Cover Story
- It doesn’t matter how old you are. If you haven’t planned for your sunset years, it’s time to start now. Insure your retirement Living it up in retirement Evaluating the options
- Investors are not flocking to the New Pension Scheme as the low cost doesn't compensate for the scheme's drawbacks.
- Despite several new products, retirement planning is not as popular as it should be. Will the NPS change things? Are people ignorant or just disinterested in retirement-oriented investment?
- Life after hanging up your boots can be bliss or a bane, depending on the state of your finances. Here’s a lowdown on retirement planning.
- It is no longer a dreaded life stage. If you remain a disciplined investor, retirement can turn out to be better than your dreams.
Designed to make a difference
India’s travel service providers are waking up to the plight of the differently-abled as they become more user-friendly and offer better facilities. To cash in on the popularity of serviced apartments, hotels have come up with their own version woo business travellers, writes Sushmita Choudhury. Filming on the move
Whether you want to record memories or star in your own whacky movie, a camcorder is your best option. Here are the features you should consider before buying one. Gainful returns
In the first in a new series on financial concepts, we explain one of the most important profitability ratios — return on equity — its usefulness and constraints.'The worst is behind us, but we may have run ahead of the basics'
Ambareesh Baliga, Vice-President, Karvy Stock Broking, talks about how investors should not be swayed by market movements and have clear objectives. Being well-versed in elementary phrases and values is essential for facilitating an entry in options trading. Here are some key concepts.How to find the right stock price
Make sure that you are not overpaying for your purchases. How big is your emergency fund?
In case of uncertainty in the job market, falling incomes and volatile asset prices, one should have a thicker buffer of 9-12 months’ living expenses to help tide over any financial emergency. Beware of the siren song
It would be very unfortunate if developers were to increase home prices at this juncture. The focus on affordable housing and a glut in supply is likely to bring down rents, especially in certain residential localities. Is a car provided by my company a taxable perk?
A car provided by an employer to an employee is a taxable perk if the latter’s salary is more than Rs 50,000 a month. Thinking out of the idiot box
TV may be ready to discard the ‘idiot’ tag as it turns intelligent, offering ticket booking and pizza delivery besides the regular serials. In the first of a new series, we review some of the latest products and services to help you sort the best buys from the worst. Discreet beginnings
In a revamped format, Portfolio Doctor will examine more patients in every issue.We start with three who like to play safe — even though they shouldn’t. Mood of the nation: Cautious optimism
The buzz on the street is not caused by market experts alone talking about signs of revival in the economy. It’s also created by all of us—consumers, investors, employees and employers. The price of retirement
Asset allocation in interest-earning instruments, coupled with smart annuity options, can help you live comfortably through your sunset years. Rewards sans risk
In a new series on mutual funds, we look at Reliance Growth, the largest and one of the oldest diversified equity funds. Debt funds, popular during the downturn, might begin to lose their sheen. Please guide me as to which funds I should retain and the ones that I should exit. I've learnt important lessons from the magazine...
...such as the advantage of keeping insurance and investment separate, and that term plans are the cheapest form of life insurance. I look forward to more informative stories. Welcome to the new and improved Money Today
While many of our regular features still find a place in the fresh format, others have been revamped and new ones introduced. The idea is to give you articles with greater depth and insight. I own 2 bricks in this house. The rest is common area.
Common area refers to spaces in apartments that are set apart for use by all the residents. 'The financial crisis is behind us, but China is ahead of us'
Shankar Sharma, Director, First Global, is known for his bearish view of the markets, but is uncharacteristically optimistic about the economy. The first in a series that looks at the flip side of promising trends — or the silver lining when the skies are grey. Enter, a load of queries
Will the abolition of entry load deprive a large number of people from investing in mutual funds? Investing is as much a passion and hobby as it is a career or profession. The afficionados eat, live, sleep and breathe investing mantras.'Small investors can use class action suits to get justice'
Minister of State for Corporate Affairs Salman Khurshid speaks about the new Companies Bill and other investor-related issues. 'Consumer courts are to write the verdict within 15 days of a hearing'
Justice Ashok Bhan, President, National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, talks about facilitating proceedings for the consumers. When D.K. Gandhi took his advocate to court, he raised an important issue—can lawyers be proceeded against under the Consumer Protection Act? Many unhappy returns
In a bid to curb tax evasion, the government has proposed to tax certain gifts other than cash. Here’s how the changes will affect you. Need to jazz up the NPS
Making the NPS mandatory and more attractive should be a high priority for the government. The challenge is to design products for the payout phase so that people don't run out of income before they die.Mistakes to avoid while planning retirement
The most common errors while planning for retirement include neglect, omission or panic. Repair your credit score
By reducing the impact of past financial mistakes, you can improve your credit worthiness. However, there are no quick fixes.'You can directly access your credit report by March'
Arun Thukral, Managing Director, Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited, talks about the importance and limitations of credit information reports. Rewards of the retail boom
The growth in the retail industry is not only creating massive job opportunities at all levels, but has also launched a wave of entrepreneurs. The long winter of retrenchment and pay cuts might be drawing to a close. The cost of conduct
Read this book if you want to balance your financial and emotional quotients, not if you are looking to double your money in a hurry.Shoppers' stop: Wisdom on sale
Confessions of a Shopaholic is teeming with sinful antics and spiked remorselessly with humour.
