When it comes to astute investment decision making, you shouldn't consider just the sources of investment returns but also the tax implications on your investments. Mutual fund investments are an optimal way to meet your financial goals keeping in mind your risk profile.

It’s a tough time for fixed deposit (FD) investors as the rate of return on this saving product, traditionally used by Indians to park their savings for years, has been witnessing a steep decline. The pre-tax return on the FD issued by the State Bank of India for the tenure of one year has dropped to 4.4 per cent from 8.5 per cent seen at the beginning of 2015.

Small has always been beautiful. According to the Big Bang theory, the universe we are all a part of, at the beginning was very small, and since then it has been expanding, creating a beautiful world. Similarly, great companies that you see today.

ESG investing is a terminology which has created waves across the globe.

Asset allocation is an investment strategy that aims to balance risk and reward by apportioning a portfolio’s assets according to an individual’s goals, risk-taking ability, and investment horizon.

Most investors think that risk is proportionately reduced by adding each additional stock in a portfolio, which, actually, is quite farther away from the truth. In the book titled ‘Modern Portfolio Theory and Investment Analysis’ authored by Edwin J. Elton and Martin J. Gruber, there is evidence that one can only reduce risk to a certain point beyond which there is no further benefit from diversification.

When it comes to investing, a slow but steady approach often helps an individual to win the race

The ongoing corona virus pandemic has rattled equity markets across the world and these may continue to be volatile in the near term as well. However, this is not the first time an equity market is experiencing an economic or medical crisis.

The current economic situation is such that even veteran investors are uncertain when it comes to the market and economic outlook. At such times, the plight of an ordinary investor can be well understood.

When it comes to asset allocation, equity, debt and real estate form the staple asset classes. As for gold as an asset class, it always creates some sort of confusion in the minds of investors who remain unsure whether to have exposure to it or not.