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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

Parents who genuinely want to ensure that their kids receive the best are going above and beyond and spending a sizable sum of money on their children's upbringing.  Young children have many options, particularly in large cities like Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, etc. Expensive foreign schools, premier engineering universities, luxury dance academies, and a large variety of extracurricular activities are all options.  Any prospective student and their parents should start saving money now. Even if your child starts college in a few months, it's always possible to start saving, mainly since the first few months may be the most expensive. Cost of Universities  Parents' spending on their children's university education includes various costs, from tuition fees and accommodation to laptops and textbooks. The tuition fee is only one part of the expense. The travel cost is relatively high if the child is abroad and wants to visit home at least twice a year. Not considering the living expenses is one of the most common mistakes people make while planning their child's education. Eating out and takeaways make for the biggest spend. Educational tech purchases like laptops make for a large chunk of the total expense. However, globally, students spend most on paying credit card bills, personal loans, and student debt. 1. Indian universities Universities in India are highly competitive and provide quality education and co-curricular activities. Government universities and private ones, have a lot of scopes and offer great placements. Engineering, commerce, and medicine are a few fields that are given maximum value due to their sought-after departments in most Indian universities. Indian parents roughly contribute about ₹10 lakhs towards their child's higher education in India. The overall expenditure is about ₹20 lakhs for the university program, including living expenses, bills, and lifestyle costs. There are, of course, scholarships available, but they depend on many factors, including merit and availability. 2. American universities The charm of the United States will never fade. The United States of America is desirable for students and citizens everywhere. Hundreds of American colleges and universities have made it onto lists of the most outstanding universities in the world, proving that they are of the highest caliber.  The estimated cost of living is ₹80 lakhs or roughly ₹20 lakhs per year to cover living expenditures. For the full degree, the cost of undergraduate studies can be between ₹90 lakhs to ₹1 crore. Scholarships for education in the USA are available, which can lessen the financial load. Institutions in the United States provide need-based and merit-based scholarships. Enrolling at public or state-funded universities in the USA is another way to ensure affordable education. Compared to private universities, these are less expensive. 3. Canadian universities Canada is steadily rising in popularity as a top choice for students looking to study abroad. Students from across the world view Canada as an affordable and secure location for education because of its multicultural culture and inviting atmosphere.  For Indian students, the cost of studying in Canada can range from ₹50 to 60 lakhs for living expenditures and ₹80 to 90 lakhs for undergraduate programs. These significant expenses include many small expenses like study materials, clothes, travel expenses, etc., given that your child does not follow a luxury lifestyle. 4. UK universities In the UK, there are many top-notch institutes of higher learning. It is a well-liked location for higher education abroad because of its policies regarding post-study work visas, as well as the financial aid and scholarships provided to international students.  The cost of living varies depending on where you live and the kind of housing you choose. You might spend less on other needs in the UK if you plan to stay with a family. Most of your daily costs will be covered by a homestay, which can help you budget for the price of studying abroad. For the length of the program, the average cost of living in the UK can be between ₹30 lakhs. and ₹35 lakhs. Additionally, undergraduate courses would cost between ₹75 - ₹85 lakhs. 5. Australian universities Australia has been and always will be one of the top choices for students worldwide seeking higher education. The nation is renowned for its top-notch educational institutions, especially the Group of Eight. Another element luring individuals to this nation is the standard of living there.  For the duration of the program, living expenses in Australia can be in the range of ₹50 – ₹60 lakhs. You should budget an average of ₹80 – ₹90 lakhs for the cost of an undergraduate program. It's tougher to get into an Australian University as they require higher merit, and there are fewer scholarships available due to the same. Conclusion  University tuition is typically expensive. When budgeting for your child's education, be practical and factor in all expenses. Today's students tend to spend more on lifestyle costs, so talk to your kids about this to help them make better financial decisions. Help them find ways to save money, and encourage them to use apps and calculators for budgeting.  Also, make early preparations to ensure that your child attends the university of their preference without putting you under a financial burden. FAQs How much do universities cost in India? Studying in India will cost anywhere between INR 30,000 to INR 350,000 ($5,000) per academic year. The tuition cost is determined by a host of factors like course fees, type of institution (private or public), candidate's financial background, and nationality of the candidate. What is the average budget of a student? The budget of any student depends on their course, country, and college. Course fees are the biggest expense for a student, followed by the country's living expenses and finally the college's lifestyle and extra expenses and annual costs. In India, it can range between 20,000 to 2 lakh for college students based on their lifestyle and expenses. Are any universities free? Yes, there are many universities in countries like India, Taiwan, Mexico, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden all offer opportunities to study free or at low cost. However, it depends on the university and the course you opt for. How much do universities cost in the UK? The average tuition fee in the UK can be between ₹30 lakhs- 35 lakhs per annum for international students. International students are charged a higher fee than national students in the UK. 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.

