Bloomberg Smart Money Episode 5 3/3 Questions

Smart Money Episode 5 3/3

In which I answer questions.

Mr Gupta wants better return but no risk.

Sreekar wants to know how to stop the portfolio bleed caused by a heavy diet of mid-cap funds

Smart Money Episode 5 3/3

The transcript of Show 5.

Mint Transcript Show 5

Bloomberg Smart Money Episode 5 2/3 Restaurant bills gets loaded

In which I decode a restaurant bill and tell you how we end up paying 25-40% more due to service charges, service tax and VAT. Budget these charges in when you choose your next meal out.

Smart Money Episode 5 2/3

Bloomberg Smart Money Episode 5, 1/1 Imagine you're dead. Now write that Will.

In which I tell you to simulate the situation where you and partner are no more and then think about financial planning for the kid. Write that Will with this simulation in mind. Scary!

Smart Money Ep5 1/3

Mint Expense Account 20/3/2013 Money laundering by people next door

Cobrapost.com, in a sting operation, showed how the bank branching system in being used to launder money. My column this week is about how the institutionalization of corruption has turned the average 'service-class' person into a criminal in India. Either you play the game or the system spits you out. You can read the column here:

launderernextdoor

Expense Account 13/3/2013 Jairam’s ‘maneaters’ need a strong consumer movement

Growing up in the 70s and 80s in urban middle India was to know what shortages are. The state strangled enterprise and everything from a scooter to a phone to butter, milk and grain was scarce. The civics and history textbooks stank of double standards as they spoke about an India that was far away from the life of the person for whom that English textbook was written. I call it the Manoj (Bharat) Kumar movies phase of India—we were losers but were brainwashed into looking back at a glorious past. A past that was distant enough in its historical dividend not to matter to people struggling to find an average “service class” livelihood. Of course, “business class” then meant not an airline seat but something totally different.
My column in Mint

Siva Subramanian and Praveen Kumar ask their questions

Talking to real people and helping them deal with their personal finance problems is something I look forward to.

Siva Subramanian wanted to know if his investment goals were achievable. I found him to be invested in too many funds.

Praveen Kumar wanted to know whether his equity investments were on track. The answer: yes, but he too needed to consolidate his funds.

Click here to view the advice.

Looking for a home loan?

If you're looking for a home loan, don't miss this segment of my show on Bloomberg TV.

Bloomberg Smart Money Episode 4 Budget, Credit Card, Questions

In which I decode what the Budget 2013-14 means for you.

Smart Money Episode 4 1/3

Credit card thefts on the rise. What can you do to be safe?
Smart Money Episode 4 2/3

Chetna and Prashant ask their questions. Huge savings ratios make my life easier!

Smart Money Episode 4 3/3

Transcript in Mint:

Mint transcript Show 4

The problems of long-run data results and medium-term living

I like to talk about the efficacy of having equity in the portfolio because that is an asset class, I have been led to believe, which gives an inflation-plus return. But equity’s image as a super asset class beating the stuffing out of inflation has been under attack for a long time, specially so since 2008. Then last week a colleague sent across some disturbing news. The Economist has a story (http://econ.st/VqMcNA) which says that global bonds have outperformed equities since the start of the 1980s. The story is based on a book, “Triumph of the Optimists: 101 Years of Global Investment Returns,” written by London Business School professors Elroy Dimson, Paul Marsh and Mike Staunton. The colleague’s unasked question: “But you said…”
My column in Mint

My Smart Money show on Bloomberg TV looks at RGESS, tax planning and more

In the first capsule of Smart Money, a personal finance show anchored by Vivek Law on Bloomberg TV, I analyse the Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme (RGESS), tell you how to go about tax saving and talk to two viewers on how they should restructure their finances.
* On RGESS, my verdict: it's a no go. Find out why
* Why you need to look beyond tax-saving products in order to design a robust tax-saving strategy. Financial planning, not 80C
* Finally, I take specific queries of two viewers, Kshipra Deshmukh and Avinash Panda, here.

Smart Money: my new show on Bloomberg TV

Here's a promo of Smart Money, my new show on Bloomberg TV.
Vivek Law and I will decode all your money problems, issues and concerns on this show.
If you have personal finance questions, let me know.
Happy viewing.