Abhishek Kumar in India Today

Abhishek Kumar explained that the low premium works because risk is pooled across millions of passengers, and said the cover should be seen as a group accident benefit. He also set out key exclusions and common reasons for claim rejection.

Abhishek Kumar said a high, inflation-indexed exemption threshold and relief for primary homes would be needed to protect middle-class families, and cautioned about risks to small businesses, capital flight and long-term saving.

Abhishek Kumar said a high exemption threshold linked to inflation would be needed to protect middle-class families, and cautioned that a steep rate could force heirs to sell business assets and discourage long-term saving.

Abhishek Kumar is mentioned through earlier India Today reporting in which he said a single retirement number for everyone is not the right way to think about the question.

Abhishek Kumar said a standard life policy pays for accidental deaths, including fires, if it is active and facts were disclosed honestly. He explained that an accident rider is not needed for this, noted the usual exclusions, and suggested adding personal accident and health cover.

Abhishek Kumar said mis-selling costs people trust as well as money, and can cause liquidity problems and unplanned premium payments. He advised customers to ask for written reasons why a product suits them, check charges and lock-ins, and use the free-look period.

Abhishek Kumar said a home loan EMI should ideally stay within a third of gross monthly income, and cautioned that many buyers confuse loan eligibility with affordability and drain liquid savings for down payments.

Abhishek Kumar said paying rent and an EMI together can cause a serious cash flow strain, pointed out that delays can cost buyers Section 24(b) interest deductions, and noted that SIPs are often paused first.

Abhishek Kumar said paying rent and a home loan EMI together can severely strain household cash flow, and that buyers may lose Section 24(b) interest deductions if possession comes after five years. He described a couple who had to halt investments and borrow from relatives.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that treating a ten-year equity SIP as a sure profit is an oversimplification, explaining that a long horizon lowers the chance of a loss but equity funds remain market-linked.

Abhishek Kumar said buyers often confuse loan eligibility with true affordability and overlook upkeep, taxes and rate rises. He suggested keeping the EMI to 30 to 35 per cent of take-home pay and cautioned against loans running into retirement.

Abhishek Kumar said property prices in Tier 1 cities are outpacing salary growth. He cautioned that many buyers stretch EMIs well beyond 30-40% of take-home pay, and advised counting the full cost of buying and protecting retirement and emergency savings.

Abhishek Kumar said a home budget should stay within four to five times annual income, with EMIs kept within a safe share of income. He noted that low rental yields in NCR make renting viable for many, and that a ₹20–25 lakh household income is needed for a mid-segment home.

Abhishek Kumar said the ₹40 crore figure holds only under specific assumptions, such as a high-spending metro lifestyle kept up for 30 years. He estimated most urban professionals would need ₹10–20 crore, and suggested starting early and planning in milestones.

Abhishek Kumar explained that the family unit covers an employee and dependants and underpins the minimum wage calculation. He said the formula is dated, and that revising it could raise the fitment factor and basic pay, with effects on allowances and PSUs.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that NPS Swasthya is the subscriber's own money rather than insurance, said withdrawals cut retirement compounding, and suggested using it only as a third layer after a base health policy and a super top-up.

Abhishek Kumar said it is wrong to assume that every person going abroad from April 2026 has to file these forms on each trip.

Abhishek Kumar explained, in comments drawn from his LinkedIn post, how a car lease still works under the new regime and cautioned that it suits people who stay with one employer for the full lease, citing a client who paid ₹6 lakh after switching jobs.

Abhishek Kumar said fragmentation is the core problem, as separate regulators mean there is no single registry of holdings, and that the trail usually breaks at life events such as an address change or a death, when KYC records are outdated.

Abhishek Kumar explained that RBI rules bar banks from tying locker allotment to other products, and said customers can refuse, ask for the demand in writing and escalate to the RBI Ombudsman if needed.

Abhishek Kumar explained that demand has outpaced supply because lockers earn banks little, and that lockers are often tied to buying other products. He compared private vaults with bank lockers and advised insuring the contents of a private locker.

Abhishek Kumar said market volatility is pushing cautious investors towards fixed deposits. He described FDs as a stabilising base that protects capital rather than a growth engine, and suggested spreading deposits across banks and using a laddering approach.

Abhishek Kumar said customers without insurance face a significant coverage gap, as a bank's payout is capped at a multiple of the rent. He advised checking valuation requirements and exclusions, and keeping a digital inventory with photos and invoices.

