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Your dorm room is your home away from home. It is also the first space you get that is entirely your own, away from your parents and family. When you study abroad, your dorm room gives you both safety and independence. But dorms can also be pretty cold and dull in their sameness and minimalism. The furniture is usually sparse and utilitarian and space is constrained. This can make your room feel alienating and depressing - if you are wondering how to decorate your dorm room on a budget. So how do you primp up your dorm room on a college student’s budget? Well, lucky for you, we have some smart ways to glam up your room! 1. Check second-hand goods marketplaces The first thing you should do when looking for items to decorate your dorm room is check for second-hand goods. You can usually find these online on sites like eBay. You can also visit a nearby flea market or thrift store for cheap, second-hand decor items. Additionally, living on a college campus means you will always find graduating students who are moving out and selling their possessions. Keep an eye out on social media pages and online groups and forums associated with your college for such advertisements.  Second-hand goods are a good place to start for decor. They are cheap and usually not fancy enough for you to form an attachment. Remember that as a college student, especially when you study abroad, you will be moving around a lot. You may change dorm rooms several times, you may also move out of student housing altogether. Therefore, it does not make sense to buy expensive or delicate items that can get lost or broken during moves. 2. Start Crafting! If you have an artistic flair, there has been no better time to use it. Hand-crafted decor pieces not only make your room come to life but also give it a cozy, homey feel. Handmade pieces also give a unique and personalized touch to your room that mass-produced, manufactured decor lacks.  Crafting items for your room can also be a fun project that you can use as a bonding exercise. It can help you have some fun and connect with your new roommates and friends. You can also undertake some crafting projects at home before you come to college and have some bonding time with family and friends. Studying abroad can be hard on your family and friends back home. This can give you some time to connect with them before you leave. Your hand-crafted decor does not have to be too fancy or complicated. Upcycle common items like glass bottles and gift boxes into vases, lamps, or storage boxes. You can easily find DIY decor tutorials on YouTube and Pinterest. Making decor using upcycled items is not only cost-effective, but it is also eco-friendly and sustainable. 3. Bring a touch of home If you study abroad, you may want to bring a touch of home with you to your college dorm. This can be as simple as photographs, polaroids, and postcards from back home. You can also ask your parents to help you pick out some items from in and around your home that you may have some special connection with. Studying abroad can become quite lonely and alienating at times. You find yourself in a foreign country with an entirely different culture, entirely different people, lifestyles, etc. Nothing is the same and it can be difficult to fit in at first. Having items, photographs and other memories from back home can help temper the culture shock a little. These items can help ground you and make you feel less lonely and disconnected. Having a connection to home is always a reassuring thing when you study abroad. 4. Invest in bed linens Dorm rooms are often quite tiny. There isn’t a lot of space for too many decor items or knick-knacks. Usually, your bed is the largest and most significant piece of furniture in your room. It makes sense then, that you should focus primarily on the one item that takes up the most space in your room.  Invest in bed linen that is both attractive as well as practical. Being able to get a good night’s sleep is very important for a college student on a tight stressful schedule. Your bed will inevitably become not only your sleeping space but also your chilling-out space and, sometimes even your workspace. So, getting comfortable and pretty bed linens and throw pillows not only helps you feel more comfortable, it makes you feel better. 5. Get Houseplants Houseplants are a great, cost-effective way of adding freshness and greenery to your room. You don’t need to buy a lot of houseplants or planters at once. You can always buy a few easy-to-take cares of plants initially and propagate new ones from them once they have grown a bit. Houseplants are not just decor items, they are also useful in teaching you a sense of responsibility. A plant is a living, breathing organism that needs care and attention to thrive. Taking care of a plant involves being constantly aware of its every need. You need to make sure it is getting enough sunlight to grow but not burn. You also need to make sure you are watering it properly and adding fertilizers and nutrients to the soil when necessary.  When you go to study abroad, you start learning how to take care of yourself, doing your own chores, errands, and budgeting. Getting a plant can teach you how to be responsible and take care of someone other than yourself.  Houseplants are a wonderfully fresh addition to your room, providing both green beauty and fresh oxygen. They also help you become a better, more responsible human being. Conclusion Moving into your first dorm room is an exciting time. You have a whole new canvas and a whole new space to make your own. There is no reason to not take full advantage of this opportunity to unleash your creative power. Decorating your new dorm room lets you express your individuality and taste which can be a thrilling new experience for a young adult.  There is no reason, however, for this experience to be a solitary one. In fact, you should make every effort possible to turn this into an opportunity for bonding and creating memories with friends - new and old. This not only makes decorating your room a more fulfilling venture, but it also helps you build connections that make studying abroad worth it! FAQs What are some necessary and affordable things I need in my dorm room? Some of the necessary things you need in your dorm room and can find on a budget include bedding, a microwave, a mini fridge, cleaning supplies, removable hooks or shelves, etc. How can I make my dorm room look nice on a budget? There are many affordable ways for a student to decorate their dorm room. You can try your hands on DIY crafts and turn a basic rope or pot into an eye-catching decorative piece. You can also create a photo wall and add plants, fairy lights, etc. Would adding plants help me decorate my dorm room on a budget? Yes, plants have the tendency to light up and brighten the mood of any space. You can find plants at very affordable prices and lighten up your dorm room in minutes.

If you are a young college student, newly 18, it is time for you to get your own bank account. A bank account is not just a place to safely stash your money. More importantly, it enables you to make smooth and safe money transfers and transactions. You also have the opportunity to earn interest and thereby compound your savings or investments. As a young adult, you will be learning the basics of financial independence and responsibility. Your own bank account can be your first step towards that goal.  Let's start with the big question. Why should you get your own first bank account? 1. Financial Independence The foremost benefit of having a bank account is that it is the first step towards financial independence. As a teenager, your parents probably monitored and supervised all your financial transactions and purchases. Having your own bank account gives you a lot more discretion and agency over where and how to spend your money. Having this agency is crucial to your learning financial responsibility. Learning to make your own financial decisions and when to say yes or no to purchase is an important life skill. Being in control of your own bank account teaches you this.  2. Security A bank account is the most secure way of keeping and handling your money. Unlike cash transactions, bank transactions are secure and often even reversible. This is because banks take extra steps to ensure that the money is being sent to the right person. You also maintain a paper trail with these transactions. If you fear you have been a victim of fraud, you can even contact your bank to cancel a cheque or transaction. This lowers the risk of you becoming a victim of fraud or losing your money. 2. Receiving payments & scholarships when you study abroad If you study abroad with a scholarship, you will most likely need an independent bank account. To receive these scholarships, stipends, or payments from any part-time jobs you undertake, a bank account is necessary. Having your own bank account means that these payments will come to you directly. Without your own bank account, these monies would have to be routed through a parent or guardian’s account. A major reason why students take the step of studying abroad is to learn independence. An independent bank account is part of this. As a young adult, it is important to be able to feel in control of yourself. Surely, the financial agency in this regard is important.   What kind of bank account do you need? 1. Savings Account There are many types of bank accounts but for most personal banking requirements, a savings account is the most appropriate. A savings account is the most common kind of bank account opened by individuals for personal banking purposes.  There is no upper limit or cap to the amount of money that can be held in a savings account although the number of transactions may have some cap. While most banks require people with savings accounts to maintain some mandatory minimum balance, this requirement is waived for accounts opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana. Fortunately, accounts opened under this welfare scheme have a limit on the value of deposits made and the number of withdrawals, including ATM withdrawals, which are capped at 4 per month. Image by Expect Best on Pexels 2. NRI Account If you study abroad or plan on taking admitted in a foreign university, an NRI account may be a better option for you. These bank accounts are for Indian citizens or Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) residing overseas. These accounts provide benefits in terms of currency conversion, transferability of deposits, taxes, etc. There are three main types of NRI accounts: Non-Resident External (NRE) Accounts: NRE Accounts hold funds in Indian Rupees (INR). This means these accounts can be used to deposit funds in other currencies which get converted into INR. These accounts can be used as savings accounts for income earned abroad as no tax is levied on the interest generated by these accounts.  Non-Resident Ordinary (NRO) Accounts: These accounts can be used to deposit funds in both INR and foreign currencies. If you already have an ordinary resident bank account, you can convert it to an NRO account when you move to study abroad. These accounts can also be used to send money from India to overseas. Interest earned on income in an NRO account is liable for TDS (Tax Deducted at Source). This type of account may be the most appropriate first bank account for you if you plan on going to study abroad.  Foreign Currency Non-Resident (FCNR) Accounts - FCNR Accounts can be opened and maintained in a foreign currency approved by the RBI, including US Dollars, Australian Dollars, Sterling Pound, Euro, etc. These accounts can be used to maintain long-term deposits. The interest earned on deposits in FCRN Accounts is non-taxable. What are the documents needed for your first bank account? The two documents that are mandatory to open a bank account in India are an Aadhar card and a PAN card. Aadhar is the foremost single valid proof of address and identity for Indian citizens. A PAN is a 10-digit unique alphanumeric number used by the Income Tax Department of India to track transactions and payments for tax purposes. These are both needed for KYC requirements. If you don’t have either of these documents, you need to apply for them first. You can apply for an Aadhar online through the UIDAI website and for your PAN through the NSDL website.  If you have your Aadhar and PAN cards, you can either apply for a bank account online or by visiting your nearest branch. You will need to fill out the appropriate forms and submit copies of your Aadhar and PAN cards along with two photographs. Depending on the bank other documents may be required and you should check the bank website or call ahead to confirm.  Conclusion Once you have submitted the appropriate forms and documentation for KYC, the bank should take a day or two to verify your details or reach out for any clarifications or errors. Once your documents are verified and your account is validated, you can receive your Bank Passbook, Cheque Book, and Debit Card from your bank. Your bank will give you a PIN for your debit card which you will be expected to change by selecting a new one through an ATM of the same bank. It is also a good idea to request internet banking facilities be made available to you, especially if you plan on going to study abroad. You may have to fill out a separate form for this.  With this done, congratulations! You now have your own first bank account! Your first bank account is one of the many first steps you will take as you enter adulthood. FAQs Can a minor open their own bank account in India? Minors in India can open joint bank accounts with their parent or guardian. Some banks like SBI also has provision to allow children over 10 years of age to open a bank account in their sole name. Can a 15-year-old get an ATM in India? Depending on the banks, financial companies or credit unions, minors in India can avail themselves of debit card services. For this, their legal guardians or parents can open a joint checking account with them. What is a zero-balance account? Many banks allow minors to open a bank account without depositing any money. These accounts are called zero-balance bank accounts. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

