Companies Bill 2013 - Highlights

The new Companies Bill will replace the 60 year old regulations of Companies Act,1956 .The Companies Bill 2013 provides for modifying the rules and regulations that earlier governed the companies in the country. It mainly focuses on the social welfare and protection of the investors against the fraud committed. It mainly aims to bring transparency in the working of the company. As many new amendments has been made in the  Companies Bill 2013.  Some of the key highlights on the Companies Bill 2013 are:-

• The concept of “One Person Company” has been introduced for the first time.
• Compulsion of e-governance on all compulsory process.
• Mandatory transfer of 2% of average net profit of preceding three years for corporate social responsibility (CSR).
• It says about compulsory internal audit for different class of companies.
• The tenure of appointment of auditors at annual general meeting(AGM) of company has extended to five years , instead of annual appointment /retirement(other than government company)
• In case of listed companies 1/3^rd of total no of directors must be “independent directors”
• The Companies Bill 2013 considers manager or managing director or chief executive officer, whole time director, chief financial officer and company secretary as key “managerial personnel”.
• It prohibits insider trading of securities.
• The maximum no. of member for private company has increased to 200 from 50.
• National Advisory Committee on Accounting Standards (NACAS) has been renamed has National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA).
• It also highlights on annual ratification of appointment of auditors.
• There is no ceiling on no. of members/partners as to associations or partnership formed by professionals by special acts.
• It highlights on the appointment of at least one women director in the company.
• The companies bill redefines’ the term “subsidiary”, “control” and associate “company”.
• Under the Companies Bill 2013   statutory   status will be conferred upon the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO).

Apurv Gourav

Have You Disclosed Other Source of Incomes?

The due date for filing personal income-tax returns for the financial year 2012-13 is 31^st July 2013.

There are a few more sources of income which one MUST disclose. The disclosure can be done either to our employer (so that they are taken care of in Form 16) or while filing our returns.

Some of the very important disclosures are:

1	Interest earned from Savings Bank Account	Interest earned from savings account is tax free up to Rs 10,000/-. Any interest earned above that is taxable and should be declared.
2	Interest earned from Fixed Deposits	Interest received from fixed deposits is taxable as per ones income tax slab. Most of the times banks deduct 10% TDS when the interest accrued is more than Rs 10,000/- (unless one submits a Form 15 G/H). However, the actual tax liability will be more or less, depending upon the tax bracket one falls under after all incomes and deductions are claimed.
3	Interest earned from Recurring Deposits	Interest received from recurring deposits is taxable as per one’s income tax slab. Banks do not cut any TDS on interest earned on recurring deposits and hence it becomes even more important to declare this source of income.
4	Interest earned on Postal deposits and National Savings Certificates (NSCs)	Interest earned on Postal deposits and National Savings Certificates (NSCs) is taxable and needs to be declared.
5	Cash Gifts	Cash gifts received for more than Rs 50,000/- should be declared as they are taxable (unless for specific occasions like marriage, will etc)
6	Capital Gains/Losses	Any Capital gains/losses made from trading equities, selling mutual funds, gold etc should be declared even though they may be non-taxable (e.g. for equities long term capital tax is NIL). Similarly, any losses should be declared as these help in offsetting gains for subsequent years
7	Exempt Income	Exempt Income (e.g. Interest earned on PPF/EPF accounts) should be declared for auditing purposes only. This is a tax free income
8	Dividend Income	Dividend income is tax free in the hands of the investor. However this should be declared while filing income tax returns

Know Your Income Tax Deduction

80C

Nature of Deduction:

This section has been introduced by the Finance Act, 2005. Broadly speaking, this section provides deduction from total income in respect of various investments/expenditures/payments in respect of which tax rebate u/s 88 was earlier available. The total deduction under this section is limited to Rs.1 lakh only.

80CCC

Nature of Deduction:

Payment of premium for annunity plan of LIC or any other insurer Deduction is available upto a maximum of Rs.10,000/-

Remarks:

The premium must be deposited to keep in force a contract for an annuity plan of the LIC or any other insurer for receiving pension from the fund.The Finance Act 2006 has enhanced the ceiling of deduction under Section 80CCC from Rs.10,000 to Rs.1,00,000 with effect from 1.4.2007.

80CCD

Nature of Deduction:

Deposit made by an employee in his pension account to the extent of 10% of his salary.

