Himali Patel

Sebi circular on frauds: Verify registration before taking investment tips

Anyone claiming to be a Sebi-registered investment advisor or research analyst must provide a valid registration number

How to navigate a market when both equity returns and FDs are declining

Exposure to gold and longer-duration debt, and purchasing equity funds systematically as valuations soften can help investors navigate this phase

Sector & thematic funds: Investors with high risk appetite should stay put

Fund houses had earlier attracted inflows into S&T funds through new fund offers (NFOs), a strategy that is now losing traction

Exiting the markets now could prove costly as you may miss the rebound

Stick to the time-tested mantras of sticking to asset allocation, maintaining long-term orientation, and investing systematically to sail through these volatile times

Honest, full disclosures key to hassle-free health insurance claims

Customers must disclose habits like smoking and alcohol consumption honestly, regardless of frequency

FD rate cuts: Hunt for returns but keep liquidity needs, safety in mind

Liquidity infusion by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has eased funding pressure on banks

Reassess choice of tax regime, spread investments across year

Investments in Public Provident Fund (PPF) and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) should be made by the 5th of April

New borrowers face credit squeeze, turn to secured loans and credit cards

A rise in defaults, particularly in small-ticket unsecured personal loans, prompted the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to tighten lending norms

Why financial year-end portfolio rebalancing matters and how to go about it

Unless deviation from the original portfolio is drastic, rebalance by buying more of the underperforming asset class, to avoid tax and exit load

Bundled home loan insurance: No portability for single premium plans

Lenders may push borrowers into buying policies without disclosing tenure, premium, and alternative products

Credit risk funds: Evaluate if incremental return justifies the risk

Returns have largely stemmed from accrual income and credit spreads

Home purchase versus rent: For long-term end users, mkt timing not crucial

Buying makes sense for those planning to stay in a city for at least 7-10 years. Financial preparedness is crucial

Right taxsavers: Align choice with risk appetite, asset allocation & goals

Unit linked insurance plans (Ulips) and the National Pension System (NPS) can have varied risk levels, depending on their equity-debt mix

Book profits if your portfolio is overweight on US-focused equity funds

Adhere to asset allocation and do not allow recent volatility in US market faze you

Silver outlook: After steep runup over the past year, buy on dips

The rupee's depreciation against the US dollar since Diwali 2024 has supported domestic prices

International Women's Day: Financial road map to go from debt to wealth

Despite rising literacy, professional exposure, and financial independence, many young women hesitate to take full control of their finances

I-T notices: High-value expenses must sync with bank withdrawals, e-txn

Tax experts say that when declared income is high but bank withdrawals are minimal, it raises concerns about unreported cash transactions

MF schemes merger: Stay invested if new fund fits your goal, risk appetite

Fund houses also merge schemes to cut costs and focus scarce fund management resources on their flagship schemes

Lower concentration risk, outperformance during broad rallies

An equal-weighted index assigns the same weight to every stock, regardless of market capitalisation

Don't lose rupee cost averaging by stopping SIPs; stay focused on goals

Experts attribute the surge primarily to heightened equity market volatility since September 2024