Sanjeev Sinha

Blend core SIP strategy with dip-buying for tactical market gains

Seasoned investors, who understand the context of a downturn, are more likely to benefit from dip-buying than those who act impulsively or without a disciplined plan

SDL-based STRIPS: Use for duration matching, not for tactical gains

Invest for more than 12 months to enjoy favourable tax treatment

Assess true cost: Add up expense ratio of FoF and underlying funds

Understand the risks of the underlying funds and whether their strategies match your objectives

Filing ITR 2025? Key tax breaks senior citizens must not overlook

Those who sold land or building must observe the recent changes to indexation benefits for calculating capital gains tax

Beware if bank staff says insurance purchase mandatory for loan approval

Your guard should also go up if undue pressure is applied to purchase a policy immediately

Gold loans: Quick disbursal, low rates, flexible repayment options

Easy access should not lead to overleveraging; beware that deferred repayment can increase interest burden

Buyers risk losing legal remedies without registered agreement for sale

Legal experts emphasise that registering the agreement for sale remains the most reliable way for a homebuyer to secure their legal and financial interests

Is your health policy Covid-ready? Key features you must look for

Check if your health insurance covers home care, tele-consultations, PPE kits, room rent waiver and has sufficient sum insured to deal with Covid-related hospitalisation costs

Section 54F exemption: Observe timelines for selling asset, buying another

Recent judgement emphasises that co-ownership of multiple floors in the same building does not disqualify taxpayer for this exemption under Section 54F

Start early, choose right ITR form: Tax guide for professionals

Professionals must select the correct ITR form and assess whether presumptive taxation or regular provisions suit their income, expenses and documentation requirements

Filing tax returns with wrong ITR form can invalidate and delay process

Resident individuals may use ITR-1 if their total income is within ₹50 lakh and comes from salary or pension

Cover for natural death begins after the initial waiting period ends

The initial waiting period is meant to safeguard against moral hazard

From MCLR to repo-linked loans, pick lenders with low, stable spread

Agarwal points out that rate changes in the external benchmark are transmitted automatically, without being influenced by a bank's internal cost structure

Homebuyers should reject possession without OC, seek legal recourse

NCDRC finds Hamilton Heights guilty of unfair practice for giving possession without occupancy certificate; legal experts urge buyers to refuse handover in such cases

Life insurance covers death caused by terrorist attacks, with riders

Everyone with financial dependants should purchase life insurance. Individuals residing in sensitive or high-risk areas should make it a priority to buy this policy at the earliest

Coping with rising rentals: Research areas, opt for longer leases

A recent Reuters poll of housing experts also indicated that both house prices and rentals are likely to outpace consumer inflation this year

Optimise credit card rewards by picking high-value redemption option

"They swipe the same card for every transaction, regardless of whether it offers optimal rewards for that category," says Adhil Shetty, chief executive officer (CEO), Bankbazaar.com

Avoid inoperative bank locker status with rent payments, periodic visits

Banks must follow standard operating procedures when accessing lockers in specific scenarios

Motor insurance: Driving with expired licence can lead to claim rejection

While a 30-day grace period is available for licence renewal, the Motor Vehicles Act of 2019 clearly states that driving with an expired licence is not permitted-even if renewal is pending