College can be expensive, especially when you are studying overseas. The education fund investment and planning your parents undertook for you should be enough to cover your tuition and housing. However, a side hustle can help you earn some extra disposable income to offset an overstretched budget. Here are some side hustle ideas for college students across the globe! Easy side hustle ideas for college students A side hustle is basically a part-time job that you can do in your free time when you are not engaged in classes or coursework. You need to pick a job that is easy, requires skills you already possess, and fits into your schedule as a college student. 1. Freelancing Freelancing can be an easy and flexible side hustle for college students. Freelancing involves offering your skills or services for hire on a contract or project-to-project basis. Depending on your skill set you can freelance as an artist, a writer, a programmer or developer, or a translator. Freelancer marketplaces and platforms like Fiverr and Upwork let you take up projects and clients on a flexible schedule which is perfect for students. Additionally, freelance work can be done remotely and you do not need to go to an office. This is great for students who study abroad and may not have a car or a license. 2. Tutoring Tutoring is a great option for you if you like working with kids or teaching. You can offer personalized tutoring services for high school students, especially students who are starting to apply to colleges. These students can benefit from your experience with college applications and admissions. You can offer them both education and mentorship.  If you are studying abroad and worried about not being able to connect with non-Indian students, or if you do not have a car to move around, you can offer to tutor online. Holding online classes saves you time and enables you to offer your services to a much larger potential demographic. 3. Sell hand-made crafts & products If you are creatively inclined and skilled in arts and crafts, you could make some money selling your work online. Products like hand-made candles, soap, decor, and knickknacks sell really well on marketplaces like Etsy and through social media. You can start by starting an Instagram or Facebook page advertising your products to students on your campus. After that, you can expand your little business on other platforms.  Keep in mind that your college may have rules or guidelines in place if you are starting your business from your dorm room. If you are making products like soap, that involve harmful chemicals, you may have to get special permission and take appropriate precautions. 4. Get a retail job Retail jobs are jobs that involve selling products or dealing with customers or inventory in a retail store. These jobs have been traditionally popular with students who go to study abroad. You can work as a sales representative, as a stockist, or as a cashier.  These jobs may seem like they are trivial or unsubstantial, but they teach you a lot of real-world skills that you can later bring to the job market when you graduate. They teach you the basics of sales, inventory, accounting, and customer management. They also give you the experience of working in a real workplace environment with co-workers, managers, and bosses. Retail jobs can be a real learning experience. 5. Get a restaurant job Jobs working in a cafe, restaurant, or coffee shop are also popular with college students who study abroad. In fact, you may not even have to go off-campus for one of these jobs. Usually, cafes and coffee shops on college campuses have barista, wait staff or line-cook jobs available for students.  The benefit of restaurant jobs, especially if you are a server or wait staff is that you can earn money on top of your salary through tips. This makes these jobs quite lucrative. Like retail jobs, restaurant jobs can also teach you valuable skills like customer management, order management, and accounting.  6. Food delivery service If you have a vehicle, like a car or even a bicycle, you may be able to work as a food delivery person. You can work with a restaurant directly or work through a food delivery service application. These jobs can pay well and, just like with writing, you can expect to rely on tips as well which can be lucrative. A downside of food delivery is that it can be time-consuming and involve a bit of travel. However, college campuses house hundreds of students and faculty who tend to order a lot of food. This means you may not even have to travel to far-flung areas to deliver your orders. Your location may be able to offset some of the downsides that are usually typical of food delivery gigs. 7. Library assistant If you are an international student with big study abroad dreams but not enough knowledge of the job market in a foreign country, you may like to work close to campus. Campus libraries are always looking for extra help with reshelving books and managing the lending software.  A library assistant job will keep you close to campus so you do not have to worry about traveling to and fro and missing classes. It can also be extremely rewarding, especially if you are a book lover. Being familiar with your college library will also be useful during exams and assignments. You may even be able to snag important and popular books before someone else issues them out! 8. Get paid for taking online surveys Marketing research companies are constantly looking for data on consumer behavior and preferences to improve their products and advertisements. These companies often pay people to take surveys for them so that they can sell this data to product designing and manufacturing companies and ad agencies. This is a good side hustle that does not even require you to leave your dorm room. You can squeeze in some questionnaires and short surveys in your free time and get paid for them! Conclusion Your parents have, no doubt, given you everything to the best of their ability, investing in education fund trusts and taking on education loans for your future. However, as you grow into adulthood, it is time for you to start learning to take responsibility for your own income. One of the things that make your decision to study abroad truly worth it is the independence and self-sufficiency it teaches you. A part-time job can teach you the hard work it takes to earn real money out in the world. Being on your own in a foreign country is a unique adventure that you should take full advantage of. A side hustle can be part of that adventure! FAQs How can a college student earn a side income? There are many ways for a student to earn a side income while studying. One can start tutoring, blogging, becoming an influencer on social media, getting an internship or a part-time job that aligns with their college schedule, and many more. What are some of the best college student-friendly side hustle ideas? Some of the best side hustle ideas for college students are - affiliate marketing, participating in paid online surveys, blogging, doing paid internships that are relevant to the subjects they're currently studying in college, etc. Is it important for students to have a side hustle? The answer varies from student to student. For some, it's a necessity as their families are unable to fully support them financially. For some, it's a way of transitioning toward financial freedom.

SBI Mutual Fund was set up on June 29, 1987, and was incorporated on February 7, 1992, and is the first non-UTI Mutual Fund which is a joint venture between the largest bank in India State Bank of India, and the leading global AMC – Asset Management Company in France – AMUNDI. The SBI Mutual Fund Trustee Company Private Limited which regulates the SBI Mutual Fund was set up as a trust under the Trust Act of 1882.   SBI Mutual Fund (SBIMF) offers various solution-oriented financial goals in the form of child education, planning of retirement, etc. Besides long-term investments, SBIMF caters to a myriad of other investment criteria like ETFs, equity schemes, Index Funds, hybrid plans, debt plans, and much more. SBI AMC became the biggest AMC AUM wise in January from the 3rd position. As of July 2020,  SBI mutual fund house manages average assets worth Rs. 3,64,916 crores. The biggest and the best equity schemes of SBI Mutual Fund are SBI ETF Nifty 50 (with assets worth Rs. 67,765 crores) and SBI ETF Sensex ((with assets worth Rs. 26,642 crores). The third biggest fund of the AMC is SBI Bluechip, which is their large-cap fund. The scheme has an AUM of Rs. 20,783 crores as of July 2020. As of 31-Mar-2021, the Corpus under management is Rs. 505373.4637 crores and the number of SBI Mutual Fund schemes is 322. In 20 years of operation, the mutual fund has rewarded its investors beneficially with consistent returns. It has launched 38 schemes and successfully redeemed 15 of them. A total of over 5.8 million investors have invested their faith in the fund and its schemes are consistently outperforming benchmark indices. The Fund manages over Rs. 42,100 crores of assets reaching out to a vast family of investors through a network of over 130 points of acceptance, 59 investor service desks, 29 investor service centers, and 6 Investor Service Points. SBI Mutual Fund is one of the most revered and trusted AMC - asset management companies, with a consistent track record, in India for the last three decades. Its diligent team of experts and professionals provides the most prudent advice on research, risk management, and stock selection. Important information about SBI Mutual Fund TrusteeSBI Mutual Fund Trustee Company Private LimitedMD and CEOMrs. Anuradha RaoCIOMr. Navneet MunotCompliance OfficerMs. Vinaya DatarSBIMF Acceptance centers in India222Number of Investors (approx.)5.8 million investorsDeals in Assets worthRs. 373000 croresRecognitionSBIMF is the first to launch a ‘Contra’ fund, called the SBI Contra Fund. SBI Mutual Fund is the first in India to launch an Environment, Social, and Governance - ESG Fund that acts as a sustainable investment. In 2015, for the first time, the EPF department - Employees’ Provident Fund of India trusted SBIMF Sensex ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) with Rs. 5,000 CroreAddress9th Floor, Crescenzo, C-38 and 39, G, Block Bandra - Kurla Complex, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400051.Telephone NumberSBI mutual fund customer care number and SBI mutual fund toll-free number - 1800 209 3333, 1800 425 5425, 91-22-62511600 (from outside India)Email idcustomer.delight@sbimf.comSMSSBI mutual fund helpline number - 'SBIMF' to 7065611100WhatsApp service of SBIMFThe applicant needs to save the SBI mutual fund WhatsApp number 7208017353 on his contact list and just send a ‘Hi’ to the Distributor from the relevant mobile number that is linked to his Investment number to resolve queries on a real-time basis. Top-performing SBI mutual fund schemes Some of the best SBI Mutual Fund Schemes are available on EduFund, and after thorough research on the available plans of investment, the applicant can make the right choice of where and how he wants to put his hard-earned capital. 