Harsh Roongta

Investors should evaluate funds on rolling returns over the long term

Investors must remember that past performance may not get repeated in the future. And any investment is worthwhile only if it suits an investor's risk profile

Truth be told: Breaking the silence on death and money in Indian families

For Rekha, the absence of siblings and a strong bond with her parents simplified matters. Not all families are comfortable having such conversations

Toxic work culture and overwork: Why employee grievance redressal matters

Laws like the Shops and Establishment Act should be emphasised in employee induction programmes. Companies must also provide accessible grievance redress mechanisms

Retail investors vs algorithms: A battle of lambs to slaughter?

Most of the 93 per cent, who rely on their own half-baked strategies or strategies rented from brokers, are sure to lose money in F&O trading

Tech flaws in I-T system target honest taxpayers, miss real evaders

The DAP does not consider past I-T returns to match a taxpayer's resources with their expenditures or investments

Usher in competition between EPF and NPS to boost formal job creation

The government needs to introduce competition between EPFO and NPS, and between ESIC and health insurance companies, while making contributions voluntary for low-paid workers

Target GST relief on life, medical insurance smartly to boost accessibility

Tax relief should target pre-packaged term and health policies, ensuring availability to seniors and those with impaired health, thereby reducing their costs

How to make tax officials accountable

The proposed simplification of the tax code offers a chance to instil accountability, following the model of the Public Service Guarantee Acts

Exit with indexation should be offered

When the government reintroduced taxation on listed equity in 2018, it took care to exempt capital gains accrued until the date of the 2018 budget

Simpler capital gains tax regime highlight of Budget

The administration of the income-tax department is in a poor shape today. Taxpayer appeals have piled up for the past five years with zero accountability by the tax department

A plea to provide more mutual fund data

While these MF products are not systemically important yet, data about them should be made public for academics and investors to do research and challenge incorrect conclusions

Perils of keeping surplus money in bank accounts

Keeping surplus money in the bank account has become risky. Bank employees sometimes target such money to mis-sell products

Investing for children: Buy house or opt for MFs?

I reminded Meera that although Karan's parents had a large bungalow in his hometown, professional opportunities had brought them to Mumbai. Their children might behave similarly

Lack of central KYC hinders market participation

An enabling ecosystem where financial planning is popular will allow investors to feel comfortable while making suitable investments based on goals, risk-taking abilities, and resources

Inheritance tax: An idea doomed to failure

If levied, within 20 years we will see a repeat of V P Singh's 1985 Budget speech proposing abolition because of its meagre yield and high cost of collection

Retirement: Embrace holistic planning

Comprehensive planning would include managing anxiety, identity loss, and loneliness; creating a comprehensive health routine; tackling social and relationship issues

Insurance: High surrender charges deter exits

Policyholders are not the only sufferers. Taxpayers subsidise insurers' and banks' profits via unjustified tax concessions given to the maturity value of life policies

Usher in transparency, not price controls

A standard rate chart for hospitals across the country is impractical as it doesn't consider real estate costs that vary widely across locations

Balancing act: Knowing when you have enough

After ignoring the symptoms for some time, I went in for a check-up on New Year's Day, only to get the shocking news that I would have to undergo a coronary artery bypass

Does your loan fulfil the AA criteria?

A good loan must fulfil the AA criteria: it should 'add' to assets or income and should be 'appropriate', meaning EMI shouldn't exceed one-third of income