BUSINESS
Should one prioritise settling high-cost loans? It depends
Debt repayment strategies like the avalanche or snowball methods may not work for multiple loans; a customised plan considering interest rates, tenure and EMI is more effective for loan prepayment.
BUSINESS
Is investing in corporate bonds worth the risk?
Those wanting higher returns from debt investments can consider credit risk funds. These invest 80-85 percent of their portfolio in AAA and AA rated bonds, and the balance in A rated bonds.
BUSINESS
Ladies Special: Smart investment strategies for every stage of life
International Women’s Day: Building wealth is not just about choosing the right stock or mutual fund, but a set of actions which tie in with one’s financial situation.
BUSINESS
Is your investment portfolio really underperforming? Don't blame your advisor
Stock Portfolio Underperforming: Investors often believe their portfolio is underperforming, but this could be due to a variety of portfolio allocation decisions and not necessarily because of below-par performance by funds. Know the pitfalls you ought to steer clear of.
BUSINESS
Employee fraud or data leak? How a credit card holder got lured by an upgrade promise, and ways to protect yourself
Credit Card Fraud: A few phone calls, a genuine-looking visiting card and emails prodding this credit card holder to upgrade to a higher-end card were enough for her to say yes. But then fraudulent transactions worth over Rs 1 lakh happened. And there was no new credit card; the offer to upgrade itself was unauthorised.
BUSINESS
Will the Systematic Withdrawal Plan give you fantastic returns?
Systematic withdrawal plan in a mutual fund scheme is used to redeem money every month to earn some sort of regular income. But it’s best done from a debt fund, instead of an equity fund.
BUSINESS
NPS Vatsalya: A new savings scheme for minors with major shortcomings
NPS Vatsalya seems to be a non-starter in the present model and citizens have better avenues with accessibility and tax efficiency, like equity mutual funds available to save for their needs.
BUSINESS
Sensex near 75K: 5 investments to get your financial journey right
Equities must be present in everyone’s portfolio, but that doesn’t mean you should take unnecessary risks. A simple combination of a Nifty 50 index fund and a Nifty 150 index fund might just be what the doctor ordered.
BUSINESS
37% women not sure if they have enough money for emergency: Finsafe India women's survey
International Women’s Day: Nearly 45 percent of the women now take independent financial decisions, but most point to a lack of knowledge and proper planning. No wonder then that 66 percent of women surveyed aren’t confident if all their financial goals would be met, says a Finsafe survey of 865 women across India.
BUSINESS
4 simple steps for a financially successful 2024
Going forward, global and domestic inflation, slowing global growth, geopolitical tensions and political uncertainty till election results can keep markets volatile. Sudden market falls can be unsettling but investors must not get scared and stay focused.
BUSINESS
Budget for Women: Can Nirmala Sitharaman incentivise more savings and nudge to health insurance?
Only a fifth of mutual fund investors in India are women, as per AMFI, the mutual fund industry’s trade body. Interim Budget 2024 should therefore incentivise women to build a financial kitty
BUSINESS
Should you pledge gold to invest in equities?
What looks like an easy arbitrage — borrowing at 8.5 percent and investing at 12 percent — is not so clear-cut. The transaction may work out in case equities give phenomenal returns, but one cannot go with such assumptions.
BUSINESS
NCDs, invoice discounting offer high returns but is the risk worth it?
A non-convertible debenture could be secured but retail investors may not be the first in line for a claim if the company goes bust. Invoice discounting is even riskier. Understand the hidden costs in these investments before you commit your money
BUSINESS
Are you really prepared for early retirement?
An early retirement is a dream for many in the urban working population. But it is not so simple. There are living and medical costs to be considered for a retired life, and not just for you but for your family as well. And then the big question: how would you spend your time?
BUSINESS
Income Tax Return filing: Things to keep in mind while filing taxes
Income Tax Return filing: Taxpayers have several queries around tax filing. This primer covers questions around the regime to choose, what all incomes are to be declared, HRA claims, and more.
BUSINESS
23% of salaried people aren’t prepared for financial emergencies: Survey
Saving money is a big challenge for individuals — 57 percent of those surveyed saved less than 20 percent of their take-home salary, and 24 percent did not save at all. This was mainly due to lifestyle expenses, big loans, and simply not having a savings mindset.
BUSINESS
Women's Day 2023: Two investments she should get rid of without delay
Physical gold and insurance plans that were bought for steady returns do not help create wealth. There are better alternatives. On this Women’s Day, it’s time to make some crucial changes to your portfolio
BUSINESS
Four easy steps to make your 2023 profitable
Investors need to remember that in the long term, markets move higher and hence they need to focus on what they can control, which is how much, where and for how long to invest.
BUSINESS
In 5 points: How to write a frictionless will and pass on assets to your loved ones
Apart from deciding how much each of your heirs will inherit, there are some factors to consider while preparing your will.
BUSINESS
Can the salaried ever achieve financial freedom? Here are 3 easy steps to do so
Just setting aside money every month from your salary is not enough if much of it goes into bank deposits. Your investments need to beat inflation
BUSINESS
Buying bonds from fintech platforms? Convenience might come at cost of safety
Fintech platforms distributing bonds are not regulated. This means there are no standardised disclosures or settlement or redressal systems.
BUSINESS
Only 27% of surveyed individuals have an emergency corpus and insurance
Indians are financially unprepared for medical emergencies and job losses, revealed a survey conducted by this author's financial education firm. That’s not a pretty picture, given what individuals went through in Covid-19 times.
BUSINESS
Investment-linked life insurance schemes are conning you
Insurance-cum-investment schemes are illiquid and have large penalties for early exit. This is not explained to customers, and most who have to exit due to an emergency, have to do so with huge losses.
BUSINESS
Four financial products that every woman must invest in
During emergencies, most women are not aware of how to access contingency funds or insurance details
