Page 575 - Personal Finance

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

Housing finance market overcrowded: Arundhati Bhattacharya

According to data shared by her, major cities having got a record inventory - the highest being 65 months in Noida and the lowest being 29 months in Hyderabad - highlighting the slump in demand

Readers' Corner: Taxation

Tier-II account of the National Pension Scheme allows greater flexibility attached in respect of withdrawal options

Hotspot: Office-goers keep Magarpatta-Kharadi Bypass in demand

Its strategic location has driven demand for commercial and residential real estate

Tipping Point: How are EPF investments taxed?

No taxation at the time of investment, during the accumulation phase, and at the time of redemption

Buy cancer care for comprehensive cover

Buy a critical illness plan first for coverage against several major ailments, then think of a cancer cover if you want comprehensive protection

More options for housing societies

The more-aware housing societies are already shifting their investment to debt mutual funds and arbitrage mutual funds

Investors better off in active funds than ETFs

Due to the falling alpha of large-cap funds, some fund houses have started reducing their expense ratios in that category to counter passive funds

Check total cost, not just home loan rate

Buyers should weigh Tata Housing-Indiabulls Housing Finance offer against others where they can negotiate on home price and loan rate separately

Mutual funds log Rs 51,000 cr inflow in October: Amfi

With the latest inflow, total infusion in MF schemes reached to over Rs 2.5 lakh cr from April-Oct of the current fiscal

Use whole life term policies for legacy planning

By doing so, your annual outgo will come down and returns will improve

What is mechanism for amending registration certificate under GST law?

If there is change in any of the particulars furnished in the application for registration, a person is required to file an application within 15 days

Strong revenue growth soon

However, it will primarily be due to the low base effect after demonetisation

Electric cars: High upfront pay, but running cost low

But it's better to wait for a while, as more players will enter and battery costs will come down