Tag: financial planning.

Baby & Mom Retail appoints Sucharita Reddy as CFO to scale growth with sharp financial stewardship

MUMBAI: As Baby & Mom Retail Pvt. Ltd. preps for a growth spurt across the Indian consumer landscape, it’s calling in seasoned financial muscle to keep things in check. The company has roped in Sucharita Reddy as its new chief financial officer (CFO) to lead its finance engine through a phase of ambitious expansion, operational rigour and digital transformation.

Reddy, who brings over 15 years of experience across startups and large enterprises, has held leadership roles at Myntra Jabong, Amazon and EV startup Blusmart. Her deep expertise in finance, business operations and scalability will now power Baby & Mom Retail’s journey across baby care, skincare, pet care and home products.

“I am excited to join Baby & Mom Retail at a time of rapid growth. My mission is to create a resilient and agile finance ecosystem that not only strengthens our foundations but also acts as a strategic enabler for business growth. Finance should go beyond compliance and control; it must empower decision-making, fuel innovation, and support sustainable scaling”, expressed Reddy.

In her role, Reddy will steer the company’s financial planning, performance tracking and data-led decision-making. She will also focus on building a future-ready finance function that enables smarter inventory management, sharper customer acquisition, and scalable infrastructure—especially relevant as Baby & Mom Retail builds out its omnichannel and direct-to-consumer footprint.

“Sucharita’s appointment aligns with Baby & Mom Retail’s vision of strengthening operational excellence while scaling smartly across omnichannel and D2C markets. Her experience at companies like Myntra Jabong, Amazon and BluSmart equips her with a nuanced understanding of inventory management, customer acquisition economics, and platform scalability, all crucial for a fast-growing consumer brand ecosystem like Baby & Mom Retail”, said Baby & Mom Retail founder & CEO Shish Kharesiya.

Her leadership will also drive a finance culture built on ownership and accountability, where financial decisions fuel innovation as much as they guard the bottom line.

This leadership move comes at a pivotal moment. Baby & Mom Retail has been expanding its brand portfolio with new launches like Corvell, a healthcare equipment label, and continuing growth across flagship offerings including Oyobaby, Newish, Amorite for pets, Redcop, Mattress Protector, and Gadda Co.

The numbers may stay in spreadsheets, but the impact is set to show on balance sheets—and beyond.

June 16, 2025
Lockton India appoints Rahul Bhatia chief of staff for strategic growth

MUMBAI: Lockton India locked in a power move as the world’s largest independent insurance broker appointed Rahul Bhatia as chief of staff, a strategic addition to its leadership as it sharpens its focus on business growth, operational efficiency, and strategic excellence.

With over 17 years of experience spanning wholesale banking and consulting, Bhatia is stepping into this pivotal role with a wealth of expertise in strategy, operations, and financial planning. Translation? He’s got the chops to shake things up.

Before joining Lockton, Bhatia made his mark at Deloitte and First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) India, where he held leadership positions that had him steering strategy, operations, and governance. At Deloitte, he served as operations controller & chief of staff, overseeing key functions across multiple locations. Meanwhile, at FAB India, he played a crucial role in designing and implementing strategies, launching new projects, and reinforcing governance frameworks. Add to that his tenure at RBS India, and you’ve got a resume that screams ‘game changer.’

As chief of staff, Bhatia will work directly with the CEO, advising on strategic initiatives and ensuring Lockton India’s business vision turns into reality. His mission? To fine-tune operations, optimise financial planning, and drive long-term growth. In short, he’ll be the brains behind the scenes making sure everything runs like a well-oiled machine.

“Rahul’s vast experience in strategy, financial planning, and corporate advisory makes him a valuable addition to our leadership team,” said Lockton India CEO & country head Sandeep Dadia. “As we continue to scale our presence in India, his expertise will be pivotal in driving operational efficiency and strategic growth initiatives. We are excited to have him on board and look forward to the impact he will bring.”

Lockton India has been on a mission to expand its presence and strengthen its client service capabilities. Bhatia’s appointment aligns perfectly with the firm’s long-term vision of delivering cutting-edge risk management and insurance solutions to businesses navigating an ever-evolving market. Expect bold moves, strategic pivots, and a whole lot of innovation ahead.

March 3, 2025
RBL Bank appoints chess grandmaster D Gukesh as brand ambassador

Mumbai: RBL Bank, one of India’s leading private sector banks, proudly announces the appointment of Indian chess prodigy D Gukesh as its brand ambassador. At just 18 years old, Gukesh exemplifies boldness, innovation, and strategic brilliance—values that mirror RBL Bank’s commitment to helping customers achieve their financial goals.

