This is a review of LIC LIC Bima Jyoti, a new plan that is available from 22-Feb-2021. Let us analyse its features, merits and demerits and see if it has any value to offer and worth it. We explain why the typical returns obtained would be poor. Such launches are common during the “tax-saving season”…

Many AdSense users believe that it is illegal to disclose income from Adsense earns from ads on Youtube and from sites.  This is incorrect. These are the Adsense Terms of Service. Point no 11 is reproduced below. 11. Confidentiality You agree not to disclose Google Confidential Information without our prior written consent. “Google Confidential Information”…

The IRDA annual report with Life Insurance Claim Settlement Ratio Data for 2021 (FY 2019-20) was released on Feb 10th delayed by at least 1-2 months due to the pandemic.  The claim settlement ratio data along with total claims and claims paid is presented in the table below. Life Insurance Claim Settlement Ratio Data for…

Budget 2021 came as a shock to insurers who sold ULIPs. Their tax-status was changed from tax-free to taxable as capital gains (like mutual funds). In this article we discuss a question posed by a reader: Should ULIPs be avoided due to change tax rule in budget 2021? When equity mutual funds became taxable in…

In this article, Sarthak Parikh explains the importance of an emergency fund; how much is necessary; where to park it and how the pandemic has increased the need for a robust emergency fund. COVID-19 has hit us all hard in ways that we had never envisaged. The fear of losing a job if you are…

Recently, we received a query from a reader regarding some ambiguity in EPF interest rules. The reader was uncertain of how long an EPF account will earn interest if there is no contribution for 3 years or more than 3 years citing EPFO rules. About the author: Anjesh Bharatiya is a 30+ taxman by profession…

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has now permitted WhatsApp to launch its payments service in India in a graded manner. In this article, we look at the features of WhatsApp Payments facility. About the author: Anjesh Bharatiya is a 30+ taxman by profession and a Chemical Engineer by education. He has been an…

Series VIII of Sovereign Gold Bonds 2020-21 will be available from November 09-13, 2020 with Settlement date November 18, 2020. During this period, the price will be Rs. 5177 per gram for offline subscriptions. Online purchases will cost Rs. 50 less. This is marginally higher than the seventh tranche which opened at Rs. 5041 and…

Govt of India (GOI) has announced the sale (Re-issue) of 6.80% Government bonds maturing in 2060. Retail investors can participate in this sale via the NSEgoBid platform on Nov 3rd and 4th 2020 (10 am to 5 pm). The auction will be conducted by the RBI on Nov 6th. Details of the 6.8% GOI Bond: …

The seventh tranche of Sovereign Gold Bonds 2020-21 (Series VII) will be available for sale from October 12-16, 2020. The issue price of the Bond per gram during the subscription period will be Rs. 5041  (down from Rs. 5,117 for series VI and  Rs 5,334 for series V). However,  it is not a product for…

These are the issue dates of Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2020-21. The finance ministry has announced six further tranches for the current financial year. This is the schedule. Also see: Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2020-21 (Series VII): Should you buy? Tranche Subscription Dates Issue Dates 2020-21 Series VII October 12 – 16, 2020 October 20,…

This is a table of Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) interest rates from 2015 to the present. The current SSY Interest Rate (Oct to Dec 2020) is 7.60%. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Interest Rate History 2015 to Present Period Rate January 2021-March 2021 7.60% October 2020-December 2020 7.60% July 2020-September 2020 7.60% April 2020-June 2020 7.60% January…

Here is a simple way to select mutual funds that have beat the category benchmark in terms of both return and risk over the last one, two, three, four and five years simultaneously! That is higher than the benchmark return and lower than benchmark risk.

This is a table of PPF interest rates from 1968 to the present. The current PPF Interest Rate (Oct to Dec 2020) is 7.10%. PPF Interest Rate History 1968 to Present Period PPF Interest Rate 01.01.2021 to 31.03.2021 7.10% 01.10.2020 to 31.12.2020 7.10% 01.04.2020 to 30.09.2020 7.10% 01.07.2019 to 31.03.2020 7.90% 01.10.2018 to 30.06.2019 8.00%…

Sovereign Gold Bonds 2019-20 (Series IX) will be opened for the period February 03-07, 2020. The issue price of the Bond during the subscription period shall be Rs 4,070 per gram