Cover Story

"A Ulip with 100 per cent allocation is a myth"
Andrew Cartwright, Chief Actuary of Kotak Life Insurance, tells why unit-linked insurance plans are a hit among policyholders in India.

The taxpayers' checklist
Despite expert advice that you must spread tax-saving investments over a year, you are again scrambling to exhaust the Rs 1 lakh limit before March. Help is at hand with this ready reckoner for all options that qualify under Section 80C. Take your pick.
Don't make this mistake
Relying on free tax advice from acquaintances and brokers could prove very costly if you end up makng the wrong investment.
How to tame taxes
Don't let taxes get the better of you this year. Here's how careful selection, disciplined investing and intelligent planning can help you gain control over them. Don't make this mistake Choose the right 80C option Are you ready for tomorrow?
Choose the right 80C option
Section 80C offers every instrument you need for a complete financial plan. If selected with care, these taxsaving investments can fulfil all your financial objectives.
"The mandate of your ELSS fund should match your risk appetite"
This year will be more volatile for equity investments and will depend on how the Union budget, monsoons, etc, pan out.

2010-02-01

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For The Record

Tax deduction calculator

Some of the investments you make and expenses you incur in a year are eligible for tax deduction. Use this worksheet to find how much deduction you can claim.

Insight

When debt funds can be risky

Long-term bond funds did very well in 2008, with the category delivering an astonishing return of 25.33 per cent during the year.

Talk Back

How income funds counter the risk of surges in interest rates?

When interest rates go up, there is a fall in the prices of existing bonds held by debt funds. Hence, the NAVs of debt funds come down.

Smart Spending

Brand equity

Does Croma compare with Samsung, or Zline with LG? While in-house electronic items are gaining currency due to their lower rates, we find out if they offer good quality and value for money.

Best deals on new wheels

You don't need a personal finance magazine to tell you which car to buy, but if you are looking for the most affordable ones in the new range, read on.

How green is your valley?

Though India's per capita carbon emission is low, urbanites have a high personal carbon footprint. Here's how to reduce it, at little cost.

What to buy and what not to

In this series we review recently launched products and services to help you sort the best buys from those that do not offer value for money.

Tax

Are you ready for tomorrow?

The sweeping changes envisaged in the tax laws could upset your financial apple cart. Here are eight things to do before the draft Direct Taxes Code becomes a law.

"Minimise the tax on capital gains by investing for long term"

If the exemption is removed, then the payment of tax will be an unavoidable certainty.

Query Corner

Is premium of Rs 76,000 adequate for the cover of Rs 10 lakh?

You are paying a very high premium for very little cover. To reduce your premium outgo, you can convert your policies to paid-up plans, where the premium stops but your cover continues.

Travel

Camping in style

Glamping, or glamourous camping, is finally taking off, with hotels and resorts offering several affordable options across the country.

Stocks

A positive note for the markets

The third quarter results for the Sensex companies are expected to show a growth of about 25 per cent in profits.

Value in cash

Cash EPS gives the true value of a company's cash flow, and analysed along with the basic EPS, it can help investors avoid firms with low operating cash flows.

Taking the plunge

Market rookie Kamya Jaiswal realises that there is more to stock-picking than following broker reports.

The synthetic playing field

The combination of stocks and options can offer unlimited gains with limited risks to shortterm investors.

Expert View

Ballooning prices, low returns

It's argued that investing in stocks can protect against value erosion. It's a big lie.

The blueprint for investing

Like a plant that needs time to bear fruit, your investments will also need time to grow. But, of course, this is possible only if you plant the sapling.

Why ELSS can be your best bet

ELSS funds are one of the best avenues to save tax under Section 80C. This is because along with the tax deduction, the investor also gets the potential upside of investing in the equity markets.

5 things to check before buying a Ulip

Ulips provide a great opportunity to make a reasoned investment along with the added benefit of tax exemptions. But exercise due diligence to avoid purchase dissonance later on.

Editor's Note

From the Editor

The third Monday in January is supposed to be the most depressing day of the year, according to some far-from-scientific calculations by a UK-based researcher.

Real Estate

Realtors high on low-rises

Real estate developers are wooing consumers with projects that have fewer floors and are more affordable compared to high-rise buildings.

Realty rules in 2010

In 2009, the property market reeled under the impact of the global crisis, though things began to look up by the end of the year. What does 2010 have in store for realty investors?

Perspective

For the victims of the IPO scams that hit the market between 2003 and 2005, fair redressal seems to be in the offing, given the Rs 149 crore 'compensation' package recommended by the Justice D.P. Wadhwa Committee Report.

Covering the benefits of health & life

There's a lot to be said about the two-in-one advantage, be it in technology, household appliances, apparel or anything in between, since it typically saves time, space, money or any combination of the three.

Is your grocery bill ready for a hike?

The rising prices of raw materials like milk, sugar and cereals may prompt the FMCG companies, especially manufacturers of packaged foods like Nestle, Britannia and ITC, to raise prices over the next one or two quarters.

Pros and cons of social networking

According to a study conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), surfing social networking sites during work hours costs the company close to one week a year in terms of productivity.

Credit cards: A sealed deal

Did you know that identity theft claims a new victim somewhere in the world every two seconds?

An insider's guide to easier home loans

Arecent report by rating agency, Fitch, highlights the fact that there is a possibility the recent spate of 'teaser' home loan schemes could lead to a 'payment shock' for borrowers.

BSE's Top 50 may be worst at accounting

The best thing about the Satyam episode, as far as investors are concerned, is that it forced more companies to clean up their account books and governance practices.

Google's betting big on one

If the Internet is to be believed, Google's Nexus One is the closest any manufacturer has come to giving the iPhone a run for its money.

Consumers hopeful, but hold the bubbly

If the latest Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Survey is to be believed, in the last quarter of 2009, India was the second most confident market after Indonesia.

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