New Delhi, Oct. 14 -- Every festive season brings a welcome addition to paychecks - the annual bonus. While many rush to spend it, a smarter move is to let it quietly grow into future wealth.

The practice of giving bonuses has deep roots in India's corporate culture, dating back to the British era, when the shift from weekly to monthly wages led to a dip in workers' yearly income. To make up for it, companies began offering a special Diwali payment - a practice later formalised by the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, mandating employers to pay at least 8.33% of salary as a bonus.

A well-invested bonus today can help achieve any financial goal - from a child's education or home purchase to building a retirement corpus.

Invest your bonus for ...