abhishek Kumar explained that the periodic table shows mean reversion at work, since the strongest asset in one year often slips the next, and said diversification smooths volatility while avoiding concentration in a lagging asset.

Abhishek Kumar advised buyers to judge their own needs, ask questions, get promises in writing and resist pressure, and explained the complaint route from the insurer to the Bima Bharosa portal, the ombudsman and consumer courts.

Abhishek Kumar suggested borrowing under 80% of the permitted amount to keep a buffer, favoured EMI repayment to bring the loan-to-value ratio down, warned against judging capacity by the gold's value, and advised tenures of six to 12 months.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that premature NPS exits still require most of the corpus to be annuitised, so that route should be used sparingly. He said systematic unit redemption is meant for investors who can take more risk, carries market risk, and is not for risk-averse retirees.

Abhishek Kumar said a proper assessment of risk profile should come before any change in allocation, suggested more liquid, low-risk assets and a larger emergency fund if income fell, and said the 100-minus-age rule should not guide allocation.

Abhishek Kumar explained that when an airline cancels a flight, rules require the airline to refund passengers. He also suggested buying cover right after booking, since some benefits are offered only within a short window of the first trip payment.

Abhishek Kumar said worries over inflation, interest rates and market mood would weigh on Bitcoin, noted that a recovery depends on regulatory progress, and suggested that those uneasy with high volatility consider exiting gradually.

Abhishek Kumar suggested that people working in high-risk areas ask insurers whether their location, occupation and bystander situations are excluded. He advised searching policy wording for terms such as terrorism, war and riots, and getting written confirmation rather than assuming cover.

Abhishek Kumar suggested setting target allocations by country and rebalancing periodically instead of making frequent tactical shifts. He cautioned against relying on past performance, concentrating on one sector or theme, and overlap across funds.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned about clauses that shift all responsibility to users and automatic credit bureau reporting. He suggested using at most two BNPL plans, keeping total EMI and card dues within 30–40% of monthly income, and treating BNPL as a loan.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned about auto-debit charges and one-sided clauses, suggested keeping total EMIs and card dues within 30–40% of income, and advised seeing BNPL as borrowing rather than free credit.

Abhishek Kumar said these funds suit investors whose risk appetite is conservative or moderate and who have a horizon of at least five years. He suggested checking that a fund keeps at least 65 per cent in equity so it is taxed as an equity fund, and avoiding funds with weak downside protection or heavy concentration in one asset class.

Abhishek Kumar suggested spending only on planned needs within budget, paying the full bill by the due date, keeping credit use below 30% of the limit and avoiding purchases made just for rewards.

Abhishek Kumar said the three-category system should cut confusion and claim rejections, but cautioned that easy access may lead members to treat EPF as an emergency fund. He suggested keeping a year's expenses aside separately and choosing partial over full withdrawals.

Abhishek Kumar explained that high crude oil prices and a wider trade deficit raise import costs and weigh on the rupee. He pointed out that a weaker rupee also makes foreign travel and overseas education costlier.

Abhishek Kumar suggested borrowers stay 20-30% below their maximum eligible amount so that margin calls are less frequent, and advised keeping emergency funds ready to meet such calls on time.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that subscribers close to retirement who have not yet completed the 15-year vesting period can use the option to shift to common schemes and lower their equity exposure.

Abhishek Kumar suggested comparing full on-road prices rather than ex-showroom prices, checking that the GST cut is passed on, being ready to walk away from a poor deal, and avoiding overpriced dealer accessories and insurance.

Abhishek Kumar said the higher visa cost could push more work offshore over time. He suggested staying invested with a three- to five-year view and, for new investors, entering in stages.

Abhishek Kumar suggested that existing policyholders whose life cover falls short of family goals should use the GST cut to raise their cover rather than simply pay less.

Abhishek Kumar suggested that seniors have a lawyer check title and occupancy papers, and assess on-site doctors and nurses, links with hospitals and emergency systems. He said these homes suit those needing some daily help but not specialised care, and cautioned that service charges continue until a resale.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that companies can change their dividend policies, said these funds can suit retirees and conservative investors, and suggested keeping them in the satellite part of an equity portfolio with a horizon of five years or more.

Abhishek Kumar said NPS can work for employees with 20 to 30 years of service ahead, noted that the government's extra contribution moves into the NPS corpus on exit, and pointed out that the switch swaps fixed payouts for market-linked ones.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned investors against opaque intermediaries that claim to act for a broker while handling client money, saying they can block trading and vanish with deposits. He said investors should pay money only into a SEBI-registered broker's own account.

