A running index of everything I’ve written on markets, money, and the decisions around both.
Primary markets
IPOs, how they work, and what retail investors usually get wrong.
- How IPO Allotment Works in IndiaWhy most retail applicants don’t get shares, and how the SEBI lottery actually works.
- What is GMP in IPOGrey Market Premium explained, and how much weight you should actually give it.
- OFS vs Fresh Issue in IPOTwo very different things in an IPO, and why the distinction matters for investors.
- How to Apply for an IPO Using UPIStep-by-step: from opening your broker app to accepting the UPI mandate.
- What is a DRHPThe most important IPO document most investors never read, and what’s actually worth reading in it.
- SME IPO vs Mainboard IPOThe differences that matter: exchange, disclosure, liquidity, and risk.
- What is Cut-Off Price in IPOWhen to tick cut-off price on your application, and the rare case where you might not.
- IPO Listing GainsHow to think about Day 1 gains versus holding, and the data on base rates.
- What Happens If an IPO Is Not Fully Subscribed?The 90% SEBI rule, underwriter devolvement, and what undersubscription signals.
- How to Check IPO Allotment StatusAll registrars: KFintech, Link Intime, Bigshare, in one guide.
- What is ASBAHow Application Supported by Blocked Amount protects your money in IPOs.
- Demat Account in IndiaWhat it is, NSDL vs CDSL, DP charges, and what to check before opening one.
- India Primary Market BoomWhat is driving record IPO volumes, who benefits most, and how retail should approach it.
- What Is a Holding Company Discount?Starting from the Jio IPO — an interactive breakdown of how to value a conglomerate and why the market prices it below the sum of its parts.
Fixed income
Beyond equities: bonds, G-Secs, REITs, and debt portfolios.
- What Are Bonds in IndiaPlain English: how bonds work, who issues them, and how retail investors can access them.
- Fixed Income Investing in IndiaThe complete landscape: FDs, G-Secs, NCDs, SGBs, and how to build a debt portfolio.
- NCD vs FDHigher returns, higher risk. What Non-Convertible Debentures offer vs a bank FD.
- What Are NCDsNon-Convertible Debentures explained: coupon, ratings, and how to apply.
- How to Invest in G-Secs via RBI Retail DirectComplete guide to opening an RBI Retail Direct account and buying government securities.
- SDL: State Development Loans ExplainedState government bonds: safety, yield premium over G-Secs, and how to buy.
- What Are 54EC BondsHow to save LTCG tax on property sale by investing in NHAI and REC bonds.
- SGB vs Gold ETF vs Physical GoldThree ways to own gold: returns, tax, and liquidity compared.
- Sovereign Gold Bond: Complete GuideHow SGBs work, 2.5% annual interest, 8-year tenure, and the tax-free maturity gain.
- What Are REITs in IndiaHow Real Estate Investment Trusts work, the listed REITs, and who they’re suited for.
- What Are InvITsInfrastructure Investment Trusts: toll roads, pipelines, and power assets for retail investors.
- REIT vs InvIT vs Direct Real EstateWhat makes sense when comparing liquid and illiquid real estate.
Personal finance
Where to start, how to allocate, and the behaviour that costs most investors more than bad stock picks.
- Farming moneyPlanting the seeds of investing: a quick-start guide.
- How to Start Investing in India with ₹5,000 a MonthA simple, practical framework to get your money working from day one.
- Nifty 50 ETFThe simplest investment most Indians aren’t making, and why that’s a mistake.
- How to Build an Emergency Fund in IndiaHow much is enough, where to keep it, and what NOT to invest it in.
- The 100 Minus Age RuleDoes this old equity allocation thumb rule still hold up?
- GoldOn using gold to hedge against uncertainty and inflation.
- How Much of Your Portfolio Should Be in Gold?The case for gold as a hedge, how much is reasonable, and which form makes sense.
- Investing vs TradingWhy most retail participants should not be trading, and the data behind that claim.
- Inflation in IndiaHow India’s inflation rate erodes savings accounts, FDs, and what actually protects you.
- What Are NFOsNew Fund Offers aren’t cheap just because the NAV starts at ₹10. Here’s why.
- P2P Lending in IndiaHigh returns or high risk? An honest look at default rates and what platforms don’t tell you.
- Startup Investing for Retail Investors in IndiaWhat SEBI’s accredited investor framework opened up, and what the real risks are.
- Envy and UsOn how envy affects our trading and investment strategies.
- Why You Always Buy at the Top and Sell at the BottomThe psychology behind recency bias, panic selling, and why SIPs mechanically fix this.
- FOMO InvestingHow fear of missing out shows up in IPOs, crypto, and rallies, and what it costs you.
- Why Checking Your Portfolio Every Day Is Bad for Your WealthMyopic loss aversion, the research behind it, and how to check less without losing control.
- The Sunk Cost Fallacy in InvestingWhy you hold bad stocks too long, and the one question that breaks the trap.
- LTCG Tax on Equity in IndiaWhat changed in Budget 2024, the Rs 1.25 lakh exemption, and how to plan redemptions.
- How SGB Is TaxedInterest is taxable; maturity gains are tax-free. The complete picture.
- Tax-Saving Investments Beyond 80C80CCD(1B), 80D, 80E, HRA, and other deductions most taxpayers miss.
- How to Do Tax-Loss Harvesting in IndiaSet-off rules, carry-forward for 8 years, and how to execute before March 31.
Macro
The bigger picture that shapes every investment decision.
- How RBI Repo Rate Decisions Affect Your InvestmentsTracing repo rate changes from EMIs to bond prices to equity valuations.
- The Aam Aadmi Investor Guide to Reading Market NewsHow financial media makes money on your attention, and how to read it without getting played.