Smita Sahai

India’s healthcare costs are rising 8-10% annually, far outpacing inflation. A serious illness costing ₹5 lakh five years ago costs ₹7-8 lakh today. This reality makes strategic health insurance planning essential. But with base policies, top-ups, and super top-ups all available, which combination protects you best without draining your budget? Your Foundation: Base Health Insurance

  Volatility isn’t just about the stock market crashing. In the current economic cycle, we face “Tri-lemma Volatility”: equity swings, interest rate uncertainty affecting bonds, and geopolitical tension impacting commodities. For investors, the old 60:40 equity-debt rule is under pressure. This has led to the rise of two distinct solutions: Hybrid Funds and Multi-Asset Funds.

  Complexity is the enemy of execution. While financial media pushes exotic products, data shows that a simple, low-cost structure often beats complex strategies over decades. This is the philosophy of the “3-Fund Portfolio”—popularized in the US by Bogleheads, but requiring significant adaptation for the Indian context. A true Indian 3-Fund Portfolio isn’t just about