Remarks:

Where the Central Government makes any contribution to the pension account, deduction of such contribution to the extent of 10% of salary shall be allowed. Further, in any year where any amount is received from the pension account such amount shall be charged to tax as income of that previous year. The Finance Act, 2009 has extended benefit to any individual assesse, not being a Central Government employee.

80CCF

Nature of Deduction:

Subscription to long term infrastructure bonds.

Remarks:

Subscription made by individual or HUF to the extent of Rs. 20,000 to notified long term infrastructure bonds was exempt for the financial year 2010-11 and 2011-12. However, the exemption is no longer present from financial year 2012-13.

80D

Nature of Deduction:

Payment of medical insurance premium. Deduction is available upto Rs.15,000/ for self/ family and also upto Rs. 15,000/- for insurance in respect of parent/ parents of the assessee.

Remarks:

The premium is to be paid by any mode of payment other than cash and the insurance scheme should be framed by the General Insurance Corporation of India & approved by the Central Govt. or Scheme framed by any other insurer and approved by the Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority. The premium should be paid in respect of health insurance of the assessee or his family members. The Finance Act 2008 has also provided deduction upto Rs. 15,000/- in respect of health insurance premium paid by the assessee towards his parent/parents. W.e.f. 01.04.2011, contributions made to the Central Government Health Scheme is also covered under this section.

80DD

Nature of Deduction:

Deduction of Rs.40,000/ - in respect of (a) expenditure incurred on medical treatment, (including nursing), training and rehabilitation of handicapped dependant relative. (b) Payment or deposit to specified scheme for maintenance of dependant handicapped relative. W.e.f. 01.04.2004 the deduction under this section has been enhanced to Rs.50,000/-. Further, if the dependant is a person with severe disability a deduction of Rs.1,00,000/- shall be available under this section.

Remarks:

The handicapped dependant should be a dependant relative suffering from a permanent disability (including blindness) or mentally retarded, as certified by a specified physician or psychiatrist. Note: A person with severe disability means a person with 80% or more of one or more disabilities as outlined in section 56(4) of the “Persons with Disabilities (Equal opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act.

80DDB

Nature of Deduction:

Deduction of Rs.40,000 in respect of medical expenditure incurred. W.e.f. 01.04.2004, deduction under this section shall be available to the extent of Rs.40,000/- or the amount actually paid, whichever is less. In case of senior citizens, a deduction upto Rs.60,000/- shall be available under this Section.

Remarks:

Expenditure must be actually incurred by resident assessee on himself or dependent relative for medical treatment of specified disease or ailment. The diseases have been specified in Rule 11DD. A certificate in form 10 I is to be furnished by the assessee from a specialist working in a Government hospital.

80E

Nature of Deduction:

Deduction in respect of payment in the previous year of interest on loan taken from a financial institution or approved charitable institution for higher studies.

Remarks:

This provision has been introduced to provide relief to students taking loans for higher studies. The payment of the interest thereon will be allowed as deduction over a period of upto 8 years. Further, by Finance Act, 2007 deduction under this section shall be available not only in respect of loan for pursuing higher education by self but also by spouse or children of the assessee. W.e.f.01.04.2010 higher education means any course of study pursued after passing the senior secondary examination or its equivalent from any recognized school, board or university.

80G

Nature of Deduction:

Donation to certain funds, charitable institutions etc.

Remarks:

The various donations specified in Sec. 80G are eligible for deduction upto either 100% or 50% with or without restriction as provided in Sec. 80G.

80GG

Nature of Deduction:

Deduction available is the least of (i) Rent paid less 10% of total income (ii) Rs.2000 per month (iii) 25% of total income

Remarks:

(1) Assessee or his spouse or minor child should not own residential accommodation at the place of employment. (2) He should not be in receipt of house rent allowance. (3) He should not have a self occupied residential premises in any other place.

80U

Nature of Deduction:

Deduction of Rs.50,000/- to an individual who suffers from a physical disability (including blindness) or mental retardation.Further, if the individual is a person with severe disability, deduction of Rs.75,000/- shall be available u/s 80U. W.e.f. 01.04.2010 this limit has been raised to Rs. 1 lakh.

Remarks:

Certificate should be obtained on prescribed format from a notified ‘Medical authority’.

