Livemint

A slightly higher starting contribution can produce a considerably larger corpus when combined with the same annual step-up strategy.

Retirement corpus plan: There is no one-size-fits-all retirement corpus. Your target should factor in current spending, inflation, retirement age, lifespan, post-retirement income and investment returns. Here's how to calculate how much you may need.

The starting point of any solid financial plan is a dedicated emergency reserve.

DA formula to change? Bank unions are planning a nationwide strike on 11 September to push demands for five-day work week, performance-linked incentives, and pension reforms. Here's all we know 

Groww cautions that small-caps remain a highly volatile investment category. Investors should therefore maintain a long-term horizon of at least eight to 10 years to potentially generate sustainable returns and a healthy CAGR.

The Income Tax Departments FAST-DS scheme gives eligible taxpayers a limited window to disclose certain foreign assets. Here are the key rules on eligibility, valuation, tax, penalties and the 31 December 2026 filing deadline.

Deadline to file income-tax returns for business or professional (including freelancers) income, is fast approaching on 31 August. Here's who must file their returns, checklist for taxpayers and top things to know

The Jeevan Pramaan platform allows pensioners to submit Digital Life Certificates online, but NRIs reportedly face challenges like lack of Aadhaar-linked Indian mobile numbers and difficulties with digital services, prompting many to submit offline.

A loan against NSC can provide funds without immediate encashment. Here are the NSC loan rules, eligibility, application process, interest rate, LTV, documents and key points borrowers should know.

Many salaried people are financially strained at month-end, highlighting the need for better spending habits. Experts recommend having three bank accounts for budgeting purposes: one for daily expenses, one for emergencies, and one for investments, but caution about risks like minimum balance fees.

India is witnessing a growing pet population and rising veterinary costs, which are driving demand for pet insurance. In 2025, the pet insurance market reached 3,152 crore and is expected to grow further to 9,478 crore by 2034. 

Rather than opting for conventional presents this Raksha Bandhan 2026, families can consider gifts that offer lasting financial value and reflect the festivals message of protection and care.

To earn 50,000 a month in 2026, retirees need an FD corpus ranging from roughly 70.6 lakh to 1 crore, depending on the interest rate (6-8.5%), while factoring in TDS, senior citizen tax deductions under the Income-tax Act 2025, and post-tax income for retirement planning.

Celebrating a paid-off home loan is essential, but ensure to collect original documents, including sale deeds and No Dues Certificates. Per RBI guidelines, lenders must return these within 30 days; failure results in compensation. 

Gold and silver prices today, 28 August: Check the latest 24K, 22K gold and 999 silver retail rates across Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and other major Indian cities, along with MCX market updates.

Thematic and small-cap funds may offer growth, but they demand patience and discipline. Groww AMCs Anupam Tiwari explains where these bets fit and where investors should tread carefully.

The 8th Pay Commission fitment factor remains undecided, with several employee and pensioner organisations seeking factors of 3.61, 3.833 and 4.00. Heres what each proposal could mean for minimum basic pay, pensions and central government employees.

This Raksha Bandhan, gift mutual fund units to your sibling instead of a traditional present. Know the transfer process, eligibility, charges, tax treatment, NRI and minor rules, and what happens to SIPs after gifting.

Best health insurance policy 2026 India: compare sum insured, exclusions, waiting period, co-payment, sub-limits, network hospitals, top-up plans & no-claim bonus before buying a family floater.

Banks will remain closed in several states on 28 August for Raksha Bandhan. The closures are state-specific, while online banking, UPI, NEFT, RTGS, and ATM services will continue. Customers should check their local bank's holiday schedule before visiting a branch.

Equity mutual fund returns can vary sharply across categories and schemes. Over a 10-year SIP period, some small-cap and mid-cap funds emerged among the top performers, while certain large-cap, value and flexi-cap schemes featured at the lower end. 

Index funds are becoming increasingly popular among retail investors in the passive investing segment. Here's why Indian investors are choosing index funds over ETFs despite the latter being a cheaper option.

A wife sought 4 lakh per month as maintenance for herself and the children at the Gurgaon Family Court. She also asked for 7.5 lakh as litigation expenses. The husband claimed that his annual income had fallen to 36 lakh with other liabilities.

Some stocks and mutual funds may remain in your portfolio despite prolonged underperformance. These zombie investments may no longer fit your strategy or goals. Here's how investors can spot warning signs and review whether such investments still deserve a place in their portfolio.

The simpler approach is to gift the money to your sister and allow her to invest it through an SIP from her own bank account.

