Page 20 - Your Money

Tax savings: Give loan, not gift, to spouse to avoid income clubbing

Documentation of the loan agreement is crucial to avoid treatment as gift

Soaring house rents: Secure longer-tenure lease agreement of 3 to 5 years

Incorporating an annual 5-7% rent hike clause in rent agreement will ease concerns

Opt for long-duration, gilt funds to gain from interest rate cuts

Go for the flexibility of dynamic bond funds if you are unsure about direction of rates

High-value home loans: Enhance your credit score to boost eligibility

Engage a property lawyer to carry out title and other checks for smooth approval

ELSS: Selecting tax saver fund based on recent performance is risky

Choose one whose rolling returns have surpassed the benchmark a high percentage of times over a long span

Trim your tax bill by doing this: Gift money, pay rent to your parents

An effective tax-saving strategy involves transferring funds to your parents, especially if they are in a non-taxable or lower tax bracket

Investors can lock into current high yields with target maturity funds

The medium- to high-maturity variety of these funds can also offer capital gains if interest rates fall

Under-construction or ready-to-move-in house: How to make a choice

Regard the lower price of an under-construction property as compensation for betting on a riskier asset

Don't fret over the index valuations and take stock-specific calls

Meanwhile, news reports suggest the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is in discussions with the mutual fund industry to carry out a comprehensive stress test of equity funds

Counter high valuations, volatility by investing in hybrid mutual funds

Diversifying investments through multi-asset funds can be another smart investment move

Homeowner can claim house rent allowance while living in rented house

If you pay rent to spouse or parents, maintain proof for HRA claim

Tax loss harvesting: Reduce tax liability, improve quality of portfolio

Transaction costs, price fluctuations may nullify the benefits of this exercise

Investing in cryptos: Be mindful of high volatility, regulatory overhang

Potential investors should be mindful of regulatory overhang and high volatility

MAAFs: After sharp equity run-up, diversify with these all-weather funds

Both return and tax treatment can vary widely based on each fund's asset allocation mandate

Non-linked insurance plan: Surrender or stay? Do the math before deciding

The new norms contained in IRDAI's exposure draft, if implemented, will make surrendering less painful

TMFs: Capture current high yields by staying invested till maturity

Select a fund with a longer duration to gain from possible rate cuts next year

Rebalance portfolio, avoid overexposure or complete exit from equities

Book profits in mid- and small-cap segments, allocate money to fixed income and gold

Leverage HUF to max tax benefits by distributing income, availing deduction

By distributing income and availing of deductions, it can facilitate tax savings

Children's fund: Lock-in is useful if you tend to exit amid high volatility

Before investing, understand the fund's portfolio composition, and whether it suits your risk appetite and horizon

2.5% interest, tax exemption on maturity make gold bonds attractive

But there's a lock-in of five years and investors lose tax exemption if they exit prior to maturity