Tag Archives: finance

In this blog, we have shared top tax saving options for salaried individuals. Every assessment year, the tax filing season serves as a signpost for anxieties and a frenzy among paid people. You seek tax-saving strategies since you must pay money for taxes for the relevant fiscal year. Top tax saving options for salaried individuals Following are the top saving options for salaried individuals:  1. Employees' provident fund (EPF)  The Employees' Provident Fund, or EPF, is one of the most well-liked ways for salaried individuals to save on taxes. The Central Board of Trustees oversees the Employees' Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Act of 1952, which established it. Under this plan, 12% of the employee's income is contributed by both, the company and the employee to the EPF. The employees earn interest at a specific rate on their contributions.  For salaried workers, tax savings through EPF take the form of tax exemption. The money accrued in an employee's PF account and any interest is tax-free. A salaried person's income plan is lacking without an investment in a Public Provident Fund, or PPF. You may start a PPF, a savings plan supported by the government, for as little as Rs. 500. Maximum investment allowed is Rs. 1.5 lakh. 2. Public provident fund (PPF)  PPF has the category of EEE or Exempt-Exempt-Exempt. This indicates that all contributions made to the fund, interest received, and maturity amount are tax-free. As a result, it's an excellent way for you to invest and save on taxes. 3. Equity-linked savings scheme (ELSS)  Consider ELSS if you're searching for financial solutions that let salaried workers deduct income taxes from their pay. One of the finest tax-saving choices for salaried people is the equity-linked savings scheme or ELSS. Investments in ELSS plans may be written off from an employee's taxable income under Section 80C. You should also be aware that it differs from all other mutual fund schemes because it qualifies for a tax deduction. For salaried persons, ELSS distinguishes itself from other tax-saving choices because of its dual benefit of relatively more significant returns that are partially taxable. For profits over Rs. 1,000,000 in ELSS returns after March 31, 2018, there is a 10% tax. 4. National Pension Scheme The National Pension Scheme, or NPS, is designed for those who wish to save for retirement but have limited tolerance for risk. Being directly governed by the central government, it is a secure alternative for investments and a great way for salaried people to save on taxes. Under section 80C of the IT Act, you may claim tax advantages for the donation. Additionally, you are eligible for further deductions of up to Rs. 50,000 under Section 80CCD (1b). 5. Health insurance Chronic health disorders have become more prevalent due to an increase in sedentary lifestyles, long work hours, bad eating patterns, and other environmental variables. Additionally, the rising healthcare expense has elevated health insurance to the status of an essential investment. It also offers tax advantages while protecting you and your family from health problems that might drain your bank account. Premiums paid under Section 80D are eligible for deductions. One of the tax-saving investments that have several advantages is health insurance. 6. ULIPs ULIPs, which stand for Unit Linked Insurance Plans, offer investment and insurance benefits. With the money you pay in premiums, you may give your family financial security and invest in various assets to earn returns via careful planning. ULIPs come under the EEE category. This means that you can save taxes* since the premiums paid, the returns earned, which are not subject to deduction, and the maturity sum are all tax-advantaged, provided certain requirements are met, and recent tax* standards are followed. 7. House rent allowance (HRA)  According to the relevant regulations, those who rent housing can take advantage of tax incentives for salaried employees. HRA, also known as House Rent Allowance (HRA), is not entirely taxed and is thus deductible from income for salaried employees. Because a portion of HRA is free from taxation under Section 10(13A) of the Income Tax Act of 1961, subject to certain restrictions, it is one of the tax-saving choices available to salaried persons. HRA is subtracted from the total income before calculating the taxable income. Additionally, you should be aware that HRA received from your employers is entirely taxed if you own your home and do not pay rent. It would help if you considered this fully to grasp how a salaried person might reduce their tax burden. 8. Gratuity It is tax-exempt under section 10 when given to an employee upon their death, dismemberment, retirement, or superannuation (10). The maximum exemption amount is Rs. 20,000,000. Remember that to be eligible for the payment, you must have served a minimum of five years in the company. Investments should be made early and frequently for effective tax planning. Your tax planning to-do list should also include studying your pay stub. Don't disregard the investment declaration form your company sent you; it contains a wealth of tax-saving information. FAQs How can I save more tax on my salary? There are many ways to save on taxes on your salary such as: National Pension System House rent allowance (HRA)  ULIPs Health insurance Equity-linked savings scheme (ELSS)  Employees' Provident Fund (EPF)  How much maximum tax a salaried person can save? Salaried individuals can save up to 1.5 lakhs in India on taxes. How can I reduce my monthly tax on my salary? Salaried individuals can claim up to ₹1.5 Lakh spent on such investments as tax waivers under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

Where to invest in children's education? What are the best investment tools for creating children’s education fund? How much do you need to get started? Let’s find out in this article.  If you're thinking about setting aside money for your children's educational needs, it's time to get moving and avoid delay at all costs. Education inflation is rising considerably more quickly than general inflation. Parents are finding it more and more difficult to cover the rising fee structure and other expenditures involved with education.   This is true from basic to secondary to higher education. Saving in assets that can produce returns that outpace inflation is crucial. This is why it is important to make a rough estimate of the course's inflation-adjusted cost now, even before you begin saving. Your child might be interested in it in a few years.  Public Provident Fund (PPF), Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), or equity mutual funds are the top three investment options for many parents while saving for their children's education expenses. Let's look at what PPF, SSY, and equity MF as the best investment tools for creating a child’s education fund:  1. Public Provident Fund (PPF)  Even little children's names can be used to open PPF accounts. A total of Rs. 1.5 lakh per year may be invested in both the parent's own PPF account and the child's PPF account. To construct a tax-free corpus for the child that is secured by a government guarantee for the debt part, one could think about investing in child PPF. The PPF donation made to the child's PPF account may also provide tax benefits to the parent. PPF is a 15-year plan, and when a child turns 18, they can utilize the same account to make partial withdrawals to reduce their tax burden.  The PPF may be extended after 15 years in blocks of 5 years, thus for the child, it will be a 5-year PPF. The interest rate on the PPF account is currently 7.9% per year, compounded yearly, and paid at maturity.  2. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)  The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana program is designed to meet a girl child's financial needs. The youngster must be younger than 10 years old, and the program matures when the child turns 21. Only the first 15 years must be covered by the parent's SSY deposits. The SSY regulations permit the plan to be terminated after the child becomes 18 as long as it is only done so to facilitate marriage. The interest earned is tax-free, while the SSY contributions are eligible for a tax break under section 80C. The interest rate is currently 8.4% per year, compounded yearly, and paid upon maturity.  While the compounding and tax advantages of SSY and PPF are comparable, SSY has a greater interest rate. A PPF for a girl kid can be formed with only a tiny part of money entering into it, even though SSY can be given precedence for a girl child.  3. Equity mutual funds  Since PPF and SSY are both debt investments, returns will almost certainly fall short of inflation over the long term. One needs to be exposed to equity mutual funds in order to achieve strong inflation-beating returns. Create a mutual fund portfolio by combining at least two to three open-ended, diversified MF schemes, including an index fund, a large-cap fund, and a mid-cap fund. Pick investments that have consistently outperformed their benchmark throughout time. Connect them to your child's goals and keep SIPs going in them till the objective is three away.  The number of years before a goal can also influence a person's choice of plans.  4. Children's mutual fund schemes  There are mutual fund schemes specifically designed to meet the needs of children, but they have a lock-in period. When the market declines, immature investors typically have a tendency to sell their positions. They are unaware that keeping an investment for the long term, despite market volatility, is necessary to get returns that outperform inflation. On the other hand, fund management is given the freedom to make some risky decisions in order to maximize returns.  5. Child insurance plans  There are life insurance policies designed specifically to meet the needs of children. Such child insurance policies have a "waiver of premium" provision that guarantees the child will receive the intended amount of money when it is needed, even if the parent passes away during the policy's term. Such plans are more expensive because they guarantee the necessary sum for a child's demands.  No one investment can be the best. Diversify among all three of these investments based on the number of years till the target and your risk tolerance. Aim to use the long-term potential of equities through equity mutual funds rather than becoming significantly invested in debt products like PPF or SSY.  FAQs What are the best investment tools for your child's education? Public Provident Fund (PPF) Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) Equity mutual funds Children's mutual fund schemes Child insurance plans How do I create a child education fund? There are many ways to create a child's education fund. Here are some tools that you should consider building your child's education fund Mutual Funds, US stocks, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana for girl children by the Indian government, child insurance plans, and Public provident fund. These are effective ways to build wealth for big financial goals like your child's college fees or for your house. Is SIP good for child education? SIP is one of the best tools to invest in your child's education planning. It allows you to create a fund gradually and systematically without spending a huge amount in one go. It is a disciplined way to invest and allows you to stay invested for a long period of time. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

Union Budget 2023 was unveiled by the Hon'ble Finance Minister, Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman, who carried a digital tablet with the Budget papers.   The overall theme of the Budget was to set the stage for India@100, focusing on the critical pillars, including infrastructure, education, logistics, agriculture, and the digital economy.   Here are some of the key highlights:   India's GDP growth for the current year is estimated to be 9.2% - the highest among all large economies  Over six million jobs under PLI (Production Linked Incentive Scheme) in 14 sectors for Aatmanirbhar Bharat ECLGS (Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme) to be extended up to March '23 with guaranteed cover increasing by Rs. 50,000 crore  Promoting a digital economy with a focus on financial inclusion, through digital partners  IPO of Life Insurance Corporation of India  Wondering what that means?  Here’s a simplified explanation of these significant announcements under education, small savings investments, cryptocurrency, and digital currency.  1. Education  The Union budget has declared that there will be advancement and development in the education sector as several initiatives are introduced.  'One class, one TV channel' program of PM eVIDYA to expand TV channels from 12 to 200. This will enable all States to provide supplementary education in their regional languages for all the classes from 1st to 12th.   Digital universities that will provide world-class quality education to students will be personalized for ease and will be available at their doorstep through online media on mobile phones or television.  The Digital Desh EPortal scheme has also been introduced to empower citizens to develop skills, upskill and reskill through online training in their respective languages.   2. Small savings, investments & financial inclusion  India witnessed a paradigm shift when it came to adopting digital modes of payment. The Finance Minister emphasized setting up 75 digital banking units across 75 districts by scheduled commercial banks. The move shall bring banking as a service to every Indian citizen.  The finance minister announced that all the 1.5 lakh post offices would come onto the core banking system. This is a move to improve financial accessibility. The long-term capital gains arising on the transfer of any assets are at 15%. The step is likely to boost the start-up community.  Finally, the most-awaited highlights. Here are all the updates you've been looking for, in regard to cryptocurrency.   The finance minister has made it clear that the Central Bank (the RBI) will issue a digital currency. Other digital/virtual currencies created by an individual/organization will be considered assets.   The digital assets will be taxed at 30%, and 1% TDS will be levied on every transaction to capture the transactions by the Government  Reserve Bank of India will issue a new digital rupee with the help of blockchain technology, Central Bank Digital Currency(CBDC)  Overall, the budget has been different from what a common man expects, setting up the stage for Atmanirbhar Bharat and the grand vision of the Prime Minister for India@100.   And, that was our take on the Union Budget 2023. FAQs What is the concept of the Union Budget? A Union budget is presented by the Indian government every year to decide resource allocation, projected revenue, and expenditure and analyze growth. When will the Union Budget be released? On 1st February 2023, the Union Budget will be announced by the Finance Minister of India. What are the 3 types of budgets? The three types of annual Government budgets are Surplus Budget, Balanced Budget, and Deficit Budget.

