Fee-only planners charge you directly, not through commissions on what they sell, so their advice is not tied to a product. In India you'll typically see a flat annual retainer or a one-time plan fee, and some charge by assets managed. What matters is not the sticker price but whether the fee is small next to the clarity you get: a real plan, an asset allocation you understand, and someone to talk you out of panic-selling. A rough test of worth is whether the advice pays for itself in taxes saved, mistakes avoided, and hours you get back. Ask for the fee in writing, ask how they are paid, and walk if the answer is vague. Fees, tax rules, and market returns all change, so treat any numbers as a starting point and confirm specifics with the planner and a CA.
A curated summary to orient you, not advice. The resources below are the real value.
3 hand-picked resources, 3 India-specific, 2 link-checked. Pick how you want to dig in.
Why we picked it The market regulator own free investor-education portal: unbiased basics on investing, mutual funds, and avoiding scams, with nothing to sell you.
From SEBI by SEBI
Open investor.sebi.gov.in →Why we picked it The free, India-first grounding in what to do with cash once you have it: goals, allocation, SIPs, and not losing it to fees.
From Zerodha Varsity by Zerodha Varsity
Open zerodha.com →Why we picked it A no-nonsense, ad-light India personal-finance site: plain math and free calculators for emergency funds, goals, and asset allocation, with no product to sell you.
From Freefincal by M. Pattabiraman
Open freefincal.com →