1. SBI Magnum Mid Cap Fund (Category - Equity - Mid-Cap fund) This open-ended fund has a NAV of ₹106.498 (Growth) (as of 23rd April 2021) and is one of the top-performing funds in the 'Equity: Mid Cap category. The fund was launched on 29th March 2005 and has given trailing returns of 30.4% in one year (as of 2020). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load0 -1 Year (1%),1 Year and above (NIL).Return Since Inception (29th March 2005):15.9% (as of 23rd April 2021)AssetsINR 4887 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio2.17% (as on 31st March 2021) 2. SBI Contra Fund (Category - Equity - Contra fund) Its aim is to provide investors with maximum growth opportunities through equity investments in stocks of growth-oriented sectors of the economy.   It is a fund with Moderately High Risk that has a NAV of Rs. 150.287 (Growth) (as of 23rd April 2021), and is one of the top-performing funds in the 'Equity: Contra category. The fund was launched on 6th May 2005 and has given trailing returns of 30.6% in one year (as of 2020). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load0-1 Year (1%),1 Year and above (NIL).Return Since Inception (6th May 2005)14.9% (as of 23rd April 2021)AssetsINR 1856 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio2.29% (as of 31st March 2021) 3. SBI Technology Opportunities Fund (Erstwhile SBI IT Fund - Equity - Sectoral fund) Its aim is to provide investors with maximum growth opportunities through equity investments in stocks of growth-oriented sectors of the economy. It is a fund with High Risk and is ranked 42 in the Sectoral category that has a NAV of Rs. 108.207 (Growth) (as of 23rd April 2021), and is one of the top-performing funds in the 'Equity: Sectoral category. The fund was launched on 9th Jan 2013 and has given trailing returns of 47.3% in one year (as of 2020). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load0-15 Days (0.5%),15 Days and above (NIL).Return Since Inception (9th Jan 2013)20.6% (as of 23rd April 2021)AssetsINR 595 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio2.62% (as of 31st March 2021) 4. SBI Magnum COMMA Fund (Category - Equity - Sectoral fund) Its aim is to generate opportunities for growth along with the possibility of consistent returns by investing predominantly in a portfolio of stocks of companies engaged in the commodity business within the following sectors - Oil & Gas, Metals, Materials & Agriculture, and debt & money market instruments. It is a fund with High Risk and is ranked 9 in the Sectoral category that has a NAV of Rs. 56.2233 (as of 23rd April 2021). The fund was launched on 8th August 2005 and has given trailing returns of 23.9% in one year (as of 2020). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load0-1 Year (1%),1 Year and above (NIL).Return Since Inception (8th August 2005):11.6% (as of 23rd April 2021)AssetsINR 320 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio2.6% (as of 31st March 2021) 5. SBI Small Cap Fund (Category - Equity – Small Cap fund) The Scheme seeks to generate income and long-term capital appreciation by investing in a diversified portfolio predominantly equity and equity-related securities of small & midcap companies. It is a fund with Moderately High Risk and is ranked 4 in the small-cap category that has a NAV of Rs. 80.1244 (as of 23rd April 2021). The fund was launched on 9th Sep 2009 and has given trailing returns of 33.6% in one year (as of 2020). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load0-1 Year (1%),1 Year and above (NIL).Return Since Inception (9th Sep 2009):19.6% (as of 23rd April 2021)AssetsINR 7570 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio2.29% (as of 31st March 2021) 6. SBI Large and Midcap Fund (Category - Equity – Large & Mid Cap fund) Its aim is to provide investors with long-term capital appreciation/dividends along with the liquidity of an open-ended scheme. It is a fund with Moderately High Risk and is ranked 20 in the large and mid-cap category that has a NAV of Rs. 284.904 (as of 23rd April 2021). The fund was launched on 25th May 2005 and has given trailing returns of 15.8% in one year (as of 2020). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load0-12 Months (1%),12 Months and above (NIL)Return Since Inception (25th May 2005):17% (as of 23rd April 2021)AssetsINR 3629 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio2.21% (as of 31st March 2021) 7. SBI Bluechip Fund (Category - Equity - Large Cap fund) Its aim is to provide investors with opportunities for long-term growth in capital through active management of investments in a diversified basket of equity stocks of companies whose market capitalization is at least equal to or more than the least market capitalized stock of the S&P BSE 100 Index. It is a fund with Moderately High Risk and is ranked 9 in the Large Cap category that has a NAV of Rs. 50.5466 (as of 23rd April 2021). The fund was launched on 14th Feb 2006 and has given trailing returns of 16.3% in one year (as of 2020). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load0 -1 Year (1%),1 Year and above (NIL)Return Since Inception (14th Feb 2006):11.3% (as of 23rd April 2021)AssetsINR 26838 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio1.84% (as of 31st March 2021) 8. SBI Banking and Financial Services Fund (Category - Equity - Sectoral fund) The investment objective of the scheme is to generate long-term capital appreciation for unit holders from a portfolio that is invested predominantly in equity and equity-related securities of companies engaged in banking and financial services. However, there can be no assurance that the investment objective of the Scheme will be realized. It is a fund with High Risk that has a NAV of Rs. 21.7274 (as of 23rd April 2021). The fund was launched on 26th Feb 2015 and has given trailing returns of 4.8% in one year (as of 2020). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load0-12 Months (1%),12 Months and above (NIL)Return Since Inception (26th Feb 2015):13.4% (as of 23rd April 2021)AssetsINR 2371 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio2.44% (as of 31st March 2021) 9. SBI Magnum tax Gain Fund (Category - Equity - ELSS fund) To deliver the benefit of investment in a portfolio of equity shares, while offering deduction on such investment made in the scheme under section 80C of the Income-tax Act, 1961. It also seeks to distribute income periodically depending on distributable surplus. Investments in this scheme would be subject to a statutory lock-in of 3 years from the date of allotment to avail of Section 80C benefits. It is a fund with Moderately High Risk and is ranked 31 in the ELSS Category that has a NAV of Rs. 179.609 (as of 23rd April 2021). The fund was launched on 7th May 2007 and has given trailing returns of 18.9% in one year (as of 2020). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,00Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum Withdrawal-Exit LoadNILReturn Since Inception (7th May 2007):10.4% (as of 23rd April 2021)AssetsINR 9258 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio2.22% (as of 31st March 2021) 10. SBI Nifty Index Fund (Category – Others - Index fund) The scheme will adopt a passive investment strategy. The scheme will invest in stocks comprising the Nifty 50 Index in the same proportion as in the index with the objective of achieving returns equivalent to the Total Returns Index of the Nifty 50 Index by minimizing the performance difference between the benchmark index and the scheme. The Total Returns Index is an index that reflects the returns on the index from index gain/loss plus dividend payments by the constituent stocks. This open-ended fund has a NAV of ₹122.988 (as of 23rd April 2021) and is ranked 75 in Index Fund Category. It comes with a Moderately High risk. The fund was launched on 17th Jan 2002 and has given trailing returns of 14.6% in one year (as of 2020). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load0-15 Days (0.2%),15 Days and above (NIL).Return Since Inception (17th Jan 2002):11.1% (as of 23rd April 2021)AssetsINR 1032 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio0.68% (as of 31st March 2021) The best-performing SBI tax-saving mutual fund SBI Tax Saving Mutual Funds provide dual benefits to its investors – one in the form of capital appreciation through equity investments and the other through income tax savings under section 80C. There is a mandatory lock-in period of three years and has the potential for higher returns. The minimum investment is Rs. 500. These are Multi-cap Equity funds with a diversified portfolio. How can you invest in SBI mutual via EduFund? It is a simple, convenient, and easy process through EduFund to invest in some of the most profitable SBI Mutual Fund Schemes, which involves a hassle-free process. Let us look at the details of the process: Step 1: The first step is to log in using your SBI mutual fund login Id or your EduFund account. The applicant can also download and install the SBI mutual fund app to start investing. If the applicant does not own an account, he would need to create a username password by registering on to the portal. Step 2: The second step is for the applicant to scan and upload identification documents and proofs like Aadhar Card, PAN Card, Passport, Driving License, Voter ID Card or any other ID that is issued by the Central or State Government. Step 3: Further, the applicant must upload his address proof using any legal document that carries the permanent address of the investor. This proof again could be an Aadhar Card, Passport, Bank statement, rent agreement, Phone or Gas Bill, etc. Step 4: Next, he should identify the duration of investment he is interested in and apply it accordingly on the portal. Step 5: After the tenure, the risk undertaking should be determined, whether the applicant wants to opt for a low, medium, or high-risk investment. Step 6: As per the choice and market feedback, he can opt for the best SBI Mutual Fund, which is most suitable to his individual choice and criteria. Step 7: The individual has the option to go for a one-time investment or installment. If he wishes to pay the investment amount in a lump sum, he should select the “Invest One Time” button else can click on the “Start SIP” to enable investment which allows monthly/quarterly/bi-annual or annual payments. EduFund is a renowned portal that is registered with AMFI, BSE, and SEBI with zero fees to sign up. The investment logged in by the individual will reflect in his EduFund account within 3-5 business days. Using the SBI Mutual Fund Calculator  The mutual fund calculator SBI helps you estimate the returns which can be expected from the invested capital. The exact amount cannot be guaranteed, but an estimated amount can be calculated using the SBI mutual fund calculator for both Lumpsum and SBI mutual fund SIP payments to get an appropriate view of the SBI mutual fund statement. Leading fund managers at SBI Mutual Fund  The SBI Mutual Fund Investment team is well-equipped with stalwarts of the Finance Sector who have professional experience, qualifications, and knowledge of investment. Some of the leading Fund Managers at SBI Mutual Fund are: 1. Navneet Munot: Executive Director & Chief Investment Officer Mr. Munot was the Chief Investment Officer in 2008 when he joined SBI Fund House. Currently, he is the Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer, taking care of investments of more than USD 54 billion. He is a veteran with experience working with Giants as the former Chief Investment Officer of Birla Sun Life Mutual Funds and as the Executive Director and the Head of the Multi-Strategy Boutique at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. He has given 25 years to the Finance Sector and is a Chartered Accountant and a Charter Holder of the CAIA and CFA Institute. His expertise lies in various sectors of investment, like fixed income, foreign exchange, and hybrid funds. He is an asset to SBI Mutual Funds 2. Ashwani Bhatia: Deputy Managing Director Mr. Bhatia started his career at the entry level as a Probationary Officer in 1985 with the State Bank of India. Currently, he is the Deputy Managing Director of the SBI, and since July 2018, he is on loan to the SBI Mutual Funds Management Board. He is also the MD and CEO of SBI Mutual Funds. Before Corporate Credit Structures were revamped, he was also the Chief General Manager of SBI and was also appointed as the Chief General Manager of the Small and Medium Enterprises at the bank for several years. He has spent a lifetime in the field of Banking and has commendable experience in International Banking, retail, and credit and treasury. 