How your parents can easily implement “Who gets what?” (legacy planning)

If your parents (or you yourself) have significant assets (property, gold, bank deposits, mutual funds, stocks etc) and more than one legal heir, a few simple steps can ensure who gets what asset after their (or your) time. A discussion (and this is not just about writing a will!). You can gently share this article…

Continue reading →

How much return can I expect from Arbitrage mutual funds?

With RBI 7.75% bonds no longer available and yields from tax-free bonds destroyed by increasing demand, investors looking for a “reasonable” mix of low volatility, credit quality, tax efficiency and liquidity can consider arbitrage mutual funds for long-term goals. How can return can we expect from arbitrage funds? An analysis of all the funds in…

Continue reading →

Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Scheme (DTVSV) 2020 for settling tax disputes

The Government recently announced the Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Scheme (DTVSV) 2020 to reduce litigation related to direct tax matters and provide an opportunity to willing taxpayers to settle their outstanding tax disputes under very favourable terms without payment of any interest or penalty (in cases of disputed tax demand). Let’s have a closer…

Continue reading →

Will covid-19 insurance claims face trouble? Will premiums increase?

Covid-19 health insurance claims are rapidly increasing in the country. With no standardised hospital pricing and reports of huge hospital bills, insurers are finding it difficult to pay out claims in full.  This could mean difficulties in claim processing and future increase in the already-high premiums.  What should policyholders do?

Continue reading →

How falling interest rates and lower equity returns can affect a retirement plan

With the repo rate at its lowest, fixed-income investment rates which were already heading south over the last few years are likely to stay there and move down further in future. Equity returns have been consistently heading lower and lower too. This can destroy all financial plans especially retirement which does not come with a…

Continue reading →