Cost Inflation Index base year has shifted. You may be in for windfall tax gains

[Updated : 09-Nov-2018]
Cost Inflation Index(CII) now has a new Base Year. In a seemingly silent move that is likely to immensely impact your taxation on long term capital gains from real estate, bonds, gold and debt based mutual funds, the base year for Cost Inflation Index(CII) has been shifted from 1981 to 2001. Understand more about CII and how this change in base year impacts your future potential gains and taxes thereof.

22 Apex Lessons from the Book "See You At the Top" by Zig Ziglar

With more than 1,600,000 copies in print, "See You at the Top" is an extraordinary perennial favorite and annual bestseller, which teaches the value of a healthy self-image and how to build that image. It clarifies why goals are important, teaches you how to set them, and motivates you to reach them.
I, hereby, list down the 22 Apex Lessons that i learnt from this awesome book. I know that I need to keep practicing these learning day in and day out. These learning are worded and appended in a way that makes it easier for most of us to understand and absorb.

If you are interested in reading about such learning from other all time best selling books, you may click here.

EPF Taxation Laws Post Leaving Your Employment

[Last Update: 17-Apr-2025]

Did you know that EPF interest earned post quitting your job becomes taxable from the day you quit? Did you know that your EPF account does not earn any interest 3 years after your retirement? Did you know that withdrawing EPF before 5 years is taxable in many cases, though not all? 
There are many such EPF rules that you should be aware of, for ignorance of law is no excuse...Read on.

200 Trees Up for Kalpavriksha !

Dreams do come true. If one is passionate and working for a right cause, HE is always going to be with you.
Post my Financial Freedom, I started my NGO 'Kalpavriksha' with a mission to plant 1 Million trees. In our first year of operations in 2016, we had planted 25 trees. In spite of my best efforts, almost half of them couldn't survive until the next year. I learnt from my mistakes and decided to build a bigger team, with a very robust process framework. 
Soon, passionate individuals started to join in. We took a target of planting and nurturing 200 trees by the end of this year (2017). We achieved the target just a few days back - and that too with a survival rate of 98%+. Read more..

How long is 'Long Term' in Equity?

For someone running the last 100 meters of a 42 Km marathon, one sec can seem to be quite a time. On the other hand, to change a simple habit in your life, a decade may seem quite small. Long Term, therefore, is a relative term in life. But it is not so in equity investments. Whether it is mutual funds or stocks, we can define Long Term quite precisely, clearly and objectively - with logical data points.

Let us see how.

The Magical Happiness Formula.

While in school, we studied numerous formula. Things were easier to analyse and control, when defined by a formula. Knowing a formula tells us what we need to change in one of the inputs to cause an impact on the output. 
Imagine how beautiful our life could be, if Happiness also had a defined formula and if we precisely knew the factors it depended upon.  It will all be so easy and logical if we knew what needs to be changed to increase the Happiness content of our lives. So, here we go. Let's learn the Magical Happiness Formula.

Your gain could be your family's pain

Have you ever faced a situation wherein your colleagues, friends, relatives and the world around you appreciates your work and acknowledges your achievements. However, your immediate family members are not too enthusiastic about all that you have been doing and achieving?  

It happened with me. It happened with Sachin Tendulkar. It can happen with anyone. Once you understand why it happens, it can just make your close relationships that much better...Read on..

38 Thunderous Lessons from the Book - Awaken the Giant Within - by Anthony Robbins

Tony Robbins, an American author, entrepreneur, philanthropist and life coach. Robbins is known for his infomercials, seminars, and self-help books including Unlimited Power and Awaken the Giant Within. Approximately 4 million people have attended his live seminars. Robbins is the founder of several companies that earn approximately $5 billion in annual sales. In 2015 and 2016 he was listed on the Worth Magazine Power 100 list.

In his book, Awaken the Giant Within, Tony offers advice on such matters as mastering emotions, overcoming debilitating habits such as over-eating, and drinking, unleashing the hidden power of body and mind, improving personal and professional relationships, and taking control of personal finances...Read on..

10 Common Myths Surrounding Fixed Deposits and Earned Interest

Though tax inefficient and not the best returns provider, Fixed Deposits (FDs) definitely deserve their own pie in your portfolio. This is one investment option which is simple, guaranteed, 100% liquid, monitoring free and risk free - all rolled in one. However simple you may think they are, there are many myths surrounding Fixed Deposits and the interest accrued from them. Inefficiently managed interest accrued from your Bank Fixed Deposits can actually land in you in deep trouble with the taxman. Let us remove some of those myths...Read on..

10 Outstanding Lessons from the book "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

Why are ice hockey players born in the first few months of a year? How did Beatles and Bill Gates succeed? "The Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell answers these and many more questions. Debuted at number one on the bestseller lists for The New York Times and The Globe and Mail, "Outliers" held the position on the former for eleven consecutive weeks...