Personal Finance
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Updated on 11 Nov 2025, 08:03 am
Reviewed By
Akshat Lakshkar | Whalesbook News Team
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India faces a massive problem of unclaimed wealth, with an estimated Rs 80,000 crores lying untouched. This vast sum includes abandoned bank deposits, forgotten mutual funds, and unpaid insurance claims. The primary reasons for this situation are not a lack of wealth, but rather poor communication, inadequate paperwork, and a lack of awareness among family members about an individual's assets.
Financial adviser Abhishek Kumar highlights that many families are unaware of their loved ones' financial holdings, leading to significant delays and disputes when trying to access them. He shares instances where wives were unaware of substantial mutual fund investments or families struggled for years to access bank accounts due to missing nominations. Kumar stresses that a will alone is insufficient; proper documentation, updated nominations, and appointing a reliable executor are crucial for ensuring assets are transferred smoothly to heirs. He advises individuals to have open conversations with their families about their financial portfolios this month to prevent emotional distress, delays, and the loss of their hard-earned legacy.
Impact This news directly impacts Indian citizens by highlighting critical gaps in personal financial planning and inheritance management. It can lead to increased awareness and proactive steps by individuals to organize their finances, potentially reducing the amount of unclaimed money in the future. It doesn't directly move stock prices but influences financial behavior and awareness among the population. Rating: 7/10.
Difficult Terms: * Unclaimed Funds: Money or assets that belong to an individual but have not been claimed by them or their legal heirs for a long period. * Mutual Funds: An investment vehicle that pools money from many investors to invest in securities like stocks, bonds, and money market instruments. * Nominee: A person designated by an account holder to receive the assets in their account upon their death. * Will: A legal document that expresses a person's wishes as to how their property is to be distributed at death and appoints a person to manage the estate. * Executor: A person named in a will to carry out the testator's wishes and manage the deceased's estate. * Demat Account: An account used to hold shares and securities in electronic form. * Digital Locker: A secure online platform for storing and accessing official documents and certificates.