Page 2 - Karthik Jerome

Tackling festive debt hangover: Repay high-rate loans on priority

Curtail new discretionary spending until existing EMIs are cleared; use secured loans to clear high-cost debts

Value funds help balance growth portfolios; invest with 5-year view

Those unable to withstand periods of underperformance may avoid these funds

Investors should book partial profits if gold allocation is over 10%

Instead of falling prey to FOMO and diving in headlong, new investors should enter gradually and with a long horizon

Indian investors remain risk-averse, Sebi urges diversified portfolios

Sebi's 2025 survey finds most Indians prioritise capital preservation; experts say align risk with time horizon and personal comfort level

Festival home-loan offers: Prioritise long-term savings, avoid teaser rates

Compare the full cost of the loan rather than focusing solely on interest rates

Money mkt funds can yield better returns than liquid funds in 6-12 months

Before investing, check the proportion of A1+ holdings and their composition

Loan against insurance: Compare with FD, gold, and top-up loans

Remember, if surrender value falls below dues, the policy is foreclosed, leading to loss of coverage

Buyers investing in agricultural land must adhere to state-specific rules

Some states allow only agriculturists to buy, while others require outsiders to secure approval prior to purchase

Dividend yield funds seen as stable option for sound risk-adjusted returns

These funds may underperform growth funds and lag during bull runs

Liquid funds: Check long-term ratings for clearer view of portfolio quality

Assess the track record of the fund during past liquidity incidents

Crypto security: Keep assets in self-custody, use insured exchange

Those holding crypto keys in a cold wallet must store seed phrases offline in a secure location

Bitcoin rally: Cap crypto exposure at 2-5% of portfolio to manage risk

Be mindful of hacking risk and lack of regulatory clarity in India vis-a-vis these assets

Home insurance: Ensure policy covers calamities, pays reconstruction cost

Disclose all extensions, additional structures at the time of purchase

How tax changes have transformed debt MF landscape, altered investor choice

Fund houses have launched debt-arbitrage FoFs to attract investors in higher tax brackets

Avoiding fraudulent loan apps: RBI listing, ratings & reviews key to safety

Loans from registered NBFCs or banks come with a key fact statement (KFS), a sanction letter, and a loan agreement detailing all costs

How to ensure smooth payout of life insurance claims after a tragedy

Learn who gets the insurance proceeds if the policyholder and the nominee both pass away in an accident

Evaluate OPD plans on sum insured, coverage, sub-limit, and network

Estimate your annual OPD expenses to decide suitable sum insured

Sign agreement locker agreement promptly, buy cover for valuables

Customers may face service interruption if they don't sign agreement after multiple deadline extensions

Avoid chasing yield blindly in scenario of falling interest rates

Give equal weight to safety so that you avoid loss of capital in your fixed-income portfolio

Cut home loan costs: Retain EMI, shorten tenure, consider prepaying

Borrowers can maximise savings when interest rates fall by retaining their EMI and reducing tenure, while also benefiting from repo-linked loans and selective prepayments