Parenting is difficult. There are too many things going on at once. Without a doubt, you devote a lot of time to caring about the safety, academic success, and social skills of your children. To help them achieve great things, you need to start setting money aside for your child's education as soon as possible. But in order to save effectively, you need a plan and a cautious estimate of future costs. The following formula can be used to determine how much money you should set away for your child's education. How much do you need for your child’s higher education? Let's look at the price of several well-known courses in India at prestigious institutions and estimate their future cost 15 years from now, assuming inflation at 10% p.a., to determine the amount of the Investment Corpus necessary. How to invest in child investment plans? If you want to be completely prepared for any circumstance, you should invest time and effort into your child's future. When deciding when to begin investing, the following factors should be taken into consideration. The length of time you intend to continue making the commitment is one of the most crucial factors to take into account when planning future investments, therefore you must decide on the time frame for your investment. The advantages are frequently greater as the time horizon gets longer. The second factor to be taken into account is the typical expense of your child's future education. Although this varies by school, costs for postgraduate study might occasionally be more than those for graduation. Consider whether you want your child to have a local or a global education as well. You may also take into account your child's graduation from high school in your own country and their following post-graduation in a different country. You must first assess your existing condition before formulating future goals. Consider all of your options carefully before making a decision. If you're investing a portion of your money in a child plan, you should be fully aware of its current worth. Knowing the current worth of an investment may help you avoid overspending on other financial goals, such as retirement. Please don't utilize the Child plan for other low-priority expenses like home improvements. It's a good idea to always be ready for the unexpected. Other expenses, such as rent and pocket money, might be included. In addition to school and tuition fees, there are a number of other considerations after your child reaches high school. Even if these amounts initially seem small, they could wind up costing you more over time. It is much more crucial if your child intends to pursue graduate or postgraduate education abroad. Different investment options for your child It's possible that fixed deposits and other conventional products won't be sufficient to pay for your child's education expenses. It is important to consider other products like shares, balanced funds, and equity funds. Depending on your time range, you can choose one of the following investing strategies: If your child will want the cash within five years, debt mutual funds are the best choice. Such funds have the ability to produce returns that are higher than the rate of inflation while also supplying liquidity. For long-term objectives, you can combine several financial instruments. Gold, equities, and debt are all investment options available to you. Although being exposed to the stock market might be risky, buying stocks allows investors the possibility to make more money over time. One of the best investment alternatives for supporting a child's education is the PPF. You must start this early and invest continuously in order to build up a sizeable capital. A variety of kid-focused services are offered by several insurance companies. You may decide to put more responsible rules into place when your child needs the money to pursue further education. Investment strategy for children's investment plan List specific goals upfront, such as the child's preferred education and related costs. After paying all of your regular costs, you'll be able to estimate how much you can afford and how much you'll need to set aside each month. However, you must remember that loans can also be utilized to fund your education. As a result, you do not have to sacrifice other expenditures like healthcare and retirement to save for your child's education. As the financial goal draws near, reduce your stock exposure to lessen the likelihood of adverse market movements. Children's investment plans can assist you in preparing financially for rising education costs, unexpected illnesses, and unfortunate circumstances. As soon as you can, you should start making plans for your child's future. By doing this, the associated risks are dispersed and your assets have more time to grow. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

