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Benefits, pitfalls of maternity cover you should be aware of before buying

Watch out for sub-limits and waiting periods that often accompany this cover

What NPS' new asset allocation, withdrawal options mean for you

Surrender of annuity will be allowed only if it meets the terms of the contract

After run-up in precious metals, what steps should investors take?

Rebalance away from gold and silver and towards equity and debt

Pharma, healthcare funds are in recovery mode. Should you enter them now?

Hold existing investments if you have a long horizon; book partial profits if exposure exceeds 10 per cent

Corporate fixed deposits: Use laddering strategy to tackle rate uncertainty

Chasing high returns by investing in lower-rated instruments could result in loss of principal

₹1 crore-plus health covers offer safety, but affordability remains key

Health insurance premiums tend to rise rapidly at older age

As silver slides, punters should exit, long-term investors should buy dip

Those investing now should stagger their investments and enter with a long-term horizon

Mid, smallcap fund recovery may not sustain; experts urge cautious moves

New investors should enter only if they have the required investment horizon and risk appetite, not merely because these funds have rallied

Life insurance onboarding: Disclose ailments, habits; take tests if needed

Appoint a guardian for minor nominees; update nominations after major life events

Multi-asset fund-of-funds: Active option suits alpha, risk control seekers

Multi-asset FoFs offer diversification in one fund, but investors must weigh costs, tax rules, and active vs passive strategies before investing

Investing in FDs via digital platforms offers wider choice, easy access

Digital platforms make FD investing easier, but investors must weigh risks, diversification, and post-tax returns instead of chasing high interest rates

Flexicap funds: Look for consistency of return, resilience during downturn

Flexicap funds see record inflows, but investors should focus on suitability, risk, and fund manager consistency rather than chasing short-term returns

Negative returns in long-duration funds: Stay invested if horizon extends

New investors may make a staggered entry with a horizon that matches these funds' portfolio maturity

Health insurance claim rejections: Check coverage, exclusions first

Make full disclosure of existing conditions, lifestyle habits, and past treatments

Invest in gold, global funds to cushion portfolio against fall in rupee

Holding gold and global assets can help Indian investors hedge against rupee depreciation, manage inflation risks, and meet dollar-denominated goals such as overseas education and travel

Begin work on improving credit score a year before applying for BFSI job

Employers are using credit history to assess candidates for roles involving clients' money, credit decisions, and sensitive financial data

Year-end portfolio review: Book partial profits in silver and gold funds

Diversify internationally, continue SIPs in equity funds, and move towards medium and shorter-duration debt funds

Retirement portfolio beyond FDs: Diversify for inflation, longevity risks

The entire retirement corpus will not be needed on day one, so it should be split into growth and income-generation buckets to manage inflation and longevity risks

Correction in banking, financial funds: Exit if unable to handle volatility

Stay invested only if you have strong conviction, understand the sector, and can time your entry and exit

Tax-saving contributions face March 31 deadline; align investments wisely

Last-minute choices made without considering needs could exact a high financial price