Gukesh, the youngest-ever contender for the World Chess Championship and the third-youngest grandmaster to surpass a chess rating of 2700, is set to challenge reigning world champion Ding Liren this week in Singapore (23 November–13 December 2024). His journey from prodigy to global competitor embodies the spirit of thoughtful planning and excellence that RBL Bank brings to its customers.

RBL Bank, MD & CEO, R Subramaniakumar said, “In life, as in chess, every move counts – and at RBL Bank, we understand the importance of helping our customers make the right financial moves. Partnering with Gukesh is a perfect strategic alignment for us, as his exceptional ability to think several moves ahead mirrors our approach to thoughtful financial planning. His journey from a prodigy to a grandmaster reflects the kind of strategic excellence we aim to bring to our customers’ financial lives. RBL Bank family and RBL Bank customers extend our heartfelt wishes for Gukesh’s victory at the World Chess Championship 2024.”

Expressing his enthusiasm, Gukesh shared, “This partnership with RBL Bank represents a significant move in my journey. The Bank’s approach to helping customers align their financial goals with precision and foresight reminds me of a winning strategy. Their commitment to building customer wealth with stability through innovative solutions shows the same level of strategic thinking that chess demands. I am excited to partner with an institution that understands that success, whether in chess or in financial planning, comes from thinking ahead and making wise moves at the right time.”

November 21, 2024
Canara HSBC Life Insurance launches season 5 of Depend on Insurance

Mumbai: Canara HSBC Life Insurance launches the fifth season of Depend on Insurance, its flagship series designed to elevate insurance awareness across India. This season brings podcast-style interviews with inspiring personalities who share life-changing stories, underscoring the crucial role of insurance in safeguarding life’s promises and ensuring financial security during challenging times.

The year-long series is hosted by top executives from Canara HSBC Life Insurance, featuring notable guests such as Cashkaro.com, co-founder, Swati Bhargava, and Special Olympics Bharat, special advisor, Bakhtawar Saini, and Sirona Hygiene, CEO & co-founder, Deep Bajaj. These achievers offer unique insights on the impact of financial protection and share personal anecdotes that emphasise how insurance plays a pivotal role in enabling positive change.

Canara HSBC Life Insurance, chief distribution officer – alternate channels and chief marketing officer, Rishi Mathur highlights the series’ purpose: “Depend On Insurance is a part of our continued efforts to educate and engage today’s digitally enabled consumers on the critical role that disciplined savings, financial planning and life insurance play in building a secure and prosperous future. The fifth season of the series brings alive powerful stories of resilience and success from inspiring personalities in a relatable manner. We believe these conversations will contribute towards creating a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the value of financial protection for modern consumers.”

Each episode is structured to captivate the audience from the start, introducing the guests and focusing on their critical life milestones, achievements, and the challenges they’ve faced. The discussions explore how financial security and life insurance have played—or could have played—a role in their journeys. A rapid-fire round adds a light-hearted touch, where guests respond to quick questions related to insurance, financial planning, and security.

October 18, 2024
Reasons Why Term Plan is Important in India

Introduction to Term Insurance

When it comes to securing the future, we are often reminded to plan for unforeseen circumstances. While talking about making investments, things like mutual funds, fixed deposits, and the stock market emerge as top financial options, making us overlook something really important: term insurance. Term insurance is a simple yet powerful tool that holds the key to ensuring your loved ones’ financial security in case something unexpectedly happens to you.

Think of it like this: You are a contributor towards your family expenses. Have you considered whether your family will be able to manage financially in case of your untimely death? This is when term insurance, with its straightforward promise, offers your family adequate financial support upon demise during the term policy period. Even with that fundamental knowledge, a lack of information and not being aware of the benefits of term insurance can influence your decision to buy one. So, make a smart choice and read further to know all about it.

What are the Benefits of a Term Insurance Plan?

Term insurance, in essence, is everything mentioned above. However, the following benefits will catalyse your decision to secure your family’s future with a robust term insurance plan:

Simple: Term insurance is easy to understand; it is a straightforward life cover without any investment complexities. All you have to do is pay your premiums, and your life is covered for a set period, providing clear benefits for your family.

Affordable: Even though it is remarkably affordable, term insurance offers substantial financial security for your loved ones. For instance, with as little as ₹500 per month, you can provide your family with a ₹1 crore life cover, ensuring they can manage regular expenses, settle debts, and maintain their lifestyle.

