Category: Personal Finance
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Can NRIs Invest in Sovereign Gold Bonds?
I still remember that conversation in 2019. I was at a family gathering in Chennai. My cousin Raj from London asked, “Mani, should I invest in those gold bonds? They sound amazing.” Today, that question hits differently. The Brutal Truth First 🎯 TL;DR: NRIs CANNOT invest in new Sovereign Gold Bonds. The scheme was discontinued…
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Annexure E – The Income Tax Document Every Returning NRI Needs to Know
Hey folks! Mani here. Remember 2017? That’s when I landed back in Bangalore with two oversized suitcases, a confused American-born son, and absolutely zero understanding of Annexure E. My CPA in California never mentioned it. My tax advisor in India assumed I knew about it. Classic communication gap that cost me weeks of stress and…
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SBI Chicago – Your Financial Bridge to India
It was winter 2015. I was stuck in Chicago O’Hare airport during a layover. My flight was delayed 6 hours. Classic Chicago winter. I needed to send money to mom in Kerala urgently. Her water heater had broken down. It’s funny how small things become emergencies when you’re 9,000 miles away. I tried my regular…
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Axis Atlas – The Credit Card NRIs Need When Moving Back
Hey folks! Mani here. Remember when I landed at Bangalore airport in 2017 with my family? I had bank accounts. I had investments. I had enough Indian rupees in cash. But I had ZERO Indian credit history. That’s when I realized I had missed a critical part of my financial transition back to India. My…
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Transaction Reference Number – The Unsung Hero of International Transfers
Hey there! Mani here. Remember that time in 2016 when I sent money from my Bank of America account to my dad’s SBI account in Ernakulam? The money vanished. Poof! Gone for 9 days. My dad needed that cash for his heart medication. I was freaking out in my Irvine apartment. Customer service kept asking…
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Top NRI Bank Accounts: Cracking the RFC Account Mystery
Hey folks! Mani here. Remember when I was moving back from California in 2017? That moment when I stared at my Bank of America account realizing I needed to figure out the whole “India banking situation” before landing? I spent nights researching NRE, NRO, and RFC accounts while my wife wondered if I’d lost my…
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IPO Investment Tips for NRIs: Navigating the Grey Market
Remember when I was working at Citrix in the US and got super excited about the Zomato IPO? I had to navigate a maze of regulations while sitting in my California apartment. That experience taught me how confusing IPO investments can be for NRIs. Especially when everyone back home was buzzing about “grey market premiums.”…
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American Express Gold Corporate Card: Guide for NRIs
Hey folks! Mani here. Man, I still remember the day I had to return my American Express Gold Corporate Card when I left my job at Citrix in California. That shiny gold card had been my trusted companion for business trips across the US. Fast forward to my return to India in 2017. During my…
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Corporate Gold Card: Guide for NRIs
Remember when I landed back in India after my 10-year stint in the US? Man, what a ride that was. One of the biggest shocks wasn’t the traffic or power cuts – it was banking. I had this fancy American Express Gold Card back in California. It got me into airport lounges. Gave me cash…
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Amex Corporate Gold Card – The Secret Weapon for NRIs
That chaotic day in 2016 still haunts me. I was sitting in my Irvine apartment surrounded by moving boxes. My return to India was just weeks away. Then my phone buzzed. A text from my company finance team. “Mani, we need to discuss your Amex Corporate Gold Card before your relocation.” My heart sank. This…