WhatTheFs

It is the long Labor Day weekend in the US…end of the traditional summer holiday period, that starts with Memorial Day in the last week of May.  And with this episode, I am wrapping up the first season of WhatTheFs, my labor of love that also spanned from Memorial Day to Labor Day. 15 episodes including this one, that dropped every Fri….without fail!  WhatTheFs, my weekly take on Fads, Films, Finance, and Fun, with Friends, will be back in a few weeks time in a repackaged and in a better format…so this is just a breather as I work on new ideas and incorporate your feedback for the upcoming season.In this final episode of the first season, I recap the topics that were covered in the previous fourteen episodes. Under What The Finance, I covered Retirement (Roth IRA - Ep.1), Estate Planning (Wills/Living Trusts Ep 14, Buy Borrow Die approach in Ep 13, and the PoD/ToD options in Ep 4), Income & Tax Savings tips (I Bonds, Ep 6, and HSAs in Ep 7), Kids Financial Literacy & College education (Legal/Financial docs for when child turns 18 - Ep 2, New CC & building Credit history in Ep 3, and Money for Nothing/College for Free through 529s in Ep 11 :-), &Stocks & Alternative Assets (Top 10 stocks for 10X returns - Ep 10; Crypto basics & investment options in Ep 8 & 9).Episode 12 was focused on Frauds, Scams & Hacks - how to protect yourself and your loved ones;And in What The Fun/Film parts of the episodes, there were two movies:Promising Young Woman (Netflix)Sylvie's Love (Amazon Prime), plus the following recommended streaming shows:On Netflix - Lupin, The Kominsky Method, Russian Doll, Never Have I Ever, Serpent, and Better Call SaulOn Apple TV+ - Ted Lasso, and Mythic Quest, andOn HBO - Big Little LiesThanks to all the loyal listeners...the community spanned 15 countries & 165 cities! I am amazed and grateful

Someone is killed...but who? why? and by whom? The enchanting coastal town of Monterey in California, right at the edge of one of the most scenic drives in the world, the Big Sur, is the setting for this stunningly mesmerizing HBO series on the lives, the loves, and the losses of the top 1%, nay the top .01% amongst us. The star wattage of the cast is by itself enough to put this two-season series in the top 1% of streaming shows too, but the plot, the characters and the gorgeous cinematography, make it to the .01% level!And is murder itself the mystery? More than a whodunit, this is a relationship expose...and the real mystery is about the little lies we tell ourselves and those around us to cover up the big holes in our lives. Big Little Lies!What happens when the rich and famous don't do proper estate planning? Like it happens in this series, they run into custody issues, guardianship questions for their minor children, property disputes, what have you...all because they didn't bother to tune into WhatTheFs :-)Will you Trust me by listening to the quick primer on what are the different estate planning tools, when to use them, and their key differences? I enjoy putting these episodes together every week, and I do hope you enjoy listening to them. If you do, please also share with your friends & social circles and recommend they subscribe too. Hearing back from you on my newly launched Facebook Page What The Fs will also help me make these better aligned to listener tastes.Here are the links to subscribe to it on all major podcast directories, and share it with your friends...Buzzsprout: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1721890.rssApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whatthefs/id1570521351Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/49d8IxKEcCOoFK4vhgyFmH...@What_TheFs is my twitter handle...hope to see you there too.Next week will be the 15th episode in the first season of WhatTheFs...will be a special one, so don't forget to tune in next week as well.

Welcome to the latest episode of WhatTheFs, lucky episode number 13! WhatTheFs episodes are my weekly take on fads, films, finance & fun, with friends, and have been dropping regularly every friday. I do know they have become sort of a weekly ritual for some of the committed listeners and their families, so thanks for your support. I strive to keep in touch with whatever the F is happening around the world, so that five minutes with me over the weekend should make your next five days happy, make you money, or both! Paanch taaza minute mein paanch din ka jaaykedaar mazaa.In today's episode, titled Buy, Borrow, Die? Better call Rak…I am delighted to share with you two items that are BOATs - Best of All Times. A streaming series recommendation that ranks amongst the very best, is a totally bingeable series on par, and dare I say, even better than its predecessor ‘sequel'.  And the ultimate estate management, tax savings & capital gains avoidance strategy called Buy, Borrow, Die! And why the Biden Tax Plan could be like the Taliban :-)A bonus lawyer joke is in there too ;-) It's all good, man!I enjoy putting these episodes together every week, and I do hope you enjoy listening to them. If you do, please also share with your friends & social circles and recommend they subscribe too. Hearing back from you on my newly launched Facebook Page What The Fs will also help me make these better aligned to listener tastes.Here are the links to subscribe to it on all major podcast directories, and share it with your friends...Buzzsprout: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1721890.rssApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whatthefs/id1570521351Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/49d8IxKEcCOoFK4vhgyFmH...@What_TheFs is my twitter handle...hope to see you there too.Bfn...Till next week then! 

