FinPlann Blog — Personal Finance for Indians
Guides & insights for everyday investors
Practical articles on mutual funds, tax planning, retirement, insurance, and the money decisions that shape middle-class Indian life.
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Should You Pause SIPs in a Market Crash? 25 Years of Indian Data Says No
Every major crash — 2008, 2013, 2020 — sees a surge in SIP cancellations. But 25 years of Indian market data shows continuing the SIP through a crash is worth, on average, ₹50 lakh in final corpus. Here's the math.
How to Pick the Right Index Fund in India — Tracking Error and Expense Ratio
Two Nifty 50 index funds from different AMCs can have the same stocks but return 0.5–1% differently year after year. The reason: tracking error and expense ratio. Here's how to pick the right one.
Portfolio Overlap in Mutual Funds — SEBI's 50% Cap and What It Means for You
Two sectoral funds from the same AMC could share 75%+ of their portfolio. SEBI's Feb 2026 rule now caps this at 50%. Here's how to audit your own portfolio, which AMCs face the biggest changes, and why "diversified" often isn't.
Your Children's Fund or Retirement Fund Is Being Merged — Here's What to Do
SEBI has scrapped India's solution-oriented mutual fund category in Feb 2026. 12 children's funds and 29 retirement funds with ₹57,000+ Cr AUM are being merged. Here's what happens to your units, tax implications, and how to decide next steps.
Life Cycle Funds in India — SEBI's New Auto-Glide-Path Product Explained
Life Cycle Funds are SEBI's newest mutual fund category — single-product retirement solutions with automatic rebalancing from equity to debt as your goal approaches. Here's how they work, who they suit, and why caution is warranted.
SEBI's New Mutual Fund Rules 2026 — A Complete Guide to the February Overhaul
SEBI's February 2026 overhaul is the biggest mutual fund rule change in a decade. Here's what changes for equity categories, portfolio overlap, value funds, and retirement schemes — and what it means for your portfolio.
Best Gold ETFs in 2026 — Top Funds, Tax Rules & Portfolio Allocation
Gold ETFs give you pure gold exposure without storage hassles or making charges. Here are the top Gold ETFs in India by AUM and expense ratio — plus the Budget 2024 tax rules that make them more attractive than ever.
Best International Mutual Funds in 2026 — Why Every Indian Investor Needs One
Indian investors have 98% of their money in Indian assets. International mutual funds fix that concentration risk. Here are the top international funds available to Indian investors — and the tax rules you must understand.
Portfolio Rebalancing — When and How Indian Investors Should Actually Do It
Your carefully chosen 70/30 equity-debt split drifts to 85/15 after a bull run. Rebalancing forces you to sell high and buy low — but done wrong, it wrecks your tax bill.
Topics We Cover
Six areas, all India-first
Every article is written for Indian investors. We explain the maths, cite the rules, and give you action steps — not generic advice.
Mutual Fund Investing
SIP sizing, step-up strategies, lump sum vs SIP, fund category guides, and portfolio reviews.
Tax Planning & Saving
New vs old regime, ELSS vs PPF under 80C, HRA, F&O — updated for the current financial year.
Retirement & FIRE
The 4% rule adapted for Indian inflation, NPS vs EPF, planning timelines by age.
Loans, Debt & Credit
Prepay vs invest, personal loan payoff strategies, CIBIL improvement, rent vs buy.
Insurance & Emergency
Term vs ULIP, health cover sizing against medical inflation, and emergency fund maths.
Budgeting & Savings
50/30/20 adapted for Indian salaries, SSY vs MF, gold strategies, LRS for investing abroad.