Student credit Card is meant for students and their expenses. They are extremely helpful with daily payments, offer rewards on shopping and travel, and can help a student build their credit score over the years. While the concept of student credit cards is literally new in India, it is fast emerging as a tool for financial independence and growth. Let’s find out what is a student credit card, how it works, and its benefits. What is a Student credit card and how does it work in India?    A student credit card is a credit card meant exclusively for college students. Students must be above the age of 18 years of age to avail of this card. Only some specific banks like SBI and HDFC banks offer this facility in India. A majority of college students going abroad generally opt for credit cards or forex cards. It is a new and emerging financial concept in the country.  Some state governments help students get student loans at a concessional rate and have also launched Student Card Schemes such as the West Bengal Student Credit Card Scheme and the Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme.   In order to apply for these cards, students must be above the age of 18 and enrolled as a student in a recognized institution. These cards are valid for 5 years with minimal or no annual fees. Banks do not charge a maintenance fee for student credit cards. Student credit cards have a relatively low credit limit so that students do not end up overspending.  It is a great way to help your child learn finances and budgeting. Maintaining their credit limit and credit score can help them create a healthy financial record over a long period of time.   Who can apply for these cards?     The basic criteria for student credit cards are age and enrolment. A student needs to be above the age of 18 years and must have a valid student ID from a recognized university/institution. Being enrolled in college is one of the most important criteria for acquiring this card. Why should you get a Student credit card? There are many reasons to get a student credit card, Let’s look at some of them:    Student credit cards help build creditworthiness and credit score. Students can start building a financial record and gain financial independence. It helps them understand the importance of limit utilization, regulate their spending habits, and understand reward features, and repayment mechanisms while building a strong credit score for their adult lives.   Student credit cards can be a backup and an emergency plan. If you as a student are in need of funds but don’t have cash reserves, then you can use your credit card immediately. It allows you to make the repayment later and fulfill your financial obligations  Helps in saving money and using discounts. A student credit card can get you amazing offers and discounts. It can help you minimize your expenses since books, stationery, and gadgets can be expensive. Many platforms offer exclusive offers exclusively to students. This can help you stay on budget and build savings for yourself as well.  Another reason to get a student credit card is to gain financial independence and learn budgeting. As a cardholder, you will be responsible for all your expenses and repayments. This will help you analyze your spending habits and understand how to stay on track. Defaults on credit cards reflect poorly on your credit score and history, this is a good incentive to manage your repayments and spending carefully.  List of best student credit cards    Here are some of the best student credit cards in India    SBI Student Plus Advantage Card  Axis Bank Insta Easy Credit Card    ICICI Bank Student Travel Card  HDFC Bank's ISIC Student ForexPlus Card  What is the application process for student credit cards in India?     You do not require a list of documents to apply for a student credit card in India. Here are the following documents you must provide along with an application form given by the bank:  PAN or any other government-approved photo ID    Aadhaar Card or any other government-approved address proof    Birth Certificate    College Identity Card or any other proof of enrolment    Passport-sized photographs    Evidence of Education Loan and or Fixed Deposit (as per the credit criteria of the bank)    TALK TO AN EXPERT FAQ What is a student credit card? Student Credit Card is meant for students and their expenses. They are extremely helpful with daily payments, offer rewards on shopping and travel, and can help a student build their credit score over the years. What are the eligibility criteria for a student credit card?  The basic criteria for student credit cards are age and enrolment. A student needs to be above the age of 18 years and must have a valid student ID from a recognized university/institution. Being enrolled in college is one of the most important criteria for acquiring this card. What are the benefits of getting a student credit card? Student credit cards have many benefits, they help with the following:  Provide financial independence  Helps you learn budgeting and financial management   Builds credit history and score  Have a reward system   Useful during emergencies What are some of the best credit cards in India?  Here are some of the best student credit cards in India:    SBI Student Plus Advantage Card   Axis Bank Insta Easy Credit Card     ICICI Bank Student Travel Card   HDFC Bank's ISIC Student ForexPlus Card  Student credit cards are the best teachers of financial management and spending. They have a relatively low credit limit and students are less likely to misuse the financial tool. It helps them learn about budgeting and build creditworthiness for borrowing funds in the future. In the modernized world, the advantages of student credit cards are unlimited, they help students make transnational payments and come in handy during emergencies.

“Mutual Funds Sahi hai” is something we hear every now and then. Yes! mutual funds are good investment options for certain reasons. However, as an investor, one may think to mimic the mutual fund portfolio to avoid the expense ratio or exit fees.   Do you think copying a mutual fund’s portfolio is the right thing to do? Continue reading to know if you should copy a mutual fund’s portfolio or not! Mutual funds are the most popular mode of investment for a large number of investors. They are basically investment vehicles that pool money from investors and then use this money to invest in company stocks (equity), bonds (debt), or other instruments (like other mutual funds).   What are the benefits of mutual funds?  Experienced and expert fund management: Mutual funds have the best fund managers who manage the Scheme’s funds and an excellent research team that perform detailed research and analysis on company stocks or debt to select the investment that is best suitable to the fund’s investment objective.  Reinvestment of Dividend: When the stocks in a portfolio earn dividends, mutual funds provide a reinvestment option wherein the investor gets allotted additional units of the mutual fund scheme.  Optimized risk: In mutual fund schemes there is no concentration in any particular stock. With proper diversification and periodical rebalancing, mutual funds help reduce or optimize the overall portfolio risk and volatility.  Should you copy a mutual fund’s portfolio?  All mutual fund schemes provide a complete monthly disclosure that gives details on the fund’s portfolio holdings and their proportion of holding.   Yes, by looking at the holdings and their ratios it is easy for an investor to copy the same, however, it is not ideal. Let’s see why: -  Choice of strategy: After thinking of copying a mutual fund’s portfolio, the question that now arises is which style to copy. Every Fund Manager and Fund management team is different even within the same category. Moreover, different funds have different investment objectives and different investment strategies and styles. So, whose strategy will you follow?  