80RRB

Nature of Deduction:

Deduction in respect of any income by way of royalty in respect of a patent registered on or after 01.04.2003 under the Patents Act 1970 shall be available as :-Rs. 3 lacs or the income received, whichever is less.

Remarks:

The assessee who is a patentee must be an individual resident in India. The assessee must furnish a certificate in the prescribed form duly signed by the prescribed authority alongwith the return of income.

80QQB

Nature of Deduction:

Deduction in respect of royalty or copyright income received in consideration for authoring any book of literary, artistic or scientific nature other than text book shall be available to the extent of Rs. 3 lacs or income received, whichever is less.

Remarks:

The assessee must be an individual resident in India who receives such income in exercise of his profession. To avail of this deduction, the assessee must furnish a certificate in the prescribed form along with the return of income.

Writer Apurv Gourav is a part time Financial Planning Consultant with Birla Sun Life. He is also pursuing Certified Financial Planning. 

10 tips to become a SMART stock market INVESTOR

Morningstar.in

We've boiled down some of our most salient observations into 10 suggestions we think will make you a better stock investor.

At Morningstar globally, our analyst staff has about a thousand years of collective investment experience. Here, we've boiled down some of our most salient observations into 10 suggestions we think will make you a better stock investor.

1. Keep it simple

Keeping it simple in investing is not stupid. Seventeenth-century philosopher Blaise Pascal once said, 'All man's miseries derive from not being able to sit quietly in a room alone'. This aptly describes the investing process.

Those who trade too often, focus on irrelevant data points, or try to predict the unpredictable, and are likely to encounter some unpleasant surprises when investing.

By keeping it simple -- focusing on companies with economic moats, requiring a margin of safety when buying, and investing with a long-term horizon -- you can greatly enhance your odds of success.

2. Have the proper expectations
Are you getting into stocks with the expectation that quick riches soon await? Hate to be a wet blanket, but unless you are extremely lucky, you will not double your money in the next year investing in stocks.
Such returns generally cannot be achieved unless you take on a great deal of risk by, for instance, buying extensively on margin or taking a flier on a chancy security. At this point, you have crossed the line from investing into speculating.
Though stocks have historically been the highest-return asset class, this still means returns in the 10 per cent to 12 per cent range. These returns have also come with a great deal of volatility.
If you don't have proper expectations for the returns and volatility you will experience when investing in stocks, irrational behavior -- taking on exorbitant risk in get-rich-quick strategies, trading too much, swearing off stocks forever because of a short-term loss -- may ensue.

3. Be prepared to hold for a long time
In the short term, stocks tend to be volatile, bouncing around every which way on the back of Mr. Market's knee-jerk reactions to news as it hits. Trying to predict the market's short-term movements is not only impossible, it's maddening.
It is helpful to remember what Benjamin Graham said: In the short run, the market is like a voting machine -- tallying up which firms are popular and unpopular. But in the long run, the market is like a weighing machine -- assessing the substance of a company.
Yet all too many investors are still focused on the popularity contests that happen every day, and then grow frustrated as the stocks of their companies -- which may have sound and growing businesses -- do not move. Be patient, and keep your focus on a company's fundamental performance. In time, the market will recognize and properly value the cash flows that your businesses produce.

4. Tune out the noise
There are many media outlets competing for investors' attention, and most of them center on presenting and justifying daily price movements of various markets. This means lots of prices -- stock prices, oil prices, money prices, frozen orange juice concentrate prices -- accompanied by lots of guesses about why prices changed.
Unfortunately, the price changes rarely represent any real change in value. Rather, they merely represent volatility, which is inherent to any open market. Tuning out this noise will not only give you more time, it will help you focus on what's important to your investing success -- the performance of the companies you own.
Likewise, just as you won't become a better football player by just staring at statistical sheets, your investing skills will not improve by only looking at stock prices or charts. Athletes improve by practicing and hitting the gym; investors improve by getting to know more about their companies and the world around them.

5. Behave like an owner
We'll say it again -- stocks are not merely things to be traded, they represent ownership interests in companies. If you are buying businesses, it makes sense to act like a business owner.
This means reading and analyzing financial statements on a regular basis, weighing the competitive strengths of businesses, making predictions about future trends, as well as having conviction and not acting impulsively.

