Page 635 - Personal Finance

Balanced funds good for first-timers, retirees

With AMCs providing as many as 4-6 balanced fund options, investors need to be cautious before buying

New Ulips still not ideal investment tools

They suffer from the problem of mixing investment with insurance; also, lesser choices compared to MFs

Diversify to counter volatility

Continue SIPs, look at other foreign funds to protect your portfolio and even benefit from the uncertainty

Gold's comeback in portfolios

Despite having run up substantially in the past year, recent events like Brexit can lead to further gains

Title insurance to come to the aid of property buyers

Irdai plans to introduce scheme to compensate for loss arising from litigation or unauthorised transfers

Next destination for Pune's mid-segment buyers

Case study

For regular cash flows, bet on commercial property

Annual yield of 9-11% and the opportunity arising from Reits are driving high net worth investors towards the commercial real estate segment

Digital banking 2.0

From using Aadhaar cards for withdrawals to mobile-only solutions, new offerings by banks are changing the way you transact

Banking: Rajiv Anand

Builder faces imprisonment for defying consumer court order

Showing leniency to those who obey orders of consumer fora would send a wrong signal

Smart homes needn't be too costly

Automation devices that offer convenience and safety can be set up easily; price depends on the customisation

Park money in gold

Even short-term money market funds could be a good option, as they would be relatively immune

Claim tax benefit for purchase and renovation

A recent judgement suggests that money spent on making a house "habitable" also qualifies for benefit under Section 54

EPFO plans to hire social media agency

The development comes in the wake of protests and street violence in Bengaluru earlier this year

Lower expense ratios of MFs good for investors

They should be vigilant about the cost of investment in their portfolio and take steps to reduce this

NPS an option for conservative NRIs

Before taking advantage of the facility, they should weigh the currency and tax implications

Do not lose tax benefits

The tax department can withdraw exemptions claimed earlier if certain conditions aren't met

Same terms for existing policyholders

Unlike MF mergers, which allow an exit without any load for one month, there is no such provision for insurance firms mergers. Existing policies, including expenses, do not change

Govt retains small saving rates

The interest rate on PPF has been retained at 8.1%, the same as in the April-June quarter, when it was cut from the earlier 8.7%