Page 19 - Your Money

Debt settlement offers immediate relief but damages your credit score

A debt settlement involves negotiating a single payment with the creditor that is lower than the amount owed

Investors should sync tax savings with goals and cash flow needs

Even ELSS, being an equity fund, should be purchased with minimum seven-year horizon

Experts suggest to keep low-cost Nifty 50 index fund at core of portfolio

If risk appetite permits, consider active midcap and smallcap funds, and factor funds in satellite portfolio

Enhance portfolio resilience by investing in MNC fund: What is on offer?

These funds, however, tend to underperform when domestic cyclicals do well

Opted for old tax regime? Explore last-minute income tax saving options

Last-minute income tax saving options: ELSS funds, PPF, NPS, and fixed deposits are some of the popular options under section 80C. Don't forget health insurance

Manage trading capital efficiently with liquid exchange-traded fund

Switching between cash and equity and back becomes seamless

Where TMFs score: Transparent, low on credit risk and cost-efficient

FMPs don't face the issue of liquidity management but have higher costs

Multi-point trip: Tax break is on direct travel cost to farthest place

Journeys with foreign leg not eligible for benefit, even if they start and end in India

Obtain secured credit card, repay regularly to repair credit history

Use less than 30% of card limit; avoid frequent loan applications

Yellow metal: Commit to minimum 7-year horizon after rally in gold

Buy in a staggered manner; rebalance if allocation exceeds 15%

File updated ITR before Mar 31 to reduce risk of scrutiny, penalties

ITR-U can be filed under specific conditions; can't be used to reduce tax liability

Arbitrage funds: Returns likely to be healthy in rising or volatile markets

Excess funds chasing arbitrage opportunities may, however, reduce potential returns

Cross-check with multiple lenders for accurate valuation of gold loan

For fairer assessment, select a lender that uses an external assayer

Why women's retirement, financial planning must differ from men's

Save diligently to counter the impact of career breaks, establish emergency fund to avoid touching the retirement portfolio

Exit small, midcap funds if risk appetite low and time horizon short

Those having considerable amounts of both should rebalance and stay put

Conservative investors with long-term goals may opt for ESG funds

Their recent underperformance vis-a-vis multi- and flexi-cap funds was due to predominantly large-cap exposure

Report accurate land or building area to avoid assessment disputes

Preserve ownership and renovation documents to bolster case regarding property value

NRIs should check their tax residency certificates for smoother compliance

Understanding tax residency rules and maintaining proper documentation is imperative to ensure smooth tax compliance

KYC compliance: Time consuming, repetitive but critical for your safety

Update your documents regularly so that you are able to fulfil KYC demands seamlessly

Non-linked policies' tax-exempt premium: Rs 5 lakh individual limit

By purchasing policies in the name of family members, you can maximise tax benefits