3. Anup Upadhyay: Head of Research Upadhyay started his career at SBI MF as an Equity Analyst and presently he is the Head of Research at SBI MF and the Fund Manager for the Equity Opportunity Fund and SBI IT Fund for the IT Service Industry. He is a pass-out of IIT Kharagpur with an additional Post-Graduation Diploma in Management from IIM Lucknow. He has also been a student of the CFA Institute of the USA, where he is a Charter holder. His expertise lies in the area of Media, Telecom, and Capital Good Stocks too. 4. Nicholas Simon: Deputy CEO Mr. Simon was deputed from the Amundi Group of France, which holds a significant share in the controlling company. Mr. Simon has served as the CAAM for Real Estate and CEO of Real Estate from 2006-2015. He represents the interests of the Amundi Group on the Board. He was the Head of Property at Henderson Real Estate in France from 2003-2005 and before that Mr. Simon was the CEO of Generali Real Estate from 1996-2002. He has done his Master of Business Management from the Toulouse School of Business and completed his Post Graduation in Law from the Pantheon-Assas University in Paris. He has recognized exposure to International Banking and vast experience in controlling inflation, market trends, and beating the competition. 5. S. Srinivas Jain: Head of Equity  With an experience of 25 years in the equity market, Mr. Srinivasan joined SBI Mutual Funds as a Fund Manager and later became the Head of equity. He has had exposure to the equity market for as long as 25 years. Mr. Jain has worked with SBI for almost 20 years, with an overall experience in Financial services of more than 30 years. He is currently appointed as the Executive Director and Chief Marketing Officer of Strategy and International Business at SBI Mutual Funds. He has a background in Cost Accountancy and holds a degree in Graduation in Commerce from Bangalore University. He has varied experience working for leading Financial Companies like Motilal Oswal, Indosuez WI Carr, Principal PNB, Oppenheimer & Co. (Blackstone), and Future Capital Holding, managing the funds of SBI Mutual fund directly under him.  The other well-known fund managers at SBI Mutual Fund Mr Sanjeev Patkar Mr Nicholas Simon Mr Rajeev Radhakrishnan Mr D.P. Singh Mr Rahul Mayor Ms Aparna Nirgude Why should you invest in SBI Mutual Fund? To invest Online in SBI Mutual Funds, one can choose EduFund to safely put away his money in SBI mutual funds online, which charges no fees or hidden charges. It further helps investors to explore funds and options, gives them a varied outlook on the risk and tenure associated with each investment, provides all-out solutions for investors and clears misconceptions and doubts regarding a return, risk, and consistency before the individual invests his hard-earned money into it. The Funds option within the portal displays the return percentage and the current NAV. Besides that, before investing, a person can filter options like risk rating, value research, consistency, and size of the fund. He can also opt for investing in a lump sum amount or installments. Select EduFund for investing in SBI Mutual Fund EduFund makes the process of investing in HDFC mutual funds convenient. EduFund's experienced consultants give you customized solutions for all your financial goals. You can start investing from a lowly INR 5,000 and grow your capital comfortably. With EduFund, you get the following benefits: Customized Research-Based Financial Plan - EduFund’s scientific fund tracker screens over 1 lakh data points and 400 financial scenarios to recommend you the best mutual funds. Customer-Friendly Counsellors Help You Create a Financial Plan - EduFund's counselors are trained to handle all kinds of queries from customers. They spend as much time with you as you need and resolve all your issues to help you create a robust financial plan. Invest Less, Earn More - Not only are the best Indian mutual funds, but EduFund also offers you the facility to invest in US Dollar ETFs and international mutual funds. Use Free Tools - EduFund offers various free tools for its customers, including College Savings Calculator, SIP calculator, etc. No Technical Expertise Required - You do not need to be an expert in finance to understand which mutual fund is the best for you. EduFund does it for you. Value-Added Benefits - You may get value-added benefits like no commission, free advisory, and nil-hidden charges. Secure Transactions - EduFund is RIA-registered and uses top-class 128-SSL security to enable safe transactions. Special Support for Children's Education - EduFund has a dedicated team of experts who help you fulfill your children's educational goals. FAQs When was SBI Mutual Fund? SBI Mutual Fund was set up on June 29, 1987, and was incorporated on February 7, 1992, and is the first non-UTI Mutual Fund which is a joint venture between the largest bank in India State Bank of India, and the leading global AMC – Asset Management Company in France – AMUNDI. Why should you invest in SBI Mutual Fund? To invest Online in SBI Mutual Funds, one can choose EduFund to safely put away his money in SBI mutual funds online, which charges no fees or hidden charges. How can you invest in SBI mutual via EduFund? It is a simple, convenient, and easy process through EduFund to invest in some of the most profitable SBI Mutual Fund Schemes, which involves a hassle-free process.

College teaches you a great many lessons and gives a guide to budgeting. Not all of those lessons, as it happens, are learned in the classroom. As a young college student, budgeting and good financial planning are lessons you will learn to appreciate sooner rather than later. This is especially true if you are planning on moving abroad for your studies.  The expenses of a global education may have you worried and asking “Is studying abroad worth it?” Well, there is no doubt that going to study abroad has a great many benefits, both for your career as well as your personal growth and development. In fact, learning how to live on a tight budget can be a life lesson on its own. In this blog post, we try to understand how to get started in creating your first personal budget.  Image by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels Basics of financial planning When you are preparing for your college applications, it is likely that you have an education plan in place. This ensures that you are more organized with your applications and aren’t surprised or thrown into a tizzy due to unexpected circumstances. In the same way, to ensure that you are organized with your money and to avoid being beset by financial emergencies, you need a financial plan. What is Financial planning? Financial planning is basically a method to plan and manage your income, expenses, investments, and other finances to ensure that you can achieve your life goals. A good financial plan also anticipates and makes room for emergencies that may otherwise drain your savings or cause you to incur debt.  The first step in creating a financial plan? The first step in creating a good financial plan is the same as the first step in creating a good education plan - identify your goals. You need to figure out what your financial goals are. They can be as simple as being able to save a certain amount at the end of the year. Be realistic with your goals. Keep in mind that you are still young and do not have too many responsibilities right now. Therefore, you can treat your college life as a growing and earning period. You don't have to put too much pressure on yourself. image by Karolina Gabrowska on Pexels Understanding & tracking your finances Once you have your financial goals in place, you can start sketching out your plans. Understand your finances. Figure out how much money is coming in each month, (through education loans, scholarships, part-time jobs, or your parents) and how much of it you are spending. Figure out which expenses are reasonable or non-negotiable and which ones you can cut down. You should also maintain a personal balance sheet to record how much you have, how much you spend, and how much you owe. Collect all bills, invoices, and bank statements to accurately record all your transactions. This will enable you to understand and track where your money comes from and where it goes. How to create your first budget? Once you have a financial plan in place, creating a budget will be easy. A budget is a summary of estimated income, and discretionary & non-discretionary expenses. Budgets help you figure out where your money is coming from and where it should be going. This enables you to spend and save money more wisely. Budgets are especially important when you study abroad and are away from family support during emergencies. If you have done your financial planning and tracking, your personal balance sheet will be your first step to creating your first monthly budget. Next, follow these simple steps - Calculate your monthly income based on this balance sheet. Your income will include all money that you earn through part-time jobs and scholarships as well as any allowances you get from your parents or through an education loan. Make a list of your monthly expenses. This list should include all your fixed as well as variable expenses including tuition, rent, utility bills, food, transport, entertainment, etc. Next, separate the non-discretionary expenses like rent and utility bills from discretionary expenses like entertainment.  Set aside money for non-discretionary expenses as a priority. This is money you are not allowed to touch for anything other than its designated purpose.  Set aside money for savings and emergency funds. You don’t have to save a huge amount but do try to keep aside at least some money for this every month.  Make any adjustments that may be required. Cut expenses where possible and adjust savings where no other options are left. And voila! Just like that, you have your first budget! Good monetary habits Good monetary habits teach you financial responsibility and maturity. When you study abroad, you do not always have your family to rely on during emergencies. By practicing these, you ensure that you do not end up in sudden financial emergencies that cause you to incur debt.  Image by Maithree Rimthong on Pexels Financial planning and budgeting are some good monetary habits. Another important habit is avoiding unnecessary expenses. Avoid buying expensive clothes or gadgets that you don’t need. Avail of student discounts wherever possible. Use the library. Use public transport. Save money wherever you can.  Pay off your debts. Try not to buy anything on credit or borrow money unnecessarily from your friends. Only buy what you can reasonably afford. S Saving money may involve sacrifices. You may have to cancel a trip with your friends or miss out on going to an expensive restaurant. Keep in mind there will always be time for those things. By planning for the long term instead of focusing on short-term pleasures, you are making sure that you enter your working life on solid financial ground.  Pay your bills early and on time. Not being prompt with your payments causes you to accumulate late fees which can easily drain your resources and unbalance your budget.  Another important monetary habit to build when you study abroad is to always have an emergency fund. This fund can help you pay sudden expenses, like if you lose your phone or if your laptop needs repair.  Image by Liza Summers on Pexels FAQs What is financial planning? Financial planning is basically a method to plan and manage your income, expenses, investment, and other finances to ensure that you can achieve your life goals. A good financial plan also anticipates and makes room for emergencies that may otherwise drain your savings or cause you to incur debt. What is the 50-30-20 rule? The 50-30-20 rule states that 50% of your income should go toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. How should a student plan a budget? To create a budget, first understand what your monthly income/pocket money is, and figure out your daily and monthly spending like rent, food, and transport. Compartmentalize your spending into necessary spending and miscellaneous spending. Once you have all the information, figure out where you are spending excessively and try to save the money to create an emergency fund for yourself. Conclusion Financial planning is the first step towards financial responsibility and eventual financial independence. Your parents were able to send you to your dream college because they were fiscally responsible, saved money, and invested in child investment schemes to ensure the best future for you. The best way you can pay them back is by learning to be financially responsible yourself.  Your attitude matters. If you are not resolute about sticking to your budget, your financial planning will be futile. No financial goal is as difficult as it seems once you have your personal balance sheets and budgets in place. Welcome to adulthood!

