Dearest Reader, I was at a Diwali potluck at a friend’s house a few days ago. Picture jasmine-scented candles, marigold garlands, a makeshift mandir, bright-colored clothing, game cards, and a table of sumptuous ghee-laden food (which I love, occasionally). That’s not all there was. The living room also had a corner table for gifts—occupied by a tower of 10 sweet boxes (mostly Soan Papdi) piling up atop one another. After everyone had their share of beer, we joked about the sweets,...
5 months ago • 5 min read
Dearest Reader, Let me just come out and say it: networking is a pain in the butt. However, doing it outdoors, someplace like the beautiful Huntington Beach in California, makes it a lot more bearable. So, I attended the FutureProof Festival this year again, and it was every bit refreshing! Look at me beaming in the gorgeous, scorching sun! Of course, I returned with a nice tan and a bunch of new learnings. At the Future Proof Festival 2024 Now, onto the serious stuff! As a financial advisor,...
6 months ago • 7 min read
Hi Reader , Have you watched the movie Rajneeti starring Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, and Ajay Devgn? It was released in 2010 but still is an evergreen “political” movie, IMO. Incessant bloodshed, broken family dynamics, and power-hungry men—all combined made for a fascinating thriller. What I took away from the politics of it all was that everyone was constantly trying to gain the upper hand, and each revenge led to long-term losses, leaving all the parties worse off than before. As the US...
6 months ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader , Did you get the chance (and time) to savor sportspersons spinning and swinging in impossible ways at this Olympics? And the just-wrapped-up Paralympics? As for me, I was up till the wee hours of the night, on multiple occasions—jaws clenched and fingers dug into the armrest. I remember this one instance when I was glued to the screen for Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu’s attempt in the 49 kg category. Oh, the sound of the barbell during the snatch, and the clean and jerk. Those...
7 months ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader, I hope you are enjoying the last bit of summer as we lean into the colder months soon. Meanwhile, I have been in India, enjoying the relentless monsoons. Somehow, the weather reports here always say, “This year the rain (feel free to plug in any other season) has been the worst of all years in the last 50 years.” Soon this becomes a conversation starter in office circles. Then, the channels replay the same video next year. Of course, I don’t want to negate the effects of climate...
8 months ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader , I know, I know, I’ve been MIA for a while, but you know how chaotic life gets sometimes. Speaking of chaos, are any of you fans of the hindi “Housefull” franchise? No? Okay, how about Spider-Man 3? Why am I speaking about films in a finance newsletter? Well, for those of you who are familiar with these, you know the crazy that ensues in both films because of too many characters? In different ways—Housefull’s plot hinges on too many people in the house who wreak complete havoc and...
11 months ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader , Do you remember the good ol’ days of 2016? Depending on your immigration journey, you might have not even reached the US, so I can tell you a thing or 2 about the US: Donald Trump had just become President It felt weird to be a brown-skinned immigrant in some spaces The tax rates were much higher than now The Republicans passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that simplified taxes for a lot of people by increasing the deductions you can take, raising the brackets and helping...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader , Its almost 2024! Isnt that crazy?? I know you are going be busy with new years resolutions and all that jazz so I will keep it short and simple this month: As we start 2024 very soon, there have been changes to various thresholds that may affect you: The income limits for marginal tax brackets are changing. The maximum contribution to a 401(k) will be $23,000 (up from $22,500 in 2023). Max annual IRA contributions will increase to $7,000 (up from $6,500 in 2023). Given the news...
over 1 year ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader , Can you believe its October? Which means your employer is going to be giving you an opportunity to boost your compensation by almost 32%! No, this won’t be in cash, but according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), your benefits make up about 32% of your total compensation. Which means you need to be deliberate about selecting benefits during Open enrollment! Don’t worry though my fellow/aspiring immigrant millionaires, since you subbed to my newsletter, here is are some...
over 1 year ago • 6 min read