6. Buy low, sell high
If you let stock prices alone guide your buy and sell decisions, you are letting the tail wag the dog. It's frightening how many people will buy stocks just because they've recently risen, and those same people will sell when stocks have recently performed poorly.
Wake-up call: When stocks have fallen, they are low, and that is generally the time to buy! Similarly, when they have skyrocketed, they are high, and that is generally the time to sell! Don't let fear (when stocks have fallen) or greed (when stocks have risen) take over your decision-making.

7. Watch where you anchor
If you read our article on behavioral finance, you are familiar with the concept of anchoring, or mentally clinging to a specific reference point. Unfortunately, many people anchor on the price they paid for a stock, and gauge their own performance (and that of their companies) relative to this number.
Remember, stocks are priced and eventually weighed on the estimated value of future cash flows businesses will produce. Focus on this.
If you focus on what you paid for a stock, you are focused on an irrelevant data point from the past. Be careful where you place your anchors.

8. Remember that economics usually trumps management competence
You can be a great rally driver, but if your car only has half the horsepower as the rest of the field, you are not going to win. Likewise, the best skipper in the world will not be able to effectively guide a yacht across the ocean if the hull has a hole and the rudder is broken.
Also keep in mind that management can (for better or for worse) change quickly, while the economics of a business are usually much more static. Given the choice between a wide-moat, cash-cow business with mediocre management and a no-moat, terrible-return businesses with bright management, take the former.

9. Be careful of snakes
Though the economics of a business is key, the stewards of a company's capital are still important. Even wide-moat businesses can be poor investments if snakes are in control. If you find a company that has management practices or compensation that makes your stomach turn, watch out.
When weighing management, it is helpful to remember the parable of the snake.
Late one winter evening, a man came across a snake on the path. The snake asked, 'Will you please help me, sir? I am cold, hungry and will surely die if left alone.'
The man replied, 'But you are a snake, and you will surely bite me!'
The snake replied, 'Please, I am desperate, and I promise not to bite you.'
So the man thought about it, and decided to take the snake home. The man warmed the snake up by the fire and prepared some food for the snake. After they enjoyed a meal together, the snake suddenly bit the man.
The man asked, 'Why did you bite me? I saved your life and showed you much generosity!'
The snake simply replied, 'You knew I was a snake when you picked me up.'

10. Bear in mind that past trends often continue
One of the most often heard disclaimers in the financial world is, 'Past performance is no guarantee of future results.' While this is indeed true, past performance is still a pretty good indicator of how people will perform again in the future. This applies not just to investment managers, but company managers as well.
Great managers often find new business opportunities in unexpected places. If a company has a strong record of entering and profitably expanding new lines of business, make sure to consider this when valuing the firm. Don't be afraid to stick with winning managers.

Courtesy 

The Top 17 Investing Quotes of All Time

When it comes to the world of investing, three words come to mind: overwhelming, intimidating, and scary. For us "regular Joes," the questions seem never-ending. On that note, let's revisit what experts have said over the years on the topic of investing. The quotes date back to Ben Franklin, and some are from modern pundits like Dave Ramsey and Warren Buffett. Though markets may change, good investing advice is timeless. (For more information, see This Is Your Brain On Stocks)

1. "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." - Benjamin Franklin
When it comes to investing, nothing will pay off more than educating yourself. Do the necessary research, study and analysis before making any investment decisions.

2. "Bottoms in the investment world don't end with four-year lows; they end with 10- or 15-year lows." - Jim Rogers
While 10-15 year lows are not common, they do happen. During these down times, don't be shy about going against the trend and investing; you could make a fortune by making a bold move - or lose your shirt. Remember quote #1 and invest in an industry you've researched thoroughly. Then, be prepared to see your investment sink lower before it turns around and starts to pay off.

3. "I will tell you how to become rich. Close the doors. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful." - Warren Buffett
Be prepared to invest in a down market and to "get out" in a soaring market. (For more, read Think Like Warren Buffett.)

4. "The stock market is filled with individuals who know the price of everything, but the value of nothing." - Phillip Fisher
Another testament to the fact that investing without an education and research will ultimately lead to regrettable investment decisions. Research is much more than just listening to popular opinion.

5. "In investing, what is comfortable is rarely profitable." - Robert Arnott
At times, you will have to step out of your comfort zone to realize significant gains. Know the boundaries of your comfort zone and practice stepping out of it in small doses. As much as you need to know the market, you need to know yourself too. Can you handle staying in when everyone else is jumping ship? Or getting out during the biggest rally of the century? There's no room for pride in this kind of self-analysis. The best investment strategy can turn into the worst if you don't have the stomach to see it through.