Invesco Asset Management Company (AMC) Private Ltd India is a part of Invesco Ltd, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, which has delivered high returns and is a leading investment management firm set up on 20th May 2005. This AMC entered India in 2013 in partnership with the well-established Religare Securities Ltd. company (51% share). Together they formed Religare Invesco Asset Management Co. Ltd., which was co-owned by both the giants – Invesco and Religare. Invesco Mutual Fund was established in 2006 to cater to the investment needs of retail investors through mutual funds. It is one of the leading independent fund houses in the world. An impressive blend of investment excellence, sustainable business models, and organizational strength has helped the fund house to generate a large number of investor folios. It offers a broad portfolio of mutual fund schemes across equity, fixed income, and hybrid categories along with the fund of fund schemes and exchange-traded funds. It endeavors to deliver best-in-class investment products using its expertise and the global resources of Invesco. Since its inception, Invesco India mutual fund AMC manages assets worth Rs. 37476 crores, as of 31st March 2021 offering 110 mutual fund schemes that include 33 equity, 111 debt, and 14 hybrid funds. This top-notch Asset Management firm's main objective is to target the needs of the domestic and international markets and fulfill them, creating optimum returns for their investors. The company has sustainable business models that assist investors in scaling up and providing outstanding financial services. It offers an extensive array of funds suitable for multiple market capitalizations. The professional experts at the company analyze the market with exceptional exactness and help the investors take the right financial decisions catering to clients in more than 120 countries. Invesco is well-equipped with a dynamic outlook, and its flexibility with the changing financial world is worth applause. Saurabh Nanavati, CEO of Invesco India mutual fund, believes in investing in companies of all kinds – retail, institutional and corporate companies. The company offers investors a plethora of trade-worthy mutual fund schemes and professional assistance to earn quality returns on their investments. Important information about Invesco Mutual Fund ParticularsDetailsChairmanMr. V. K. ChopraCEO and MDMr. Saurabh NanavatiCIOMr. Taher BadshahAuditors  M/s Deloitte Haskins & Sells / M/s. Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants LLP at Invesco AMCInvestor Service OfficerMr. Surinder Singh NegiCompliance OfficerMr. Suresh JakhotiyaRegistrar and Transfer AgentKFin Technologies Pvt Ltd.CustodianDeutsche BankHead OfficeMumbaiTotal Number of schemes48SponsorInvesco Hong Kong LimitedTrusteeInvesco Trustee Private LimitedRegistrarsKarvy Computershare Pvt. Ltd.Set-Up24th July 2006Incorporated20th May 2005Name of TrusteesDean Chisholm (Associate Director) Jeremy Simpson (Associate Director) Bakul Patel (Independent Director) Satyananda Mishra (Independent Director) G. Anantharaman (Independent Director)A customer can write to or visit the Invesco mutual fund office atAddress- Unit No. 2101 A, 21st Floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai 400013.Invesco mutual fund customer care number022-67310000, 022-23019422 (faxInvesco mutual fund toll-free number1800 209 0007Emailpms@invesco.com; mfservices@invesco.com Ten top-performing Invesco mutual fund schemes  Invesco has mutual funds in almost all categories permitted by the Securities and Exchange Board of India or SEBI. Here is a list of the ten best-performing Invesco mutual fund schemes in India. 1. Invesco India Mid Cap Fund Direct-Growth Category - Equity: Mid Cap) The scheme’s main objective is to create capital appreciation by investing in Midcap companies. The Invesco India Mid Cap Fund Direct-Growth Category, with a NAV of 78.330 (as of 2nd May 2021), is the top-performing fund in the 'Equity: Mid Cap' category. This open-ended fund was launched on 01 Jan 2013 and has given trailing returns of 58.60 in one year, and 44.98% in 3 years (as of 30th April 2021). The fund considers the NIFTY Midcap 100 Total Return Index as its benchmark and is currently managed by its fund managers Pranav Gokhale and Neelesh Dhamnaskar. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Exit LoadFor units in excess of 10% of the investment, 1% will be charged for redemption within 1 year.Return Since Inception (01 Jan 2013):342.29% (as of 30th April 2021)AssetsINR 1389.34 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio0.74% (as of 31st March 2021) Invest Now  2. Invesco India Tax Plan Direct-Growth (Taxsaver: ELSS Fund) The scheme’s main objective is to create long-term capital growth from a diversified portfolio of equity and equity-related securities. It intends to invest across market capitalization sectors using a diligent bottom-up approach. It aims to have a concentrated and well-researched portfolio, which would be around 20 - 50 stocks. The Invesco India Tax Plan Direct-Growth Category, with a NAV of 76.6200 (as of 2nd May 2021), is in the Taxsaver: ELSS Fund category. This fund was launched on 01 Jan 2013 and has given trailing returns of 49.50 in one year, and 40.30% in 3 years (as of 30th April 2021). The fund considers the S&P BSE 200 Total Return Index as its benchmark and is currently managed by its fund managers Amit Nigam and Dhimant Kothari. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,00Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Exit LoadNILReturn Since Inception (01 Jan 2013):286.97% (as of 30th April 2021)AssetsINR 1512.41 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio0.91% (as of 31st March 2021) Invest Now  3. Invesco India Contra Fund Direct-Growth (Equity: Value-Oriented Fund) The scheme’s main objective is to create capital appreciation by investing in Equity and Equity Related Instruments using contrarian investing. The Invesco India Contra Fund Direct-Growth, with a NAV of 70.3800 (as of 2nd May 2021), is in the Equity: Value Oriented Fund category. This fund was launched on 01 Jan 2013 and has given trailing returns of 52.47 in one year, and 35.29% in 3 years (as of 30th April 2021). The fund considers the S&P BSE 500 Total Return Index as its benchmark and is currently managed by its fund managers Taher Badshah and Dhimant Kothari. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,00Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Exit LoadFor units in excess of 10% of the investment, 1% will be charged for redemption within 1 year.Return Since Inception (01 Jan 2013):300.80% (as of 30th April 2021)AssetsINR 6476.52 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio0.57% (as of 31st March 2021) Invest Now 4. Invesco India Largecap Fund Direct-Growth (Equity: Large Cap Fund) The scheme’s main objective is to create capital appreciation by investing in large-cap companies. The Invesco India Large-cap Fund Direct-Growth, with a NAV of 40.3300 (as of 2nd May 2021), is in the Equity: Large Cap category. This fund was launched on 01 Jan 2013 and has given trailing returns of 41.46% in one year, and 33.63% in 3 years (as of 30th April 2021). The fund considers the NIFTY 50 Total Return Index as its benchmark is currently managed by its fund managers Amit Nigam and Nitin Gosar. Key Information Minimum InvestmentINR 100Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 100Exit LoadNILReturn Since Inception (01 Jan 2013):207.39% (as of 30th April 2021)AssetsINR 290.74 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio1.11% (as of 31st March 2021) Invest Now 5. Invesco India Growth Opportunities Fund Direct-Growth (Equity: Large and Mid Cap Fund) The scheme’s main objective is to create capital appreciation from a diversified portfolio of Equity and Equity Related Instruments of Large and Midcap companies. The Invesco India Growth Opportunities Fund Direct-Growth, with a NAV of 48.8700 (as of 2nd May 2021), is in the Equity: Large and Mid Cap category. This fund was launched on 01 Jan 2013 and has given trailing returns of 45.32% in one year, and 32.55% in 3 years (as of 30th April 2021). The fund considers the S&P BSE 250 Large MidCap 65:35 Total Return Index as its benchmark and is currently managed by its fund managers Taher Badshah and Pranav Gokhale. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 100Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 100Exit LoadFor units in excess of 10% of the investment, 1% will be charged for redemption within 1 year.Return Since Inception (01 Jan 2013):253.36% (as of 30th April 2021)AssetsINR 3650.51 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio0.54% (as of 31st March 2021) Invest Now 6. Invesco India Infrastructure Fund Direct-Growth (Equity: Sectoral-Infrastructure Fund) The scheme’s main objective is to create long-term capital appreciation by investing in a portfolio that is constituted of equity and equity-related instruments of infrastructure companies. The Invesco India Infrastructure Fund Direct-Growth, with a NAV of 26.1700 (as of 2nd May 2021), is in the Equity: Sectoral-Infrastructure category. This fund was launched on 01 Jan 2013 and has given trailing returns of 50.23% in one year, and 31.77% in 3 years (as of 30th April 2021). The fund considers the S&P BSE India Infrastructure Total Return Index as its benchmark and is currently managed by its fund managers Amit Nigam and Neelesh Dhamnaskar Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 500Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Exit LoadFor units in excess of 10% of the investment, 1% will be charged for redemption within 1 year.Return Since Inception (01 Jan 2013):238.11% (as of 30th April 2021)AssetsINR 109.77 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio1.33% (as of 31st March 2021) Invest Now 7. Invesco India Financial Services Fund Direct-Growth (Equity: Sectoral-Banking Fund) The scheme’s main objective is to create capital appreciation from a portfolio of Equity and Equity Related Instruments of companies engaged in the business of banking and financial services. The Invesco India Financial Services Fund Direct-Growth, with a NAV of 75.5500 (as of 2nd May 2021), is in the Equity: Sectoral-Banking category. This fund was launched on 01 Jan 2013 and has given trailing returns of 44.87% in one year, and 31.60% in 3 years (as of 30th April 2021). The fund considers the NIFTY Financial Services Total Return Index as its benchmark and is currently managed by its fund managers Dhimant Kothari and Hiten Jain. Key Information Minimum InvestmentINR 100Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 100Exit LoadFor units in excess of 10% of the investment, 1% will be charged for redemption within 1 year.Return Since Inception (01 Jan 2013):210.78% (as of 30th April 2021)AssetsINR 292.80 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio1.14% (as of 31st March 2021) Invest Now 8. Invesco India Corporate Bond Fund Direct-Growth (Debt: Corporate Bond) The fund creates regular and stable income by investing in bonds issued by corporates. The scheme will invest in bonds that are rated AA+/ AAA by credit rating agencies. The Invesco India Corporate Bond Fund Direct-Growth, with a NAV of 2634.8148 (as of 2nd May 2021), is in the Debt: Corporate Bond category. This fund was launched on 01 Jan 2013 and has given trailing returns of 9.09% in one year, and 30.33% in 3 years (as of 30th April 2021). The fund considers the CRISIL AAA Short-Term Bond Index as its benchmark is currently managed by its fund managers Vikas Garg and Krishna Venkat. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 100Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 100Exit LoadNILReturn Since Inception (01 Jan 2013):91.18% (as of 30th April 2021)AssetsINR 2914.44 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio0.20% (as of 31st March 2021) Invest Now 9. Invesco India Short-Term Fund Direct-Growth (Debt: Short Duration) The scheme’s main objective is to create steady returns with moderate risk by investing in a portfolio comprising of short-medium term debt and money market instruments. The Invesco India Short Term Fund Direct-Growth, with a NAV of 3052.2750 (as of 2nd May 2021), is in the Debt: Short Duration category. This fund was launched on 01 Jan 2013 and has given trailing returns of 8.31% in one year, and 28.51% in 3 years (as of 30th April 2021). The fund considers the CRISIL Short-Term Bond Total Return Index as its benchmark and is currently managed by its fund managers Vikas Garg and Krishna Venkat Cheemalapati. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 500Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Exit LoadNILReturn Since Inception (01 Jan 2013):95.30% (as of 30th April 2021)AssetsINR 1175.15 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio0.40% (as of 31st March 2021) Invest Now 10. Invesco India Multicap Fund Direct-Growth (Equity: Flexi Cap) The scheme’s main objective is to create long-term capital appreciation by investing in equity and equity-related securities of large, mid, and small companies. The fund uses a diligent bottom-up investment approach to select stocks across the market capitalization range. The Invesco India Multicap Fund Direct-Growth, with a NAV of 71.1500 (as of 2nd May 2021), is in the Equity: Flexi Cap category. This fund was launched on 01 Jan 2013 and has given trailing returns of 54.14% in one year, and 27.81% in 3 years (as of 30th April 2021). The fund considers the S&P BSE AllCap Total Return Index as its benchmark and is currently managed by its fund managers Amit Nigam and Pranav Gokhale. