Page 3 - Himali Patel

Gold scales new peak; existing investors should book partial profits

New ones should stagger purchases to avoid timing risk

Home insurance claims: Begin repairs only after surveyor's inspection

Non-disclosure of property extensions, late intimation, and incomplete paperwork may reduce or void claims

With the festival season near, essential tips for navigating online sales

To avoid fake discounts, no-cost EMIs, and buy now-pay later offers, go for pre-planned purchases only, and stick to the budget decided upon beforehand

Treasury bills: Use SIP to smooth rate volatility, invest steadily

Investors with regular income, short-term goals, and a strong need for capital preservation may go for T-Bills

Active vs passive funds: Choose passive for core, active for satellite

Active funds can outperform, but also carry the risk of underperformance

Paying only minimum due on your credit card? You could be in a debt trap

A credit card debt trap occurs when you are paying only the minimum due, or Using one card to pay off another. To avoid this, spend no more than 30 per cent of the card limit each month

Algo trading by retail investors: Trust back-tested data, not hype

Invest a small amount, observe performance, then scale up gradually

Balancing coverage and affordability in senior citizens' health insurance

Combining base policy with super-top-up can also help make premiums manageable

Sending money abroad: Choose platform that discloses exchange rates, fees

For the same amount remitted, compare how much the recipient will get across different service providers

Use a revised or updated income tax return to correct bogus deductions

Once scrutiny, surveys, or raids begin, correction options are no longer available

Precious metal ETFs: Avoid overexposure after gold, silver price surge

Limit allocation to 10 per cent of portfolio and enter with 7-10-year horizon

Flexicap funds: Freedom to shift across market caps helps mitigate risks

Flexicap funds suit investors who prefer to delegate market-cap allocation decisions to a professional

Motor insurance claims: Report theft quickly to aid investigation, recovery

Excessive delay in reporting can trigger suspicions of fraud or evidence tampering, experts say. Timely notification to both the police and the insurer is critical for smooth recovery

Arbitrage funds: Low-risk, tax-efficient option, enter with 6-month horizon

Arbitrage funds have become increasingly popular due to their low-risk nature and tax efficiency. With a 6-month investment horizon, these funds offer strong post-tax returns

How to fix credit report errors: Dispute on bureau site, alert lender

Having documents like no-dues certificates and records of repayment will strengthen your case

Only seasoned investors should venture into corporate bonds rated below AA

Diversify and ladder the bonds in your portfolio to further mitigate risks

Beware pressure tactics: Limited-time deals and fear-based appeals

This National Insurance Day, let us look at the various types of fraud that are taking place and how you can avoid falling prey to them

Bank's group coverage: Affordable, easier to acquire; but check for limits

Group insurance from banks may be affordable and easy to onboard but customers must watch for coverage limits, exclusions, and renewal risks before signing up

Balanced Advantage Funds: Ensure fund's strategy matches your risk appetite

Conservative investors should prefer a valuation-based approach, while those with a higher risk appetite should go for a fund focused on momentum

Keep 2 months' expense in savings account, move rest to liquid funds

Instead of chasing past returns, choose a fund with papers of high credit quality