MAM
Nokia remains the most trusted for third consecutive year
MUMBAI: Nokia, Samsung and Sony have emerged as India‘s three most trusted brands, according to The Brand Trust Report, India Study 2013.
Nokia leads for the third consecutive year, while Samsung and Sony have both moved up two ranks from last year to occupy the second and third slots.
BMW has climb twenty ranks to become India‘s fourth most trusted brand, as per the Brand Trust Report while Tata slips three positions as India‘s fifth most trusted brand after being in second slot in the previous two years.
Godrej is India‘s sixth most trusted brand and has moved up five ranks from last year and Reliance ranks seventh having gained three positions over 2012.
Meanwhile, Bajaj slips to eighth rank moving one down from the previous year, Airtel maintains its position at ninth and LG is India‘s tenth Most Trusted brand, losing seven ranks from last year.
The Brand Trust Report, India Study 2013 is the third in its series and this year the report lists India‘s 1100 Most Trusted Brands from 211 categories.
The report is a result of a primary research based on 61 attributes called the Brand Trust Matrix. The research conducted among 2505 influencer-respondents from 16 cities, generated more than 3 million data points from 13000 hours of research, the company said in a statement.
Trust Research Advisory CEO N. Chandramouli said, “Brand Trust has become an universal and vital proxy for all the different experiences that a brand generates, making it possible for brands to accurately allocate resources and measure results.”
After being ranked second in the aerated Soft Drinks Category for two years in a row, Coca-Cola has taken the first position, albeit with only a 2 per cent lead over the second ranked Pepsi.
Nano is the most trusted car brand and among consumer products category. Meanwhile, Tide has overtaken Surf Excel as the most trusted detergent brand while Nirma surges ahead of Hindustan Unilever as the latter slips significantly.
HCC is India‘s Most Trusted Infrastructure brand, DLF leads in Real Estate and, in education, IIT is more trusted than Oxford University and IIM. In F&B, Parle-G is the Most Trusted biscuit brand and Cadbury‘s Dairy Milk ranks highest among Chocolate Bars in which seven brands are listed.
World Health Organisation (WHO) leads in trust among Global Bodies followed by YMCA, UNICEF and Red Cross. Dabur, the Ayurveda leader, also leads the Healthcare Super Category of 36 brands. The mosquito repellent, All Out, has been a leader three consecutive years and has lead of 120 per cent over the next ranked, Good Knight.
The category of Internet has 25 brands this year and though Google leads Facebook this year also, it is only by a miniscule 3 per cent margin.
Anna Hazare is the Most Trusted Personality in India. In the same list, Aamir Khan ranks second (up from his fifth rank last year) and Salman Khan slips to third, within a small 2 per cent gap of each other.
Salman Khan‘s NGO Being Human maintains its rank as the Most Trusted NGO in India.
Most brands in the Technology Category have gained trust ranks this year with Apple being listed as the Most Trusted Technology brand.
Indigo Airlines is this year‘s Most Trusted Airline as Air India slips to second position.
If you are actively investing to grow your money month after month, you already understand the value of planning ahead. SIPs, long-term portfolios, retirement planning and goal-based investing all point to one thing. You are building a future with intent.
What often gets missed in this process is one foundational question. How well is the income that funds all these plans protected?
Term life insurance fits naturally into this stage of financial planning. It does not compete with investments. It supports them by protecting the income that makes long-term growth possible.
Why Income Protection Is a Core Part of Financial Planning
Every financial plan begins with income. Before money is invested or saved, it is earned.
Over time, this income is allocated across multiple needs:
● monthly household expenses
● EMIs and long-term loans
● savings and emergency funds
● investments aimed at future goals
As responsibilities increase, financial planning becomes layered. Each layer assumes income continuity. Term life insurance exists to ensure that this structure does not become fragile due to overdependence on a single income source.
It adds stability to plans already in motion rather than introducing a new objective.
What does term life insurance do?
Term life insurance provides a fixed payout to your nominee if you pass away during the policy term. The purpose of this payout is practical and clearly defined.
It is intended to:
● replace lost income for a defined period
● help manage outstanding liabilities
● support ongoing household and goal-based expenses
There is no investment or savings component. This keeps the product focused and cost-efficient, allowing individuals to opt for meaningful coverage without diverting funds meant for growth-oriented investments.
Why Term Life Insurance Complements Investing?
Investments and insurance play different roles in a financial plan.
Investments are designed to:
● grow wealth over time
● compound with consistency
● be adjusted as goals and risk appetite change
Term life insurance is designed to:
● provide financial continuity
● protect existing plans from disruption
● remain stable once put in place
Keeping these roles separate improves clarity. Investments are allowed to perform without being forced to double up as protection, while insurance quietly supports the overall structure.
Who Should Consider Term Life Insurance?
Term life insurance becomes relevant when financial planning extends beyond individual needs. This typically includes:
a) Working professionals
When income supports shared expenses or long-term plans, protection becomes essential.
b) Individuals with long-term liabilities
Home loans, education loans and other EMIs often extend over decades. Term insurance ensures these obligations remain manageable.
c) Parents planning future milestones
Education, healthcare and lifestyle goals require continuity over many years.
d) Early planners with rising incomes
Starting earlier allows coverage to align smoothly with career progression and evolving responsibilities.
How Much Coverage Should Be Considered?
Coverage should be guided by financial reality rather than affordability alone.
A well-rounded evaluation typically considers:
● number of years income needs to be replaced
● existing and future liabilities
● long-term goals already planned
● inflation and rising living costs
Many insurance companies offer options starting from 50 lakhs, 1 crore term insurance and higher. It allows individuals to choose coverage based on their income, liabilities and future plans.
How Term Life Insurance Fits Into a Long-Term Plan
Once set up, term life insurance does not demand frequent attention.
It does not require active monitoring, market tracking or performance reviews. Its role is structural rather than dynamic.
By ensuring financial continuity, it allows families to:
● stay aligned with long-term plans
● avoid rushed financial decisions
● focus on execution rather than damage control
When aligned correctly, term insurance strengthens the foundation on which investments, savings and retirement plans are built.
Choose the Right Insurance Partner
Once the need, coverage amount and role of term life insurance are clear, the final and most important step is choosing the right partner.
This decision should be based on:
● clarity and transparency in policy terms
● a strong claim settlement track record
● consistency in servicing and communication
● the ability to support long-term financial planning rather than just selling a product
Term life insurance is a long-term commitment. The partner you choose today will be the one your family relies on years down the line.
When protection is aligned with purpose and backed by a dependable insurer, term life insurance becomes a quiet but powerful part of a well-built financial plan.
