Hari S

Hi! I’m Hari S. Honestly, this blog is like my personal diary for all things investing and trading. It’s messy, it’s real, and it’s full of lessons I learned the hard way. If you’re here, you probably get it—the stock market is fascinating, but it’s not always kind. My story starts back in college. Picture this: late nights, a laptop with way too many tabs open, and me trying to crack the code of the stock market on dummy trading platforms. It wasn’t about making money (I didn’t have any); it was just... fun. I’d make fake trades and feel like a genius when they worked out. When they didn’t? Well, I’d shrug and try again. No harm, no foul. Fast forward to my first real trading account. A sub-broker I knew helped me set it up. I was so excited. I can still remember sitting there, staring at the screen, debating whether to click that “Buy” button. My hands were literally sweating. When I finally did it, I felt this weird mix of pride and terror. Real money was on the line now. No do-overs. Those early trades? Let’s just say they weren’t exactly smooth sailing. I chased hot tips without knowing why, panicked at the slightest dip, and got way too attached to stocks I should’ve let go. There was this one time I bought a stock because everyone was talking about it. Classic mistake. It tanked within weeks. But you know what? That loss taught me more than any win ever could. Over time, I started to get a feel for how things work. I stopped reacting to every little blip and started thinking long-term. Research became my best friend. And emotions? Yeah, they’re still there, but I’ve learned to keep them in check (most of the time). This blog is where I put it all out there. The mistakes, the wins, the strategies that worked for me, and the ones that didn’t. I’m not here to sell you on some get-rich-quick idea because that’s not how this works. I’m here to share what I’ve learned in a way that’s easy to understand and, hopefully, helpful. So, if you’re just getting started or you’ve been in the game for a while, welcome. Let’s figure this out together. And hey, if you’ve got a story to share or a question to ask, I’m all ears. After all, we’re all in this crazy market ride together.

How to Calculate Tax on Dividends and Interest Income

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Let’s face it—figuring out taxes on dividends and interest income isn’t the most exciting thing. It’s one of those tasks that feels tedious until you realize how much money it could save you. Whether you’re earning dividends from stocks or racking up interest from your savings accounts, understanding how these earnings are taxed can help … Read more

Benefits of Tax-Saving Instruments: ELSS and More

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Let’s talk taxes—something we all dread but can’t escape. It’s that time of year when you’re looking at your income and wondering how much of it is slipping away in taxes. It’s not a great feeling, right? But here’s the good news: tax-saving instruments exist, and they’re not just about saving money today. They can … Read more

How Capital Gains Taxes Work

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When I first started investing, I wasn’t too concerned about taxes. I figured taxes were just something to deal with at the end of the year. Then I sold my first stock for a decent profit, and suddenly, I was introduced to the concept of capital gains taxes. Spoiler: it wasn’t as straightforward as I … Read more

Understanding Drawdowns and Recoveries in Stock Market Investing

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If you’ve been investing for any amount of time, you’ve likely experienced the gut-punch feeling of a drawdown. That sinking moment when your portfolio’s value starts to shrink, and every instinct tells you to panic. It’s not a pleasant experience, but drawdowns are an unavoidable part of stock market investing. The silver lining? They’re also … Read more

The Importance of Staying Invested During Bear Markets

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Even the phrase feels heavy, doesn’t it? If you’re an investor, you’ve probably experienced that sinking feeling when the market starts dropping like a rock. You check your portfolio (too many times, let’s be honest), and it’s nothing but red. Every instinct screams, “Sell before it gets worse!” I get it. I’ve been there. But … Read more

How to Use Beta to Measure Stock Volatility

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It’s one of those terms that sounds complicated at first, doesn’t it? When I started investing, I heard people throw around phrases like “high beta” or “low beta” like they were part of some exclusive club. I had no idea what they were talking about. But after some trial and error—and a few moments of … Read more

The Role of Asset Allocation in Reducing Risk

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When I first heard about asset allocation, I thought, “Great, another buzzword to make investing sound complicated.” At the time, I had no idea it was one of the most important things I could do to manage risk. Like most beginners, I was focused on picking stocks—what I thought were “winners”—and hoping for the best. … Read more