6. "How many millionaires do you know who have become wealthy by investing in savings accounts? I rest my case." - Robert G. Allen
Though investing in a savings account is a sure bet, your gains will be minimal given the extremely low interest rates. But don't forgo one completely. A savings account is a reliable place for an emergency fund, whereas a market investment is not. (To learn more, see Savings Accounts Not Always The Best Place For Cash Assets.)

7. "Invest in yourself. Your career is the engine of your wealth." - Paul Clitheroe
We all want wealth, but how do we achieve it? It starts with a successful career which relies on your skills and talents. Invest in yourself through school, books, or a quality job where you can acquire a quality skill set. Identify your talents and find a way to turn them into an income-generating vehicle. In doing so, you can truly leverage your career into an "engine of your wealth."

8. "Every once in a while, the market does something so stupid it takes your breath away." - Jim Cramer
There are no sure bets in the world of investing; there is risk in everything. Be prepared for the ups and downs. (To read more on how Cramer makes his pick, see Cramer's 'Mad Money' Recap: Tools of the Trade.) 

9. "The individual investor should act consistently as an investor and not as a speculator." - Ben Graham
You are an investor, not someone who can predict the future. Base your decisions on real facts and analysis rather than risky, speculative forecasts.

10. "It's not how much money you make, but how much money you keep, how hard it works for you, and how many generations you keep it for." - Robert Kiyosaki
If you're a millionaire by the time you're 30, but blow it all by age 40, you've gained nothing. Grow and protect your investment portfolio by carefully diversifying it, and you may find yourself funding many generations to come.

11. "Know what you own, and know why you own it." - Peter Lynch
Do your homework before making a decision. And once you've made a decision, make sure to re-evaluate your portfolio on a timely basis. A wise holding today may not be a wise holding in the future.

12. "Financial peace isn't the acquisition of stuff. It's learning to live on less than you make, so you can give money back and have money to invest. You can't win until you do this." - Dave Ramsey
By being modest in your spending, you can ensure you will have enough for retirement and can give back to the community as well.

13. "Investing should be more like watching paint dry or watching grass grow. If you want excitement, take $800 and go to Las Vegas." - Paul Samuelson
If you think investing is gambling, you're doing it wrong. The work involved requires planning and patience. However, the gains you see over time are indeed exciting! (For more reasons to be patient, check out Patience Is A Trader's Virtue.)

14. "I would not pre-pay. I would invest instead and let the investments cover it." - Dave Ramsey
A perfect answer to the question: "Should I pay off my _____(fill in the blank) or invest for retirement?" That said, a credit card balance ringing up 30% can turn into a black hole if not paid off quickly. Basically, pay off debt at high interest rates and keep debt at low ones.

15. "The four most dangerous words in investing are: 'this time it's different.'" - Sir John Templeton
Follow market trends and history. Don't speculate that this particular time will be any different. For example, a major key to investing in a particular stock or bond fund is its performance over five years. Nothing shorter.

16. "Wide diversification is only required when investors do not understand what they are doing." - Warren Buffett
In the beginning, diversification is relevant. Once you've gotten your feet wet and have confidence in your investments, you can adjust your portfolio accordingly and make bigger bets. (For more reason to reduce your diversification, read The Dangers Of Over-Diversifying Your Portfolio.)

17. "You get recessions, you have stock market declines. If you don't understand that's going to happen, then you're not ready, you won't do well in the markets." - Peter Lynch
When hit with recessions or declines, you must stay the course. Economies are cyclical, and the markets have shown that they will recover. Make sure you are a part of those recoveries!

The Bottom Line
The world of investing can be cold and hard. But if you do thorough research and keep your head on straight, your chances of long-term success are good. Refer back to these quotes when you're feeling shaky or are confused about investing. How are they relevant to your experience? Do you have any favorite quotes to add? (To learn more from great investors, read Greatest Investors.)

 Sources:- Investopedia

Credit Card- A Plastic Money

Credit Card is a plastic card that is issued by financial company to the holders to borrow instant funds at the point of sale. It denoted the good credit ranking of the person and also is a promise that the borrower will repay the money within due date. It has become a lifestyle asset for the third generation people. But it can become liability to you if you do not have control on your spending. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of credit card payment.