The fund manager’s thought process: An investor can always copy a fund’s portfolio but not the thought process of the fund manager that goes behind it. It's easy to find out the stocks that are bought or sold by the fund manager in the monthly disclosures. However, there is an entirely different thought process that goes behind the decision-making. The scheme mandates and risk management policy of the fund house influence the stock selection and their weightage decisions.  Periodical rebalancing: While choosing a stock for the mutual fund scheme’s portfolio, the market situation is kept in mind. The markets are well analyzed to find out the opportunities to invest.  Also, the market never stays the same. So, based on market conditions, the fund managers periodically rebalance the portfolio and alter the stock and sector weights to ensure the scheme’s portfolio is in line with the investment objective.  Log in scheme’s disclosure: Mutual funds disclosure comes every month. However, the fund manager may buy or sell some security in the middle of the month. When you get to know of the transaction, it would have been around 5-10 days and the market price of the share will not be the same.  Cost of investment: Some stocks like blue-chip stocks are very expensive and not all investors may be able to invest in them. Mutual funds provide the investor exposure to such stocks at a much lower price. Mutual funds when pooled in money, invest it in such stocks and offer a fractional exposure to the mutual fund exposures. Moreover, what stocks will you buy? There may be over 20 stocks in a mutual fund’s portfolio. Can you purchase all of them? Mutual funds help you not burn your pockets to get such stocks in your portfolio.  Conclusion  Fund Managers exist for a reason they make your investment journey easier and smoother. These fund managers have good experience and expertise in handling such large volumes of funds. They have specialized in this field and have a well-experienced research team to support them as well.  You always have a number of funds to choose from based on your goal, risk appetite, and investment horizon. You can also evaluate a fund manager’s performance by their fund’s up-side and down-side captures.  Remember to always make your investments easier and not more complicated. Why worry when you have a good management team that is actively managing your invested money?  Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

One of the largest AMCs in India, DSP has been helping investors make sound investment decisions responsibly and unemotionally for over 25 years. DSP is backed by the DSP Group, an almost 160-year-old Indian financial giant. The family behind DSP has been very influential in the growth and professionalization of capital markets and the money management business in India over the last one-and-a-half centuries  Let us talk about the flagship product of the DSP Equity & Bond Fund About DSP Equity and Bond Fund  Investment objective The primary investment objective of the Scheme is to seek to generate long-term capital appreciation and current income from a portfolio constituted of equity and equity-related securities as well as fixed-income securities (debt and money market securities).  Investment process    The scheme invests in equity (for capital appreciation) and debt (for income generation). It has an auto-balancing element wherein the portfolio is rebalanced to maintain the 65:35 equity-to-debt allocation. The investment framework is such that equity investments seek long-term growth opportunities across market caps and debt investments are only in highly rated instruments with short-term maturity profiles.  Portfolio composition  The portfolio's major exposure of more than 60% in large-cap followed by 28% in mid-cap. The top 5 sectors hold nearly 41% of the portfolio, with major exposure to Banks and Finance. Note: Data as of 30th Nov 2022. The bar graph shows the top 5 sector weightage of the fund’s portfolio. Source: dspim.com  Top 5 holdings in DSP Equity & Bond Fund Name Sector Weightage % HDFC Bank Ltd. Bank 7.20 ICICI Bank Ltd. Bank 5.73 Bajaj Finance Ltd. Financial Services 4.24 Infosys Ltd. Information Technology 2.99 Axis Bank Ltd. Bank 2.85 Note: Data as of 30th Nov 2022. Source: dspim.com Performance over 23 years  If you would have invested 10,000 at the inception of the DSP Equity & Bond Fund, it would be now valued at Rs. 2.21 lakhs. This fund has outperformed the benchmark in all time horizons. Note: Performance of the fund since launch. Inception date – May 27th, 1999. Source: Moneycontrol  The DSP Equity & Bond Fund. has given consistent returns and has outperformed the benchmark over the period of more than 23 years by generating a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of 14.23%. Fund Managers  Atul Bhole - Total work experience of 10 years. He joined DSP Investment Managers in May 2016 as Vice President-Investments.  Dhaval Gada – Total work experience of 13 years. He joined DSP investment managers in Sept-2018 as Associate Vice President and was promoted to Vice President in Feb-2022.  Vikram Chopra - Total work experience of 14 years. He comes from L&T Investment Management. He has also previously worked with Fidelity, IDBI Bank, and Axis Bank Ltd.  Who should invest in DSP Equity and Bond Fund?  Investors  Want to invest in the equity markets but don't know how to begin?  Accept that equity investing means exposure to risk and recognize market falls as good opportunities to invest even more.  Why invest in DSP Equity & Bond Fund?  The simplest way to get the benefit of asset allocation is with a balance of growth & stability orientation.  Offers potential capital preservation during falling markets due to debt allocation.  Horizon  One should look at investing and holding the investment for more than 10 years.  Investment through a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) may help in tackling the volatility of the broader equity market.  Conclusion  This scheme offers a diversified portfolio to investors who do not have much experience in the equity markets. Diversification is such that equity investments offer capital appreciation and debt investments offer wealth preservation. The scheme has a slightly lower impact on market fluctuations compared to pure equity funds 

Do you plan on buying a laptop? Do you also wish to save for your child’s education? These are two different financial goals, and both require good planning and execution. This blog will discuss “How to Budget for Short-Term and Long-Term Goals”.  It is better to be aware of your financial situation and the different expenses that you incur to plan accordingly.   Budgeting helps to identify financial spending and understand how to allocate the leftover money to various needs for a better future. It encourages people to stay organized and appreciate the value of accounting. Steps needed to budget for short-term and long-term goals Step 1: Prepare for life’s contingencies Life is unpredictable, and it is necessary to be prepared for any events that might set you back, like recession, job loss, illness, or even death. Prepare for some of the contingencies with the help of insurance plans, for example, health insurance or Mediclaim plans are suited for illness and hospital bills, and life insurance plans like term insurance for financial assistance in case of death.  For a recession or job loss, you need to create an emergency fund where you put aside some money regularly. Automate these payments so that they can continue without any hassles.  