Once upon a time  …the garden of internet was an unspoiled, innocent, open playground for all of us. It held so much promise. There was an Apple in this garden too. Beguiling, tasty….And then the serpent appeared! The fault lines from the offline world, the typical human failings showed up here too, and even a bite of the mighty apple has not been enough to restore the internet to its pristine state. Welcome to the 12th episode of WhatTheFs, my weekly take on Fads, Films, Finance & Fun, with Friends! In todays episode, called the Serpent in the Garden of Internet, I bring to you two items that showcase, what else, the serpent.In What The Film, a Netflix limited series that is based on the exploits of the notorious conman, Charles Sobhraj, who prowled, defrauded and killed unsuspecting victims in the hippie trails of South Asia during the 70s! A larger than life figure for those who grew up in India and heard about his dodges, frauds, capture, and escapes, his backstory and the extent of his evil needs to be seen to be believed.There is another reason why I chose this series for today's episode! Sobhraj lured and defrauded his victims back in the days before mobile phones & internet, but there are parallels and lessons for us in todays world, in the age of the internet.In the What The Finance section, I am touching  upon What The Fraud….the frauds, scams & hacks that have permanently taken away the innocence and promise of the Garden of Internet! Sprinkled with some tips and suggestions to make sure you and your family never become a victim.Serpent in the Garden of Internet: Hope you find this episode useful…and if you do, pls do share with your friends & social circles, and do drop me your inputs, experiences & feedback on the topic so we can all learn from each other!This is Rak, signing off on the latest in WhatTheFs, my Weekly Take in Five on Fads, Films, Finance & Fun, with Friends!Here are the links to subscribe to it on all major podcast directories, and share it with your friends...Buzzsprout: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1721890.rssApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whatthefs/id1570521351Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/49d8IxKEcCOoFK4vhgyFmH?si=EFpQKn-xSzGGBiKY7HZGug&dl_branch=1See you again next week…till then, happy listening!

Welcome to the Eleventh episode of WhatTheFs, inspired by and with apologies to Mark Knopfler & the Dire Straits band! Never have I ever sung publicly before, maybe not even in private

Welcome to What The X: a special episode to mark WhatTheFs 10th episode!!! Ten stocks that I believe will be multi-baggers, with potential to go up 10X in the next 10 years!Presenting to you my very own RAK fund :-)Why am I doing this? Some of you have asked me for tips & picks in the past...and my own portfolio has consistently beaten the s&p500 index over the last few years. WhatTheFs podcast is my weekly take on fads, films & finance in a way that makes my listeners happy, makes them money, or both, so why not share some of my secret sauce? ;-) In return, would ask you to subscribe to this podcast and also spread the word by sharing this episode in your friend & social circles. Yep, go ahead...do it now - there is a share link option on the top!For this top ten list, I have focused on growth stocks only, and in the mid-tier of market capitalization ($20-$150B mkt cap), not getting sucked into the FAANGs of the mega caps (which almost everyone owns), or dabble with the little leaguers. I have looked at industries and sectors that are in the forefront of the digital revolution, that have the potential to be much much bigger in the coming decade, and then selected the disruptors in those, the challengers that are standing up to the big boys, creating their own rules, and changing the future as we know it. I am not going into fundamental or quant analysis here but you will hear about my investing story as part of these stocks too.The stock picks are all public companies  from these Ten sectors that I believe will lead in the digital future::Digital Media/AdvertisingStreamingGamingFinTechE-commerceContent MgmtNextGen Customer EngagementSecurityHealthcare, &Biotech/GeneticsA word of caution though: these are my personal recommendations, so exercise caution, do your own research, and remember that any investment you do based on the above is at your own risk.I totally enjoyed putting this list & episode together, and hope you like it too, and benefit from it. Keen to know your reactions, any ideas, stocks or angles I have missed, and anything you would like to discuss/debate further. If you liked my new style and content, let me know, rate me, and leave me a review. Here are the links to subscribe to it on all major podcast directories, and share it with your friends...Buzzsprout: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1721890.rssApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whatthefs/id1570521351Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/49d8IxKEcCOoFK4vhgyFmH?si=EFpQKn-xSzGGBiKY7HZGug&dl_branch=1@What_TheFs is my twitter handle...hope to see you there too.Enjoy What The X!!!