Advantage of Credit Card Payment: 

• People can purchase items even they do not have money. The can take instant fund and can shop the items. 

• People are not required to carry cash to do shopping. 

• You can take the loan and at the same time have a reputation of good credit history. 

• People can do shopping anywhere. It helps you buy products online. Wireless Credit Card helps you make the payment online. Electronic payment system is really good and convenient mode to shop items. 

• It gives you reward points that you can redeem and enjoy the benefit.

Disadvantages of Credit Card Payment: 

• You are required to pay some extra amount for the product in the form of tax. Different companies levy different tax amount on Credit Card Processing. 

• You are levied heavy tax than that of normal loan if you cross the due date of payment. It also damages your credit rating. 

• It allows you to take more debt than that you can handle. It sometime makes you uncontrolled and you can buy unnecessary items at high cost.

Some Hidden Charges:

Nowadays most of the banks not informing the customers about the fees change and there is no clear intimation. It will affect your expenses and have to handle this clearly.

1. Avoid late payment fees

It is always keep in mind that the due date for all your Credit Cards. If you are missing the due, it will end up paying the late payment fees. Also periodically check for the due date, if there is any change by the bank.

2. Annual Fees

It is another expenses happening in the every year. If you taken the card with the life time free, then there should not be any fees for using the credit card. You have the rights to ask the company and they are responsible to provide the explanation.

3. Interest Rates

Learn about the Interest Rates of credit cards. There is lot of trick in explaining the interest rates by the banks. They will not tell you the annual rate for the credit cards. Because, it is higher than the other form of loans like Personal Loans, etc. It is always good to avoid taking the huge amount from the credit cards.

These are the advantages and disadvantages of credit card payment. Having a credit card is not bad rather it is an asset for you if you utilize it properly. You should try to make use of credit card only when you need urgently. It is for emergency and not for fun and entertainment. Understand the value of money and make its proper use. You will then find it to be an angel in distress.

Most of the people have a question in their mind that who give the instant loan to make the payment and how is credit card payment settled? The answer is – through merchant account. Merchant Accounts are special bank accounts that deal with credit card payment and settlement. These accounts are agreement between the credit card companies and the retailers to settle the payment.

Health Insurance :- Key Features & Benefits

The basic benefit of health insurance (also called mediclaim) i.e. covering the unforeseen medical expenses, there are few other features and benefits in most of the products offered in the market. Some of them are listed below:

Family Floater Policies: Most health insurance plans give the flexibility of covering up to 4 members of the family under the same plan with a slightly higher premium than an individual health insurance policy. It gives the flexibility of choosing say 4 or 5 lakhs of cover for the entire family. If one member in the family is hospitalized and uses about Rs. 2 lakhs for his treatment, then the rest 3 lakhs can be availed by others. It is very unlikely that more than 1 or 2 members would require hospitalization in the same year. Hence the family floater serves the purpose whoever in the family falls ill.

Hospitalization Cash Benefits: This benefit entitles the customer to cash benefits for every completed day of hospitalization, which helps him to take care of the increased financial burden incurred at the time of hospitalization, such as loss of earnings away from work and other expenses.

Cashless facility: There is a network of hospitals tied up with each insurance company which accepts the insured’s medical identity card (issued by the insurance company) for providing cashless facility to the insured. Hence either part or entire expenses are covered by the policy and the individual doesn’t need to spend from his pocket.

Pre-hospitalization and Post-hospitalization benefits Some mediclaim policies provide for up to 60 to 90 days of pre-hospitalization and post-hospitalization benefits, i.e. the cost of medical tests, medicines, scans, etc. This is usually provided under maternity benefits and treatments which do not require hospitalization.

Ambulance Charges In most cases the ambulance charges are taken up by the policy and the policy holder usually doesn’t have to bear the burden of the same.

Health check up Some health insurance policies have a facility of free health check-up for the well being of the individual if there is no claim made for certain number of years.

Cover for Pre-existing Diseases Some health insurance policies have a facility of covering pre-existing diseases after 3 or 4 years of continuously renewing the policy, i.e. if someone has diabetes, then after completion of 3 or 4 years of continuous renewal with the same insurer (depending on the plan offered and his age), any hospitalization due to diabetes will also be covered.

No-Claim Bonus Some health insurance policies provide a no-claim bonus. If there has been no claim in the previous year, i.e. if the person covered has not availed any hospitalization benefit, then a bonus is declared; either by reducing the premium or by increasing the sum assured by a certain percentage of the existing premium.

