Myth
My employer's health cover is enough for my family.
Fact
Group cover usually ends when you leave or change jobs, and its sum insured may be small for a whole family. A personal policy can sit alongside it.
Resources
Calculators, a jargon decoder, myths and facts, and simple guides. Everything here is educational, so you can make decisions with more confidence.
Calculators
Quick, illustrative estimates using assumptions you choose.
- SIP calculator See how a monthly investment could add up over time, at a return you choose.
- Retirement planner Estimate the savings you may need for retirement and a monthly amount to work towards it.
- Education goal planner Estimate the future cost of your child's education and a monthly saving amount.
- Life cover estimator Get an indicative idea of how much life cover your family may need.
Jargon Decoder
35 insurance and investment terms in plain English, from sum insured to exit load.
Open the Jargon Decoder- Waiting period
- A set time after buying a policy during which certain conditions or benefits are not covered. Existing illnesses and maternity often have one.
- Co-pay
- A fixed percentage of each claim that you pay yourself, with the insurer paying the rest.
- IDV (Insured Declared Value)
- Roughly the current market value of your vehicle. It is the most you'd receive if the vehicle is stolen or damaged beyond repair.
- NAV (Net Asset Value)
- The price of one unit of a mutual fund on a given day. A high or low NAV alone doesn't make a fund expensive or cheap.
- SIP (Systematic Investment Plan)
- Investing a fixed amount in a mutual fund at regular intervals, usually monthly. It does not guarantee returns.
- Exit load
- A fee some mutual funds charge if you withdraw within a set period after investing.
Myth or fact?
Common beliefs about insurance and investing, checked against how things actually work.
Myth
I'm young and healthy, so I don't need health insurance yet.
Fact
Illness and accidents can happen at any age. Buying earlier may also mean fewer health conditions to declare, though terms and waiting periods still apply.
Myth
Mutual funds are only for experts or people with a lot of money.
Fact
Many schemes accept small monthly SIPs, and the basics can be learnt step by step. All mutual funds carry market risk, so understanding that comes first.
Myth
Term insurance is a waste because I get nothing back.
Fact
Term insurance is built purely for protection. What it offers is a payout to your family if something happens to you during the term, usually for a lower premium than plans that combine savings.
Myth
Third-party vehicle insurance covers everything.
Fact
Third-party cover is the legal minimum. It pays for damage you cause to others, not for damage to your own vehicle. Comprehensive cover adds that, subject to policy terms.
Myth
With a SIP, my money will always grow.
Fact
A SIP is simply a way of investing a fixed amount regularly. The value still goes up and down with the market, and returns can be negative.
Myth
Insurance and investment are the same thing.
Fact
Insurance protects your family from financial shocks. Investments help you work towards goals. They do different jobs, so it helps to look at them separately.
Guides
Short, plain-English reads. No product pushing.
Health insurance basics: terms to know before you buy
Sum insured, waiting periods, co-pay, room rent limits and more. The health insurance terms that decide what a policy actually pays, explained simply.
SIP basics: how monthly investing works
What a SIP is, how it buys mutual fund units each month, what affects the outcome, and the risks to understand before you start. Explained simply.
Common insurance mistakes families make
Relying only on employer cover, under-declaring health, choosing cover by premium alone and other common insurance mistakes, with simple ways to avoid them.
Let's talk about your family's plans
A friendly, no-pressure conversation. Tell Shradha what's on your mind and get a plain-language explanation of your options.