Abhishek Kumar explained the 2022 RBI locker rules, including the limit on what a bank pays for its own negligence, set at 100 times the yearly locker rent. He advised keeping an inventory with photos, registering a nominee, visiting the locker regularly and considering separate insurance.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that buying depreciating gadgets with future income is a worrying trend. He suggested keeping total debt payments below 40 per cent of income, holding six months of EMIs and expenses as a buffer, and weighing hidden costs.

Abhishek Kumar advised staying calm and holding positions unless cash is needed, continuing SIPs, investing lump sums gradually through a systematic transfer plan, spreading money across equity, debt and gold by risk appetite, and named sectors exposed to oil prices.

Abhishek Kumar said the choice should start with opportunity cost and the reason for buying, with self-use often favouring a home. He cautioned about debt levels, emergency funds and low rental yields, and suggested building an equity corpus first.

Abhishek Kumar said investment flows through digital channels have become a main driver of recent price moves. He explained how physically backed products absorb metal from the market, and suggested checking that a fund is physically backed and audited.

Abhishek Kumar explained that the old rules often left retail investors with a capital loss they could not use, and said long-term holders will generally pay less tax and can treat buybacks much like market sales.

Abhishek Kumar is the subject of the article's opening story: early in his career he nearly bought a money-back policy before working out that its life cover was far too small to protect his family.

Abhishek Kumar said the first step is an emergency fund of six to twelve months of essential expenses, kept easily accessible. He suggested a 50-30-20 budget, SIPs in two or three index or flexicap funds, and avoiding direct stocks without market knowledge.

Abhishek Kumar said the commodity cycle may still be at an early stage but cautioned about timing risk, and suggested a small tactical allocation of up to 5% across commodities while adding equity at lower valuations.

Abhishek Kumar said the confusion centres on property, gold, debt funds and bonds, and that many clients are delaying sales for fear of a costly error. He pointed to common mistakes such as wrongly applying indexation, and called for one uniform LTCG framework.

Abhishek Kumar explained the IRDAI rules on where the insurer invests policyholder funds, said charges for mortality cover and agent commissions lower policy returns, and said life insurance should be bought for protection rather than wealth creation.

Abhishek Kumar said rules bar him from price forecasts, called equities a productive long-term asset, cautioned that silver is the most volatile, and suggested limiting gold to 10% and silver to 5% of a portfolio.

Abhishek Kumar, in a LinkedIn post the outlet cited, said net income rather than gross salary should guide home buying, and that property prices outpacing salaries make this a systemic issue rather than a personal finance failure.

Abhishek Kumar said the law bars changes that harm option holders and that shortening the window could fall in that category. He explained the tax due on exercise and suggested employees read option agreements with scepticism.

Abhishek Kumar explained that space limits, compliance costs and low margins are pushing banks to restrict lockers, and pointed out that RBI rules bar linking allotment to financial products beyond a deposit covering three years' rent and charges.

Abhishek Kumar explained the rules to India Today, including that the holding period follows the original purchase date and that clubbing applies to gifts to a spouse or minor child. He cautioned that gifts can backfire and stressed proper documentation such as a gift deed.

Abhishek Kumar said such pitches amount to mis-selling, pointing out that they ignore policy charges, wrongly promise tax-free maturity on large premiums and use projections outside IRDAI rules; India Today cited his LinkedIn post.

Abhishek Kumar cautioned that concentrated bets damage most portfolios, said quality does not justify any price, warned against herd behaviour, and suggested spreading money across several companies for the long term.

Abhishek Kumar said such transfers cut tax only when properly structured, as clubbing rules can apply. He explained how returns are taxed for adult and minor children and spouses, cautioned against transfers meant to hide income, and listed the documents to keep.

Abhishek Kumar, in a LinkedIn post the article cites, said early retirees at 40 need a larger multiple of expenses, suggested raising savings gradually, and advised building an emergency fund and insurance before retirement investing.

Abhishek Kumar explained the pre-open price discovery process, said grey market premium plays no part in the official listing price, and cautioned that leveraged HNI bids can make oversubscription look stronger than real demand.

Abhishek Kumar suggested splitting a ₹5,000 monthly SIP between an index fund and a flexi-cap fund, investing in equity only with at least a five-year horizon, continuing SIPs in downturns and raising them each year as income rises.

Abhishek Kumar explained what wedding policies typically cover and exclude, said premiums depend on guest count, budget, venue and duration, advised full disclosure and careful reading of exclusions, and said cover can also help middle-class families.