Abhishek Kumar said NRIs with taxable income in India can claim Section 80C benefits on premiums, suggested cover of 10 to 20 times annual income, advised checking claim settlement records, medical check options and sum insured limits, and cautioned against delaying the purchase.

Abhishek Kumar said buy-now-pay-later can help people with no credit history, but defaults hurt credit scores, so it suits only those sure of repaying on time. He also suggested sticking to planned purchases and saving for big buys in advance.

Abhishek Kumar said total EMIs should stay within half of one's income, suggested using no more than 30% of the card limit, and pointed out that converting dues into EMIs carries a processing fee and reduces the available limit.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that US rate hikes, a stronger dollar or large institutions booking profits could trigger a sell-off. He pointed out that crypto is not legal tender in India and explained the tax rules: a flat 30% tax plus cess, 1% TDS above ₹50,000, and no set-off of losses.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that investors who prefer simple strategies should stay away from these funds. He suggested keeping them a small, non-core part of the equity portfolio, holding for three to five years, and waiting for a track record to build.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that delayed reporting can cost the insurer a chance to step in early and limit damage, and that delays may also raise suspicion of fraud.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that credit reports can show loans a borrower never took, mismatched account numbers and closed loans still marked open. He added that delays in updating repayment status are also common.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that offers of high return with low risk are often misleading. He said direct bond investing suits those who can analyse credit risk, and suggested limiting corporate bonds to 10–20% of the fixed income portfolio.

Abhishek Kumar said the agreement lets banks act if they suspect a locker is misused, suggested updating KYC and nominee details, and advised matching locker insurance cover to the value of the contents.

Abhishek Kumar said SIPs give the benefit of rupee-cost averaging while leaving room for opportunistic purchases in downturns, and cautioned that speculative buying should not take the place of analysis.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that fixed payouts may not keep pace with inflation and that steep surrender charges limit liquidity. He said these plans can suit people aged 45 to 55 with other savings, but not those without health cover.

Abhishek Kumar said public-sector banks had recently passed on rate cuts faster than private banks, noted that lower rates raise loan eligibility, and suggested keeping the EMI unchanged and shortening the tenure to save more on interest.

Abhishek Kumar explained that only property with a clear title and proper documents qualifies, that farm land is usually not accepted, and that co-owners must consent. He pointed out the lack of tax benefits and advised against such loans for those already carrying heavy debt.

Abhishek Kumar said higher defence spending could lift revenue and profit for sector companies and add diversification, but cautioned that these funds could fall if spending slows or valuations correct, and that conservative investors should avoid them.

Abhishek Kumar suggested selling gold only to meet a need for funds or to rebalance, and shared pointers on choosing gold ETFs, buying sovereign gold bonds on exchanges, and weighing early redemption against holding to maturity.

Abhishek Kumar said savings accounts should mainly hold money for running expenses, not serve as a savings tool. He suggested keeping the minimum balance, a month of spending and an emergency buffer, and setting any sweep threshold with these in mind.

Abhishek Kumar said investors should check how a multi-asset fund divides its money across asset classes, so that it fits their own risk profile and goals.

Abhishek Kumar said tax planning left until year-end leads to rushed, poor investments, noted that interest on EPF contributions over ₹2.5 lakh a year is taxed, and suggested regular Section 80C investing if EPF does not use up the ₹1.5 lakh limit.

Abhishek Kumar said these loans can suit investors facing short-term emergencies or cash crunches, suggested keeping extra units or cash ready for margin calls, warned against using them for impulse buys, and advised keeping an emergency fund.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that borrowers are sometimes sold policies that do not cover the loan risk or that end before the loan does. He said bundling limits choice to the lender's partner insurers, and that the cover should be a term plan that clearly discloses its premium and exclusions.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that high-beta funds gain more in rallies but fall harder in downturns. He said long-term investors should hold their smallcap positions, only those with near-term needs should exit, and new entrants need a horizon of at least seven years.

Abhishek Kumar said a product with a three-year lock-in does not suit someone who needs money for a goal in two years. He cautioned that investors often pick for the immediate tax break and that agents may push commission-paying products.

Abhishek Kumar explained why crypto prices swing sharply, pointed to legal and regulatory uncertainty in India, and suggested limiting crypto to 1–5% of a portfolio, using only money one can afford to lose, over at least five years.

