freefincal https://freefincal.com/ Tue, 02 Jun 2026 06:18:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://freefincal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/cropped-Freefincal-favicon-32x32.jpg freefincal https://freefincal.com/ 32 32 57044001 no Stocks with low volatility and momentum for June 2026 https://freefincal.com/stocks-with-low-volatility-and-momentum-for-june-2026/ Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:30:51 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=356635 We publish a list of stocks with low volatility and momentum each month. We provide data for BSE 500 and BSE 100 stocks. Update: Starting March 2026, the screening metrics have been significantly updated (details below). There are now three different screener files available. (1) Stocks with low volatility and momentum from the BSE 100...

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]]> 356635 What withdrawal rate do you recommend for retirement planning? https://freefincal.com/what-withdrawal-rate-do-you-recommend-for-retirement-planning/ Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:30:15 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=255181 Last Updated on June 2, 2026 at 8:11 am DIY investors often ask us, “What withdrawal rate do you recommend for retirement planning?” — a discussion. The withdrawal rate is defined as the annual expenses in (the first year of) retirement divided by the corpus. Typically, this is estimated before or at retirement and is...

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]]> 255181 Why we must not assign probabilities for stock market returns https://freefincal.com/why-we-must-not-assign-probabilities-for-stock-market-returns/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:30:04 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=251942 Statements like, “Our analysis shows that, over the long term, the stock market shows poor returns for only two out of every ten periods. This means that the probability of losing money is quite small”, are wrong. You cannot, well, must not associate probabilities with stock market returns. Just because one has two numbers –...

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]]> 251942 Are you confusing your middle-class perspective with middle-class status? https://freefincal.com/are-you-confusing-your-middle-class-perspective-with-middle-class-status/ Sun, 31 May 2026 00:30:20 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=267089 A few years ago, during a long drive, I discussed money and governance with the auto-driver (it is safer to chat with strangers than relatives). He said, “For middle-class people like me ..”. I do not remember the rest of the sentence, but that phrase middle-class people like me has stayed with me. Up until that...

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]]> 267089 From Debt Burden to Fatherhood: My 2025 Financial Journey https://freefincal.com/from-debt-burden-to-fatherhood-my-2025-financial-journey/ Sat, 30 May 2026 00:30:53 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=354509 In this edition of the reader story, “Hi friends, I am Abhineeth, and this is my 4th financial audit. We welcomed our baby boy in 2025, a sweet blessing. 2025 was an eventful year for us financially. I pre-closed my personal loan by withdrawing from mutual funds in September 2025(when the Sensex was around 82000) as...

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]]> 354509 Can I use a three-bucket retirement strategy with the freefincal robo advisor tool? https://freefincal.com/can-i-use-a-three-bucket-retirement-strategy-with-the-freefincal-robo-advisor-tool/ Fri, 29 May 2026 00:30:54 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=253456 A reader asks, “Sir, you have shown in many articles that the freefincal robo advisor tool uses a four-bucket strategy. Can I DIY a three-bucket strategy using the tool?” Short answer: Yes, you can, but we do not recommend it. Those who wish to start with the basics head over here: What is a retirement bucket...

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]]> 253456 The Stability Illusion: Why waiting for the “right time” to invest keeps you stuck longer than you realize! https://freefincal.com/the-stability-illusion-why-waiting-for-the-right-time-to-invest-keeps-you-stuck-longer-than-you-realize/ Thu, 28 May 2026 00:30:29 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=352550 ‘I’ll start once things settle down. It sounds like a plan. It even sounds responsible. But I’ve come to believe it might be one of the most expensive things a person can say to themselves. I’ve been investing in equity for about five years now. In the investing world, that’s not very long. I haven’t...

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]]> 352550 Why You Lose Money Holding Precious Things: The Endowment Effect https://freefincal.com/why-you-lose-money-holding-precious-things-the-endowment-effect/ Wed, 27 May 2026 00:30:30 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=353599 Have you ever tried to sell something on OLX—maybe an old phone or a piece of furniture? You list it for ₹15,000. You think it is a fair price. It has served you well. Then, the messages start coming in: Bhaiya, ₹5,000 cash? or Last price ₹6,000. You get angry. You feel insulted. You think...

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]]> 353599 I Built a Personal Portfolio Intelligence Dashboard for Indian Investors — Here’s What It Does https://freefincal.com/i-built-a-personal-portfolio-intelligence-dashboard-for-indian-investors-heres-what-it-does/ Tue, 26 May 2026 06:30:27 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=354537 Last Updated on May 26, 2026 at 12:15 pm In this article, Krishna describes a privacy-first personal portfolio tracker with intelligent insights. Please note: This is a paid tool and Freefincal is not associated with it in any way. This article does not constitute an endorsement. Freefincal and its authors are not responsible for any...

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]]> 354537 Monthly vs Annual Subscriptions: Is the Discount Really Worth It? https://freefincal.com/monthly-vs-annual-subscriptions-is-the-discount-really-worth-it/ Tue, 26 May 2026 00:30:02 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=355289 Many products and services offer users a choice: pay monthly or once a year at a considerable discount. Does it always make sense to take the deduction? Time is money, so paying a large amount now to avail of a discount (or to protect against a future price rise) can feel like a loss. On...