Abhishek Kumar shared examples on LinkedIn, cited by India Today, of users losing money to gaming apps. He wrote that these apps are designed to keep players hooked and that recovery needs counselling, family support and firm financial limits.

Abhishek Kumar said the timing of the founders' move could signal limited conviction and a wish to reduce accountability. He explained that offer-for-sale proceeds go to selling shareholders rather than the company, and said market mood would also shape demand.

Abhishek Kumar, in a LinkedIn post cited by India Today, urged people to tell their families what they own, add nominations to every account and policy, document and register their wills, and name an executor.

Abhishek Kumar, in a LinkedIn post the article cites, said fear of missing out, not EMIs, is what stops people saving. He described a loan that buys an asset, builds skills or raises income as a useful tool, and one taken only to keep up with others as a trap.

Abhishek Kumar explained that SEBI was warning users that digital gold platforms are outside its regulation, leaving no investor protection if one defaults. He pointed to counterparty and operational risks and suggested investors consider shifting holdings to SEBI-regulated gold ETFs or electronic gold receipts.

Abhishek Kumar said SEBI wants users to know these platforms are unregulated and lack investor protection, pointed out counterparty and storage risks, and suggested moving to exchange-traded gold ETFs or electronic gold receipts.

Abhishek Kumar said SEBI's caution was timely, as digital gold buyers have no investor protection under SEBI if a platform defaults. He pointed out counterparty and operational risks and suggested considering a move to regulated gold products.

Abhishek Kumar said people should make a will once they own significant assets or have dependents, include digital assets through a digital executor, and review it every three to five years or after major life events.

Abhishek Kumar explained that insurers group cities into zones and price by local treatment costs and claims data. He said most comprehensive policies already cover pollution-linked illnesses, suggested enhancing them through riders, and cautioned that zone pricing may penalise vulnerable metro residents.

Abhishek Kumar, in a LinkedIn post the outlet cited, pointed out that the example mixed real and nominal figures, and suggested comparing all amounts either in today's rupees or in actual rupees.

Abhishek Kumar shared a case of a user whose missed instalment led to higher fees and a lower credit score, in a LinkedIn post that India Today cited. He suggested using such credit only for planned essentials.

Abhishek Kumar explained that absolute returns ignore time and suggested XIRR for SIPs, along with risk ratios, costs and benchmark comparisons. He cautioned against relying on star ratings and suggested reviewing funds at least once a year.

Abhishek Kumar shared an analysis of gold's long-term price history, pointing to steep annual falls and long periods of muted gains. He said gold belongs in a portfolio as a hedge, not as a growth engine, and suggested a modest 5-10% allocation.

Abhishek Kumar explained what the hike means in rupees, for example an extra ₹675 a month for an employee on ₹22,500 basic pay and ₹360 a month for a pensioner on ₹12,000 basic pension.

Abhishek Kumar explained that sales incentives at every level drive mis-selling, that bank staff can pressure customers seeking loans or lockers, and that premium-linked commissions favour costly investment-linked policies over term cover.

Abhishek Kumar was cited among financial advisers who stress vigilance on claims, alongside steps such as keeping records, escalating within the insurer and approaching the Insurance Ombudsman.

Abhishek Kumar, in a LinkedIn post the article cites, suggested a 12 to 24 month emergency fund, a corpus about 20% above the estimate, withdrawals below the usual 4% rule, and earning on the side before a layoff.

Abhishek Kumar said the incentive structure drives mis-selling, pointed to the churning of old policies for fresh commissions, and explained that commissions tied to premiums push buyers towards costly investment-linked plans over term cover.

Abhishek Kumar said the extra day would help affected filers but pointed out that it was poorly planned, as the extension was announced around midnight alongside two hours of portal downtime.

Abhishek Kumar told India Today that a one-day extension would help some filers, but said announcing it near midnight during portal downtime showed poor planning, and suggested revenue targets may have been a factor.

Abhishek Kumar said the glitches were probably caused by heavy last-day traffic and suggested that taxpayers escalate their problems through the income tax department's official escalation matrix.

Abhishek Kumar said early financial struggles shape saving habits, and that social media raises Gen Z's awareness but also exposes them to unregulated advice. He suggested both groups automate saving, with millennials paying down high-interest loans.

Abhishek Kumar explained that such cases are common and set out an escalation path: keep records, seek written reasons for a denial, approach the insurer's grievance desk, then the Insurance Ombudsman and consumer court. He cautioned that resolution can take months.

