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Netting a policy
Aggregator sites help you compare and shortlist plans across insurers. Here's a list of the more popular online players.

The best policy for life
What do you want from your insurance policy? Life cover? Savings? Tax benefits? Or all of these? The core objective of an insurance policy is to cover the risk of death.
Protected at every stage
Chief Actuary at Kotak Life Insurance explains why it is important to customise life insurance to meet different requirements at every stage of life. It is essential to keep track of the changes in your income, responsibilities and number of dependants to ensure adequate coverage at all times.
Insurers on sale
Gaurav Dua analyses the insurance sector, which is poised for growth in India and offers good investing opportunities.
Under the cover
Kartik Jhaveri examines the flaws in Ulips, the most popular insurance product, and the steps the regulator should take to remove them.
Good in small doses
Though popular with investors, traditional plans have limited utility and should not be your only source of insurance.
Cheaper and better
New rules promise to rid the Ulips of some of their flaws. Here's what it means for the investor.
"All Ulips are safe and will be supervised by Irda"
A. Giridhar, Executive Director (Admin), Irda, spoke to Money Today about investing in Ulips and the recent developments.
The cost factor
Mutual funds cost the investor a higher commission over the long term, compared with ulips, which are expensive in the short term.
Before you invest
If you are window-shopping for a Ulip, here are some of the essentials you should consider.
Man woman and child
In an era of constantly evolving needs, parents are prone to rejecting plain vanilla plans that focus only on education and profession.
Selling change
Changing lifestyles and investor attitudes, and improving technology have drastically altered the modes of selling life insurance in India.
An emerging product
Universal Life Insurance, a new product in india, is an ideal long-term investment that comes with interesting riders.
"Insurance is for the long term, so don't exit before five years"
S.B. Mathur, Secretary-General, Life Insurance Council, speaks about the need for greater customer vigilance and importance of insurance agents.

2010-07-01

Digital

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BASICS

Are you fit for equity investing?

Stock investing is not for everyone. You should enter only if you can withstand the gut-wrenching feeling that comes with the ups and downs in the markets. Take this short quiz to find out if you are mentally suited to dabbling in equities.

Insight

The 150 per cent increase in tax-saving limit is likely to push people to save more

We consider the impact of the likely changes on your earnings and investments after the Direct Taxes Code (DTC) comes into effect from 1 April 2011.

Perspective

Investors to have a bigger share

One would expect a 'public' company to have at least the stipulated number of public shareholders. However, a large number of such companies don't have the required 10 per cent of such shareholders.

Getting the gilt edge

The Euro crisis and unabated inflation (9.59 per cent in April) have made investors rush to buy the safety that gold provides.

DTC: Modified, but Ambiguous

The revised discussion paper on the Direct Taxes Code has removed some of the thorny provisions in the original draft and clarified the tax treatment of existing investments.

Smart Spending

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.

Exchange offer

Meal and gift vouchers offer benefits like tax exemption to employees, but given their inherent limitations, do they make for a good option?

Tax

Why aren't you e-Filing?

Money Today debunks the myths that are keeping people from using this easy, efficient and eco-friendly mode of filing tax returns.

The easy way to filing tax

The tax return deadline is around the corner. Here's how to cut through the clutter and file your return with ease.

Stocks

The money makers

The stocks that have paid high dividends in the past few years have also outperformed the Sensex, making them sound picks for investors.

What does the instability mean?

With the markets facing pressure, the Nifty may fall to sub-4,800 levels, offering a negative outlook for the short and the long term.

Is it safe to bet on metals?

Though metal stocks have been resurgent, their inherent volatility makes them a risky investment currently.

Value of price

Here are the factors that affect the price or premium of an option and are crucial to a trader's success in the futures and options market.

A crumbling cookie

Kamya Jaiswal decides to sell a stock after research reveals that the company has no effective plans to counter competition.

Expert View

Investors pay for not having a say

As a risk-taker, the owner of a company should take a share of the profit, not a fixed amount every month.

Real Estate

Is it the right time to buy?

If conflicting realty signals have kept you from investing in property, here's a guide to help you take a decision.

Investment

Illogical instinct

In the first part of a new series on investor psychology, learn why you should not rely on intuition to solve financial issues.

Mutual Fund

"Most of the people require professional help to pick a suitable product"

Vijai Mantri, CEO and MD of Pramerica Mutual Fund, the latest entrant in the mutual fund business, spoke to Babar Zaidi on the challenges facing the industry, investors and the market.

Patience is the key

The Money Today-Value Research Lifestage Model Fund Portfolios make a steady start even as the markets witness heightened volatility due to the European crisis.

Talk Back

"Can an agent be held legally responsible for withholding information not assured by the policy?"

This refers to the story on health insurance (The Healthy Approach, June 2010). Can an agent be held legally responsible for withholding information or promising benefits not assured by the policy?

Editor's Note

From the Editor

When the first draft of the Direct Taxes Code was released in August last year, it promised to make laws more rule-based than exception-based, bringing some stability to tax rates.

Last Word

The soft tax target

The income-tax authorities gun for individual defaulters even as corporates devise ways to circumvent the system and escape lightly.

Insurance

Do you need cover?

While insurance is an essential part of financial planning, under specific circumstances, you would do well not to buy a life cover.

Careers

Well begun is half done

In a new series on career, we seek expert opinion to tackle various issues. T.V. Mohandas Pai explains why it's important to get the first step right while charting a successful career course.

Books

The school of logic

Pick the book to identify how your investing logic may be cheating you and beat the biases that mar sound decision-making.

Jack of all trades

Conor Woodman stops providentially short of being the proverbial Jack. He trades relentlessly, but escapes the unflattering epithet because he masters a few.

Banking

Worth the fee

Don't fret if you can't lay your hands on free credit cards. The fee-based cards, with their attractive rewards and freebies, can be a sound pick.

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