Page 8 - Your Money

New India Co-op Bank crisis: Higher returns come with greater risk

Many cooperative banks fall prey to political interference, unreliable accounting practices, loan evergreening, and frauds

Purchasing term insurance: Choose a policy that balances coverage and price

CSR represents the percentage of claims settled by an insurer within a financial year

Debt MF outlook: Divide portfolio between long- and low-duration funds

The Indian economy requires rate cuts and a supportive monetary policy to sustain growth, which is slowing

Updated income-tax return: Ensure accuracy as revisions are not permitted

Only those with additional tax to pay can file an updated return

Budget 2025: Spend some, use rest to retire debt and secure long-term goals

A few instruments, which offer tax deduction, remain relevant even for taxpayers in the new regime

Budget 2025: Relief on 2 self-occupied properties, without riders

Annual limit of Rs 2.4 lakh for TDS on rent increased to Rs 6 lakh

Understanding Budget documents: Identify changes relevant to your finances

The July 2024 Budget changed little for taxpayers, heightening expectations for relief this year

UPI credit cards: Track spending as frequent small txn can strain budget

Security-related precautions for UPI-enabled credit cards are similar to those for standard UPI payments

Banking sector funds: Invest now to capitalise on credit growth pickup

The ideal time to invest in sector funds is during a downturn so that investors can capitalise on a turnaround in 1.5-2 years

Yellow metal: Maintain allocation; tariff battles may sustain bull run

"Central banks usually purchase about 400 tonnes of gold annually. However, in 2022 and 2023, they bought over 1,000 tonnes each year," says Vikram Dhawan

Tackling rising home prices: Research pricing, demand-supply for best deals

Buyers with a limited budget should explore upcoming locations

Short-duration funds: Ideal for low-risk investors with goals 1-3 yrs away

Short-duration debt funds have gained popularity among investors for their ability to provide accrual income and their moderate sensitivity to interest rate changes

Choosing right hybrid fund: Risk appetite, horizon should guide your choice

Hybrid funds provide a structured way to handle market fluctuations

Fire insurance: Declare correct property value to ensure adequate payout

Fire insurance, also called as fire and allied perils policy (and often part of a home insurance policy), covers a range of risks

Bet on quality funds amid slowing economic growth, market turbulence

Quality indices, such as the Nifty 500 Quality 50 Index, are built by filtering stocks from the parent index based on their quality score

How non-participating plans by insurers work as investment option

Lock-in returns for long-term with these plans from insurers

Evaluating individual fund: Base decisions on 8 quarters of performance

If you need money for an emergency, your goal is near, or with advancing age you prefer a lower allocation to equities, consider redeeming

Align investment horizon with portfolio duration for short-term debt funds

While all investors should have some allocation to shorter-duration debt funds for portfolio stability, the exact proportion should depend on their risk appetite

Reducing home loan: Switch to lower-cost loan if credit profile improves

Until repo rate cuts begin, borrowers can explore other options to lower their home loan burden

Quant Funds: Algo-driven approach reduces human bias, risk of style drift

Quant funds adopt a systematic, rules-based approach to stock selection and portfolio management. They don't rely on fund managers to make investment decisions