'Young investors should focus more on equity, while retired senior citizens should prioritise fixed income.' 'Mid-career investors should aim for a balanced allocation.'
An NCD's credit rating will tell you whether risk possibility is high or low. Instruments rated below AA are regarded as high-risk.
While equity savings funds could offer higher returns over three-five years, they would also be more volatile.
Buying term insurance is not a one-size-fits-all purchase. It requires some level of deliberation to ensure that the policy aligns with your needs, life stage as well as future circumstances, says Casparus Kromhout, MD & CEO Shriram Life Insurance Company
'Consider your household's financial health and all your other goals.' 'Buying a house might seem like an urgent goal, but it is rarely the only one.'
Be clear about when you're working and when you're off the clock, and stick to the boundaries you have set around when you're willing to respond to messages or calls, suggests Amanda Day, Director of People Enablement at Remote.
More than 50 per cent of SIP accounts come from semi-urban and rural areas.
'More investors now view the stock market as a valuable opportunity, though many still seek quick gains, leading to a rise in futures and options trading.'
New investors should gradually build a 5 to 10 per cent allocation to gold.
Link your UPI app to a separate bank account or wallet that has only a limited sum.
Ensure the sum insured for the super topup is enough to cover even worst-case scenarios.
If you don't have a specific goal, but want intermittent liquidity, then ladder your FDs, that is, invest in FDs of varying maturities, such as one, two, three, five or even 10 years. Laddering ensures FDs mature at regular intervals.
'The problem is that the bubble may not only be in valuations, but also in investors' minds.'
'Retail investors, who had not seen such a massive correction in the SMID universe since COVID-19, are witnessing something like this for the first time. Panic profit booking may continue.'
With a strong plan in mind, Public Provident Fund can become an important and strong part of your investment, says Naval Goel.
Rediff reader Tushar Kulkarni, 40 from Dombivali shared some valuable tips.
'Choose an equity allocation that will allow you to remain invested even if the market falls by 50 to 60 per cent.'
Equity-focused schemes may perform better in a bull market, while debt-oriented ones may offer greater stability during volatile periods.
'Any earnings, regardless of location, will be subject to Indian income tax.'
Business success often involves a combination of planning, implementation, and continuous learning, says rediffGURU Harsh Bharwani.
'Geopolitics will be the most important driver of financial markets in 2025.'
'By investing in a basket of funds, FoFs can help minimise the impact of underperforming funds, thus reducing overall investment risk.'
Investors not comfortable investing directly may take the mutual fund route, where they get exposure to a diversified portfolio of bonds.
'For those seeking regular income, these funds provide a steady stream of income through dividends.'
'Assess the property in terms of type, size, location and price point, and whether it fits into your budget.' 'If it checks out on these fronts, one may consider the accompanying offers.'
TMFs invest in a public index, so investors know beforehand which instruments the fund will invest in.
In addition to interest rates, review the fine print for penalties and repayment terms, and select a reputable lender to avoid harsh recovery practices.
While SGBs are a sound investment, they aren't worth buying at any price. The interest income you earn from them will not justify paying a high premium.
Investment planning needs to be done at the beginning of the year.
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'Ensure that all property-related documents are up-to-date.' 'Relying on outdated documents can create legal complications.'
Despite its recent underperformance, gold must be a part of your portfolio.
'Credit card debt comes with high interest cost and stringent penalties.' 'If you do not repay on time, the costs balloon.'
DAP does not consider past I-T returns to match a taxpayer's resources with their expenditures or investments, points out Harsh Roongta.
By diversifying into developed market equities, Indian investors can mitigate the impact of cyclicality in returns as well as reduce currency risk, experts tell Sanjay Kumar Singh.
Avoid discontinuing your SIPs. Persist for at least 7-10 years.
Long-term tax-saving FDs can also be considered after the PPF limit has been exhausted.
Many senior citizens 'underestimate the impact of inflation, taxation, health-related expenses, and the heavy premium they will have to pay on health insurance.'
Global brokerage firm CLSA has reversed its early tactical shift from Indian equities to Chinese stocks, and has decided to raise India allocation while cutting exposure to China. In its report titled 'Pouncing Tiger, Prevaricating Dragon', CLSA cited challenges facing Chinese markets in the aftermath of Donald Trump's victory in the US elections as the reason for the move. "Misfortune can happen in threes. So it has played out for Chinese equities over the past week.
'Accidents are unpredictable, whether it's a mishap during Diwali, a fracture during travel, or a fall in the bathroom.'
