SHIELD AGAINST SCREEN

Excessive screen time and unhealthy eating habits are putting children at risk to diseases linked to a sedentary lifestyle. Being a little careful about our daily practices and keeping a health fund at hand can help fight this vulnerability

IN THEIR OWN LEAGUE

Parents of children who are exceptional at sports need to fight not just a traditional mindset but also face the challenges of finding the right launchpads. Besides, they need to save enough to help their children achieve their dreams

The Cost Of A Career

The cost of education is going through the roof. Know how much it will cost you and the strategies to cope with it

Gold Shopping: Buy New Or Change Old?

Gold lovers may be readying themselves for a buying spree. But does it make sense to exchange old gold instead of buying new jewellery and invest the money elsewhere?

'Al-Driven Unique And Unbiased Solutions, Are The Way Forward'

IDFC FIRST Bank has posted stellar results, and is looking at innovation, riding high on its digital capabilities. In a freewheeling interview with Nidhi Sinha, editor, Outlook Money, and Suchetana Ray, editor, Outlook Business, the bank's executive director and chief operating officer Madhivanan Balakrishnan talks about how they use digital capabilities to enhance customer experience, where interest rates are headed, and its commitment towards issues of financial well-being, including the key issue of retirement planning

There's No Black And White

Our financial decisions are not just about numbers or charts. They are much more than listing of do's and dont's, and needs and wants

A FRIEND IN NEED FOR DIABETICS

Diabetes-specific plans are customised for the needs of diabetic patients and some of them have less waiting period, subject to the severity of the disease. Know your options before buying one

How Indexation Works In MFs

The Finance Act, 2023 has taken away the indexation benefit from debt mutual funds but those having 35-65 per cent exposure to equity are still eligible for it

What To Do With Small Caps?

Small is beautiful but only if one has the right acumen for it. Investors need small-cap funds to energise the portfolio which holds large-cap and mid-cap funds

MANY-IN-ONE: WHICH COMBINATION OF ASSETS SUITS YOU?

Six multi-asset allocation funds have been launched this year and more are in the pipeline. Are they right for you?

SPREADING JOY BY WAY OF GIVING

Want to donate for a cause this festive season? You can make the usual donations in cash, kind or by way of volunteering to the cause that you care for

BUYING A HOUSE? ASSESS THE FREEBIES

Freebies from property developers may look attractive, but they should not be the only factors to settle for a real estate deal. Apart from evaluating the offers, assess the builder, too

TREADING THE FINE BALANCE BETWEEN SPENDING AND SAVING

It's easy to go overboard with your expenses during festival time. Take stock of your spending and saving accounts to strike the right balance

Digital Fraud: What Puts Seniors At Risk And What They Can Do?

The elderly are more susceptible to digital frauds, but a little awareness and carefulness can keep them safe. Read on to know what can help them

INCREMENTAL CASH RESERVE RATIO

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its bimonthly policy in August announced that banks will need to maintain 10 per cent incremental cash reserve ratio (ICRR) starting from August 12.

TIE PRODUCTS TO YOUR NEEDS

If you don't invest in products suitable to your needs, your retirement goals will remain a dream, regardless of the fancy assets that you acquire

MF RECIPE TO HEALTHY RETIREMENT

The average life expectancy in India has doubled since 1950s, and with the rising cost of living, mutual funds could be the medicine to ensure our funds outlive us

Taxation

It was in the financial year 1997-98 that the government first brought in income tax slabs of 10 per cent, 20 per cent and 30 per cent in what was dubbed the \"dream budget\" presented by the then Union Minister of Finance P. Chidamabaram. At that time, the highest tax slab applied to incomes above ₹1.5 lakh, while income up to ₹40,000 had no tax liability. There was a big tax incentive for investors in Provident Fund too.

Financial Planning

Investment advisory in India was fragmented for a long period of time. In the 1990s and early 2000s, most people relied on brokers, mutual fund distributors and insurance agents, but more for making investments rather than for seeking advice. The other set of advisors by default were chartered accountants, who while helping individuals file their tax returns also informed them about investments that could reduce the tax liability. Until then, the most sold products were insurance policies and bank fixed deposits.

Banking

From teaching children the concept of saving small amounts and seeing it grow to inspiring trust among the vast majority of individuals, especially senior citizens, with guaranteed returns from deposits, to holding borrowers' hands in their times of need, banking has had a major role to play in the financial lives of individuals.

Insurance

Insurance has been part of the financial lexicon for years now. What has changed to some extent though is how it perceives insurance.

Investment

In India, the practice of saving has been passed down through generations. However, the modes of saving have undergone a sea change. While earlier, parents guided their newly-employed children to open recurring deposits in banks or buy life insurance, now many are emphasising on systematic investment plans (SIPs) of mutual funds.

The Financial Sherpa You Need

Getting the right advice can play a major role in achieving financial freedom, but whose advice are you taking? We sift through the financial advisory landscape in India to look at the options investors have and where they should go

Read Between The Storylines

Regardless of the narrative being pushed or the magic bullet being offered for your investing goals, evaluate investments for their merits and suitability

HOW TO SURVIVE A LAYOFF?

Surviving a layoff requires both resilience and a foolproof financial plan. Here's how to create one and navigate the turbulence in one's career

LADDER YOUR FDs TO CREATE A CUSHION AGAINST RATE CHANGES

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) paused policy rates in the last two monetary policy announcements in April and June 2023, but it’s not clear if it is the end of the interest rate hike cycle.

Taking Advantage Of Arbitrage Funds

You can get a significant tax advantage in arbitrage funds if the holding period is over a year, but remember that it is not a substitute for liquid funds

GOOD TIME TO BOW OUT OF YOUR ENDOWMENT POLICY?

Endowment policies, typically, offer low coverage and returns compared to other insurance and investment products. If you have one, should you surrender it? If so, when is the right time?

SMALL TOWNS, BIG WEALTH

Old-school trusted advice combined with curiosity about new-age investments defines HNIs of smaller cities. The investment decisions they make now can have far-reaching impact on the financialisation of the country's economy in the long run

Did You Sign Up For That Debt Recovery Call?

If you opt to be a loan guarantor, lenders can recover the dues from you if the primary borrower defaults. But if you didn’t sign up and still got that call, here’s what may have gone wrong and what to do about it