Fixed income & safety

Where to keep money you cannot afford to lose: runway, an emergency fund, and the safe Indian instruments (PPF, NPS, debt funds) and what each is for.

What founders use for fixed income & safety, ranked by how many answers lean on it.

  1. The mutual fund industry body investor corner: fund basics, NAVs, and how SIPs work, straight from the source. AMFI Guide AMFI: mutual fund investor resources AMFI In 7 answers
  2. The India-specific detail on how PPF and NPS work: lock ins, returns, and the tax treatment, so you know what you are... ClearTax Article PPF and NPS explained ClearTax In 3 answers
  3. What debt funds are, the types, the risks, and their recently changed tax treatment in India, before you park money in one. ClearTax Article Debt mutual funds, explained ClearTax In 3 answers
  4. A practical India-first reference for keeping personal and company finances (and their tax) cleanly separate. ClearTax Article ClearTax: personal and business tax guides ClearTax
  5. The India detail on NPS: the equity option, the tax benefits, and the withdrawal lock ins, so you know exactly what you are... ClearTax Article NPS, the National Pension System explained ClearTax
  6. How ELSS gives you an 80C tax deduction while keeping the money in equity, with the shortest lock in of the 80C options. ClearTax Article ELSS tax-saving funds ClearTax
  7. The full menu of section 80C tax-saving options (PPF, ELSS, insurance, and more) under the old regime, in one place. ClearTax Article Section 80C deductions ClearTax
  8. The government-backed way to hold gold that pays interest and skips storage, if you want a small gold allocation without the... ClearTax Article Sovereign Gold Bonds ClearTax

The questions

Where to park cash you cannot risk 7

The runway and emergency money that has to be there the moment you reach for it.

Where should I keep cash I might need in a year? 3 → Are fixed deposits still worth it for a founder? 2 → How many months of expenses should I keep as an emergency fund if I'm a founder? 2 → Should I keep my personal emergency fund separate from company runway? 2 → What is a liquid fund, and is it a good place for money I might need next month? 3 → All 7 questions in Where to park cash you cannot risk →
PPF, NPS, FDs, and debt funds 7

The safe corners of an Indian portfolio, and what each one is actually for.

Are PPF and NPS worth it for a founder? 4 → What is a debt fund, and when should I use one? 4 → How is the interest on my FDs and debt funds taxed in India? 3 → Are Sovereign Gold Bonds a safe way to hold part of my savings? 2 → Should I lock money in PPF when I might need it for the startup? 3 → All 7 questions in PPF, NPS, FDs, and debt funds →
eChai Partner Brands The partnership →