Step 2: Define the financial goals Identify both short-term and long-term financial goals so that it becomes easy to segregate them and make budgeting plans accordingly. Short-term goals can be credit card payments, emergency funds, or personal expenses, whereas long-term financial goals often include retirement funds, a child’s education fees, and paying off the mortgage.  Define the financial goals and be specific with the goal, be it about buying a new house in 5 years your child’s education down the line, or a retirement fund? Step 3: Prioritise the financial goals Once you have defined and sorted out the financial goals, it becomes imperative to prioritize them. Consider the time you have in hand to meet them and how vital these goals are for yourself and your family’s future.  Step 4: Consider the timeline  By this time, you have identified and segregated the financial goals and have a few specific goals in mind. Think about the time in hand for instance, for the child's education goal, you need nearly 10 - 15 years, but for buying a house, you need 5 years. Step 5: Consider the money  The next question to consider is the money you will need to fulfill the financial goal, for instance, the estimated price of the house you want to buy (nearly INR 80 Lakhs) or the amount you want to save for the education corpus (nearly INR 60 Lakhs).  Step 6: Review all your expenses Record all the spending for at least a month to know how much and where you have been spending. Review these expenses and identify which ones are necessary, which ones can be reduced and how much money you have left after meeting them.  Step 7: Set a savings target The money must work for you and provide maximum advantage hence look for ways to save it. There are numerous short-term and long-term investment plans available in the market, like SIP, liquid funds, debt funds or PPF, etc.  Take the help of a financial advisor at Edufund to know more about short-term and long-term investment options. Look at your total savings and make sure it accounts for everything from the contingency fund to the long-term and short-term financial goals. The ideal ratio for spending and saving should be 50:50, but you can mold it as per your requirements up to 60:40. Any more spending will create worries hence try to maintain a balance. Step 8: Divide the savings for important goals Divide your savings for all the important goals. Prioritize necessary long-term goals like education corpus for the child, retirement plan, and necessary short-term goals like purchasing a home. Now put the focus on comparatively less important goals like marriage, family vacation, home renovation, etc., and lastly, consider the short-term lifestyle goals.  Tips to make budgeting a success The premium of health insurance and life insurance policies must be on time. Automate the process from your salary account to avoid any discrepancies. Always keep the contingency fund aligned with current income and expenses. Club similar lifestyle purchases and expenses to get better value. Take the help of a credit card to pay for your expenses but pay back the amount within the stipulated time to avoid any charges.  Conclusion It takes both planning and budgeting to stretch your money to the last unit and meet your financial dreams effectively. Once individuals are aware of how to budget for short-term and long-term goals, then it becomes easy to manage their expenses and focus on spending that will have more value. TALK TO AN EXPERT

Planning to align your short-term and long-term plans and want to know the best way to do so? Well, this blog will answer your queries and explain how to go about it systematically. Individuals often have a list of financial goals that will secure their financial future. Both, short-term and long-term goals are equally important and serve different purposes in real life. In most cases, you cannot achieve one without the other. Hence, it becomes feasible to align them as short-term goals depend, to a great extent, on long-term strategy. What are short-term goals? Short-term goals are the goals that have to be met in the immediate future and cannot be avoided. For instance, you might be interested in creating and managing an emergency fund or have to make regular payments towards an insurance scheme that you have taken out or simply your credit card payments. Short-term goals are actionable steps that improve productivity and help to remain focused.   What are long-term Goals? The long-term goals are the financial goals for the future or down the line in the next 10 or 15+ years. These often include a child’s education corpus, retirement fund, or mortgage payments, as these will be needed after several years and not just now. Long-term goals give direction and help to develop plans and steps that will take an individual toward his dream.  Steps for aligning short-term and long-term plans 1. Look into the financial goals Look at your financial goals and divide them into two different categories short-term and long-term. Be aware of your goals to know where you have to spend your money. Are you creating an emergency fund paying rent, or making home improvements? These are short-term financial goals, but if you want to maintain a retirement fund or an education fund for your child, then these will be treated as long-term goals.  2. Prioritize your goals Identifying the various goals is the easy part but prioritizing them is a very different scenario. Every goal looks important at the onset hence you need to sit down and think carefully about the ones with the maximum impact.  3. Be realistic People need to be realistic about their expectations because you need to have the means to fulfill your wishes. Look at the amount left after meeting your expenses and decide how to manage it constructively. You can take the help of the 50/30/20 equation or adjust it according to your personal needs. Realistic and clear goals will enable the alignment process and lead to success.  4. Set long-term goals before the short-term tactics There is a misconception that you have to set up short-term goals first because they are related to the present and need to be addressed first. The truth is that aligning both sets of goals requires you to set clear and defined goals for the future at first. When you know the direction, you need to take it becomes easier to break the long-term goals into specific and measurable short-term tactics, follow a definite timeframe, and uphold the long-term vision.  5. Break the long-term goals into shorter goals Aligning and solidifying the short-term and long-term plans will have a positive impact on future objectives, and one of the best ways is by breaking the long-term goals into small defined goals that can be achieved within a specific and small timeframe. Make sure the long-term goals are identifiable and concrete because vague goals will make the alignment process difficult. 6. Specific goals When the goals are specific, it becomes easy to create and follow a definite plan of alignment. For example, if a person has INR 4000 left for savings and investment and he has to pay INR 1000 every month towards his retirement plan, then his path is clear. It becomes vital to keep up with your rising income. If at the start of your professional career, you were saving and investing only a small amount because of a small salary, then you should increase your savings as your salary increases.  7. Take the help of financial experts Sometimes it is better to opt for expert advice and work accordingly. Financial counselors at Edufund can create a financial plan that will align your short-term and long-term goals perfectly. This will make the journey comparatively easy.  Conclusion  It is important for short-term planning to align with long-term goals and not the other way around. When an individual has a specific long-term plan that is concrete and identifiable, then it becomes easy to mold the short-term tactics and uphold the longer visions. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

