Category: Personal Finance

  • How To Apply For Lost Or Damaged PAN Card

    Let me tell you about one of the most stressful days during our move back from California in 2017. Picture this. We’ve just landed in Bangalore after 8 years in the US. I’m trying to open a bank account at HDFC the next day. The relationship manager asks for my PAN card. I confidently reach…

  • Top Credit Cards for Returning NRIs: The Ultimate Guide

    Hey there! Mani here. When I moved back from SuperMoney in California in 2017, one of the most frustrating things wasn’t the reverse culture shock or finding good Mexican food in Bangalore. It was getting a decent credit card. Picture this. I’m back in India after 8 years in the US. I have a stellar…

  • Complete Guide to FATCA for NRIs: Everything You Need to Know

    When I was wrapping up my time at SuperMoney in California back in 2017, preparing for our move back to India, one thing kept me up at night. It wasn’t the job search or school admissions for the boys. It was FATCA. My accountant in San Francisco had mentioned it casually during our final tax…

  • Overseas Citizen of India (OCI): Meaning, Types, Eligibility and Benefits

    Let’s talk about OCIs. The full thing! When I moved back from the US in 2017 with my family, getting our OCI cards was one of the first things on my checklist. My wife and I had been planning this move for months. My mom was alone in India after dad passed away during my…

  • What is Form W-2 For NRIs While Filing US Taxes?

    2016. I’m sitting in my Santa Barbara office at Citrix, staring at this official looking document my HR team just handed me. Form W-2. I thought, “Great, another tax form to confuse me.” Back then, I had no clue how crucial this little piece of paper would become for my US tax filing journey. Fast…

  • What is FBAR? A Complete Guide for NRIs

    I still remember the panic in Ravi’s voice when he called me at 11 PM from California. “Mani, I just found out about something called FBAR. My colleague got hit with a $30,000 penalty for not filing it. I’ve had my NRE and NRO accounts in India for six years and never heard of this…

  • Gold ETF vs Gold Mutual Fund – Which is Better for NRIs

    Remember when I was working at Citrix back in 2016? My wife constantly worried about our savings being too dependent on US markets. That’s when I first started exploring gold investments seriously. After losing my dad early during college, I learned the importance of financial security. When mom was alone in India and we decided…

  • Can NRIs Invest in Sovereign Gold Bonds?

    Back in 2016, just before I moved from Silicon Valley to Bangalore, my mom called me during Dhanteras. “Beta, buy some gold,” she said. I was working at Druva then, completely clueless about Indian investment options. Fast forward to today. I get WhatsApp messages daily from my BackToIndia community asking about Sovereign Gold Bonds. Can…

  • Black Money Act for NRIs: Your Complete Survival Guide

    Picture this: It’s 2017, I’m sitting in my San Francisco apartment at 2 AM. My wife Priya is asleep, my boys are dreaming about their next gaming session. And me? I’m having a complete meltdown googling “Black Money Act penalties for NRIs.” Why the panic? We’d just decided to move back to India. Mom was…

  • Money Market Funds for NRIs: Complete Guide 💰

    Hey there! Mani here. Back in 2015, when I was still living in San Francisco, I had this problem. I wanted to keep some money in India for emergencies. But I also wanted it to earn better than my savings account. My CA suggested money market funds. I had never heard of them before. Fast…