Tax benefits: With term insurance, you can also enjoy tax benefits, ensuring not just financial security for your family but also savings for yourself throughout the process.

Peace of mind: Term insurance is the best way to reassure yourself that in your absence, your family will have enough financial support to navigate any challenges that arise, offering you peace of mind and security.

Financial Planning: None of us know what’s in the future. In the event of an untimely demise, relying solely on investments may not prove a wise decision, as they will not suffice to financially protect your family. A term plan, on the other hand, guarantees a substantial payout for considerably affordable annual premiums, ensuring your family’s financial security.

Income Replacement: Term insurance acts as a vital income replacement tool, ensuring financial stability for your loved ones in your absence. It provides a reliable source of income to sustain their needs and lifestyle.

Additional Riders to Strengthen the Policy: Term insurance plans often come with riders that you can choose to boost your basic insurance benefits. You can add them to your term plan by paying a nominal additional premium.

Return of Premium Option: A pure-term insurance plan offers life cover to beneficiaries upon the insured’s death without providing any maturity benefit. However, you can opt for the return of premium option, which entails higher premiums, ensuring a refund of total premiums paid if you outlive the policy tenure.

Please note: Taxes, levies, rider premiums, and modal amounts are excluded from the refunded premium.

We hope this blog helps you understand why term insurance is important and brings an end to your contemplation of the benefits mentioned above. To know more, you can access an easy term guide and make a sound decision about buying term insurance for your family.

April 13, 2024
GUEST ARTICLE: 96% of NFT projects will fail, and why?

Mumbai: The year 2020 was unprecedented in many ways, but what was undeniably phenomenal was the rise of the crypto world, drawing new users to it. However, this dramatic escalation of the crypto world has seen another new market in the digital sphere-the NFTs, which has gathered much attention and somewhat spread like wildfire, which no one can stop. Nowadays, it can be seen that celebrities from around the world are getting into the NFT space and the press is flooded with success stories.

It may seem that investing in NFTs is the quickest way to earn money. But, just like any other thrilling experience, there will definitely be challenges involved. As per various reports, it has been analysed that 95 per cent of investors lose money since they lack proper research and, therefore, they follow short-term projects which have no value. Amidst the crypto crash this year, it appears that the bloodbath in the crypto market has affected NFT sales too. According to a report in The Guardian, NFT sales reached a 12-month low mark in June 2022.

Reasons why most NFT projects will fail

A majority of NFTs (about 96 per cent) will come crashing down hard, not just temporarily, but permanently, because the creators lack experience in implementing their roadmap in the proper way or are unable to cope with emerging issues in order to establish a long-term and sustainable business. Several NFT projects are just a quick way to grab the cash with no real value or utility backing the digital asset. The main issue with the NFT marketplace is poor marketing strategy; the supply presently outweighs demand, as does the lack of actual value and utility backing NFTs, which in turn will affect the sentiment around the project.

While large brands, companies, and innovators start exploring the NFT space and incorporating the technology themselves, they will soon begin to realise what a valuable NFT looks like when compared to all the useless NFTs presently overflowing the markets.

The reality that modern-day NFT creators and investors fail to recognise is that, with the help of NFTs (a digital technological space), one can either build a brand from the ground up or increase the trust, value, and transparency of existing brands. In contrast, NFT creators have created nothing more than just a picture, which has little to no actual value or utility at all. The creators are not even building a brand or developing a strong intellectual property, failing to deliver quality, and even providing nothing to their customers besides the NFT itself. People need to understand that just because someone is an artist doesn’t mean the person will be a successful NFT project person.

In addition to that, these days’ news regarding NFTs that are making headlines are mere stories about people making huge profits by selling and purchasing NFTs. These types of news tend to create the impression that either NFTs are a get-rich-quickly scam or that any NFT can easily make you a million dollar profit, while both are just untrue to a certain degree. It requires a lot of hard work and talent to benefit from the NFT business.

There’s more to understand on NFTs!

Going by the present market scenario, it seems that rug pulls have become the go-to scam of the NFT ecosystem, and as a result, several projects are facing difficulty in gaining the community’s confidence. Moreover, projects are failing due to a poorly organised team with no experts, poor synchronicity, and also a lack of adequate financial planning. Many NFT ventures are unable to maintain an engaged and vibrant community of supporters, which is probably the numero-uno factor behind building a project. Plus, there is a lack of uniqueness when a project is simply a copy of an existing one with the same features, benefits, and processes or if it does not grab the attention of the audience; thus, they are not able to make it to the live market.

