Page 636 - Personal Finance

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%

SBI Life launches HNI focused plan

The unit-linked, non-participating plan provides both life cover and opportunity to invest in eight select funds

SBI Mutual Fund targetting Rs 4,000 cr AUM in UP

SBI MF is India's 5th largest mutual fund with total AUM of Rs 1,25,000 cr, up from Rs 1,06,000 cr at the end of FY16

Insurers use non-traditional means to engage customers, employees

SBI Life is trying to bring out the basic concept of father protecting his child from the uncertainties of life

Kotak Mahindra AMC launches Long Term Income facility

According to the scheme, investors can redeem 0.75% of their investments at the prevailing net asset value on a monthly basis

Case study

Realty check: Budget: Rs 3-3.5 crore

Deals rain during monsoon

Many travellers use the season to get great discounts from hotels and airlines

Accident cover to guard against disability

The young should buy a personal accident cover before adding other policies

Power shifts from builders to buyers

Recently, courts have ignored agreements between developers and purchasers, and awarded compensation to the latter

Reality check on GDP

With no clear direction from profits, one doesn't know where the value addition is coming from

Empower women through property ownership

It is about time the tax laws that impede property ownership by women should be amended

Readers' Corner: Mutual Fund

Punished for good financial behaviour?

You may be making payments on time and never rolling over credit, but the card issuer can raise interest rates and fee as it is not earning anything from you

NRIs can now join NPS online through eNPS: Finmin

Till now, NRIs could open NPS accounts only through paper applications by approaching Bank offices

Relief for air travellers

Proposal to cap additional fees other than base fare and government taxes will bring respite

Trends that will shape the personal finance landscape

In the near future, the personal finance space will come to be dominated by direct funds, advisors who don't depend on product commissions, and increasing reliance on technology for investing

Opportunity to complete filing pending returns

You can electronically verify returns and regularise these by August 31

Stick to Sebi-registered investment advisors

However, you should be willing to pay the advisor for the services rendered

EPFO may soon allow members to contribute for pension scheme

At present, an employer contributes 8.33% of basic wages of Rs 15,000 a month to the EPS 95