Page 575 - Personal Finance

Tipping Point: Will interest rate by EPFO rise or fall for this year?

One, returns from the bonds that Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has invested in have come down

Policy wordings are sacrosanct

It is, therefore, necessary to carefully read the policy and understand the scope of coverage and benefits available

Readers' Corner: Banking

If a new fee/charge is introduced on the card then the bank is required to communicate the same to cardholders with a 30 days notice

Avail discounts on purchases at banks' portals

Customers can earn cashback as well as reward points on purchases through banks' platforms

SIP most favoured among retail MF investors, garners Rs 5,600 cr in Oct

In comparison, an amount of Rs 23,584 crore was collected through the investment plan in April-October 2016-17

Cap on dealer commissions unlikely to lead to change in premiums

General insurers, however, look to move towards risk-based pricing

Few takers for pension and life cover schemes by govt

The government has now given banks specific targets for enrolment under the Atal Pension Yojana

Did you know? Home insurance also covers valuables inside bank locker

It's a good option as banks don't compensate customers for loss of goods in locker in cases of theft or natural calamity

Bet on stocks of tier-1 real estate developers

They are expected to gain market share due to government's affordable housing push and RERA

Evaluate zero-cost medical loan before borrowing

Instead of charging an interest rate, the lender may deduct one or two equated monthly instalments before disbursing the money

What is time limit under GST for bringing back goods sent to a job worker?

Under the GST regime, goods sent to a job worker should be treated as a supply, as supply includes all forms of supply such as sale, transfer, etc

Small rise in consumption will lead to a sharp increase in earnings

Big companies have done better than small and medium-sized ones and a few sectors have done well

Take a low-cost loan to pay off credit card dues

If banks won't lend, seek a loan from fintech lenders or P2P platforms to help you get out of a debt trap

Your PF account may soon attract lower interest rate for FY18

The finance ministry has been nudging the labour ministry to align the EPF rate with its small saving schemes

You should be very cautious when handing over power of attorney; here's why

It is important to spell out the specific areas in which the agent can act on your behalf

Separating equity, debt units will benefit EPFO subscribers

In case of early withdrawal, they will be able to choose the instrument from which they wish to redeem

Bajaj Finserv offers lowest interest rate of 8.30% on home loans

Bajaj Finserv is also offering the highest top-up value of Rs 50 lakh for applicants opting for balance transfer at a minimal interest rate

EPFO subscribers will get benefit of equity investments from FY19

EPFO has invested Rs 32,500 crore in equities

First-time investors should stay away from closed-end funds

The latest offering from HDFC Mutual Fund is a thematic fund focused on the housing sector

Private sector employees can get a higher pension: What this means for you

If an employee has become an EPFO subscriber before Sept 2014, he can increase contribution to Employee Pension Scheme