Pension: Defined Benefit or Defined Contribution?

Many people who think they understand risk do not understand risk coming from completely unexpected sources. I do not mean some 50% market crash – one is reasonably prepared for a market crash, but something else. – What happens if the government withdraws medical cover for retirees of government organisations? -What happens if PPF is [...]

Is Warren Buffet a good fund manager?

There are many companies which have given fantastic, scorching returns. Microsoft, GE, Berkshire Hathway….are some examples. Berkshire Hathway, well er is a fund..or so you thought. Let me tell you, it is not. Mr. Buffet is a brilliant businessman, fantastic stock picker, (fantastic bargain picker – look at the recent offer to pick good bonds [...]

Fantastic Investment Opportunities

There are a few people I know who keep chasing investment opportunities. There are some people who are good in one field – say sales, marketing, operations, dentistry, physiotherapy,….could be anything, so they think they are good in finance. Of course some of them visit websites, talk to people, read books and suddenly believe that [...]

Robert Kiyosaki – Rich Dad Poor Dad

IN the last 3 weeks many people have asked me for my view on Robert Kiyosaki’s concepts. Surely there is a lot of merit in what he says, but there are many limitations too. Let me see: 1. He underestimates risk, and dramatically underestimates risk. 2. He takes one theory of investing in real estate [...]

High risk investments – PPF?

It is customary for people to give sane advice- if you have a kid, the kid should have a PPF account. This advice makes very little sense. First of all most of the people I meet today invest far, far more in a year than the max possible amount of Rs. 70,000 in a PPF [...]

Financial problems: How to tackle?

In all my financial interactions – be it planning for clients, training, teaching or writing, people have come to me with some problem which they think is unique. In all the financial problems, I am able to find a pattern. Believe it or nor, people more often than not choose the problem by their behavior. [...]