Page 5 - Your Money

Delayed home handover? Don't waive your right to seek compensation

If you must sign to get possession from the developer, record in writing that you are accepting possession without prejudice to your right to seek compensation

Outlook for debt funds improves, but avoid chasing long-duration gains

Keep the core allocation in short- to medium-duration funds; match fund maturity with financial goals

Multi-year health insurance: Lock in premiums, but check exit rules first

Multi-year health insurance plans offer premium stability and upfront discounts, but buyers should weigh flexibility, portability and future healthcare needs

Smallcap funds are rising: Should investors raise the exposure now?

After a sharp rebound in recent months, smallcap funds are back in favour. Experts weigh the opportunities, risks and suitability for different investors

What Sebi's new framework for securities transfer means for heirs

Succession-related issues can add to the difficulty. Legal heirs often need multiple documents. Coordinating several heirs can be difficult

Life cycle funds: A new category, but do they fit your portfolio needs?

Check the maturity date, glide path, costs, tax treatment and exit load before investing

How NRIs should navigate changes in tax status when returning to India

As their status changes from NRI to RNOR and then to ROR, both their tax and disclosure obligations change

Block cards, call 1930: What to do if you lost money in digital scam

Acting immediately and securing your accounts are effective ways to limit losses

Voice cloning, phishing, impersonation: How to spot personal finance scams

Don't respond to phone messages from unknown numbers, even if they appear to be from your bank

Wrong form, undisclosed income: Tax-filing mistakes that delay refunds

Refunds are typically processed within 4-5 weeks but delays can occur due to scrutiny, high filing volumes.

Check deviations, audit tax leakage to rebalance your investment portfolio

Tip: Ensure your growth fund hasn't quietly changed its strategy to something even riskier

Block cards, call 1930: Steps to take after suffering financial fraud

Text messages that demand you transfer money quickly or links with slightly misspelt URLs are signs of scam

Insurance, credit line: How to be financially set for medical emergencies

A contingency fund ensures that sudden healthcare expenses do not derail long-term financial stability

Save first, spend later: Steps to meet your long-term financial goals

Check your progress every three to six months to ensure your savings and spending are on track

How to choose between guaranteed returns and growth-focused investments

Using a growth asset for a short-term need risks a forced sale at a loss and investing in a guaranteed asset for a 20-year goal risks loss of purchasing power

Form 16, PAN, rent agreement: Documents you need for filing tax return

Form 16 captures your salaried income but you must also cite bank interest, capital gains or freelance earnings

How to correct mistakes in your tax return after submission, refund even

No penalty is levied for revising a return, provided the original return was filed on time

Home loan protection plan or term cover: How borrowers should choose

If you give greater priority to flexibility, then opt for a term insurance plan

Don't let dark patterns quietly inflate your online shopping bills

Check the final payable amount, remove pre-ticked add-ons, and preserve screenshots if you need to complain

PPF, NPS, ELSS: Long-term investment tools to save taxes explained

Do not use one product for everything and instead assign each one a clear role: Stability, growth, or income