Surprisingly, due to inflation, INR 30 lakh in 2001 is only worth roughly INR 8.1 lakhs now. This indicates that because inflation occurs on top of inflation from the previous year, the result is exactly like compound interest. In this article, we'll look at the causes of this as well as what $30 lakh will be worth in 20 years. What is the value of 30 lakhs after 20 years? Simply put, 20 years ago, you could have purchased a lot more with 30 lakh rupees than you can now. As a result, even if you were to save for 15, 20, or 30 years and eventually be able to buy 30 lakh rupees or more, its actual worth would be far smaller. With today's inflation rate of 6%, it would be equivalent to Rs 9.35 lakh. As a result, at 6% inflation, if you wanted Rs. 30 lakhs in 20 years, you might get Rs. 9.35 lakh now. If nominal inflation were assumed to be 6%, this amount would increase to Rs 96.21 lakh. Therefore, in 20 years, the demand of 30 lakhs will be Rs 96.21 lakh. The solution is to save money that is inflation-adjusted. To establish the requirements for it, you must first inflate the cost of the aim. Start a SIP after that to begin saving for the inflated goal cost. Additional read: Value of 1 lakh after 20 years How can SIP make you rich? Long-term equity investments may be made via SIP. You may use it to consistently invest a small amount in mutual funds without trying to time the market. To build wealth, it would be good if you continued to make SIPs during both bull and down market times. Let's look at an illustration of how SIP might result in financial success. Consider making a monthly investment of INR 10,000 in an equities fund. If you invest just INR 10,000 per month through a SIP in an equities fund for 30 years, you might amass a corpus of INR 3.53 crore. Compounding power makes money grow and makes you richer. You must start saving early so that you may continue to do so throughout your working life if you want to build up a sizeable corpus for retirement. Please be advised that we expect the equities fund to yield an average of 12%. Actual outcomes might be impacted by the markets and the fund. What is inflation? Sometimes the amount of inflation is expressed in general terms, such as the overall rise in prices or the rise in the cost of living across the board. For some goods, like food, or services, like haircuts or travel costs, it may be calculated more accurately. Inflation is a measurement of how much a certain set of goods and services have increased in price over time, independent of the context. You should anticipate paying more for the same goods and services this year than you did last year due to inflationary pressure. If you owned the stocks or homes before the price increase, you may have benefited. But if your salary does not increase at the same rate as inflation, your purchasing power will decline. Your cost of living rises over time due to inflation, which can also have a negative impact on the economy if it is severe enough. High inflation has far-reaching repercussions on a country's economy. How to overcome inflation? The government attempts to control inflation via monetary and fiscal policies. You should, however, have a plan of your own to guard against it. The main reason people invest is so they can continue to live well in the future despite an increase in the cost of living. You must thus make investment decisions that will allow you to generate returns that outpace inflation. These investments do, however, involve a greater level of risk than traditional savings accounts. High-growth potential investments like stocks and mutual funds stand a good opportunity to generate better returns. These investments have frequently produced returns that have outpaced inflation.  You could also take into account other investment options to diversify your wealth. Money should also be invested rather than kept in savings accounts. Investors may consider buying stocks depending on how much risk they can tolerate. Investing in mutual funds has the potential to yield significant rewards in the long run. How to secure yourself and your family's future If you want to save money for your post-retirement lifestyle, you need to be more strategic and careful. You must consider the possibility of living past your anticipated retirement age as well as fluctuations in interest rates in addition to inflation. Your objectives should be reviewed and reevaluated. Working with real numbers is required. If you have questions regarding where to invest or how to do so, you may consult with financial specialists at EduFund. You may help your children achieve their goals by utilizing EduFund to invest your money. To schedule a free consultation call with the experts, download the EduFund app to your mobile. Parents may begin saving for their child's college education early on to avoid having their child's promising future wrecked by education inflation. TALK TO AN EXPERT

In India, investing is considered a rich man’s game. The common disbelief is that only the rich can invest in stocks and reap the benefits of the market. This is far from the truth. Investments and investing in stocks are possible for everyone.   But before you start buying stocks, you should conduct in-depth research, evaluate the stock's fundamentals, and determine whether it fits in your portfolio.  As an investor, you should conduct the appropriate research since when you purchase a stock in a firm, you also become a shareholder in that business.  5 things to know before investing in stocks  1. Time horizon   Originally, you need to decide the time horizon before buying a stock as it plays a pivotal part in deciding whether to buy that stock or not. Your investing time horizon can be short-term, middle-term, or long-term, grounded on your fiscal pretensions.  Short Term - A short-term time horizon is any investment that you're planning to enjoy for or under one year. However, also it's stylish to invest in stable blue-chip stocks which pay tips. If you’re planning to buy a stock and hold it for under a time. The companies have a good balance distance and there are smaller pitfalls involved.   Medium Term - A medium-term investment is an investment that you want to hold from one time to 10 times. For middle-term investing one should invest in quality arising requests stocks and stocks having a moderate position of threat.   Long Term - Eventually, long-term investments are any investment that you're planning to hold onto for further than 10 times. These investments have time to recover if the commodity goes wrong and can induce a significant return.  2. Investment strategy  Prior to purchasing a stock, it is crucial to research several investing techniques and select the one that best fits your investing philosophy.  The three main categories of methods utilized by the most prosperous investors are listed below:  Value Investing: Value investing is the practice of purchasing discounted stocks with the intention of making profits. Warren Buffett employs this tactic to generate enormous riches.  Growth investing: It is the practice of purchasing shares of companies that have outperformed the market in terms of sales and profits. Growth investors think that the upward trends in these equities will persist and present a chance for profit-making.  Income Investing: Lastly, investors need to search for high-quality stocks that offer sizable dividends. These dividends produce money that can be spent or reinvested to boost future earnings potential. Consequently, you should think about the approach that works well with that investment style before purchasing a stock.  