In this episode, a love story to fall in love with! One of the best movies we watched last year during the depths of covid: Music unites them, differences intrigue them, passion ignites them, class divides them, and aspirations pull them apart. Their love is supposed to transcend boundaries. It does, ... until it doesn't. Watch this with your special one...with a glass of wine in hand! Jazz music is provided free of charge in this Amazon Prime charmer.And moving on from love of one kind to another, and following up from the last episode, tips on how to lose your crypto virginity, with whom and where! There is a bit of ripple in the ether of cryptos. Has the world gone to the Doges? Or are you still Tethered? Which coin is likely to give you a 50X return? And which kinds should you stay away from? Have a listen for this and more...on this latest episode of WhatTheFs!Subscribe to it on all major podcast directories, and share it with your friends...Buzzsprout: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1721890.rssApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whatthefs/id1570521351Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/49d8IxKEcCOoFK4vhgyFmH?si=EFpQKn-xSzGGBiKY7HZGug&dl_branch=1Twitter: And do follow me on the special twitter handle @What_TheFs I have created to discuss and chat about the tips I put out to make you happy or make you money or make you both :-)

Welcome to the latest episode of WhatTheFs, Rak's Weekly Take in Five on Fads, Films, Finance & Fun, with Friends! In today's episode, Never Have I Ever had experiences as a first generation India American kid in a local diverse American high school! And have you ever invested in crypto currencies? Maybe you have always wanted to but felt too shy or didn't know enough to take the first steps…but have claimed you did. Ha, ha, like a crypto virgin…:-)Well Know more…so that no more!In What The Film, introducing you to the heart-warming, delightful coming of age Netflix series, Never Have I Ever, about the growing up of an Indian-American kid in a diverse SoCal high school.In WhatTheFinance, introducing you to Crypto basics….In this section, throwing some light on the cryptocurrency market & the different types of coins. In my next episode, next Friday, I will talk about which ones to invest right now, and how/where?Tune in every Friday...to WhatTheFs!

You know what is a Russian doll: dolls within dolls, right? Every time you open one, there is a smaller one exactly like the bigger one…and you keep repeating it to find smaller and smaller dolls :-)  They're also a great metaphor for getting to know someone's or something's inner mysteries after breaking through their superficial layers.In today's episode,  I am going to talk about two such items that are like these nested dolls. One is a terrific TV series on Netflix that has meanings within meanings and is very well acted. Is it a drama? a comedy? or a therapy? Find out and stay till the terrific season finale...a series that will keep you hooked and maybe you will discover some new things about yourself, just like the lead actor does! The second is a savings vehicle that has triple tax advantages. You can put in money pre-tax, earnings are tax-free, and you don't pay taxes when you withdraw for intended purposes! Nested dolls, gifts within gifts, surprise hidden in a surprise - I call it the Russian doll of tax savings!Tune in every Friday for more of these tips & recos…share with your friends and subscribe to the podcast 'WhatTheFs' on all major podcast directories. Look forward to your feedback and suggestions...you know how to reach me ;-)

In this episode, I am going to talk about bonds for life…best kept secrets for low-risk, high returns. And helping  you lead a long happy life. Hiding in plain sight ;-)One of the bonds is Friendship! Having friends for life…and especially friends that know you from the past and are still part of your life now and will be in the future…for your retirement and beyond!  In What the Fun & Film , recommending a series that is tightly wrapped around two such life long friends and their relationships, recollections, and fun interactions. Both have a biting sense of humor and constantly one upping each other.Show's creator is Chuck Lorre, and it stars Michael Douglas & Alan Arkin. Inspired casting, funny irreverent humor. Great friends growing old together and enjoying life as they do it! In What the Finance, I talk about how in today's low yield world, you can generate healthy risk-free, tax-free returns without getting into high priced stocks, homes or cryptos: I am talking about the the other type of bonds related to Savings that also protect you from inflation. And give you much higher returns than comparable investments like T-bonds. And no, it is not TIPS! In fact this bond is one of the best kept secrets of the financial advisory industry.Stick with these bonds until & after retirement. Bonds that are low risk, high returns….and will help you through the curveballs later in life!I am loading up on I & We Bonds…and so should you! Mystified? Intrigued? Keep listening…If you liked what you heard, subscribe to be podcast, share with your friends, and send in your reviews and ratings! You can also follow me on twitter @What_TheFs And here's to a great Fourth of July weekend...bye for now!

