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By:

Kaustubh Kale

10 September 2024 at 11:37:15 pm

Nine Financial Tips for a Prosperous Navratri

As Navratri draws to a close, I wish you and your family happiness, prosperity, and continued success. Festivals are a time of celebration, but they also serve as a valuable reminder to reflect on our financial habits and strengthen our financial discipline. In the spirit of the nine days of Navratri, here are nine essential financial tips to help you stay on track with your financial goals and make your journey towards financial freedom smoother and more secure. Build an Emergency Fund Make...

Nine Financial Tips for a Prosperous Navratri

As Navratri draws to a close, I wish you and your family happiness, prosperity, and continued success. Festivals are a time of celebration, but they also serve as a valuable reminder to reflect on our financial habits and strengthen our financial discipline. In the spirit of the nine days of Navratri, here are nine essential financial tips to help you stay on track with your financial goals and make your journey towards financial freedom smoother and more secure. Build an Emergency Fund Make sure you have at least six months of living expenses saved in a bank fixed deposit or a debt mutual fund. This reserve will serve as your emergency fund for unforeseen situations and ensures you are prepared for any rainy days. Review Your Asset Allocation Revisit your investments to ensure they align with your goals. For short-term goals within three years, bank fixed deposits, recurring deposits, or debt mutual funds are appropriate. For long-term goals beyond three years, a diversified combination of hybrid/equity mutual funds, direct equities, and gold should be preferred. Do Sufficient SIPs Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) are the backbone of disciplined investing. At least 25-30 percent of your in-hand monthly income should ideally be invested through SIPs in mutual funds, equities, and gold. This consistent approach will steadily build wealth over time. Make Lumpsum Investments Along with SIPs, voluntary lumpsum contributions into long-term assets whenever you have surplus funds can accelerate wealth creation. Even occasional lumpsum additions make a significant difference to the overall corpus. Increase Your SIPs Annually As your income increases, make sure your investments grow as well. Increasing your SIP amounts every year helps your wealth stay in line with inflation and your rising lifestyle needs. Increase your SIPs yearly and anchor them to at least 30 percent of your monthly income. Stay Invested Remain invested until your financial goals are achieved. Avoid redeeming investments unnecessarily. Frequent withdrawals disrupt compounding. If liquidity is required, consider taking an overdraft loan against your investments rather than breaking them prematurely. Health Insurance Safeguard your family with adequate health insurance. Opt for a minimum cover of 25 lakhs per family member with comprehensive features. Remember that relying only on employer-provided insurance is risky. Independent health insurance is essential. Term Life Insurance Protect your loved ones with a pure term life insurance policy. Ensure a cover of at least ten times your annual income, along with provisions for any outstanding loans. Stay away from mixing insurance with investments. A simple term plan is the most effective solution. Consult a Financial Advisor A full-time, well-qualified financial advisor can simplify your financial journey. Professional guidance ensures disciplined planning, correct product selection, and proper execution of your financial strategy. May this festive season bring abundance and lasting financial peace. (The author is a Chartered Accountant and CFA (USA). Financial Advisor. Views personal. He could be reached on 9833133605.)

New Order

Correspondent
Oct 5, 2025
2 min read

The wheel of Indian cricket turns with deliberate inevitability. 25-year-old Shubman Gill, fresh from his splendid helming in the long-form Test format, has now been appointed India’s one-day international (ODI) captain, replacing Rohit Sharma. The decision, taken jointly by Ajit Agarkar, India’s chairman of selectors, and Gautam Gambhir, the head coach, suggests a long-term plan designed to prepare India for the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.


The announcement came ahead of India’s upcoming white-ball tour of Australia and marks a clear pivot towards youth and continuity. Gill is now India’s all-format leader in waiting.


Behind the decision lies a quiet revolution. The team of Gambhir and Agarkar - both strong-minded, occasionally combustible, but deeply purposeful - has introduced what one former BCCI official called an ‘Aussie culture’ to Indian cricket. This places the team above the cult of individuals. The days when the national side revolved around its twin stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are numbered. The selectors’ message is that India’s future belongs to a new breed, one schooled less in seniority than in sustained form, fitness and leadership potential for 2027.


While 37-year-old Rohit Sharma led the Indian side to the Champions Trophy win and came agonisingly close to World Cup glory, he has long been out of form. While Sharma’s disappointment is evident at the decision, the selectors are not in the business of nostalgia. Likewise, even if Kohli may survive a little longer, he must sense the direction of travel.


The philosophy of Agarkar and Gambhir reflects a long-overdue pragmatic shift from personality-driven cricket to a more institutional model. Much like Australia in the early 2000s, India is seeking to embed a culture where leadership is a process, not a pedestal. By investing in Gill, the board hopes to craft a player fluent in all formats, attuned to global rhythms, and capable of inspiring a new generation with the 2027 World Cup as a horizon.


Gill represents a different archetype from his predecessors. Polished, composed and technically refined, his rise has been steady rather than sensational. His performance during India’s recent tour of England was nothing short of historic. In the five-match Test series, he amassed 754 runs, making him the highest run-scorer of the series and the first Indian to surpass 700 runs in a Test series in England.


The move to make Gill as ODI captain reflects an awareness that the game’s future lies in balance and adaptability. With the calendar crammed by franchise cricket and bilateral series losing lustre, maintaining a motivated team has become harder than ever. In this shifting ecosystem, grooming a young, all-format captain like Gill is a necessary investment in India’s 2027 ambitions.


India’s cricketing past has often been defined by its reverence for experience. By prioritising long-term planning over fan sentiment, the Gambhir–Agarkar duo has shown rare courage in a landscape often dominated by celebrity.

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