Karthik Jerome

High-yield bonds can offer double-digit returns, but investors must weigh default, credit, liquidity and concentration risks before chasing higher yields

India's pet population rose from 28.5 million in financial year 2019-20 (FY20) to 39.2 million in FY25 and is projected to reach 60.5 million by FY30, according to industry estimates

A higher amount can be taken to provide a cushion to those who are likely to become financially dependent on the student in the future

How to pare discretionary expenses, handle investments and debt, and migrate from a group to a personal health insurance policy

Avoid leverage, respect valuations and let earnings, cash flows and balance sheet strength, not narratives, guide investment decisions

Check sub-limits and exclusions, document damage promptly, and avoid permanent repairs before inspection

Investors should restrict margin trading facility use to liquid stocks, maintain adequate cash buffers for margin calls, and avoid excessive leverage during periods of market stress

How the continuing reforms in the MF space have created an over ₹82 trillion powerhouse

Combine a robust base health plan with a super top-up, critical illness cover and a dedicated medical corpus to protect household finances from soaring treatment costs

If you wish to stay safe, stick to the minority that has a Sebi-registered investment adviser or research analyst licence

Standard motor insurance covers many monsoon-related losses, but add-ons such as engine protect and zero-depreciation can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses

A card with zero cross-currency conversion charge will allow you to load US dollars and then spend in any currency without incurring further charges

Beware that funds with higher exposure to mid- and smallcaps are likely to be more volatile

Credit utilisation ratio should remain below 30%

Review the sum insured at every renewal, upgrade while healthy, and use a super top-up to raise cover affordably

While subscribers get greater flexibility in making partial withdrawals, they should exercise this freedom judiciously so that they don't deplete their retirement corpus drastically

Assess the policy's returns, risks and liquidity restrictions, and ensure that you can sustain the premiums throughout its term

Check both equity and debt portfolios before investing

If reimbursement becomes unavoidable, submit a complete file at the earliest

If reimbursement becomes unavoidable, submit a complete file at the earliest