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 500Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Exit LoadFor units in excess of 10% of the investment, 1% will be charged for redemption within 1 year.Return Since Inception (01 Jan 2013):297.71% (as of 30th April 2021)AssetsINR 1171.10 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio0.93% (as of 31st March 2021) Invest Now Using the Invesco mutual fund calculator  The Invesco mutual fund investment may generate returns, but it is impossible to calculate the exact amount earned as returns. But Invesco mutual fund calculator helps to estimate the returns which can be expected from the invested capital. This can be used for both, Lumpsum and Invesco mutual fund SIP payments and to get an appropriate view of the mutual fund statement. The investor needs to fill in the following information to find the estimated returns of mutual funds: Invesco Mutual fund calculated returns based on Selected Scheme Target Corpus (Rs)  Investment Tenure (in months)  Annual Investment Return (%)  How can you invest in Invesco Mutual via EduFund? It is a simple, convenient, and easy process through Invesco mutual fund login using EduFund to invest in some of the most profitable Invesco Mutual Fund Schemes, which involves a hassle-free process. Let us look at the details of the process: Step 1: The investor needs to visit the official webpage of Invesco or he can choose to visit the main page of EduFund to initiate an investment in Invesco Mutual Funds. Step 2: If he is a registered user, he can directly Invesco mutual fund log in to the platform using his mobile number and password/OTP. Or he would need to create his new Invesco mutual fund login ID, which can be done through EduFund as well, register using a new password, and then log in. Step 3: He should then go to the Mutual Funds section and choose ‘Invest’ and go to ‘Explore All Funds’, placed on the left sidebar. Step 4: From all the available Invesco Mutual Funds, the investor can choose the best type of mutual fund of his choice. All details about the chosen fund will appear on the screen, like risk level, tenure, NAV, etc. Step 5: The investor needs to select the category and choose the payment option he wants to go with – Lumpsum or SIP. He needs to enter the amount he wishes to invest and then simply click on ‘Confirm.’ Step 6: After confirming the plan, the investor simply needs to make his payment using his bank details, net banking, or using his debit or credit card. KYC check required for investing in Invesco Mutual Funds KYC needs to be complete and compliant before investing in Mutual Funds will be processed within 5 working days after the payment, and KYC formalities are fulfilled. The following SEBI-registered intermediaries need to be mandatorily contacted, and regulations need to be followed to complete the KYC: AMC – Asset Management Company and The Fund House (Asset Management Companies) KYC Registration Agency such as CAMS, Karvy, CSDL, NSDL, and NSE-owned DotEx International Limited To complete the KYC online, the investor should follow the below-mentioned steps To initiate Invesco mutual fund login or through EduFund using personal details and an Aadhaar-linked mobile number, which can be verified using OTP. Upload self-attested copies of Identity Proof and Address Proof. Documents required for Invesco Mutual fund investment Identity Proof - Acceptable documents are Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Passport, Driving, License,   Address Proof - Acceptable documents are Aadhar Card, Driving License, Passport, Recent Utility Bill, and Rental/Lease Agreement EduFund is a renowned portal that is registered with AMFI, BSE, and SEBI with zero fees to sign up. The investment logged in by the individual will reflect in his EduFund account within 3-5 business days. The best-performing Invesco tax-saving mutual fund Invesco India Tax Plan Mutual Funds are the benchmark as a beating tax saver with assured consistency and are among the top tax-saving funds. It is a safe bet for investors seeking capital appreciation over the long term and Investment in equity and equity-related instruments. It generates long-term capital growth from a diversified portfolio mainly consisting of equity-related securities. The key benefits of investing in Invesco Tax Saving Mutual Fund are: It is an open-ended ELSS Equity Linked Savings Scheme that comprises a lock-in period of a minimum of 3 years It helps in Tax exemptions under section 80C of the Income Tax Act 1961 It is invested with a long-term perspective It has significant exposure to midcap It consists of a balanced and well-diversified portfolio Leading fund managers at Invesco Mutual fund  The Invesco Mutual Fund Investment experts are well-equipped with providing professional assistance within the Finance Sector with appropriate qualifications and knowledge of investment. Some of the most efficient Fund Managers at Invesco Mutual Fund are: Top equity fund managers Taher Badshah (Chief Investments Officer) Taher joined Invesco AMC as a Chief Investments Officer in 2017 and has 24 years old overall experience in Indian Equity Market. He has prior experience working at Motilal Oswal Asset Management as the Head of Equities. He has also worked at ICICI Prudential AMC, Alliance Capital AMC, Kotak Mahindra Investment Advisors, etc. He has completed his master’s in management studies degree in Finance from S.P. Jain Institute of Management. He has also completed his B.E. degree in Electronics from the University of Mumbai. Invesco, he is completely engrossed with the equity management function.  Amit Ganatra (Fund Manager) As a Fund Manager, Amit Ganatra is well-versed in equity research and has professional experience of over 16 years. He holds a degree in Chartered Accountant and Commerce, and he takes intensive decisions and strategies for portfolio management.  Pranav Gokhale (Fund Manager) Pranav has a total experience of 14 years serving as a Fund Manager at Invesco Mutual Funds AMC e in Indian Equity Markets. He is a Chartered Account from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. Also, he holds an M. Com degree from Mumbai University. Pranav has previously worked with IL&FS, International Ship Repair LLC Fujairah, ICICI Direct, and Rosy Blue Securities.  Neelesh Dhamnaskar (Fund Manager) Neelesh has been working for 9 years with Invesco in Equity Investment with more than 14 years of experience in the equity and research market. He joined Invesco in 2010 and has also worked with ENAM, KRC, and Anand Rathi Securities Limited. Mr. Dhamnaskar holds a Commerce degree, and an MMS degree in Finance from Mumbai University and is currently pursuing CFA (USA), and is a Level III candidate.  Mr. Nitin Gosar (Fund Manager) Mr. Gosar has more than 14 years of experience, and he joined Invesco MF in 2011 in equity research. He has previously worked with IFCI Financial Services and Batlivala & Karani Securities. He holds a BMS degree, a master’s degree in Finance from ICFAI.  Top Debt fund managers Mr. Sujoy Kumar Das – Head of the Fixed Income investment Mr. Das, who has more than 22 years of overall experience, joined Invesco Mutual Fund in 2010. He is currently the head of the Fixed Income investment team at Invesco AMC. He was earlier working with DSP Merrill Lynch Mutual Fund, Bharti AXA Mutual Fund, and Bank of Punjab before joining Invesco. As per the “Top Fund Managers of India” survey, organized by Business Today and Mutualfundsindia.com, which was conducted in May 2005 & April 2012, he was awarded as the best debt fund manager in the country. He has a BSc, - bachelor’s in science in Economics degree from Calcutta University. He holds a diploma of Post-Graduation in Business Administration in Finance & International Business from the Hindu Institute of Management. Mr. Krishna Cheemalapati (Fund Manager) Mr. Cheemalapati holds a significant position in the fixed-income investment department of Invesco as a Fund Manager, which he joined in 2011. With an overall experience of 22 years, he has worked with other big giants like Reliance General Insurance and ICAP India Pvt. Ltd. He has completed his CFA from ICFAI, PGDBA from ICFAI Business School, and holds a BE degree from Andhra University. Mr Abhishek Bandiwdekar (Fund Manager and Dealer at Invesco AMC) Mr. Bandiwdekar has more than 12 years of overall experience in the Markets of Fixed Income, and he joined Invesco AMC in 2014. He is leading a high position in Invesco as a fund manager and dealer. Previously, he has worked with STCI Primary Dealer Ltd., Taurus Corporate Advisory Services Ltd., IDBI Asset Management, and A.K. Capital Services Ltd. He has done his PGDFM in Finance from I.E.S Management College of Commerce & Economics and is a commerce graduate. Mr. Vikas Garg (Head of the credit research team at Invesco) Mr. Garg has more than 15 years of experience. Before joining Invesco, he worked within the financial markets of other firms like L&T mutual fund as a portfolio manager and FIL Fund Management Pvt Ltd and ICRA Ltd in their credit research team. He obtained a diploma in PDGM from XLRI-Jamshedpur, a CFA charter in the USA, and holds a B. Tech and M. Tech degree in Chemical Engineering from IIT-Delhi. Mr. Vardhaman Kochar (VP of performance and risk at Invesco) Mr. Kochar has more than 12 of experience in performance and risk management. He has worked with Genpact and Polaris Financial Technology, Crisil Irevna Ltd. He has an MBA degree from IIT Kanpur and holds a B. E. degree in Computer Science from Rajasthan. Some other fund managers at Invesco Mutual Fund are: Mr. Dhimant Kothari Mr. Hiten Jain Ms. Rita Tahilramani Mr. Rajeev Bhardwaj Mr. Kuber Mannadi Mr. Herin Shah Mr. Prateek Jain Why should you invest in Invesco Mutual fund using EduFund? Investing in Invesco Mutual Funds through EduFund is a wise decision and should be taken soon to avail the following benefits: Features like Rupee cost averaging, Power of Compounding, Long-term Savings, and SIP Benefits enable many investors to invest in Invesco. Each Invesco Mutual Fund and benefit can be identified using its NAV, AUM, peer average returns, past performances, etc.  A robust investment process for equities and fixed income.  For fixed-income, the portfolios revolve around maximizing returns by investing in quality assets and minimizing liquidity risk and interest rate risk. For equity, with the help of ESG - Environment, Social, and Governance Overlay, Invesco follows an active fund management strategy. Invesco categorizes stocks based on value, event-based stocks, and growth. The stock category names are unique.  Their risk management process starts with the investment and continues till the final existence of the fund in the market. Invesco Mutual Fund is quite popular because it commits to providing investment excellence, depth of investment capabilities, organizational strength, and a global footprint. Select EduFund for investing in Invesco Mutual fund EduFund makes the process of investing in Invesco mutual funds convenient. EduFund's experienced consultants give you customized solutions for all your financial goals. You can start investing from a lowly INR 5,000 and grow your capital comfortably. With EduFund, you get the following benefits Customized Research-Based Financial Plan -  EduFund's scientific fund tracker screen over 1 lakh data points and 400 financial scenarios to recommend you the best mutual funds.  Customer-Friendly Counsellors Help You Create a Financial Plan - EduFund's counselors are trained to handle all kinds of queries from customers. They spend as much time with you as you need and resolve all your issues to help you create a robust financial plan. Invest Less, Earn More - Not only the best Indian mutual funds, but EduFund also offers you the facility to invest in US Dollar ETFs and international mutual funds. Use Free Tools - EduFund offers various free tools for its customers, including College Savings Calculator, SIP calculator, etc.  No Technical Expertise Required - You do not need to be an expert in finance to understand which mutual fund is the best for you. EduFund does it for you. Value-Added Benefits - You may get value-added benefits like no commission, free advisory, and nil-hidden charges. Secure Transactions - EduFund is RIA-registered and uses top-class 128-SSL security to enable safe transactions. Special Support for Children's Education - EduFund has a dedicated team of experts who help you fulfill your children's educational goals.  FAQs Is Invesco a good mutual fund company? Invesco India Tax Plan Mutual Funds are the benchmark as a beating tax saver with assured consistency and are among the top tax-saving funds. It is a safe bet for investors seeking capital appreciation over the long term and Investment in equity and equity-related instruments. Who owns Invesco mutual fund? Saurabh Nanavati, CEO of Invesco India mutual fund, believes in investing in companies of all kinds – retail, institutional and corporate companies. The company offers investors a plethora of trade-worthy mutual fund schemes and professional assistance to earn quality returns on their investments. Is Invesco a good investment? Invesco India Tax Plan Mutual Funds are the benchmark as a beating tax saver with assured consistency and are among the top tax-saving funds. It is a safe bet for investors seeking capital appreciation over the long term and Investment in equity and equity-related instruments. It generates long-term capital growth from a diversified portfolio mainly consisting of equity-related securities. Is Invesco an Indian company? Invesco Asset Management Company (AMC) Private Ltd India is a part of Invesco Ltd, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, which has delivered high returns and is a leading investment management firm set up on 20th May 2005.

