https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/ Research notes on mutual funds, asset allocation, insurance and personal finance from iCatalyst Capital, an AMFI-registered mutual fund distributor in Bengaluru. en-in Sat, 26 Sep 2026 19:07:51 +0000 https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/etf-vs-index-funds/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/etf-vs-index-funds/ Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000 ETFs and index funds both track a market index, but they differ in how you buy them, what they cost and how easily you can exit. Here is how to decide between them. Investment Gyan https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/international-diversification-home-bias/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/international-diversification-home-bias/ Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Most Indian investors hold almost everything in Indian assets. Here is what that concentration can cost, and the practical routes to adding global exposure. Investment Gyan https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/factor-investing-for-regular-investors/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/factor-investing-for-regular-investors/ Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Most portfolios stop at "equity for growth, debt for safety". Factor investing looks one level deeper, at the traits that help explain why some investments behave differently from others. Investment Gyan https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/tactical-vs-strategic-asset-allocation/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/tactical-vs-strategic-asset-allocation/ Sat, 27 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Strategic and tactical asset allocation both aim to balance risk and reward, but they differ in how actively the portfolio is adjusted. Here is how to choose between them. Investment Gyan https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/stress-testing-your-financial-plan/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/stress-testing-your-financial-plan/ Sat, 25 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Rare, high-impact events test financial resilience like nothing else. Stress-testing puts your plan through tough scenarios so you can fix the weak spots before disaster strikes. Personal Finance Gyan https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/life-transitions-and-your-money/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/life-transitions-and-your-money/ Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Marriage, children, a home, a career change, loss and retirement each reshape your finances. Here are the critical money moves to make during every major life transition. Personal Finance Gyan https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/15-year-vs-30-year-home-loan/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/15-year-vs-30-year-home-loan/ Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Loan tenure decides your EMI, your total interest cost and your financial flexibility. Here is a detailed comparison of 15-year and 30-year home loans for Indian buyers. Personal Finance Gyan https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/zero-based-budgeting/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/zero-based-budgeting/ Sat, 21 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Zero-based budgeting asks you to justify every rupee of income each month instead of adjusting last month's numbers. Here is how the corporate method works at home. Personal Finance Gyan https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/only-3-financial-ratios-you-need/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/only-3-financial-ratios-you-need/ Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Three ratios give you a clear picture of your financial health: the savings rate, the emergency fund ratio and the debt-to-income ratio. Here is how to calculate and use each. Personal Finance Gyan https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/sectoral-funds-vs-aifs/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/sectoral-funds-vs-aifs/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Sectoral funds offer concentrated, liquid exposure to a single industry, while AIFs open up private market strategies to qualified investors. Here is how the two compare. Alternate Investment Funds https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/reits-vs-equity-long-term-wealth-india/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/reits-vs-equity-long-term-wealth-india/ Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 REITs offer income and stability, equities offer growth. The long-term answer in India is rarely one or the other, and the reasons are structural. Investment Gyan https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/inside-the-big-bull-portfolio/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/inside-the-big-bull-portfolio/ Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Rakesh Jhunjhunwala's portfolio combined concentrated conviction bets with broad sector coverage. Here is how it was built and what individual investors can take from it. Investment Gyan https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/interest-rate-cycle-and-inflation-india/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/interest-rate-cycle-and-inflation-india/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Ultra-low inflation looks like a win for consumers. It is closer to a warning sign, and India's demographics make the return to moderate inflation a question of when rather than whether. Inflation https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/how-to-navigate-taxation-changes-in-fy-2025-26-in-india/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/how-to-navigate-taxation-changes-in-fy-2025-26-in-india/ Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 The new financial year brings a reworked tax structure, a higher Section 87A rebate and revised slabs. Here is what changed and how to plan around it. Taxation https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/family-floater-vs-individual-policy-which-one-is-better-in-2025-and-beyond/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/family-floater-vs-individual-policy-which-one-is-better-in-2025-and-beyond/ Fri, 30 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Family floater and individual health policies split coverage very differently. Here is how family size, age and health history should decide which one you buy. Health and Life Insurance https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/claim-settlement-ratio-vs-incurred-claim-ratio-both-matter-when-buying-an-insurance-policy/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/claim-settlement-ratio-vs-incurred-claim-ratio-both-matter-when-buying-an-insurance-policy/ Fri, 23 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Claim Settlement Ratio and Incurred Claim Ratio measure two different things about an insurer. Reading them together tells you far more than either one alone. Health and Life Insurance https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/the-rule-of-72-how-to-quickly-calculate-when-your-investment-will-double/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/the-rule-of-72-how-to-quickly-calculate-when-your-investment-will-double/ Fri, 16 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 The Rule of 72 is a centuries-old shortcut for estimating how long money takes to double. Here is the maths behind it and how to apply it to your own decisions. Investment Gyan https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/super-top-up-policies-the-mathematical-analysis-of-when-they-make-financial-sense/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/super-top-up-policies-the-mathematical-analysis-of-when-they-make-financial-sense/ Fri, 09 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 A super top-up adds a second layer of health cover once your claims cross a deductible. Here is the arithmetic that decides whether one belongs in your plan. Health and Life Insurance https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/the-psychology-of-panic-selling-and-how-to-train-your-brain-against-it/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/the-psychology-of-panic-selling-and-how-to-train-your-brain-against-it/ Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Market crashes trigger a fear response that overrides rational judgement. Here is what drives panic selling and the habits that keep it from costing you. Behavioral Finance https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/half-yearly-financial-health-check-the-5-steps-assessment-that-can-change-everything/ https://www.icatalystfp.com/blog/half-yearly-financial-health-check-the-5-steps-assessment-that-can-change-everything/ Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 Past the half-year mark is the right moment to check whether your finances are still on track. This five-step review covers income, debt, reserves, investments and tax. Personal Finance Gyan