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How to choose an investment advisor in 2025: credentials, conflicts, and fee models explained?

  The choice isn’t “Who sounds smartest? ”; it’s “Who is licensed to advise, trained for the right job, paid the right way, and transparent about conflicts?” That filter trims half the noise around investment advisors in minutes and leaves a short list worth meeting for investment advisor services that serve .     Credentials that matter (and why)   SEBI RIA: In India, paid advice belongs with SEBI‑registered Investment Advisers, fiduciary duty, disclosure rules, audits, and fresh 2025 guidelines, including graded deposit requirements and AI‑use disclosures.   CFP vs CFA: CFP signals holistic personal finance planning; CFA signals investment research and portfolio management depth. Use the right expert for the right brief, not the loudest title.   Reality check: Verify active SEBI RIA status, team qualifications, and the specific person advising, not just a logo.     Fee models, decoded without the sales gloss .   Fee‑only: Paid only b...

Angel Funding Is Not a Fairy Tale, Unless You Count Excel Sheets and Existential Dread

  Ah, the startup dream. You’ve got a revolutionary product, a half-decent pitch deck, and enough caffeine in your system to power a small town. But there’s just one teeny , tiny problem: You’re broke. Enter: angel funding and small business investors , aka the people who might just save your entrepreneurial soul before your EMI eats it alive.     But hold up, before you start imagining some billionaire in a white suit handing over crores because your idea sounds vaguely like “Uber for vegetables,” let’s break it down. Real-life angel funding isn’t about vibes. It’s about timing, traction, and the fine art of not messing up your first Zoom pitch.     What Exactly Is Angel Funding? (And No, It’s Not a Donation)   Let’s cut the jargon. Angel funding is when a wealthy individual (usually a former founder, investor, or brave soul with extra cash) invests in your early-stage business in exchange for equity. Think of them as the cool aunt or uncle who...