In this episode of Let's Talk Money, Monika dives deep into the asset class called debt and unpacks the nuances of debt as an investment option. She explains how debt instruments function, from fixed deposits to government bonds, emphasising the correlation between risk and return. She also discusses the role of debt products in providing stability to investment portfolios, contrasting their characteristics with more volatile equity investments and also touches upon the tax implications of debt products. Join Monika as she addresses common questions about the Public Provident Fund (PPF). From evaluating PPF as a long-term core of your retirement portfolio, she demystifies the PPF and empowers you to make informed investment decisions. Whether you're contemplating surrendering existing endowment policies for a PPF account or considering opening one later in life, Monika provides practical guidance on maximising the benefits of PPF for long-term financial planning. Chapters: (00:31 - 05:02) Debt as an Asset Class (05:25 - 08:30) PPF vs. Endowment Policies (08:33 - 10:57) Opting for PPF vs Mutual Funds (10:59 - 13:53) Is 44 Too Late to Invest? If you have financial questions that you’d like answers for, please email us at [email protected]  Monika’s book on basic money management https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-money-english/ Monika’s book on mutual funds https://www.monikahalan.com/lets-talk-mutual-funds/ Calculators https://investor.sebi.gov.in/calculators/index.html You can find Monika on her social media @monikahalan.  Twitter @MonikaHalan Instagram @MonikaHalan Facebook @MonikaHalan This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome Head of Audio: Kartik Kulkarni Producer: Meghna Gulati  Sound Editor: Lakshman Parsuram Artwork: Alika Gupta