Page 3 - Personal Finance

Understand legal and financial risks before becoming a joint account holder

Use joint accounts only where shared access is genuinely needed; do your due diligence before joining

Benefits, pitfalls of maternity cover you should be aware of before buying

Watch out for sub-limits and waiting periods that often accompany this cover

What NPS' new asset allocation, withdrawal options mean for you

Surrender of annuity will be allowed only if it meets the terms of the contract

Contra funds: Can you weather the long periods of underperformance?

Make sure the fund manager does not abandon this strategy in a bull run

Under your feet: Rugs and carpets emerge as luxury investments across homes

From handcrafted Kashmiri silk carpets to contemporary abstract rugs, Indian homeowners are increasingly investing in statement floor pieces that blend craftsmanship, comfort and personal style

As equity markets wobble, fixed deposits can be an appealing alternative

With equity markets under pressure amid the West Asia conflict and interest rates expected to remain steady, fixed deposits are regaining appeal among low-risk investors

After run-up in precious metals, what steps should investors take?

Rebalance away from gold and silver and towards equity and debt

Security deposit not refunded by landlord? Experts explain tenants' options

Experts say tenants can challenge unfair rental deposit deductions through legal notices, rent authorities and civil courts

Treat these novel strategies as diversifiers, not as core holdings

Treat SIFs as satellite holdings, not replacements for core mutual fund holdings, as management and threshold compliance risks remain

Why you should have a separate health corpus to tackle rising medical costs

Rising medical costs and insurance gaps make building a dedicated health corpus essential for long-term financial security

Corporate fixed deposits: Use laddering strategy to tackle rate uncertainty

Chasing high returns by investing in lower-rated instruments could result in loss of principal

₹1 crore-plus health covers offer safety, but affordability remains key

Health insurance premiums tend to rise rapidly at older age

As silver slides, punters should exit, long-term investors should buy dip

Those investing now should stagger their investments and enter with a long-term horizon

Hidden cost of war on wealth: Capital compounding may be less forgiving

Instead of panic, respond with preparedness; keep separate money pools of money for short-, medium-, and long-term needs

Consider corporate fixed deposits if you want to boost your returns

If you are a conservative investor who invests primarily in bank fixed deposits but wants to boost your returns by 1-2 percentage points, consider investing in a corporate fixed deposit

EPFO replaces Form 15G/15H with 121: What it means for withdrawing money

EPF TDS exemption moves to Form 121, allowing simpler filing process but with stricter data checks and verification norms

Co-owned property split? Experts explain why it's easier said than done

Co-owned property exit? Experts explain why selling your share rarely brings a clean break and disputes often follow

Young buyers dropping health cover risk savings, debt, investment setbacks

Combine base policy with super top-up, opt for policy with favourable bonus norms to manage premium cost

Life insurance onboarding: Disclose ailments, habits; take tests if needed

Appoint a guardian for minor nominees; update nominations after major life events

Multi-asset fund-of-funds: Active option suits alpha, risk control seekers

Multi-asset FoFs offer diversification in one fund, but investors must weigh costs, tax rules, and active vs passive strategies before investing