Abhishek Kumar said the quant scheme was small and had lagged its category, so the fund house likely wanted to cut costs. He explained that a merger helps investors if it lowers expense ratios, and suggested that anyone exiting do so in the load-free window.

Abhishek Kumar explained how the claim settlement ratio is calculated and suggested also checking the incurred claim ratio. He pointed out that after three years, Section 45 bars an insurer from rejecting a claim unless it proves deliberate fraud.

Abhishek Kumar suggested that investors whose gold holding has risen above 15% of their portfolio consider rebalancing, and that booking some gains could help those who need money for short-term goals.

Abhishek Kumar suggested that new borrowers shop around and compare what different lenders charge for their credit score. He also said fixed deposit investors could ladder deposits across tenures to adapt as rates change.

Abhishek Kumar suggested that taxpayers use the additional money to cut down costly credit card dues and personal loans.

Abhishek Kumar said high earners gain because capital gains tax on such Ulips is below their slab rate, but pointed out the five-year lock-in and multiple charges, and suggested checking costs and whether the life cover is adequate.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that taxpayers can find tax changes in the direct taxes part of the speech or the highlights, and suggested beginning with the highlights rather than reading every document at once.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that slower GDP growth could hurt these funds and that sector funds can be volatile. He suggested capping exposure at 10–15% of the equity portfolio with a three-to-five-year horizon.

Abhishek Kumar suggested prepaying the loan when possible, cutting expenses and approaching lenders to restructure if repayments get hard. He reminded parents that they share liability and that repayment should not hurt their retirement plans.

Abhishek Kumar outlined key exclusions such as war, terrorism, wilful misconduct, precious items and contents older than 10 years. He explained that reinstatement value cover, though costlier, pays enough to rebuild, and cautioned that undervaluing a property leaves a gap in case of total loss.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that the investment idea behind a new fund may not work out as the fund house expects, and warned against buying new fund offers for quick gains because of heavy marketing.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that the past year was unusually strong across asset classes, cautioned that returns tend to revert to the mean, and suggested choosing NPS funds that charge less and have a reasonable asset base.

Abhishek Kumar explained that payouts from these plans move closely with government bond yields. He cautioned that they may not beat inflation and offer little liquidity, and suggested risk-averse investors could treat them as part of long-term debt holdings.

Abhishek Kumar suggested favouring cities slated for smart city development, cautioned that property title checks need extra care where reputed developers are few, and suggested ready-to-move homes to avoid construction risk.

Abhishek Kumar said those who plan to use gold for a wedding should start building their holding, cautioned new entrants to hold for three years or more, and pointed to cost, tracking error and trading volume when choosing a gold ETF.

Abhishek Kumar explained that currencies of countries with stronger productivity, smaller trade deficits and lower inflation tend to hold up, noted that a weaker rupee makes gold costlier, and pointed to US equity funds for geographic spread and gold mutual funds for ease and liquidity.

Abhishek Kumar suggested keeping about ₹10 lakh for medical emergencies, especially with elderly family members, held partly in a savings account and partly in liquid funds. He cautioned that some fintech lenders ask for EMIs upfront and that hospitals may raise bills to offset subsidised interest.

Abhishek Kumar explained that infrastructure companies rely on low-cost foreign capital and are now hurt by rising rates abroad, and said PSU stocks are under pressure because earnings have not kept up with expectations.

Abhishek Kumar said crypto investors should ideally plan to stay invested for five years or more and put in only money they can afford to lose. He also suggested weighing risk against reward before entering, given the volatility.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that a fund manager's rate bets can go wrong and hurt these funds, and suggested that investors able to bear interest-rate risk for three to five years could put 10–15% of their debt portfolio in them.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that lenders also waive legal and valuation charges and offer loan-to-value ratios of up to 90%. He said lower spreads over MCLR or repo-linked rates are preferable to teaser rates, noted that many offers need a high credit score, and suggested keeping total EMIs within 35% of take-home income.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out how buyers, sellers and card issuers all gain from festive deals. He suggested making a list of planned purchases, keeping card EMIs within a limited share of take-home income, and using liquid savings or cheaper loans to clear card dues.

Abhishek Kumar explained how splitting works in practice, giving the example of an agent advising a buyer to spread a ₹1 crore cover across four policies of ₹25 lakh each.

