In times when spiralling food prices seem to be pinching the wallet on a daily basis, fierce competition among financial institutions and strict regulatory actions are ensuring that your investment costs have started falling.

Your investment cost just got lower

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Tired of filling several application forms to invest in different mutual fund schemes? Wait till March 2010, and you&rsquo;ll just click this cumbersome process away.

Common platform for all MF investments likely from March

Interest has revived in the equity market, and expectations too; remember the past mistakes.

Lessons to learn for investors

Non-convertible debentures have some real benefits over fixed deposits.

The attraction of ncds

Before buying, compare

Till now, I have largely been confined to mutual funds, on which I have been spending Rs 4,000 a month. This amount flows mostly to Fidelity Tax Advantage, but half of that amount I plan to redirect to Franklin India Taxshield. Also, I plan to increase my emergency fund to Rs 72,000 from Rs 25,000 by adding Rs 2,000 per month and contribute Rs 4,000 a month towards equity-linked savings schemes (ELSS). I intend to add a sum of Rs 2,000 a month to my savings.

A more disciplined approach

I had invested in Magnum Tax Gain and Fidelity Tax Advantage via Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs). Despite the recent regulation by Sebi abolishing the entry loads, my investments in August were made subject to an entry load.

Cut off date on entry loads

While govt banks are offering lower rates, private lenders are dangling higher loan-to-value proposition.

Your new car to pinch less

These included capping the difference between net and gross yields at 3 per cent, limiting fund management charges at 1.35 per cent and withdrawing the surrender charge for exits after four years.

Stay invested in Ulips for full benefit

I had taken a housing loan three years back. When the interest rate went up, my bank was quick to increase the equated monthly instalment (EMI). But when the rates started falling, as was the case in the last ten months, the reduction in my EMI was not so rapid.

Why rates rise faster, fall slowly

Child insurance policies on offer are still inferior to pure term policies.

Banking on parental anxiety

Timing your entry in a rising market could lead to high premium.

Looking closer at gold funds

A way to map reversals, bullish or otherwise.

Of hammers and engulfing patterns

Four indian banks are offering cards with a credit limit of 80-90% of the fixed deposit.

Surety for you, security for the bank

Since 2003, this fund has beaten the category average every single year. Its charm lies in the fact that it has impressed during both favourable and unfavourable market conditions.

Three funds worth noting

I have some money that I plan to use after a month.

Parking short-term money

Insurance companies hitting the public market will have to appoint an independent actuary as part of IPO and M&amp;A norms to carry out valuations.

Independent actuary must for insurers going public

Companies are seeing the cost of buying health insurance for their employees more than double, with insurers increasing the premium on group covers to partly cover mounting losses after they lost the option of cross-subsidising it with more lucrative property covers.

Firms see group health insurance costs double

Nine players in various stages of launch as stock markets show signs of revival.

Financial firms rush into MF space

A two-pronged strategy &mdash; filing a police complaint and approaching a consumer court&mdash; works best.

Bank fraud- Prove it!

On September 7, the Bombay Stock Exchange&rsquo;s Sensitive Index, or Sensex, closed over 16,000 points for the first time in over a year. And the good news is that it has consistently been able to close above this mark.

Sweet 16 for Sensex: Time to rejig portfolio

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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