Himali Patel

After underperforming in 2025, small-cap funds may see a turnaround as valuations become more reasonable and earnings revive; existing investors should stay invested, while new ones enter gradually

Experts say term insurance must be reviewed annually as income, liabilities and family responsibilities evolve, with life events often necessitating higher protection

Focus on risk-adjusted performance, and switch only if it is below par for a sustained period

US-focused mutual funds surged in 2025 on an AI-led rally. In 2026, expect consolidation and moderate returns; rebalance mega-cap tech exposure and invest in phases

While existing investors should do partial rebalancing, new investors should enter in a staggered manner

Temporary underperformance could be due to the fund manager's investment style not being favoured by the market currently; wait out such phases

Small deviations may be corrected by directing more money into underperforming assets like debt and equities

Taxes on capital gains and dividends are paid at the fund level; investors do not pay

Understand exclusions, waiting periods, survival period requirements, and claim triggers before purchase

Terrorism coverage under term, health, and home policies varies across insurers and products, may require rider, and could come with loadings for high-risk occupations and regions

A strong persistency ratio signals customer trust, better service and fewer disputes, while a high claim settlement ratio shows how reliably an insurer honours claims-key checks before buying term cov

Better price points, aligned to fundamentals, tend to emerge once the initial hype fades

Experts say investors should not exit smart-beta funds due to short-term underperformance as factor strategies are cyclical and tend to recover

The receipt must have details such as donor name, amount, date, payment mode, PAN, and party registration number

When selecting an algo, factor in not just the returns but also the costs incurred while trading

Limit global allocation to 10-15% initially, avoid chasing recent outperforming countries and themes

Avoid need to chop and change funds due to underperformance; supplement with active funds in satellite portion

For deposits, nominee shares should mirror the division in the will; for lockers, the order should match the will

Continue SIP if the fund has maintained its strategy and performance consistency, and continues to suit your goals

EPF subscribers should continue to save separately for housing, and children's education and marriage