Livemint

At 6% inflation, 1 crore will lose significant purchasing power over 20 years, equating to roughly 31 lakh today. Investing wisely can help maintain value, as leaving money idle in savings accounts risks financial stability due to inflation's impact on real income.

The main challenge in mutual fund SIPs is staying invested long enough to benefit from compounding. The 7-5-3-1 rule emphasises patience, diversification, and emotional discipline to build long-term wealth, showing that staying invested for at least 7 years significantly increases portfolio value.

The government has approved a 2% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners. Details here.

Arbitrage Funds are low-risk hybrid mutual funds that profit from price differences between cash and futures markets. While minimising risks, these funds are not entirely risk-free and may underperform in bearish markets. Here's all you need to know.

With Akshaya Tritiya near, gold buying is set to rise. Buyers must ensure jewelry authenticity using these steps 

The toughest part of building a 10 crore retirement fund is reaching the first 1 crore, which may take 14 years. However, with compounding and consistent SIP investments, subsequent crores can be accumulated significantly faster

Starting early in investment significantly impacts wealth creation due to compounding. Aman, investing 5000 at 25, accumulates 2.75 crore by 60. Delaying investment reduces returns, emphasizing the importance of timing over the amount invested.

Credit cards provide a grace period for interest-free payments if the full amount is repaid by the due date. Paying only the minimum incurs high interest on remaining balances, late fees, and potentially losing the grace period. Details here.

The official reference date for the 8th Pay Commission is 1 January 2026. But because the commission has 18 months to submit its final report, it would place the finalisation around mid-2027.

Multiple sources of income can include monthly interest, quarterly dividends, quarterly REIT, InvIT distributions, alternative investments, freelance projects, etc.

8th Pay Commission:  Fitment factor is the multiplier that converts old basic pay into revised basic pay. Here's how the minimum basic pay could rise depending on the various fitment factors demanded by employee unions, and those projected by brokerage firms

The child education allowance has been raised from 100 to 3,000 per month per child, while the hostel allowance has gone up from 300 to 9,000 per month per child. Here's a breakdown of how much one can save on tax, who can claim, other details

While both NSC and tax-saving FDs have a standard 5-year duration, they differ in several key factors, including interest rates and compounding intervals.

As equity markets hit their lowest point in six years, conservative investors are increasingly gravitating toward fixed deposits.

A large share of those new entrants are first-timers. Many came in during a bull run and haven't yet seen a serious correction. That matters, because the biggest threat to their wealth won't be a bad fund, it'll be their own reaction when markets turn.

Early investment in the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana secures a stronger financial future for a girl child through long-term compounding, tax-free returns and disciplined savings.

Studies show that top PMS strategies have generated around 60 basis points of excess return per month over benchmarks. More importantly, roughly 7 out of 10 PMS strategies have beaten their benchmarks. Thats not easy, especially in markets where beating the index itself is tough.

In India, people buy gold on Akshaya Tritiya, depending on specific muhurat timings which vary from one city to another. From Kolkata, Delhi to Mumbai, other cities we bring you a list of the city-wise timings for Akshaya Tritiya

Secure your future with these government-backed schemes in India that offer stable returns, tax benefits, and predictable income, making them ideal for long-term financial planning in 2026.

Income tax penalties can occur due to default in tax payments, incorrect reporting of income, and, in some cases, misreporting of income, which is considered a severe issue. Here's when 50% and 200% fines apply. 

Smart salary structuring unlocks major tax savings on car leases under the new tax regime, showing how a 20 lakh CTC can significantly reduce taxable income and enhance take-home efficiency.

RBI has mandated lenders to report credit data weekly instead of fortnightly to ensure more accurate and fresh credit scores. This shift enables faster loan approvals and quicker score recoveries for borrowers but also means defaults are detected much faster.

The PPF crorepati reality check shows that disciplined, long-term investing at 7.1% can build 1 crore over 25 years, highlighting tax-free compounding, stability, and the need for patience.

PPF, ELSS, and NPS are popular tax-saving investments, differing in structure, eligibility, and returns. Here's the best tax saving option.

Trump accounts explained: A new savings scheme, referred to as Trump accounts, is designed to help families start building wealth for children from birth. Here's how it works. 