We used an EPF calculator to calculate how a 30-year-old can potentially accumulate over 4 crore for retirement by contributing 12% of a monthly salary of 80,000.

Kotak Mutual Fund has highlighted passive investment opportunities amid market correction, spanning indices, commodities, sectors and themes. Heres what the fund house has suggested and how investors should approach this. 

NRIs cannot make fresh investments in Sovereign Gold Bonds but can continue holding SGBs bought while they were residents. They can invest in physical gold, gold mutual funds, e-gold and Gold ETFs, subject to applicable rules.

GST-registered taxpayers filing ITRs for AY 2026-27 need to choose the right form and ensure their turnover and income figures align with GST records. Heres what you need to know about ITR-3 vs ITR-4, turnover reconciliation, GST treatment, and common filing mistakes.

For employees with a substantial home loan, tapping into a portion of their EPF corpus may appear to be a useful option. The money can be used to reduce the outstanding loan, cut the overall interest burden and potentially ease monthly financial pressure.

NPS offers four asset classes and two investment options. While Active Choice lets you decide how your money is allocated, Auto Choice adjusts the allocation based on your age. Heres what you need to know about the available asset classes and allocation limits.

Young salaried investors with EPF may still consider NPS to add market-linked growth and diversify their retirement savings. Experts say starting early can help, but investors should build an emergency fund before significantly increasing NPS contributions.

Zerodha founder Nithin Kamath has raised concerns over the rapid growth of its MTF business, which now stands at 9,000 crore. While the facility boosts buying power, Kamath says it may not suit most investors and could pose risks if markets fall sharply.

A single estate may be subject to different legal regimes, resulting in succession complexities.

The Supreme Court ruled last week that a mother's income cannot solely justify reducing a father's financial obligation for child maintenance. Here's all you need to know about the case.

The RBI proposed clearer rules for banks and NBFCs on loan spreads and APRs to enhance transparency in borrowing. The draft intends to establish a unified framework by 2027, allowing better comparison of loan costs, including a ceiling on APR for small loans. 

Private credit is attracting investors with returns of up to 22%, but higher yields come with higher credit, liquidity, manager and valuation risks that investors must understand before committing.

A recent NCDRC ruling explains what happens when an LIC policy is assigned to a bank as security for a loan. The commission held that LIC was not at fault for surrendering the policy on the banks instructions after the loan remained unpaid.

A deceased person's income tax issues persist, requiring the filing of returns and the payment of taxes from their assets. Legal representatives must file returns until all taxes are settled, navigating disputes and uncertain heirship. 

Inheritance of assets does not incur immediate tax but it changes when you sell it later. Here's all you need to know about capital gains tax rules, available tax relief options and other details.

From October 1, 2026, resident individuals and HUFs buying property from NRIs can use their PAN to deposit TDS instead of obtaining a TAN. Until September 30, buyers must follow the existing TAN-based process, while TDS remains applicable from the first rupee.

Pune ITAT has ruled that a 65.21 lakh payout received by a Pfizer employee under a voluntary retirement scheme was a capital receipt and not taxable. The tribunal said Section 56(2)(xi) did not apply because the employee had voluntarily resigned under the scheme, rather than being terminated.

The Maharashtra cooperative court ruled that housing societies cannot impose higher maintenance fees based solely on property size or type, siding with residents who argued for equal charges. Full details of the case here. 

The RBI wants banks and NBFCs to follow clearer rules on loan spreads, rate revisions and APRs. The changes could make borrowing easier to compare, but may also push lenders to price risk upfront.

On August 27, MCX gold prices rose in India as uncertainty in Middle East continued to support safe-haven demand. Check retail rates of both gold and silver in your city here.

EPFOs Employees Enrolment Campaign (EEC) 2026 gives employers a one-time opportunity to enrol eligible workers who were missed from EPF coverage between April 1, 2009 and March 31, 2026. Employers can use the special window to regularise eligible employees until October 31, 2026.

Central government pensioners and employee associations want the 8th Pay Commission to reduce the 15-year commuted pension restoration period to 1012 years. They argue that changing interest rates, longer life expectancy and lower mortality have made the existing 15-year rule outdated.

Retirees can now benefit from a retroactive increase in leave encashment tax exemption from 3 lakh to 25 lakh, as ruled by the ITAT Chennai. Details here.

Mid-cap and small-cap funds offer different risk-return profiles, but how do they compare on alpha? Heres a look at benchmark-adjusted performance, negative alpha across schemes, and broader category trends.

Hybrid funds offer exposure to multiple asset classes through a single scheme. But how have different hybrid fund categories performed? Heres a look at the top and bottom performers based on 3-year SIP returns.