Abhishek Kumar said investors can step up SIPs at any time if it stays in line with their risk-based asset allocation, and cautioned against over-committing. He suggested pausing equity SIPs once the desired equity share is reached, but not during market downturns.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that the main danger of top-up loans is borrowers going over their budget, and suggested fixing a spending limit for interiors and home improvement work and sticking within it.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that commodities move in cycles, so buyers at record highs may need to wait out a downturn, and suggested keeping commodities within 10% of a portfolio, silver within 5%, with a horizon above five years.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that borrowers must be able to pledge more collateral if the lender asks for it, and suggested keeping an emergency fund so that such a loan is not needed.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that, as with other thematic funds, manufacturing funds carry concentration risk.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that sector funds can go wrong for investors who are not nimble, said most people are better off in diversified funds, and suggested capping any sector fund at 10% of the equity portfolio with a five to seven year horizon.

Abhishek Kumar said some lenders add a markup of 1-2 percentage points to the home loan rate for top-up loans and noted tax benefits when the money funds renovation. He cautioned against using them for holidays or lavish buys, and suggested keeping total EMIs within 35% of monthly take-home pay.

Abhishek Kumar pointed out that the regulator had left surrender value rates unchanged, and said policyholders who regret a policy should get past the sunk cost fallacy and surrender it early.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned against REITs with thin trading volumes or assets concentrated in one location, and suggested checking lease expiry, portfolio quality, the record on finishing projects and occupancy.

Abhishek Kumar suggested rebalancing regularly so small and midcap holdings stay within set limits. He also said money for a goal one or two years away should be moved from equity funds into debt instruments.

Abhishek Kumar explained that pension fund managers with larger assets charge lower fees under PFRDA rules, and suggested new investors compare fees and returns over five, seven and ten years rather than short periods.

Abhishek Kumar suggested that anyone buying gold after the rally should come in with an investment horizon of at least seven years.

Abhishek Kumar explained that smallcap funds hold more stocks outside the 500 largest companies, and these have rallied sharply. He suggested keeping enough in fixed income near a goal, and only money that can stay invested for five to ten years in these funds.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that ELSS returns can swing widely, so these funds may not suit investors who dislike risk. He said people willing to take risk and saving for long-term goals could consider them.

Abhishek Kumar said that, as a SEBI-registered investment adviser, he would not recommend cryptocurrencies until the rules become clear, and cautioned that, for now, investors risk breaking the law by holding them.

Abhishek Kumar said high surrender charges stem from front-loaded intermediary commissions in these policies. He also pointed out that policyholders often hold on because of sunk cost fallacy, even when exiting would serve them better.

Abhishek Kumar said the systematic lump-sum withdrawal facility suits NPS subscribers wanting larger cash flows early in retirement without managing the corpus, and could help retirees avoid mis-selling. He cautioned that they should keep a separate emergency fund.

Abhishek Kumar said investors in dynamic bond funds need not time their entry and exit, cautioned that wrong rate calls can badly hurt performance, and suggested avoiding funds that take on a lot of credit risk.

Abhishek Kumar suggested that buyers stress test affordability, keeping the home loan EMI, worked out at the highest likely interest rate, within 30% of take-home pay.

Abhishek Kumar, SEBI RIA and founder of SahajMoney, noted that five sectoral-thematic NFOs raised ₹2,556 crore in August, said well-timed entry and exit can pay but a failed sector bet drags the whole fund, and suggested investors with low risk tolerance stay away.

Abhishek Kumar said getting the interest rate cycle right is key with these funds. He explained that once the RBI brings inflation under control and stops raising rates, the cycle turns against them.

Abhishek Kumar explained that sharp US rate rises draw foreign capital out of India, and that gold, priced in dollars, hedges currency moves on its own. He suggested holding 5 to 10 per cent of a portfolio in gold.

Abhishek Kumar, founder of SahajMoney, set out the main reasons for NPS partial withdrawals from PFRDA data, explained the limits on how often and how much can be withdrawn, and suggested saving ahead for goals, buying adequate insurance and keeping an emergency fund.

Abhishek Kumar, founder of SahajMoney, said the rollback would spare individuals compliance-related hassles.

Abhishek Kumar, founder of SahajMoney, said NPS subscribers without financial dependants may opt for an annuity that does not return the purchase price, and so get a higher annuity for themselves and their spouse.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that uncertainty around cryptocurrency will continue until it comes under regulatory oversight, and pointed out that thin trading exposes investors to pump-and-dump schemes and, in a crackdown, total loss.