New Delhi, May 24 -- When planning your investments, it is important form a plan based on your current finances, risk tolerance, and future goals. Smart financial planning is guided by the desire to meet your financial targets, build wealth and provide long-term stability amid ever increasing cost-of-living, medical and lifestyle inflation.

The public provident fund (PPF) and systematic investment plans (SIPs) are both long-term investment instruments that you can use to meet financial goals such as funding of wedding, children's education abroad, buying a house, retirement fund or even building wealth.

PPF has long been among the top choices when it comes to long-term financial planning. Launched by the Centre in 1986, it is a reliable...