Divide your investments properly for self-consumption, growth and income. Life will be simpler. It is a common malaise. Most people keep a mental account of their wealth. And, with each rise in the stocks they own or in the value of the house they live in, they feel richer. For instance, Jitendra Sharma, who stays in an office-provided accommodation and has rented out his flat in the Mumbai suburbs.

The art and science of investment planning

Business Standard

Investing in a stock like Mahindra Satyam requires a strong stomach. But there are long-term rewards.

Hope after the nightmare

More credit bureaus to ensure faster dispute resolution.

New agencies to speed up loans, improve rating quality

With base rate replacing the prime lending rate (PLR), how often will my home loan rate be revised? My bank has been asking me to shift to the base rate.

Banking: Prashant Joshi

Paying stamp duty while purchasing or transferring a property is often a long-drawn process. You need to go to the registrar&rsquo;s office and await your turn, or seek a broker&rsquo;s help to get the job done with minimum fuss.

Easy, cost-effective way to pay your stamp duty

ICICI, Bank of Baroda, HDFC Bank follow RBI cues.

More banks raise base rates

Using credit cards can get you discounts, loyalty cards and even free tickets.

Adding air miles for benefits

Dinesh Thakkar, chairman and managing director, Angel Broking, tells Dipta Joshi the heady pace of markets could trigger selling.

Q&A: Dinesh Thakkar, Chairman and MD, Angel Broking

More and more insurance companies are introducing solutions for motor policyholders. Since the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority forbids any change in the basic product &mdash; the motor insurance policy &mdash; insurance companies are innovating with add-ons that provide cover for various other contingencies.

Insurers lure you to drive through extra cover

My monthly salary is Rs 20,000. I took a personal loan to buy a laptop six months ago and paid the first two equated monthly instalments (EMIs) on time. Then, my expenses increased and I was forced to make withdrawals from my credit card to repay the loan. My monthly systematic investment plan&rsquo;s (SIP&rsquo;s) instalments are also being paid by the card.

Debt Counselling: Sanjay Agarwal

The festive season spells cheer, but also expenses. Some consider it to be an auspicious occasion to buy a house or a car. Others indulge themselves by buying a camera or a mobile handset. To help you loosen your purse strings freely this season, financiers are lining up various offers.

Enjoy responsibly

State-owned Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) on Wednesday said it had hiked its base rate, below which banks can&rsquo;t offer loans, by 50 basis points (bps) to 8.5 per cent.

OBC raises lending rate by 50 bps

Press Trust of India

Family floaters are good for young families.

Sole benefits, family deficits

There are two extreme situations of liquidity management in retail portfolios. Some tend to spend even their future income by swiping credit cards whenever they run out of cash, while others allow large amounts of cash to lie unutilised in their savings accounts. The choice of financial products is directly linked to the ability of investors to generate regular surpluses. Let us consider three situations.

Capital account: Uma Shashikant

A good reason to do your homework before you sign a contract with a property developer is that getting refunds on cancelled property deals is not an easy task. A lot will depend on the conditions mentioned in the agreement between you and the builder.

Sealing cancellation when a deal goes sour

Corporate bonds are an attractive investment avenue for retail investors . They offer higher returns and can be traded for capital gains. Some infrastructure companies&rsquo; bonds offer tax deduction under Section 80CCF. Many blue chip companies have either come or are likely to come in the market for issuing bonds.

Diversify portfolio with bonds

Money plays an important role in people&rsquo;s lives. Yet, when one has it, it is seldom given the importance it deserves. People look forward to earning more money rather than managing the money that they already have. This is probably why, money in bank accounts, is not deployed for an extended period of time. People don&rsquo;t realise they are missing an opportunity to earn profits on them.

Helping friends doesn't add to your wealth

But tread carefully because the rally has been selective in nature.

Bull weather

When Delhi-based Anika Khanna wanted to start investing, she wasn&rsquo;t sure if she had the expertise and patience to keep track of her investments. &ldquo;I needed the money three years later and wanted to invest in something I could understand easily,&rdquo; she said.

Simplest way to participate in market

Carefully check title and outstanding dues.

Don't go flat out for property under the hammer

Fifty six-year-old V P Verma is a happy man. He has fulfilled all his responsibilities and is waiting to retire. Being a Central government employee, income after retirement is also not a big concern for him. On retirement, Verma will be entitled to a pension of Rs 25,000 a month.

Seek safety with returns

Personal Finance: Read about the smart strategies for Personal Finance Planning, Investing, Insurance, banking, budgeting, loans Tax Planning, retirement and insurance. Browse Business Standard to learn more on Personal Finance.

Personal Finance: Investing, Planning, Retirement, Loans, & Insurance | Business Standard

Read about the smart strategies for Personal Finance Planning, Investing, Insurance, banking, budgeting, loans Tax Planning, retirement and insurance. Browse Business Standard to learn more on Personal Finance.

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