Currently, the NFT space is a perfect example of an overhyped market driven by greed. It’s not an easy task to head an NFT project, and in most cases, it is a tough grind to stand out and survive past launch. NFTs are just going to be another way of branding and marketing a business. Although most NFT projects are failing, that doesn’t imply that all of them are worthless. There are still some projects worth your attention, and you can definitely make profits if you understand the logic behind failing projects so that you can act in the opposite way.

Therefore, the next time someone is thinking about purchasing an NFT, the advice is to do the research, don’t spend more money than you can afford to lose, and only purchase NFTs that spark interest. You must have the ability to build a legit business out of social media. All you need is to be extra careful when diving into this unregulated platform.

The author of the article is JorrParivar creator, founder, and operator Digital Pratik.

August 4, 2022
Planning Finances Online? 5 Variables Involved in Investment Calculator

Financial planning is not just about earning money but also about how you handle your money and allow it to grow for you. For those who are just getting started, the easiest way would be to start researching different investment tools such as investment calculator and schemes online. You will easily find everything you need to know about different plans and their returns in just a few clicks.

However, if you find the information very overwhelming then you can consult an investment advisor or portfolio manager to help you diversify your investments right from the beginning.

Image Courtesy: Shutterstock

Investing allows an individual to invest an amount that they are not currently in need of and earn good returns on their hard-earned money. The longer your money stays invested, the more wealth you generate from your investments.

Why Should You Be Investing?

While investing is always a good habit, it helps to know what you are making your investments towards i.e., your goals. Be it saving for an international trip in the future, buying a car, renovating your home, or simply saving for your children, it is important to have a goal. Make it a habit to use an investment calculator before you start investing in any scheme and plan your finances to suit your short-term and long-term goals.

Another common goal that most individuals invest towards is saving taxes on their yearly income. At present, the old tax regime allows a deduction of up to Rs. 1,50,000 (total of all investments and payments present in this section) which includes saving in mutual funds, bonds, ULIPs, PPFs and even premium on your insurance policies.

With the help of an investment calculator, you can easily calculate your investments and save enough to claim tax deductions at the end of the financial year.

You can choose an investment calculator online to understand how much you need to start saving to achieve your goal in a stipulated timeframe, and what rate of returns you can expect on it.

5 Variables That You Need For An Investment Calculator Online

Often people search ‘what is investment’ and ‘how to earn on your idle savings’, and if you have done it too then investing is the ideal option for you. If you are thinking about planning your finances and do not know where to begin then an investment calculator would be a good place to start. Here are the 5 variables that will play a major role in creating your financial plan:

1.   Your initial amount of investment: Also known as the principal amount, this is the amount that determines how fast your investment can yield returns. If you have recently received a lump sum then you can distribute it in investment schemes accordingly. For salaried individuals, a monthly SIP plan is an ideal way to go.

2.   Determine a duration for your investment: If you have emergency funds kept aside then you can opt for a longer investment duration or even government schemes where your money is locked in for a set period like Sovereign Gold Bonds, FDs, PPFs etc. However, if you may be in need of money a few years down the line then decide a duration for your investments accordingly and don’t lock your money for a fixed duration.

Image Courtesy: Shutterstock

3.   Rate of return on your investment: This differs based on the investment tool that you choose. The rate of return is usually higher for schemes that have a higher risk involved like equity mutual funds, stock market investments etc. You can also opt for lower risk-involving investments like debt funds, ULIPs, PPFs etc. To know how much your money can earn you have to estimate an average rate of return and feed it in the investment calculator online.

4.   Desired amount: This is the sum you wish to achieve, to fulfil your goals or keep aside for your retirement. The longer your investment period is, the more desired amount can be expected from it.

5.   Top-up or additional investment: If you keep contributing to your investment on a yearly basis, or however often as allowed by your investment scheme, it will result in a higher amount of returns over time because your investment earns compounding interest. However, this is not a compulsory factor.
While you are calculating your return on investments, do not forget to factor in your tax liabilities for the financial year. If you are investing in non-tax saving schemes like equity funds, securities etc, then your returns will be taxable as well. One of the most effective ways for a salaried person to reduce tax liability is with the help of multiple sections under the 1961 Income Tax Act.

Most investment calculators have these fields, which provide an accurate estimate of your current investment and the desired amount based on how long you stay invested. Start your investment plan today, to reap benefits in the long run and enjoy a stress-free retirement.

August 24, 2021