ArticleFixed Deposits
Bank FDs vs corporate deposits: where the risk sits
Corporate and NBFC deposits often pay more than bank FDs. The extra return is payment for risk — here is how to see that risk clearly.
4 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 · page 2 of 3
ArticleFixed Deposits
Cumulative vs non-cumulative FDs: same rate, different outcomes
A cumulative FD reinvests interest; a non-cumulative FD pays it out. The rate can be identical, yet maturity values, cash flows and uses differ.
4 min read
ExplainerMutual Funds
CAGR vs XIRR: which return number should you use?
CAGR suits a single investment held over time; XIRR handles many cash flows on different dates. Using the wrong one can flatter or understate returns.
2 min read
ArticleFixed Deposits
FD laddering: regular access to cash without guessing rates
Splitting one large deposit into several with staggered maturities gives you regular access to cash and spreads the risk of renewing at the wrong time.
4 min read
ArticleMutual Funds
How to read a mutual fund factsheet
A factsheet packs a fund’s objective, costs, holdings and risk into a few pages. Here is what each section means and what to look for.
5 min read
ArticleMutual Funds
Direct vs regular plans: what you pay for, and what you get
Every mutual fund scheme comes in two versions with the same portfolio and different costs. The right choice depends on how much help you actually use.
4 min read
ArticleMutual Funds
Expense ratios: why costs compound too
A fund’s annual cost is deducted quietly from its value every day. Small differences in cost become large differences in outcome over decades.
5 min read
ArticleMutual Funds
How to read a riskometer (and what it doesn’t tell you)
Every mutual fund shows a riskometer. It is a useful first filter and a poor final answer. Here is how it is built and how to use it well.
4 min read
ExplainerInvesting Basics
The Rule of 72, explained in one minute
Divide 72 by a growth rate to estimate how many years it takes to double. A handy shortcut for returns, inflation, costs and debt.
2 min read
ArticleMutual Funds
Step-up SIPs: letting your investing grow with your income
A SIP that never changes slowly shrinks relative to your income. A step-up raises it each year. Here is what that does, with honest numbers.
4 min read
ArticleMutual Funds
SIP or lumpsum? Choosing how to put money to work
Both can work. The right choice depends less on market forecasts and more on where your money comes from and how you handle a fall.
4 min read
ArticleTaxation
How investments are taxed in India: a 2026-27 primer
Interest, dividends and capital gains are taxed differently, and holding periods matter. A plain-English map of the rules for tax year 2026-27.
6 min read