MICRO Blog

If you observe these instances, the underlying motivation to invest is primarily because of FOMO (fear of missing out) or saving taxes or chasing returns through the influence of social media. Investors however fail to pause and rarely think about questions which actually matter. Considering the behavioral tendencies, check out the infographic above on the […]

The Nifty 50 is presently down roughly 11% from its all-time high. Not a crash or a bear market, but enough to unsettle. The ongoing West Asia conflict, inflation fears, a weakening rupee, and economic slowdown chatter have combined to create a steady drip of anxiety for investors – many of whom had grown accustomed […]

For many individuals, buying a home is a lifelong dream, while for others, upgrading to a bigger or more comfortable home may be an important financial goal. Over the years, people usually accumulate savings by investing in various assets such as shares, mutual funds, gold, or property. When the time comes to achieve these goals, […]

In personal finance, the biggest leaks rarely come from market crashes. They come from social obligations dressed up as financial decisions. An insurance policy continues, not because it is suitable, but because a relative sold it. A demat account stays open, not because it is needed, but because a family acquaintance helped set it up. […]

Markets don’t reward stories. They reward discipline. In 2024, it was defence and capital goods. More recently, metals and commodities – gold & silver took center stage. Each phase had a compelling narrative: The story always sounds logical – almost obvious in hindsight. But here’s what often gets ignored: Narratives peak when prices already reflect […]

Falling markets not just offer attractive buying opportunities. They are actually one of the best times to identify and remove poor stocks or mutual funds from a portfolio and reinvest into better ones at attractive prices. But the key is to distinguish between temporary fall vs fundamentally bad investment. Most investors do the opposite – […]

Stock market scams in one form or the other continue to witness an unprecedented rise in India. Scamsters target gullible investors through WhatsApp, Telegram and other social media platforms, luring them with the flashy claims of quick returns. This is despite SEBI’s warnings cautioning investors against unsolicited messages on WhatsApp and other similar groups. To […]

A room filled with curiosity and a flood of questions on a lazy afternoon – that’s how I would describe the investor awareness session I conducted for the staff of LSEG Data & Analytics some time back. During such sessions, I usually ask the audience one simple but revealing question: “If you had to share […]

The latest revisions to India’s National Pension System (NPS) have allowed it to evolve into a flexible, low-cost, multi-choice, tax-efficient, long-term retirement product. For many investors, this could well be a game changer. Especially for those who: This behavioural gap is blatantly reflected in the difference between mutual fund scheme returns and actual investor returns. […]

Recently, during my conversation with a new NRI client, she revealed her plans to eventually return and retire in India. Upon further enquiry, I discovered she had a corporate health cover abroad but had discontinued her health insurance policy back home. This, unfortunately, is a very common mistake among NRIs. After settling abroad, many NRIs […]

India’s primary market continued to witness an unprecedented surge in IPO activity in calendar year 2025, with around 120 IPOs launched in the mainboard segment. Mainboard IPOs typically comprise relatively large and established companies that list on the BSE or NSE. During such IPO frenzies, one behavioural bias that gets amplified is FOMO (Fear of […]

The Indian Parliament passed the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025 earlier this December. One of the key highlights of the legislation is the increase in the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in Indian insurance companies to 100 per cent. While this move is expected to boost capital inflows and support […]

This table was published recently by popular newspaper Mint. Different investment options have been ranked in order of their return performance – from the highest to the lowest for each calendar year in the 10-year period – 2016 to 2025. They broadly fall under the following 4 asset classes – Fixed Income (debt), Equity, Gold […]

I know people who have created huge wealth from humble incomes and disciplined savings. And, also those earning exceptionally well, yet constantly struggling financially due to poor cash-flow control and negligible investments. That is why, when I sit down to prepare a financial plan for a client, the one figure I pay very close attention […]

In this past year, gold has given 70-80 per cent returns, silver over 100 per cent returns. Most international funds have yielded double digit returns. Comparatively, Sensex and Nifty have risen by just around 8 per cent till date in 2025. You must be disappointed after being used to seeing double digit greens in your […]

Imagine how you use water when there’s a 24/7 supply versus when a municipal water cut is imposed. In scarcity, you automatically become more careful, even saving more than required. The same principle applies to money. During our working years, income flows regularly; in retirement, it dosen’t. When there is a meteoric rise in money […]

Tata Capital is the latest company to join the list of IPO disappointments, causing enormous losses to investors who bought the company stock in the unlisted market at a hefty premium. The pre-IPO share price had peaked up to Rs.1,000-1,125 amid the frenzy in the unlisted equity space. The IPO price band announced between Rs.310-326 […]

There is often a long gap between what we know and what we actually do. Knowing something is not the same as understanding it and putting it into practice. For instance, everyone knows a few minutes of daily exercise is good for health. Yet, how many of us actually walk, stretch, or work out consistently? […]

A large number of policyholders in India are often unaware of the exact type of life insurance they have purchased. Many struggle to distinguish whether their policy is an endowment plan, money-back policy, or whole-life cover. This lack of awareness makes them vulnerable to mis-selling. The fact that mis-selling happens in the insurance industry is […]

At the time of filing income tax returns, many taxpayers receive a rude shock in the form of a large self-assessment tax demand. This typically arises from interest earned on fixed deposits, which is classified under “Income from Other Sources.” Since this income is often not accounted for in advance, individuals not only end up […]

The fundamental objective of buying a term insurance policy is financial protection of family members, the ones who are dependent on you – non-earning spouse, kids, senior citizen parents, etc. After age 60, life insurance is usually not required. This is true in most cases as adequate financial assets are accumulated for retirement, kids turn […]