Investing in children's future is crucial for parents, with options like Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, NPS Vatsalya Yojana, and PPF accounts. These plans help build savings for education and healthcare, offering tax benefits and high interest rates, ensuring financial stability.

Secure retirement planning can turn a 50 lakh retirement corpus into a balanced income engine. Here is how you can blend SCSS, mutual funds, equities and debt for inflation-beating, tax-efficient long-term financial stability.

Asset allocation involves distributing investments across various asset classes to manage risk and return. Common categories include fixed-income instruments, equities, and precious metals. Here's what investors should know.

First-time borrowers often damage their credit score due to poor awareness, high utilisation and missed repayments, making disciplined financial planning essential for building a strong and sustainable credit profile.

SIPs and lumpsum are two approaches an investor can take when venturing into mutual funds. Here's a look at how both work, what are the benefits and which you should choose depending on your risk appetite and financial goals.

Bajaj Life Nifty 500 Low Volatility 50 Index Fund offers ULIP investors stable, long-term growth through a disciplined, low-volatility equity strategy.

Hidden fees and spending traps in food delivery and OTT apps are eroding your savings.

Fund investing, which investors once saw as easy to manage independently, suddenly looks very discomfiting and complex in 2026. Investors feel unsure if their portfolios are constructed correctly, whether their choices carry good long-term prospects, and doubt their capability to generate returns.

Effective from this fiscal year, the new labour laws are reshaping your monthly compensation structure with more focus on long term and retirement savings. Here's how much your in-hand salary is likely to be impacted for 6 lakh CTC

The Public Provident Fund (PPF) has a 15-year lock-in period, starting from the end of the financial year in which the first deposit is made. However, investors may face a longer lock-in period, depending on the deposit date. 

Steady wealth creation can be achieved through mutual fund SIPs, as investors should continue to focus on disciplined investing, rupee cost averaging, and compounding amid global market volatility.

A. Balasubramanian, CEO of Aditya Birla Sun Life MF, views market corrections as conviction tests, urging investors to increase allocations during red periods to lower average costs. Mint explores the funds strategic deployment of cash into mid- and small-caps

From April 1, 2026, the tax-exempt limit on employer-provided meals have been increased to 200 per meal, up from 50 earlier. Here are the key conditions to claim the benefit.

With employer insurance often falling short, a top-up plan can offer a cost-effective way to build adequate family health protection

8th Pay Commission proposal sparks buzz as NCJCM suggests 69,000 minimum basic pay for Group C employees, based on an elaborate table of expenses, driven by rising living costs, higher fitment factor and detailed expense-based calculations.

Consent-driven credit is reshaping lending in India by giving consumers control over their financial data through the Account Aggregator framework. This shift is improving credit access, accuracy, and trust, especially for underserved borrowers.

The Public Provident Fund (PPF) is a long-term savings option favored by risk-averse investors for its government backing and tax benefits. Here's how much 5K, 10K and 12K investments can grow over 15 years and with 5-year extensions.

The 8th Pay Commission is reviewing salary hikes and pension structures for central government employees, with various consultations scheduled in 2026. Here's how the fitment factor, DA, arrears and other elements are decided.

Take-home salary to decrease? Effective from this fiscal year, the new labour laws are reshaping how your salary is credited each month with more focus on long term and retirement savings from the government.

Steady wealth creation meets certainty, as 10 lakh FD monthly income highlights how bank rates, tenure choices and geopolitical complications make fixed deposits even more attractive in 2026.

Want to leverage your gold for a line of credit? We explain what gold loan and gold overdraft facility is, what you get you and which is the better choice based on your needs.

A powerful long-term savings plan through Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) can help parents build a 50 lakh corpus for their daughter through disciplined monthly investing, tax-free growth, and early financial planning.

The right approach is to work backwards from your financial goals. These typically include major life milestones such as purchasing a house, funding childrens education, marriage, and planning for retirement.

The gold loan market has reached a record 16 trillion, but rising delinquency rates signal emerging credit stress. As market volatility triggers margin calls, experts warn that over-leveraged borrowers risk financial exclusion if gold prices continue to fluctuate.

Estate planning is crucial for family clarity after one's passing. Here's all you need to know about a settlement deed, why it is prepared, how it functions alongside a will, and what key factors to consider before opting for one.