Tax Benefits of taking a Health Insurance Policy Under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act, income tax benefit is provided to the customer for the premium amount till a maximum of Rs. 15,000 for regular and Rs. 20,000 for senior citizen respectively.

Take Advantage of Nomination Facilities

Registering a nomination facilitates easy transfer of funds to the nominee on the demise of the investor.

What is a Nomination?

An investor can nominate a person(s) called nominee(s) to whom his/her Mutual Fund Units will be transferred on his / her demise.

Mutual Fund units get transferred to the nominee registered in the folio on the demise of the Investor.

What are the benefits of registering a nomination?

Registering a nomination facilitates easy transfer of funds to the nominee(s) on the demise of the investor. In the absence of the nominee, a claimant would have to produce a host of documents like a Will, Legal Heir-ship Certificate, No-objection Certificate from other legal heirs etc. to get the units transferred. The process is simple if a nominee is registered in the folio.

How can an investor make a nomination?

Nomination can be registered at the time of purchasing the units. While filling in the application form, there is a provision to fill in the nomination details.

Alternatively, an investor may register a nomination later through a form which may be submitted with relevant particulars of the nominee.

The forms are available on the mutual fund websites.

Investors may also request the registrar and transfer agent to send a form.

Can an investor make multiple nominations?

Yes! An investor may make up to three nominations and even specify the percentage of the amounts that will go to each nominee.

If the percentage is not specified, equal shares will go to the nominees.

Can a minor be a nominee?

Yes! A minor can be a nominee. However the guardian will have to be specified in the nomination form.

Can a nomination be changed?

A nomination can be changed and even cancelled. The relevant form should be filled and submitted to the Registrar or Mutual Fund Office.

If an investor has different schemes in a folio, will all units of all schemes be transferred to the nominee?

A nomination is at folio level and all units in the folio will be transferred to the nominee(s).

If an investor makes a further investment in the same folio, the nomination is applicable to the new units also.

Who can nominate and who is eligible to be a nominee?

Nominations can be made only by individuals applying for / holding units on their own behalf, singly or jointly.

Non-individuals, including societies, trusts, body corporates, partnership firms, the karta of an HUF, and the holder of a power of attorney (POA) cannot nominate.

Nomination can be in favour of individuals, including minors, the Central Government, State Government, a local authority, any person designated by virtue of his office or a religious or charitable trust.

A non-resident Indian can be a nominee, subject to the exchange control regulations in force from time to time.

Source:- The Hindu

Do's and Dont's Before Choosing Your Broker

DO'S

• Always deal with the market intermediaries registered with SEBI / Exchanges
• Give clear and unambiguous instructions to your broker / agent / depository participant
• Always insist on contract notes from your broker. In case of doubt of the transactions, verify the genuineness of the same on the Exchange website.
• Always settle the dues through the normal banking channels with the market intermediaries
• Before placing an order with the market intermediaries please check about the credentials of the companies, its management, its fundamental a recent announcements made by them and various other disclosures made under various regulations. The sources of information are the websites Exchanges and companies, databases of data vendor, business magazines etc.
• Adopt trading/ investment strategies commensurate with your risk bearing capacity as all investments carry risk, the degree of which vary according to the investment strategy adopted.
• Please carry out due -diligence before registering as client with any intermediary. Further, the investors are requested to carefully read and understand the contents stated in the Risk Disclosure Document, which forms part of investor registration requirement for dealing through brokers in Stock market.
• Be cautions about stocks, which show a sudden spurt in price or trading activity, especially low price stocks.
• Please be informed that there are no guaranteed returns on investment in stock markets.

DONT'S

• Don’t deal with unregistered brokers / sub-brokers, intermediaries
• Don’t deal based on rumors generally called 'tips'
• Don’t fall prey to promises of guaranteed returns.
• Don’t get misled by companies showing approvals / registrations from Government agencies as the approvals could be for certain other purposes a not for the securities you are buying.
• Don’t leave the custody of your Demat Transaction slip book in the hands of any intermediary
• Don’t blindly follow media reports on corporate developments, as they could be misleading.
• Don’t get carried away with onslaught of advertisements about the financial performance of companies in print and electronic media.
• Don’t blindly imitate investment decisions of others who may have profited from their investment decisions