Learn the ropes.

A distributor. Finsherpa is an AMFI-registered Mutual Fund Distributor. Under India's investment adviser regulations, a mutual fund distributor registered with an association of asset management companies is exempt from registering separately as an Investment Adviser, provided any advice given stays incidental to the distribution activity.

It's a real distinction and worth understanding: a SEBI-Registered Investment Adviser is a different licence with a different fee model. If you specifically want fee-only advice under that licence, say so and we'll tell you honestly that it isn't what we hold.

For units held more than 12 months, long-term capital gains are taxed at 12.5% on gains above an exemption limit. Held 12 months or less, short-term gains are taxed at 20%. Both of those concessional rates depend on Securities Transaction Tax having been paid on the sale, and both are before applicable surcharge and the 4% health and education cess — so 20% short-term is really 20.8% once cess alone is counted.

These rates apply to sales made on or after 23 July 2024. Before that date they were 10% and 15%.

Per year, in aggregate. This one catches people out constantly. The ₹1,25,000 is a single annual exemption covering all your gains of that type combined — listed shares, equity-oriented mutual funds and business trust units together. It is not per scheme, per folio or per fund house.

So spreading a redemption across four different funds in the same year does not give you four exemptions. It gives you one.

Not on mutual funds. Indexation was withdrawn for long-term capital assets transferred on or after 23 July 2024. The only carve-out is for land or building acquired before that date by resident individuals and Hindu Undivided Families — which does nothing for a fund investor.

Because of the "specified mutual fund" rule. Units of such funds acquired on or after 1 April 2023 are treated as short-term however long you hold them, and taxed at your own income-tax slab rate with no indexation. Holding for years doesn't convert the gain to long-term.

Worth knowing: the definition changed. For 2023-24 and 2024-25 it meant a fund with not more than 35% in domestic equity. From 2025-26 it means a fund with more than 65% in debt and money market instruments. Which year your sale falls in changes the answer, so check rather than assume.

Unlike resident investors, tax is withheld at source at the point of redemption, at rates that depend on the scheme, plus applicable surcharge and 4% cess:

• Equity-oriented schemes — 20% short-term, 12.5% long-term
• Other than equity-oriented (excluding specified funds) — 30% short-term, 12.5% long-term
• Specified mutual funds — 30% short-term; no long-term withholding

If India has a tax treaty with your country of residence, relief may be available — but it's conditional, and you'll generally need a Tax Residency Certificate. Talk to us before you redeem, not after.

No, and you should be wary of anyone who does. Market-linked investments carry market risk, returns are not guaranteed, and past performance tells you nothing reliable about the future. What we can do is be specific about the risk you're taking, the time horizon a goal needs and the amount you'd have to invest for a target to be realistic — and tell you plainly when a goal and a timeline don't fit together.

It means we don't start with a product. We start with what the money is for — a home, an education, a retirement date, an income after you stop working, something to pass on — and put an amount, a date and a priority against each one. Only then does each goal get matched to a time horizon, a level of risk and a mix of assets.

The practical difference: the question stops being "is this a good fund?" and becomes "is this the right thing for money I need in seven years?" Those have different answers.

FinSherpa provides investment solutions through products like Fixed Deposits, Bonds, Alternative Investment Funds, Portfolio Management Services, GIFT City, Mutual Funds and Specialized Investment Funds.

We recommend funds to clients based on their goals and risk profile. We choose funds that are top in their category using the NGEN platform, which considers the AUM of the fund and its past performance.

A risk profile is an assessment that helps us understand how much risk an investor is able to take with their investments. It plays a major role in fund selection — depending on whether the profile is conservative, moderate or aggressive, both the asset allocation and the funds selected will differ.

We, as a Composite Corporate Agent, offer a comprehensive range of solutions including Term Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Annuities, Motor Insurance, Personal Accident, Group Insurance and other General Insurance solutions, based on the customer’s specific needs.

We provide a multi-insurer perspective rather than representing a single insurer. Our approach focuses on understanding your risks, comparing relevant solutions and helping you make an informed decision.

We follow a need-based approach. We understand your financial situation, protection requirements, existing insurance and future objectives before recommending solutions that are relevant to your needs.

Yes. As a Composite Corporate Agent, we can work with multiple empanelled insurers across Life, General and Health Insurance, subject to our regulatory permissions and insurer tie-ups.

Yes. Our relationship does not end with policy issuance. We assist with policy servicing, renewals, documentation, claims coordination and other insurance-related requirements, as applicable.

Absolutely. We can conduct an Insurance & Risk Review of your existing policies to identify potential gaps, overlaps and areas that may require additional protection or restructuring.

Simply contact us or request a consultation. Our team will understand your requirements, assess your existing protection and guide you towards appropriate insurance solutions.