Page 4 - Sanjay Kumar

Looking for value housing? Buy in a locality where rental yield exceeds 3%

After three years of price rise, some areas may be growing overheated; proceed with caution

Don't chase past performers in equity markets, build all-weather portfolio

The bottom line: switching strategies does not boost returns

Bet on IT funds to gain from digitisation, generative AI adoption

Limit allocation to 10% of equity portfolio and enter with a five to seven-year horizon

Getting a credit card is easy but closing it needs a checklist of tasks

Get a confirmation letter from issuer confirming closure, ensure it says you have no dues

New mutual fund investors: Set goals and assess your risk profile

Knowing these parameters will allow you to determine the optimal asset allocation, essential for building a portfolio

Check issuer's finances, debt repayment record before investing in bonds

Diversify across bonds with different credit ratings and hold them till maturity

Sector & thematic funds: Prospects, not past returns, should be your guide

Monitor these funds closely and be quick to exit, instead of trying to chase the last rupee

Insurers receptive to covering chronic ailments, declare PEDs honestly

By paying extra premium, you can reduce waiting period for pre-existing conditions to even one day

Door opens for senior citizens to get health insurance: What they should do

Seniors must strike a balance between premium and co-pay; too low a premium could mean high co-pay, which would pinch at the time of claim settlement

Amid varied risk levels, review portfolio before choosing credit risk fund

Only investors with high risk appetite should opt for them; limit allocation to 5-10%

Top-up home loans work best when repaid quickly; avoid overleveraging

Avoid overleveraging or using these funds to finance non-essential lifestyle expenses

Investors betting on longer-duration debt funds need to be patient

Experts say while rate cuts remain on the table, their start is likely to be delayed

Early in the tenure of non-linked policy you don't like? Surrender it

But if you have held it for long, run the numbers; continuing may be prudent

The paradoxical freedom of living by the clock

Anyone who feels they lack a firm grip on their day should read Marc Zao-Sanders' Timeboxing and adopt its tenets

More dependants, increased liabilities should prompt hike in term cover

Boost health coverage periodically to cope with double-digit medical inflation & access premium healthcare facilities

Experts suggest to keep low-cost Nifty 50 index fund at core of portfolio

If risk appetite permits, consider active midcap and smallcap funds, and factor funds in satellite portfolio

Selecting a REIT: Factor in capital gains and dividend payouts

The Indian REITs Association, a newly formed umbrella body, has meanwhile requested Sebi to classify REITs as equities and petitioned RBI to allow banks to lend to REITs

The financial year is ending: Here is what you must do for your investments

Avoid triggering taxation during portfolio rebalancing by buying more of underperforming asset class

Long-duration funds: 6-12 months for tactical, 10+ years for long term

Those with a medium-term horizon run the risk of getting caught in a rising rate cycle

Reduce liquidity risk in smallcap, midcap funds with asset allocation

While the bulk of midcap funds that have declared their results will be able to liquidate 25 per cent of their portfolio within three days, only about half of the smallcap funds would be able to do so