Welcome to What The Fifth: the fifth episode of WhatTheFs, Rak's Weekly Take in Five on Fads, Films, Finance & Fun, with Friends! If you are just tuning in, and haven't had a chance to listen to the earlier ones, no worries - am using this one to do a recap of the first four, provide updates on what's coming, and the general idea behind the podcast.So far, we have covered the irrepressible & funny Ted Lasso, the stylish caper Lupin, contemporary gamer office in Mythic Quest, and the delicious revenge tale Promising Young Woman in the Fun & Film section. On the Finance side, I have shared my thoughts around Roth IRA conversion for high income earners, Key legal/financial documents for when a child turns 18, opening of a new Credit Card to get started on building credit history, and a neat way to provide immediate access to your funds in case of any eventuality and increase your FDIC coverage at the same time!The podcast is now listed on all major platforms: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and iHeart Radio. So, search for 'WhatTheFs', & subscribe to the weekly feeds - an episode will drop every Friday, and if you like what you hear, share with your friends.I will also be starting a twitter handle @What_TheFs to get an ongoing dialog going with the listeners and subscribers, and collect your feedback and tips to make the show better.My goal is to Make you Happy, or Make you Money, or Make you Both :-)Paanch taaza minute mein paanch din ka jaaykedar mazaa...

In time for Father's Day, in this week's episode, a sizzling revenge tale served piping hot, wrapped in a delicious story, with suspense, comedy, and  a contemporary message. A must-see for college-going students, and their parents! And a neat, easy way to protect your assets, provide easy & quick access to beneficiaries, and increase your FDIC insurance coverage, all at the same time!Let me know what you think. If you liked what you just heard, rate it on your podcast app, and share the link with your friends...and have a great weekend. Happy Father's Day, all!

Forget about the birds & the bees! This week on What The Fs, Rak's Weekly Take in Five on Fads, Films, Finance & Fun, with Friends, learn about Poppy & Pootie, and APRs & Penalty! In about five odd minutes, learn about a chatty, contemporary series on GenZers & Gaming at Work, Mythic Quest, and a nudge to get started with building Credit history plus financial common sense for your kids. Happy listening...every Friday, on What The Fs! And if you like what you have heard, tell your friends about it.

Welcome to the second episode of WhatTheFs, Rak's Weekly Take in Five, on Fads, Films, Finance & Fun with Friends! I stay plugged in, connected with whatever the F is going on around the world, so I can share with you tips & recos on what will bring you JOY! And you can of course do whatever the F you want with it…:-)So, this has been a special week for us. Our younger son turned 18 and also graduated from high school: this episode  of What The Fs is dedicated to that theme! I bring you two items: a streaming series that is just right for father-son bonding, and some recommendations for what you should plan for when your child turns 18! Enjoy a great family viewing experience with the stylish Lupin in time for Fathers Day, and some tips to ensure your adult child and you are set with some basic legal & financial steps as they step into adulthood & college life! 

Its summer time! Almost…Memorial Day is the official start of summer in the US, so in a few days it will be! Now with most folks getting into vacation mood, and more time on your hands, I thought this is the right time to kick off my new podcast, something I have been toying with for some time! So, Welcome to the very first episode of WhatTheFs, Rak's Weekly Take in Five, on Fads, Films, Finance & Fun with Friends! Here's the deal: I will stay plugged in, connected with whatever the F is going on around the world, so I can share with you tips & recos on what will bring YOU joy! Like, in terms of what to watch, listen, follow or invest.  Or do whatever the F you want to do with it! But here's what I would like you to do: Every week, har hafte, Friday, tune in to WhatTheFs podcasts for five minutes, give or take, and make your next few days full of joy! For this pilot episode dropping on WhatTheFs, Rak's Weekly Take in Five on Fads, Films, Finance & Fun with Friends, there are two items: the irreverently funny Ted Lasso on Apple TV+, and the overlooked Roth IRA conversion for high income earners! Let me know what you think…