Page 5 - Himali Patel

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

Maternity coverage a crucial part of health insurance for younger women

With each delivery costing Rs 50,000 - Rs 2.5 lakh, maternity coverage is key in such plans, besides reproductive health issues, menopause, and women-specific diseases

Total market index funds: Ideal for simple, hands-off, long-term investing

Currently, three existing funds in this segment are offered by Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India), Bandhan AMC, and Groww AMC

Purchasing term insurance: Choose a policy that balances coverage and price

CSR represents the percentage of claims settled by an insurer within a financial year

Got AFA alert for fraud transaction? Block, report and replace card

Currently, users receive notifications before auto-debits. Under the new system, the process may change slightly

Value funds: Invest for style diversification, with 7-year horizon

The price of a stock often fluctuates and goes below its intrinsic value due to multiple factors

Invest in ELSS if you have risk appetite with investment horizon of 7 years

Consult a tax professional to determine which regime is beneficial for you after this year's changes to tax slabs and rates

Budget 2025: Spend some, use rest to retire debt and secure long-term goals

A few instruments, which offer tax deduction, remain relevant even for taxpayers in the new regime

Ulips post-Budget: Assess suitability, examine costs before investing

Investors prioritising liquidity and flexibility should stick to a term plan-MF combo

Budget 2025: Tax-free income limit under new regime rises to Rs 12 lakh

Old tax system remains unchanged

Understanding Budget documents: Identify changes relevant to your finances

The July 2024 Budget changed little for taxpayers, heightening expectations for relief this year

UPI credit cards: Track spending as frequent small txn can strain budget

Security-related precautions for UPI-enabled credit cards are similar to those for standard UPI payments