Investors in fixed deposits would be a happier lot after the Reserve Bank of India&rsquo;s (RBI) moves in the First Quarter Review of Monetary Policy. But potential home loan borrowers may not be happy.

Rush to take loans, invest short term

Business Standard

A Balasubramanian, CEO, Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, tells Tinesh Bhasin that retail investors will be better off if they stick to basics.

Q&A: A Balasubramanian, CEO, Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund

Kolkata-based Prakriti Ojha&rsquo;s insurance agent called her last week to inform about a new, safe product giving assured returns, called a universal life plan (ULP). The 25-year-old is excited about the product, which guarantees returns with insurance.

Same old advice: Avoid hybrid insurance plans

My brother and I are in the process of dividing our family property. I want to transfer a flat to him. But I have an ongoing home loan on the flat.

Banking: Manju Srivatsa

Punjab National Bank (PNB), the country&rsquo;s second-largest public sector lender, will decide on raising deposit rates in the coming asset-liability committee (ALCO) meet scheduled for July 31. The bank will decide on lending rates after it has taken a decision on its deposit rates.

PNB to decide on deposit rates on July 31

Loyalty programmes, with various discounts and waivers, are on offer by many groups.

Saving money through hospital cards

By submitting her investment declarations by June 2009 to her employer, Shweta Jaiswal thought she had done her bit. Later, she realised she had an additional tax liability of Rs 30,000 on her other income. &ldquo;On self-assessment, I came to know that I had to pay a tax on the interest earned on my bank account balance,&rdquo; said Jaiswal.

Don't forget income from other sources

Creating a Trust is one way to plan your future and that of your successors, the way you&rsquo;d like it.

Trust-ing a tried method to handle the future

My son and I wish to take an education loan on behalf of my daughter. He is a green card holder in the US.

BANKING: Manju Srivatsa

Bucking the trend of rising interest rates, the country&rsquo;s third-largest private sector lender, Axis Bank, has cut deposits rates by 25-50 basis points (bps) across select longer-dated maturities, saying the liquidity situation is less harsh than it had previously anticipated.

Axis Bank lowers deposit rates

Buy on dips, redeploy funds and, most important, stay invested.

When markets are directionless...

Investors in the Employee Provident Fund (EPF), Public Provident Fund (PPF) and insurance plans for retirement have a reason to worry. The Direct Tax Code (DTC), meant to replace the existing Income Tax Act, proposes to introduce the exempt-exempt-taxation (EET) regime for all retirement corpuses.

Retirement corpus: To tax or not

I resigned from my job in August last year due to some workplace issues. I had taken a personal loan worth Rs 3 lakh. I was confident that I would get a job in next three to four months. But, I am still jobless. I have savings only to last another two months. I have three credit cards (with credit limit of Rs 50,000 each), two of which have crossed the credit limit. I have not paid the bill for the last two months as well. I cannot take money from my father as he is retired.

DEBT CONSULTING: Sanjay Agarwal

You may get 100 per cent finance, but it&rsquo;s important to read the fine print.

Car finance: Tread carefully

In April, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Road Transport, floated its 54EC bonds. NHAI and Rural Electrification Corporation are the only companies allowed to issue such bonds.

NHAI tax bonds: Not worth the low returns

I wish to start saving for my daughter&rsquo;s wedding jewellery. I have about Rs 5 lakh.

Investing: Paras Adenwala

SBI may fix base rate at 8 per cent

Auction is the best way to dispose your second-hand goods.

Encash your trash

For every year of no claim, the car owner gets discount on next year&rsquo;s premium till it reaches 50 per cent of the first premium.

Steer towards an insurance bonus

A small change that will be visible in the coming days will impact the way Indians handle bank cheques. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has changed the rules for permissible alterations on cheques. Several banks have already begun informing their customers about bringing this change into effect soon.

Change your old banking habits

Fund houses always want to capture the latest &lsquo;buzz&rsquo;. For instance, in the late 90s, a horde of information technology schemes were launched. More recently, schemes with a part investment in gold or public sector stocks are being launched. But as an investor, before jumping onto the latest bandwagon, one must check if the chosen scheme suits their investment needs.

Don't try to catch the latest theme

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.

Page 908 - Personal Finance