Himali Patel

Retirement funds: Invest if you are prone to panic-selling amid volatility

Sophisticated investors who manage diversified portfolios and don't wish to outsource asset allocation may avoid them

Correction in silver funds: Enter gradually with minimum five-year horizon

Existing investors who have become overweight after the bull run of the past year should book partial profits and rebalance

Margin calls in gold loans: Avoid borrowing over 50-60% of pledged value

Maintain a liquidity buffer in case you get a margin call due to falling gold prices

Keep overdraft use limited to urgent needs, avoid rolling over dues

Availing of this facility without a clear repayment plan can lead to financial stress and higher borrowing costs over time, experts warn

Consumption funds: Hold if you can withstand volatility, invest for 5 yrs

New investors should stick to diversified equity funds; if they invest, they should take limited exposure in satellite portfolio

G-Secs gain popularity: Match investment horizon with tenor to reduce risk

Reinvestment risk can be dealt with by laddering investments

Market correction: Build watchlist, buy quality stocks at target prices

Do not exit in panic or buy falling stocks without reassessing fundamentals; instead, build a watchlist and invest gradually with a disciplined, long-term approach

Plunge in gold ETF inflows: Make staggered entry with 5-year-plus horizon

Existing investors should rebalance but avoid complete exit

Draft digital fraud compensation norm: Payout one-time, vigilance still key

Under the draft, an eligible victim will receive 85 per cent of the net loss amount, or ₹25,000, whichever is lower

Tackling West Asia conflict's impact on investments, household budget

Avoid panic selling, keep SIPs going: Past wars caused transitory selloffs

Home insurance policy: Know coverage nuances to avoid claim surprises

Some risks are covered, others require purchase of add-ons, and yet others are completely excluded

Home insurance: Burden of proving exclusion in a claim lies on insurer

If an insurer wants to deny a claim based on an exclusion, it must provide clear evidence that the incident falls under that exclusion

War disruption: When airlines, hotels must refund cancelled bookings

If airlines cancel flights due to war or airspace closure, passengers can seek full refunds. But if travellers cancel voluntarily, contractual rules apply and insurance may not cover war

Forex card breach: Prompt reporting can secure full refund if no negligence

When not travelling, lock the forex card, keep only a small balance, and switch on alerts

Use current valuations to enter small-cap stocks with robust fundamentals

Enter only those stocks that have consistently strong financials, adequate liquidity, and no signs of corporate governance risk

Corporate bond funds: Overlook recent outflows, invest with 3-5-yr horizon

The outflows were due to liquidity tightness and consequent rise in yields, not due to a deterioration in the category's risk-return profile

EV insurance: Avoid non-OEM chargers to prevent battery-cover exclusions

Older EVs, typically five years and above, may not be eligible for some add-ons, and may face higher premiums

All you need to know about RBI's new draft norms to curb misselling

Customers must stay vigilant and avoid falling prey as mis-selling is not easy to prove

Financial conflicts among couples: Balance joint and solo accounts

Regular money talks, setting up joint goals, and regular reviews can help couples stay aligned

Quality funds: Long-term investors seeking sustainable gains may invest

These funds carry valuation risk and can lag during speculative phases of bull markets