Abhishek Kumar shared on LinkedIn, as cited by the outlet, how three fraudulent loans in his name hit his credit score. He described filing a police complaint and a dispute to fix it, and suggested checking credit reports regularly and guarding identity documents.

Abhishek Kumar worked through the article's example, showing the GST saving on sample health and life premiums. He cautioned that insurers can no longer claim input tax credit, so they may not pass on the entire 18% reduction.

Abhishek Kumar explained that regulated lenders must report borrower data to credit bureaus under a 2005 law, and pointed out the weight of payment history, the harm from high card use and late payments, and several score myths.

Abhishek Kumar explained that term insurance is for earning members with financial dependants or loans, and that cover can be based on human life value. He said the policy term should usually end around retirement, at about 60 to 65, as longer terms add unnecessary cost.

Abhishek Kumar explained how credit bureaus collect monthly data from lenders, why scores matter for loan approval and how to dispute errors. He suggested paying on time, applying for loans cautiously and keeping credit use below 30% of the limit.

Abhishek Kumar explained that zero GST would strip insurers of input tax credit, which they may recover through higher base premiums, and said a lower GST rate with the credit intact could save policyholders more.

Abhishek Kumar said first-time buyers often take only third-party cover without comparing policies. He suggested basing the IDV on market value, choosing comprehensive cover and only useful add-ons, and checking exclusions and claim rules.

Abhishek Kumar explained three repayment methods, which can be used alone or together, and said prepaying early in the tenure saves the most interest. He suggested reducing the tenure rather than the EMI after a prepayment.

Abhishek Kumar said high interest makes travel loans costly and fit only as a last resort, cautioned that they can lead to a debt trap, and suggested building a travel fund instead, keeping EMIs within 20-30% of income if borrowing.

Abhishek Kumar said unregulated finfluencers sidestep rules by dressing up recommendations as education. He cautioned that some promote products that benefit them and could lead young investors into risky choices without weighing their risk tolerance or need for liquidity.

Abhishek Kumar said couples should discuss income, loans and spending habits openly before marriage, keep both shared and personal funds, and plan together for children, in views India Today drew from his LinkedIn post.

Abhishek Kumar explained in a LinkedIn post, cited by the outlet, how such groups lure young investors, and cautioned that nobody hands out stock tips for free out of goodwill.

Abhishek Kumar said ULIPs remain heavily mis-sold, with banks pushing them for high commissions and often presenting them as mutual funds. He explained that their many charges weigh on long-term outcomes and said they suit only a narrow set of investors.

Abhishek Kumar shared the story in a LinkedIn post that the article cites, noting that wealth without health feels hollow and that money goals offer only brief satisfaction.

Abhishek Kumar said a further extension looked likely with key utilities still missing more than 100 days into the filing season, and that taxpayers ready to file should not suffer for system delays.

Abhishek Kumar wrote in a LinkedIn post, cited by India Today, that a client lost ₹18 lakh to betting apps and borrowed to keep playing. He said such apps exploit behavioural finance and urged young people to pause before using them.

Abhishek Kumar explained that regular checks show how savings and interest are building up and help catch employers who deduct but do not deposit contributions. He suggested raising errors with the employer first and then through the EPFO grievance system.

Abhishek Kumar, in a LinkedIn post cited by India Today, called the advice reckless, explained that no one can promise fixed returns from mutual funds, and cautioned against touching PF savings except in an emergency.

Abhishek Kumar explained that expenses often grow faster than income and named warning signs such as using credit for bills. He suggested the 50-30-20 budgeting rule, automated investing and a pause before big purchases.

Abhishek Kumar said early retirement is possible but very hard, explained that the savings needed rise sharply the earlier one stops working, and suggested a withdrawal rate of 3.5% or lower in India rather than the 4% rule.

Abhishek Kumar said many clients were considering cutting or stopping health cover as premiums rose, and that younger people often put it off. He cited paperwork errors and non-disclosure as common reasons for rejected claims, called GST on insurance a deterrent, and stressed keeping an emergency fund.

Abhishek Kumar said savings accounts should be used for bills and monthly expenses, with one to two months of expenses kept there. He suggested moving the rest to FDs or debt mutual funds based on risk appetite, noting that debt fund gains are taxed only on redemption.

Abhishek Kumar raised the NPS versus UPS question in a LinkedIn post cited by India Today, set out how each scheme pays out, and said the choice depends on comfort with market-linked outcomes.