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]]> 355289 My Stock Portfolio Analysis: May 2026 https://freefincal.com/my-stock-portfolio-analysis-may-2026/ Mon, 25 May 2026 00:30:06 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=352508 This article compares my stock portfolio with an equivalent investment in a Nifty index fund and the Nifty 100 Low Volatility 30 TR index. We post this comparison each month. Before we begin, new readers need to understand the context of these investments. Update: We recently added a new tool to the freefincal investor circle...

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]]> 352508 Investing in equity is hard – here is how you can be good at it https://freefincal.com/investing-in-equity-is-hard-here-is-how-you-can-be-good-at-it/ Sun, 24 May 2026 00:30:55 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=252346 Each time the stock market falls, a new generation of investors learns how risky it can be, especially in the small and mid cap segments (including the Nifty Next 50). Equity investing is challenging for two reasons. 1) It requires incredible patience, discipline and conviction. See: Now Is the Best Time to Invest: Do not stop...

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]]> 252346 Narayanan’s journey to Financial Independence https://freefincal.com/narayanans-journey-to-financial-independence/ Sat, 23 May 2026 00:30:38 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=354061 In this edition of the reader story, “When I wrote to Freefincal in January 2025, my overall corpus was around ₹3.4 Crores, and my thought process was still largely centred around accumulation and reaching a financial independence number over the next several years”. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about...

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]]> 354061 Debt and hybrid mutual fund screener (May 2026) for selection, tracking, learning https://freefincal.com/debt-and-hybrid-mutual-fund-screener-may-2026-for-selection-tracking-learning/ Fri, 22 May 2026 00:30:51 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=353885 This is a debt mutual fund screener for portfolio selection, tracking, and learning. It also includes hybrid funds that invest in bonds. It will satisfy investors seeking to invest in money market funds, banking PSU funds, and similar instruments. The credit quality of the portfolio’s bonds and the bond maturity profile can be tracked. Instead...

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]]> 353885 The New NPS Retirement Income Scheme: Is it necessary? https://freefincal.com/the-new-nps-retirement-income-scheme-is-it-necessary/ Thu, 21 May 2026 00:30:42 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=354616 The NPS regulator has introduced additional flexibility for withdrawals from the retirement corpus through the Retirement Income Scheme.  This is in addition to all existing withdrawal options – NPS Systematic Lump Sum Withdrawal (SLW) Facility Explained and the mandatory annuity purchase. In essence, the retirement income scheme (RIS) has variable asset allocation plus systematic withdrawals. The...

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]]> 354616 Is it unpatriotic to buy gold and international stocks now? https://freefincal.com/is-it-unpatriotic-to-buy-gold-and-international-stocks-now/ Wed, 20 May 2026 00:30:04 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=354321 A few days ago,  a young man approached me after a talk and asked,  Is it unpatriotic to buy gold and international stocks now? I was not sure I was convincing in my answer, so let me put my thoughts together as an article. Caveat: I am not an economist. So please excuse the crudeness. Thankfully,...

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]]> 354321 What’s your retirement SWP strategy going to be? A 2005 vs. 2008 Case Study https://freefincal.com/whats-your-retirement-swp-strategy-going-to-be-a-2005-vs-2008-case-study/ Tue, 19 May 2026 00:30:25 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=353736 Most retirement planning focuses on the “Magic Number”—the total corpus. But the day you stop working, the game changes. You stop getting credited on the 1st of the month, which helps you meet all your expenses. Instead, you need to plan to get that money into your account from the corpus you have accumulated. To...

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]]> 353736 Index fund tracking error screener May 2026 https://freefincal.com/index-fund-tracking-error-screener-may-2026/ Mon, 18 May 2026 00:30:21 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=352375 This index fund screener is based on tracking error and return differences wrt benchmarks (also known as tracking differences). It will help users evaluate how efficiently an index fund has tracked its underlying benchmark. It will also help them understand how tracking a midcap index, such as the Nifty 100 or 500, differs from tracking...

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]]> 352375 Achieving Financial Goals with a Monthly Investment of Rs. 1 Lakh https://freefincal.com/achieving-financial-goals-with-a-monthly-investment-of-rs-1-lakh/ Sun, 17 May 2026 00:30:18 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=251553 A reader says, “I am 36 and have a 4-year-old daughter, trying to save some money for her education, marriage and my retirement.  I need your advice on how to invest 1 lakh per month wisely to achieve my goals.” You can treat each goal independently and have separate portfolios, or consider a single portfolio...

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]]> 251553 The Year Expenses Jumped and Net Worth Grew 33% https://freefincal.com/the-year-expenses-jumped-and-net-worth-grew-33/ Sat, 16 May 2026 00:30:34 +0000 https://freefincal.com/?p=350905 In this edition of the reader story, Sahil presents his fourth financial audit. About this series: I am grateful to readers for sharing intimate details about their financial lives, which benefits us all. Some of the previous editions are linked at the bottom of this article. You can also access the full reader story archive. Opinions expressed...

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