Your Money

Choosing between RERA and consumer court for action against builders, dues

Carefully assess nature of grievance before choosing forum

Home insurance policy: Know coverage nuances to avoid claim surprises

Some risks are covered, others require purchase of add-ons, and yet others are completely excluded

Tackling West Asia conflict's impact on investments, household budget

Avoid panic selling, keep SIPs going: Past wars caused transitory selloffs

Women home loan borrowers: Co-borrowers must ensure they are co-owners

Besides enjoying a share in the property, this will make them eligible for tax benefit

Value and contra funds: Add the other if it diversifies your portfolio

Sebi's new rule allows AMCs to offer both value and contra funds with limited portfolio overlap. Here's how the two strategies differ and which investors they suit

File consumer complaint within two years of the last cause of action

Identify correct court for filing complaint based on amount paid for goods or service

Life-cycle funds: Match goals with tenure, pick glide path for your risk

Wait for greater clarity on how these funds will be taxed at maturity

Forex card breach: Prompt reporting can secure full refund if no negligence

When not travelling, lock the forex card, keep only a small balance, and switch on alerts

Builder-buyer agreements fairer now, yet buyers must scrutinise fine print

Do not skip crucial provisions of the agreement that have a bearing on your interests

Bitcoin correction calls for decisions based on risk, allocation, horizon

If you are underweight, continue with systematic purchases

Corporate bond funds: Overlook recent outflows, invest with 3-5-yr horizon

The outflows were due to liquidity tightness and consequent rise in yields, not due to a deterioration in the category's risk-return profile

Dealing with a tax notice? Correct errors via updated ITR and pay dues

If your claim was genuine, submit documents to back it up

Fund managers rebalance MAAFs after run-ups, so stay invested

New investors should consider them for risk reduction, stability and disciplined allocation, not return-chasing

Draft norms for recovery agents seek higher accountability for banks

The earlier defence that misconduct was the agent's independent act may not work in the future

All you need to know about RBI's new draft norms to curb misselling

Customers must stay vigilant and avoid falling prey as mis-selling is not easy to prove

Learn about tax rule changes to avoid last-minute confusion during filing

In the tax return forms, more data will come pre-filled, but it should be verified against your own records to avoid mismatches

Financial conflicts among couples: Balance joint and solo accounts

Regular money talks, setting up joint goals, and regular reviews can help couples stay aligned

Secondary home buy? Run a 30-year title search, get encumbrance certificate

For the title to be clean, there should be an unbroken chain of registered documents, with the latest in the seller's name

Correction in IT funds: Avoid hasty exit or aggressive buying on dips

IT funds have declined sharply amid AI-led disruption fears. Experts advise investors to avoid panic exits or aggressive dip-buying and adopt a staggered approach

Who is a consumer: Courts focus on dominant objective to determine status

A recent Supreme Court ruling reinforces that developers and service providers must prove profit-first motive before denying consumer status