3. Check fundamentals before buying a stock   Some of the most important rates to consider before buying a stock   Price-to-Earnings rate (P/ E rate): The p/ E rate compares the stock’s price with the company’s earnings per share(EPS). For illustration, if a company is trading at Rs. 20 per share that produces EPS of Rs. 1 annually, also its P/ E rate is 20 which means that the share price is 20 times the company’s earnings on a periodic basis.   Debt-to-Equity rate: The debt-to-equity rate helps in determining how much the company is in debt. High situations of debt are bad as it signals ruin.   Price-to-Book-Value rate (P/ B rate): The p/ B rate compares the stock’s price to the net value of means that are possessed by the company, and is also divided by the number of outstanding shares.  4. Size of the company   How much risk you are willing to face when purchasing a stock is greatly influenced by the size of the company you are thinking about investing in.  Therefore, before purchasing a stock, it's critical to evaluate the company's size in relation to your risk tolerance and time horizon.  5. History of dividends  Stocks that pay dividends to investors are known for sharing a portion of their profits with them.  Investors who use the income investing approach ought to aim to buy shares of these dividend-paying companies.  If an investor wants to make money from their investments, they should research the company's dividend history before purchasing its stock.  The company's dividend yield, which is expressed as a percentage, is something income investors should look at if they want a high level of income relative to the stock price.  Conclusion  Make sure you purchase the greatest firms before you purchase any stocks to add to your portfolio. No matter how soliciting the stock request may feel, it’s suggested to do your disquisition before investing any amount of capital. It’s vital to educate yourself about the basics of the request first. Learn the languages associated with online trading and investing. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund is the second-largest asset management company in India. With over Rs 3 Lakh crore, the AMC is one of the most trusted names in the mutual fund space. The AMF offers products across asset classes.   Let us talk about the flagship product – ICICI Prudential Large & Mid Cap Fund. About ICICI Prudential Large & Mid Cap Fund Investment objective To generate long-term capital appreciation from a portfolio that is invested predominantly in equity and equity-related securities of large-cap and mid-cap companies. However, there can be no assurance or guarantee that the investment objective of the Scheme would be achieved.  Investment process   The Scheme follows a blend of top-down and bottom-up approaches to in-stock selection. The focus of the top-down approach is alpha generation through active sectoral rotation. While a bottom-up seeks to identify companies with reasonable profitability and scalability supported by sustainable competitive advantages.  Portfolio composition  The equity exposure is majorly in large-cap stocks at 78% and major sectoral exposure is to Banks and IT-Software. The top 5 sectors hold nearly 54% of the portfolio.  Note: Data as of 30th Nov 2022. The bar graph shows the top 5 sector weightage of the fund’s portfolio. Source: ICICI Pru  Top 5 holdings Name Sector Weightage % HDFC Bank Ltd. Bank 7.84 Bharti Airtel Ltd. Telecom Services 6.05 ICICI Bank Ltd. Bank 5.41 Infosys Ltd. Information Technology 3.44 State Bank of India Ltd. Bank 3.32 Note: Data as of 30th Nov 2022. Source: ICICI Pru Performance over 24 years  If you would have invested 10,000 at the inception of the fund, it would be now valued at Rs 5.93 lakhs. This fund has outperformed the benchmark in all time horizons. Note Performance of the fund since launch; Inception Date – July 09, 1998. Source: icicipruamc.com  The fund has given consistent returns and has outperformed the benchmark over the period of 24 years by generating a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of 18.17%  Fund Manager  Mr. Ihab Dalwai is the fund manager of the Scheme. He has been managing this scheme for 8 years. He is is a Chartered Accountant as well as a CFA. He is associated with ICICI Prudential AMC since April 2011. He has over 11 years of industry experience.  Who should invest?  Investors looking for  Long-term wealth creation solution.  Looking to invest in both large-cap and mid-cap stocks.  Why invest?  This scheme provides an opportunity for higher capital appreciation over the long term.  The major portfolio composition of large-cap stocks helps in reducing the overall portfolio volatility and provides less volatile and reasonable returns.  Horizon  One should look at investing for a minimum of 5 years or more  Investment through a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) may help in tackling the volatility of the broader equity market.  Conclusion  The fund is good for investors who want exposure to equity and equity-related instruments but with optimized risk. It helps an investor with long-term wealth creation in a much more stable way as compared to instruments with a higher risk appetite. 

A long-term investment strategy is very important for your portfolio and for long-term wealth generation. Long-term mutual fund schemes can assist in achieving all of your higher life goals, such as retirement, marriage, children's education, house buying, globe travel, etc.  Let's learn more about long-term investing, who and how one should plan to accomplish long-term goals, and the best mutual funds to invest in for a long-term plan.  What is a long-term investment?   Long-term plans typically include an investment time span of more than five years. There are several goals behind an investment when someone wishes to make long-term investments. The goal can be to build long-term wealth so that the individual can feel safe in the future. Achieving important life goals is possible, as is just doubling your money through profitable investments. The equity mutual fund is the long-term strategy that is most recommended.  Why Equity funds are best for the long term?   Equity funds primarily invest in company stocks and shares. It is also one of the best methods to have a piece of a business without really launching one. These funds are, nevertheless, very dangerous in the near term. The sensitivity of equity markets to macroeconomic indicators and other variables includes, but is not limited to, inflation, interest rates, currency exchange rates, tax rates, and bank policies. The performance of the companies and, consequently, the stock prices are impacted by any change or imbalance in these. For this reason, it is always advised to maintain an equity fund investment for a minimum of five years and a maximum of ten years. Additionally, only individuals who are prepared to assume a high amount of risk in their investment should use these funds.  Equity funds have a history of providing solid returns over time. Most blue chip firms offer dividends to stockholders, which are a reliable source of income. These businesses typically distribute dividends on a regular basis despite the fluctuating market. Usually, they are paid every three months. A diverse portfolio can offer investors a year-round stream of dividend income.  