By Eela Dubey, Co-Founder, Edufund India, and Namita Mehta, President, The Red Pen Most students pick their colleges based on rankings, which isn’t always the right strategy. Instead, they need to find the college that is the "best fit" for them. In India and globally, there are a staggering number of higher education institutions that offer world-class education. According to the All India Survey on Higher Education 2018-19, there are about 993 universities in the country, out of which 127 are deemed an Institute of National Importance. In the US, this number is significantly higher, with about 4,000 degree-granting postsecondary institutions, with US News only focusing on 1,400 for their ranking table and QS only including 160 in their World University Rankings list. The UK, on the other hand, has approximately 315 degree-granting universities and colleges listed on UCAS. This means you have choices. Many, many choices! Despite this, students opt to apply to only a handful of highly selective colleges. Since they are highly ranked on popular university lists, they are perceived as the “best”. The truth is that prospective students are fueling their hyper-selectivity. As more and more students apply to the same group of colleges year on year, they make the admit rate for these institutions smaller, leading to them becoming even more selective. The recent Netflix documentary, Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal which primarily focused on the recent college admissions scandal, also touched on how certain colleges are still attracting the majority of applicants. For example, over the last eight years, Harvard University has seen a steady increase in the number of applicants. From 34,295 applicants for the class of 2018 to approximately 57,000 for the class of 2025, the college has seen a 60 percent increase! And despite the pandemic, The New York Times reported that “Waiving standardized test requirements during the pandemic brought more hopefuls to the Ivy League and large state schools, while less-selective colleges face an alarming drop.” The question students need to ask is, “Which college is going to give me the education I need to reach my goal?” They need to understand how to choose the “best fit” college rather than the “best” college (which has been touted by rank tables and is based on common perception). There is no easy way of finding the right higher education institution for yourself. You need to research to understand each college’s ethos, and its USPs and see how its courses and offerings fit into your future goals. Learning about several colleges is time-consuming and hard work. Rank tables are often the go-to resource when families and students begin the college selection process. It does make sense on some level; “My child wants to study engineering and he/she has been academically successful in physics and mathematics. Let me go and check the top 10 colleges for engineering in the world.” No doubt this is a great starting point, but most often, this is where the research ends and a “dream, target, safety” list is quickly drawn up from the “top 50” options. Also, you need to understand what metrics each list is using. Universities are awarded ranks based on criteria, such as the amount of funding the faculty has secured, which may not have any impact on undergraduate teaching or a student’s undergraduate experience. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings for example, “judge research-intensive universities across all their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.” The research area accounts for 30 percent and includes reputation survey (18 percent), research income, and research productivity (both at 6 percent). Conversely, for US News, faculty resources account for only 20 percent, which is broken down into five parameters–class size (8 percent), faculty salary (7 percent), faculty with the highest degree in their fields (3 percent), student-faculty ratio and proportion of faculty who are full time (both at 1 percent). This is why a parent and student’s research should not end here. They should deep-dive into the size, location, syllabus, job opportunities, and more before they come up with a list. “Brand value” is another aspect to which students and parents attach a lot of importance. The brand value of a college varies from region to region and is created by community opinion on the reputation of a university. In my experience, I have seen that at times, a college’s brand value is directly proportional to the number of years it has been marketing in that particular region. The more consistently the college has marketed to an audience, the more likely students will apply, enroll, graduate, and then come back and tell their peers about their experiences. When there are sufficient alumni from that college in your immediate network (and they are successful in some capacity), the brand value of that college automatically goes up and without even realizing it, prospective students will have that college on their list. The University of Warwick in the UK is a perfect case study for this. It was one of the first British universities in the UK to accept Indian local curricula such as the HSC and ISC for admission. As they were among the first, many students flocked to the university. As a result, it has a strong brand value in India. It is important to note that your “best fit” university might not be the same for you and your best friend, even if you both are interested in the same major. For example, you might benefit from a college that has substantial experiential opportunities such as the co-op opportunities at The University of Waterloo, where you have the option of working in the field. Your friend, however, might prefer significantly more traditional classes, that may not include any working exposure as a part of the curriculum. Understanding which learning environment you will thrive in is crucial! With the Covid-19 pandemic, world-class education can essentially become available to everyone who wants it. Even after the pandemic, you can access professors doing cutting-edge research on a topic of your choice, learn from them, and gain the skills you need to succeed. As the world becomes more connected and the next generation of learners becomes clear about their strengths and goals, choosing a college or learning program that will optimize their growth and potential will be critical. In the next article in this two-part series, we will talk about what components you need to look out for when you are crafting your college list. You can bet that it goes beyond rank tables and popular opinion

Millions of Indians travel to study abroad but only a few have impacted the world order in an irrevocable way. Famous Indians who excelled after studying abroad have not only contributed to the pride of our nation but also changed the world order. If you look around, you won’t be surprised to find an Indian at the helm of affairs – in nearly every industry or field. Without a doubt, these Indians have earned their success by persevering and putting in the efforts to excel in their academics too. Let’s be clear – a degree doesn’t define you or guarantee success. But a good education is an important ingredient of success. Looking beyond academics, a global education teaches you much more. For an Indian student, the benefits of studying abroad are multi-fold. What’s one common factor amongst some Indians who rule the world? An excellent global education. Let us look at four powerful Indian personalities who went abroad for their higher studies. Famous Indians who excelled globally 1. Indira Nooyi Chennai-born Indira Nooyi went on to conquer the world as the former CEO of PepsiCo. She received her undergraduate degree from the Madras Christian College and her PGP Diploma from the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta (IIM-C). Indira took a leap of faith and applied to the prestigious Yale School of Management and her parents never expected that she would bag a huge scholarship! The Ironwoman had her fair share of struggles as her mother said - “No single woman is going to go to the United States.” In fact, there was a family meeting organized to decide if Indira Nooyi could pursue her foreign education without being married. With the support of her father and the financial aid offered by Yale, Indira’s dream became a reality. Moral of the story? No matter how big the tuition fees seem, taking an education loan is not the only way to fund your higher studies. Many foreign Universities grant scholarships to meritorious students. 2. Raghuram Rajan Meet the game-changer. Raghuram Rajan was the only RBI Governor who enjoyed the reputation of a celebrity! He was nicknamed ‘Rockstar Rajan’. All over the world, Dr. Rajan has been lauded for his economic analysis and his no-nonsense attitude in politics. He has a wealth of knowledge and that can be credited to the world-class education he received. He went to MIT for his Ph.D. and among the many accomplishments to his name, Dr. Rajan served as the Chief Economist at the IMF. In his capacity, Dr. Raghuram Rajan promotes quality education as a global B-school Professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. 3. Sara Ali Khan Beauty with brains. Sara Ali Khan has won hearts as a Bollywood actress. But there is more to her background than most people know. She holds a degree from the world-renowned Columbia University in New York. In an interview, Sara Ali Khan said: “I have an education, even though I am a heroine... so many people are baffled at that and I am so proud of that.” When you live miles away from home, you have the chance to be fiercely independent. A foreign education can shape your personality and this star is an example of it. 4. Sundar Pichai Chennai-born Sundar Pichai leads by example. Currently, Sundar Pichai is the face of Google. He comes from a lower middle-class family but that did not stop this Indian student from going to Stanford University, for his Master's. Sundar Pichai also holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. Sundar Pichai inspired students across the world as he shared, “My father spent the equivalent of a year's salary on my plane ticket to the US so I could attend Stanford. It was my first time ever on a plane.” It wouldn’t have been possible for Sundar Pichai, or anyone for that matter, to touch such great heights without relentless hard work, gaining knowledge, and honing one’s skills. A wise man once said, “Life is like a puzzle. Only if you fit the pieces into the right places, you will see the beauty of it.” Education is that piece of the puzzle that one should not miss. Famous Indians who studied abroad 1. Mahatma Gandhi We all know about him and his achievements. He’s known as ‘The father of the nation’. He went to the UK for studying law at The University College in London.  He returned to India later to work as a barrister.  2. Dr. Manmohan Singh He was India’s 13th prime minister of independent India. He has done his Bachelor’s in economics with honors from The University of Cambridge. Later he completed his D.Phil in economics from the University of Oxford.  3. Shashi Tharoor He is a politician and former international diplomat. He is also famous for his extraordinary English vocabulary skills. He has completed his MA in international relations from Tufts University in the USA. He also completed MA in law and Diplomacy and a Ph.D. in international relations and affairs from the same institution.   4. Kiran Desai She is an author. She has completed her two master’s degrees in fine arts, one from Hollins University and another one from Columbia University. She also studied creative writing at Bennington College.  5. Ratan Tata He’s India’s leading industry stalwart. He has studied at Cornell University and Harvard University. He studied architecture and advanced management programs at these universities respectively.  FAQs Where do most Indians go for higher studies?  Countries like Canada, Australia, and Germany.  Which country is the safest for girls to live in?  Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland, etc.   Which is the safest country for Indian students?  New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, etc. 

