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Loan against MFs: Opt if portfolio growth set to outpace loan rate

The Mutual Funds offered as collateral must be held in demat format

Play it safe: Match your horizon with gilt fund's average maturity

By taking the mutual fund route, investors can take exposure to gilts with small amounts

Midlife financial planning: Buy deferred annuity plan for assured income

Some portion of retirement savings must also be invested in growth assets and some in liquid ones to meet emergencies

Reversion to mean: Why frequent switching of SIPs should be avoided

Long-term investors should never stop their SIPs during market corrections

Mutual funds or NPS? Go for both if you don't mind latter's lock-in

MFs offer investors access to a wider range of assets (gold and international funds), fund houses and fund managers. Barring ELSS, the open-ended funds offer anytime liquidity

How to handle demands for outstanding dues on credit card that's not yours

Check your credit report, either monthly or quarterly, to stay informed about your credit transactions

Check mid-market exchange rate in global currency when sending money abroad

Ensure the money transfer provider is a licensed entity

Safety guaranteed: Diversify into g-secs to lower risk in your portfolio

Choose instrument by matching your investment horizon with tenure of the paper

Smart landing: What to keep in mind when investing in real estate

While prices remained stagnant (2015 to 2021), incomes rose, enhancing affordability. This bodes well for the housing sector in a country facing a shortage of 20 million houses

Looking for value housing? Buy in a locality where rental yield exceeds 3%

After three years of price rise, some areas may be growing overheated; proceed with caution

Fixed Deposit investors: Stagger FD investments to catch peak rates

While some portion of your money should go into longer-tenure FDs offering higher rates, diversifying across maturities is also essential

Bet on IT funds to gain from digitisation, generative AI adoption

Limit allocation to 10% of equity portfolio and enter with a five to seven-year horizon

Getting a credit card is easy but closing it needs a checklist of tasks

Get a confirmation letter from issuer confirming closure, ensure it says you have no dues

Compare features, costs regularly to find a better health insurance

Combine base policy with super top-up, buy multi-year policy to cope with rising health insurance premiums

Check issuer's finances, debt repayment record before investing in bonds

Diversify across bonds with different credit ratings and hold them till maturity

Customise insurance riders to fit your family's medical background

Understand the exclusions in each rider; consider a standalone policy for comprehensive coverage

Sector & thematic funds: Prospects, not past returns, should be your guide

Monitor these funds closely and be quick to exit, instead of trying to chase the last rupee

Beware of parcel fraud: Suspect a scam call? Disengage immediately

Verify the call's authenticity; resist pressure to pay up or share sensitive information

Door opens for senior citizens to get health insurance: What they should do

Seniors must strike a balance between premium and co-pay; too low a premium could mean high co-pay, which would pinch at the time of claim settlement

After Bitcoin's massive price surge, book partial profit if overexposed

At current elevated prices, prospective buyers should opt for staggered purchases