Investors who intend to make long-term investments might do so in the equities of several economic sectors. Therefore, even if the value of one stock declines, the others may enable investors to recover their losses. Low cost, flexibility, diversification, convenience, liquidity, and expert money management are some other advantages of investing in stocks. Best mutual funds for long-term investment Following are the Best equity funds for long-term investment plans  Large-cap funds   These funds invest money in the stocks of large-sized companies. Large-cap stocks are commonly referred to as blue-chip stocks. These funds invest in those firms that have the potential to show year-on-year steady growth and high profits, which in turn also offers stability over time.   Large-cap stocks give steady returns over a long period of time. As these funds invest in well-established companies they are usually considered to be the safest investments compared to mid & small-cap funds. Investors with a moderate to high-risk appetite can prefer investing in large-cap funds.  Mid & Small Cap Funds   Money Market Funds These funds make investments in the equity of big businesses. Blue chip stocks are a typical term for large-cap stocks. These funds make investments in businesses that have the potential to produce large earnings and consistent growth year after year, which provides stability over time. Long-term, consistent gains are provided by large-cap equities. In comparison to mid- and small-cap funds, these funds are typically thought to be the safest investments because they invest in well-established companies. Those who are comfortable taking on moderate to high levels of risk may enjoy investing in large-cap funds.  Diversified funds or Multi-cap cunds   These funds invest across all the market cap large, mid & small cap funds. They typically invest anywhere between 40-60% in large-cap stocks, 10-40% in mid-cap stocks, and about 10% in small-cap stocks. Since these funds are a combination of all the caps, they master balancing the portfolio. Historically, Diversified Funds have come as a winner in most market conditions. Due to their diversified nature, these funds have the potential to survive the tough market phase. Investors with a moderate to high level of risk appetite can ideally invest in these funds  Sector Funds   Of all the equities funds, these are the riskiest. Therefore, a potential investor should only choose sector funds if they have the capacity to take a high level of risk. Sector-specific funds are offered here. They invest in certain industries like banking, finance, pharmaceuticals, and infrastructure. An investor may choose to invest in these funds if they believe a specific industry can experience rapid growth or has the potential to produce positive returns in the near future.  Conclusion  For the long-term, the equity class is the most preferred to save and invest in as the equity mutual funds have delivered consistent and the highest returns compared to other asset classes. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT Abhilash Anand - Equity Research Analyst Provides financial insights on publicly-traded companies and/or sectors to facilitate investment decisions.

DSP Group is a 150+ years old financial entity, started back in the 1860s with its stock broking business. Gradually they entered the mutual fund industry. DSP AMC was incorporated in 1996, and it is one of India’s leading AMC in India. DSP AMCs offer a wide range of products to meet the requirement of every investor in the best way by offering mutual funds.   DSP AMC has schemes across debt, equity, hybrid, international funds, and ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds). It holds 25 years of Honest Asset Management. For over two decades DSP has helped its investors to take responsible money decisions based on two pillars i.e., honesty & Integrity. About DSP Natural Resources and New Energy Fund  DSP Natural Resources and New Energy FundInvestment objective The primary investment objective of the Scheme is to seek to generate capital appreciation and provide long-term growth opportunities by investing in equity and equity-related securities of companies domiciled in India whose predominant economic activity is in the: (a) discovery, development, production, or distribution of natural resources, viz., energy, mining, etc (b) alternative energy and energy technology sectors, with emphasis given to renewable energy, automotive and on-site power generation, energy storage, and enabling energy technologies.  The Scheme will also invest a certain portion of its corpus in the equity and equity-related securities of companies domiciled overseas, which are principally engaged in the discovery, development, production, or distribution of natural resources and alternative energy and/or the units/shares of:  BlackRock Global Funds - Sustainable Energy Fund  BlackRock Global Funds - World Energy Fund and similar other overseas mutual fund schemes.  The secondary objective is to generate consistent returns by investing in debt and money market securities. Investment process   The DSP Natural Resources and New Energy Fund follows a value style of investing which consists of value stocks of majorly large-cap companies. The investment philosophy of the fund is to buy value stocks of companies involved in the commodity business and energy-based business.  Portfolio construction involves investing majorly in large-cap companies. The fund core portfolio is based on long-term themes, core equity portfolio.  Portfolio composition  The portfolio holds the major exposure in large-cap stocks at 73% and the fund is a sectorial fund that focused on the materials and energy sector. Both sectors together consist of more than 72% of the portfolio. Note: Data as of 30th Nov 2022. Source: Value Research  Top 5 holdings Name Sector Weightage % Black Rock Global Funds – New Energy Fund Financial (Foreign Fund) 14.71 Jindal Steel & Power Metals & Mining 9.88 Hindalco Metals & Mining 8.71 Tata Steel Metals & Mining 8.25 Reliance Energy 7.47 Note: Data as of 30th Nov 2022. Source: Value Research  Performance over 22 years  If you would have invested 10 lakhs at the inception of DSP Natural Resources and New Energy Fund, it would be now valued at Rs 56.95 lakhs. Note: Performance of the fund since launch; Inception Date – Apr 25, 2008, till Dec 16, 2022. Source: Money Control  The DSP Natural Resources and New Energy Fund has given consistent returns and has outperformed the benchmark over the period of 14 years by generating a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of 12.61%.  Fund Manager  Rohit Singhania: Prior to joining DSP Mutual Fund, he worked with HDFC Securities Ltd. and IL&FS Investment Limited.  Who should invest?  Investors looking to  Hold a focused portfolio of companies involved in the metals, mining & energy sector  Tactically allocate 10-15% of your overall portfolio to very high-risk opportunities.  Why invest?  Aim to grow your money by investing in companies from the commodities, energy and renewable energy sectors.  Favorable sector dynamics- As the world develops, the focus on energy companies to become more efficient to grow & an increase in the adoption of renewable energy means companies in this space could do well.  Horizon  One should look at investing for a minimum of 5-7 years or more  A systematic investment Plan (SIP) is an ideal way to take exposure as it helps tackle market volatility  Conclusion  The DSP Natural Resources and New Energy Fund has delivered good returns over the period with a CAGR of more than 12.61%. One should have a longer horizon before investing in the DSP Natural Resources and New Energy Fund as it is a sectoral fund. The fund is suitable for investors who have the patience & mental resilience to remain invested for a decade or more Abhilash Anand - Equity Research AnalystProvides financial insights on publicly-traded companies and/or sectors to facilitate investment decisions.