In the age of growing volatility across financial products, currency fluctuation over the years has been no different. The Indian rupee also had its share of wild fluctuations against the US Dollar. For the ones who are not aware - Indian Rupee has depreciated to the tune of 61% in the past ten years, 11% in the past five years, and 4% in 2020 (year-to-date) against the US Dollar (all data as on November 30, 2020). With the generation having global aspiration, such weakening local currency leads to higher pay-outs or direct losses when the liabilities are in US dollars, or the payments are in US dollars for the services availed.  A declining rupee against the USD is a spoilsport for Indians looking to travel abroad. It hits the budget of parents looking to send their children abroad for global quality education. Not just that, the imports get costlier, which result in rising prices of gourmet and related items.  Let us understand this with the help of an example, a simple case study – Let us assume, that Mr. Bhandari invests Rs 35,000 per month in Indian Mutual funds which are likely to generate 12% returns (annually). He also links his SIP to his salary increment and says that every year he will increase the investment by 7% (Step-up). In this case, the amount accumulated in 12 years (the time left for sending his child abroad for education for a bachelor’s degree) is Rs 1.45 crore. Let us now see how Bhandari can save using US assets. Assuming, Bhandari does a SIP of USD 500 every month and generates 11% returns (annually) while increasing SIP by the same value as before, he is likely to accumulate ~200K USD. Now, since the cost of education or the tuition fees is to be paid in the USD, the accumulated corpus can help Mr. Bhandari pay the college tuition cost and cover some living expenses too which accounts for a sizeable cost in the total education expense. Building dollar-dominated assets We believe, that investing in foreign assets helps the individual diversify their portfolio to cover the risk associated with volatile/fluctuating economic conditions in their home country. This is achieved because the investor tends to spread out the assets across geographies rather than sticking to conventional asset classes like domestic equities, debt, and commodities. It is always advisable to have some investments in international stocks or assets. Let us now compare the returns from the dollar and Indian indices -  Over the past ten years (as on Nov 30, 2020), the INR has depreciated by 61% (~5% CAGR) in terms of the US Dollar. At the same time, the US market has grown 169% (10.4% CAGR). Compare it to S&P BSE Sensex - which during the same period has grown 126% (8.5% CAGR). Source: Yahoo Finance, EduFund Research Even if India outperforms foreign markets, the lack of perfect correlation between different markets reduces portfolio risk. Are you worried about the small portfolio including a foreign asset class? You don't need to worry if your portfolio is relatively small. You can always invest in foreign stocks through a mutual fund registered in India or through US ETF, which is made very simple with the help of digital transactions. Investing in foreign assets shifts risk and acts as insurance against any wild swings that the domestic market may see. Under the liberalized remittance scheme (LRS), Indian residents are allowed to invest up to USD 250,000 annually in foreign stocks, bonds, and ETFs. While the money transfer to a foreign broker has involved a bank branch visit, however, the FinTechs in the space are gradually easing up the process by offering pickup and drop services for transfer forms. Besides, banks such as ICICI Bank allow a completely online process for transfers up to $25,000 - 10% of the total LRS limit. This has made investing simpler for people who aspire to invest in US Dollar as a class. It typically will help people looking to travel abroad, and/or looking to send their child abroad for education. Conclusion: ‍Building your corpus whether it be to settle abroad or send your children for education is a step that you have to take in order to secure yourself your child's future. Remember that planning fares well and your financial future is for you to build. So plan, strategize and invest wisely. FAQs Should I save in dollars or rupees? Given the continued rupee depreciation against the dollar, buying US stocks from India can be beneficial for Indians in the long run. In fact, for parents who are saving for their child's future foreign education, saving in dollars would be better. How can I invest in US ETFs from India? Investing in US ETFs is now at your fingertips. Just download the EduFund App ➡️ Create an investor account by completing your KYC verification ➡️ Explore your options and start investing. What are dollar-denominated investments? Transactions priced in USD, securities, and assets are some of the dollar-denominated investments. TALK TO AN EXPERT

Remember the game of hiding & seek you must have played as a child? What was the strategy you implemented back then? Every member of the team should hide in a different place so that the seeker is not able to find all the players. In essence, this is what diversification is all about when it comes to investing. Let us see in detail the benefits of diversification - What is portfolio diversification? Portfolio diversification is the process in which you allocate some portion of the portfolio to different asset classes (such as gold, equity, etc.). Imagine you invested your entire portfolio in equities and Covid-19 happens. While the market started recovery a month after the correction but it dampens your liquidity and financial preparedness. So, what is the purpose of diversification? Simply put, the fundamental purpose is to minimize the risk on your investments; specifically, the specific risk associated with the market. How do you diversify? An investor can spread out investments by way of the following - 1. Spread out your investments Investing in equities is good, but that doesn't mean you should put all your wealth in the same investments. It would help if you also considered investing in other asset classes such as gold, real estate, fixed deposits, etc. 2. Explore other investment avenues Consider adding You could also add other investment options and assets to your portfolio. Mutual funds, bonds, real estate, and pension plans are other investments you can consider. Also, make sure that the securities vary in risk and follow different market trends. 3. Consider index or bond funds Adding index funds to your portfolio is a sound strategy to be with the market. These are highly cost-effective investment instruments. Merely investing in an index fund, your wealth would have grown 1.45x in 71 months (see chart below). Amount InvestedRs 7,10,000Amount AccumulatedRs 10,27,616Annual Returns, XIRR (%)12.38 Source: Value Research, EduFund Research 4. Consider adding foreign assets While India offers a great story of growth considering its young population, we cannot rule out the volatile currency of the economy. For goals such as sending a child abroad for education, you must diversify currency risk. The rupee has depreciated at 5% over 10 years, thereby getting devalued. Also, it is seen that USD-dominated assets have performed well over the years, generating 10% annual returns against Indian assets that generated 7%.   USD INR Date100 USD in Sensex100 USD in DJIA100 USD in Sensex100 USD in DJIASep-10100.0100.04598.64598.6Sep-20189.7257.513964.718959.1CAGR7%10%12%15%Note: CAGR – Compounded Annual Growth RateSource: Yahoo Finance, BSE India, EduFund Research Reasons for performance DJIA grew at 10% CAGR in past years ending Sep-2020 whereas Sensex grew at 7% CAGR during the period The rupee has depreciated at 4.8% CAGR over 10 years ending 2020 One of the significant and most important benefits of diversification is that the portfolio can absorb shocks during a market downturn. The risk gets evenly spread out across asset classes, and if you are saving for an investment, the likelihood of you getting derailed from your track gets minimal. Key Takeaways Diversification is a strategy that allows mixing a wide variety of investments in a portfolio. A portfolio can be diversified as per asset class both within the class and geographically Diversification helps in optimizing risk-adjusted returns FAQs Why is portfolio diversification important? Diversifying your portfolio helps you strategize your investment by lowering the risk and maintaining stable returns. Which mutual fund is more diversified? Some of the most diversified funds for 2023 are Edelweiss Focused Equity Fund (Growth), ITI Value Fund (Growth), Canara Robeco Focused Equity Fund (Growth), etc. What are the different asset classes for investment? The different types of asset classes for investment include - money market vehicles or cash equivalents, commodities, stocks, real estate, bonds, and cryptocurrency.

The Indian market, after touching an all-time high in February 2020 plunged to Covid-19 outbreak. The market has corrected significantly since then but has managed to regain its earlier levels last month. Despite the ride where the short-term movement was significantly strong, the fund manager has been unable to outperform the benchmark. NSE Nifty 50 performance in 2020 Source: Investing.com While the market has come back to pre-Covid levels, it provided multiple opportunities for active funds to generate alpha (higher returns against the benchmark). Let us see how the active and the passive funds performed during the short-term and the long-term in the Indian market. The SPIVA (S&P indices versus active) report compares the performance of the actively managed fund, and passive funds over the multi-trailing period of over 1 year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10 years. The H1 of 2020 remained volatile, whereby the large-cap benchmark (S&P BSE 100) corrected by 14.39%. During H1, there was a sharp correction in Q1 of CY2020, followed by a strong rebound in Q2 of CY2020 with the benchmark index rising 20% with support by the economic relief package and easing monetary policy. The investors during the period tactically shifted their allocation from equity to fixed income. First Half 2020 Average Fund and Index Performance Note: Data as of June 30, 2020Source: S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Morningstar, and Association of Mutual Funds in India. Considering the SPIVA report, the fund managers have been unable to outperform the benchmark. Over H1 2020, 45.16% of the funds underperformed the S&P BSE 100. The underperformance, of fund managers, holds true in the case of the long-term horizon. Over longer horizons, the majority of the actively managed large-cap equity funds in India underperformed the large-cap benchmark, with 67.67% of large-cap funds underperforming over the ten years ending in June 2020. Over the same period, Indian large-cap funds witnessed a low survivorship rate of 65.41%.  Percentage of Funds Outperformed by the Index (Based on Absolute Return) over the long-term Note: Data as of June 30, 2020Source: S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Morningstar, and Association of Mutual Funds in India. How should investors behave if they are chasing a goal? Let us now see how could you invest. It goes on without saying that an active fund comes with a higher expense ratio which goes toward fund management and other related costs. On the other hand, the expense ratio for passive funds has remained low, given there is an underlying benchmark to mirror and active share is negligible. We, at EduFund, believe that an investor should not chase alpha as doing that may derail the person from his/her investment objective. Instead, he should explore the possibility of going ahead with cheaper passive funds to get the cost-benefit and also better risk-adjusted returns. We believe while an investor should have exposure to active funds but going all-in into active funds may not be the right strategy. We believe an investor can have a balance between active and passive to ensure that the risks are minimized. Let us see the performance of an Active fund and a Passive fund – Assuming you invest Rs 10,000 in SBI Bluechip Fund (Direct plan, Growth option) and the same amount in SBI Nifty ETF, you tend to accumulate a higher amount in the other case as compared to the former. Note: 1- SBI Nifty 50 ETF, 2 – SBI Bluechip Fund Direct Plan, Growth OptionSource: Morning Star To cut the story short, if you are chasing an objective such as - global quality education for your child, it is imperative you need to keep aside a hefty amount towards the goal. While you will be exposed to the active risk while investing in an actively managed mutual fund, you will also be exposed to currency risk where the rupee is depreciating against the dollar. So, in such scenarios instead of dealing with multiple risks for one objective, you should consider investing passively in an Index fund and even then, would be able to achieve the corpus for your objective. FAQs What are the main risks that one should consider to not compromise on an investment goal? The risks to consider while investing include - Dividend Risk, Call Risk, The Bottom Line, Political Risk, Business Risk, and Allocation Risk. What are the factors that affect your investment decision? These are the factors that influence your investment decision - maturity period, frequency of returns, tax benefits, associated risks, inflation rates, and volatility. What's the biggest risk for investors causing them to compromise on their goal? The price fluctuations in the market affecting the price of commodities, securities, and investment fund shares often cause investors to take impulsive decisions out of fear. Because of this, they may end up compromising on their goal.