ExplainerTaxation
TDS explained: why it isn’t your final tax
Tax deducted at source is an advance payment, not a final bill. How TDS works on deposits and dividends, and what to do about it when you file.
2 min read
Academy · Articles
Articles & explainers
Long reads that take an idea apart, and short explainers that fit in a coffee break. Filter by topic or browse by tag.
27 pieces
ExplainerRetirement
Withdrawal rates in retirement, explained
How much of a corpus can you draw each year? Why the answer depends on inflation, returns and time — and why rules of thumb from elsewhere need care.
2 min read
ExplainerMutual Funds
What NAV really means (and why a low NAV isn’t cheap)
NAV is a fund’s per-unit value, not its price tag. Why a ₹10 NAV is not a bargain, what moves NAV, and which NAV you get when you invest.
2 min read
ArticleInvesting Basics
Asset allocation and rebalancing, without the jargon
How you divide money between equity, debt and other assets shapes your results more than any single fund. How to set a mix — and keep it.
4 min read
ArticleRetirement
Using an SWP for retirement income
A systematic withdrawal plan turns a corpus into regular income. How it works, how withdrawal rates and sequence risk shape it, and how it compares.
5 min read
ArticleRetirement
Your retirement number: how to estimate it
Retirement planning starts with one figure: the corpus your expenses may need. How to estimate it step by step, and which assumptions move it most.
4 min read
ArticleInsurance
Health insurance basics: waiting periods, co-pay and sub-limits
Most health insurance surprises come from a few clauses. What waiting periods, co-payments, sub-limits and room-rent caps mean in practice.
5 min read
ArticleInsurance
How much term cover is enough? Three methods, compared
Term insurance replaces the income your family would lose. Three common ways to size the cover, with one family’s numbers worked through.
4 min read
ExplainerInvesting Basics
Nominal vs real return: the number that actually matters
A return matters for what it can buy. How to turn a nominal return into a real, after-inflation return — and why tax belongs in the picture too.
2 min read
ArticleBonds
Credit ratings explained: what AAA does and doesn’t tell you
A credit rating is an opinion on the likelihood of timely repayment. It is useful, standardised and fallible. Here is how to read one.
4 min read
ArticleBonds
Why bond prices fall when interest rates rise
Bond prices and interest rates move like a seesaw. Duration tells you how far it tips — and why long bonds move more than short ones.
4 min read
ArticleBonds
Bonds 101: coupon, price and yield
A bond’s coupon is fixed; its price and yield are not. Understanding how the three relate is the foundation of fixed-income investing.
4 min read