When it comes to planning and investing for all your goals, the saying “one plan fits all” doesn’t do. Just like one investment will not cater to all your goals and objectives. Every goal is different and has its own requirements. For example, based on the time horizon itself, short-term goals are those which have to be achieved immediately whereas long-term goals have a good time horizon to be planned and saved for.  Now, are you wondering how all the goals can be achieved by you? In this article, we will tell you how you can smartly plan for your short-term and long-term goals.  Types of Goals  Short-term goals: These are the goals that you want to achieve in the near future. The near future can be today, this week, this month, this year, or within 2 years. These are goals that need you to plan and be prepared immediately to ensure you achieve them on time.   Some examples of short-term goals are: Paying for your child’s school fees every year.  Purchasing a smartphone.  Purchasing a laptop.  Purchasing jewelry for an occasion, etc.  Planning for an international trip with your family?  Long-term goals: These are the goals that provide you with good bandwidth to plan and be prepared to achieve them. There is no specific definition of what long-term really means. It has a timeline of anywhere more than 5 years.   Some examples of long-term goals are:  Saving for your child’s higher education when your kid is young.  Saving for your child’s wedding.  Planning to purchase a car  Planning to buy a house.  Saving up for your retirement corpus.  Investment for short-term goals  There are multiple ways to save for short-term goals which will suit your risk appetite, the tenure of your investment, and your needs.  Savings Accounts: You can always maintain a cash balance to fulfill your immediate goals and objectives. But usually, it is not ideal to maintain your savings only in your savings accounts as it does not even generate inflation-beating returns. In long run, you may end up losing money. It is advised to only maintain an emergency corpus in your savings accounts to have some liquid cash.  Fixed deposits: Fixed deposits are where you invest in an FD with a bank and there is an interest on the investment received by the investor. FDs have a lock-in ranging between 7 days to 10 years. But even after the interest rate revision by the Central Bank, the FD rates are still not generating inflation-beating returns, which causes a loss to the customer.  Debt mutual funds: This is the best option to save for your short-term goals. There are multiple options for an investor to choose from. For example, if an investor has a very short tenure for a goal, one can choose from an ultra-short duration fund, a money market fund, or a liquid fund. Likewise, with a little longer horizon, an investor can choose from a corporate bond, medium-term bond, etc. Debt funds generate returns that are at par with the inflation rate.  Investment for long-term goals  One has multiple instruments to invest to achieve their long-term goals as well, based on the risk appetite, tenure, and requirements.  Direct Equity: An investor can directly invest in the stocks of a company as an investment option. One thing to note here is that direct equity investing is time-consuming. One cannot just randomly choose a stock. Detailed research and analysis have to be done to select a stock. Also, while having direct equity exposure, one has to be prepared for either major profits or major losses due to the high market volatility.  Mutual funds: While investing for long-term goals, an investor has options of both equity mutual funds and hybrid mutual funds. One does not have to do such detailed analysis while doing stock picking for a mutual fund. The fund managers actively manage and rebalance the portfolio as per the market conditions. So, there is always an added advantage of an expert management team in mutual funds.   Real estate: In India, real estate is the most sought for long-term investments. Yes, having a property in one’s name is good and sounds powerful. But it does not provide liquidity to an investor. It may so happen that at the time of achieving a goal, one may not be able to sell the property. The smart way of investing for short-term and long-term goals  An individual will never have just one goal. There will be multiple goals. As discussed above, just like “one size does not fit all”, one investment does not cater to all goals and objectives.   The best solution for this is following a goal-based planning approach. In this approach, all goals are properly planned for.  First, the goals and objectives are clearly mentioned along with a monetary value attached to them. For example, if one of the goals is to pay for the child’s school fees the amount needed is also mentioned along with the goal.  Then, the time horizon is specified. After setting the goals, the investor has to set how much time the investor has to save up and achieve the goal.  After specifying the time horizons, investors’ investment characteristics are specified. What does this mean? These characteristics include the risk appetite of the investor and what amount the investor is able to invest to achieve all his goals.  Sounds scary and lengthy right? Not to worry. You can always approach a Registered Investment Advisor to help you with a detailed investment plan to make your investment journey smoother. Conclusion  Goal-based planning is the smartest way for you to make one detailed investment plan to help you achieve all your goals so that you do not miss out on your dreams! A Registered investment advisor also ensures that your portfolio is well diversified and periodically rebalanced to optimize the portfolio’s risk and volatility.  Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

“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

Planning to do an MBA? But can’t decide where to go and get this degree. Canada could be the answer! Known for its exceptional courses, the cost to study MBA in Canada starts from INR 20 -30 lakhs for international students.   It is one of the most popular and competitive courses offered by Canadian Universities and has an exceptional ROI. Students from across the globe have access to working with the world’s best companies like Goldman Sachs, BCG, Johnson & Johnson, Gartner, etc.  Canada's high standard of education draws students from around the world. The teaching style, updated course offerings, range of MBA specialties, and internship and job placement options offered by Canadian colleges have raised their global standing. In the QS World University Rankings, a number of universities are ranked highly.   To start an MBA program at a Canadian university, you must first be financially prepared. To start an MBA program at a Canadian university, you must first be financially prepared. To assist you in taking the first step, this article will provide you with a thorough understanding of the associated expenditures.  Leading elements that affect MBA tuition in Canada  A foreign student's decision to pursue an MBA in Canada is mostly influenced by the cost of tuition, living expenses, and other costs. The cost of living might vary significantly depending on the lifestyle, spending plan, and spending habits of the student. Students can get a general idea of the costs connected with studying in Canada by familiarizing themselves with the anticipated MBA fee structure in Canada.  Application fee - 3,020 INR - 9,318 INR per application  Academic test- 15,475 INR - 22,400 INR per exam  Additional scorecard - 1,500 INR - 2,850 INR per scorecard  Average tuition fee - 24,16,593 INR - 60,71,690 INR per annum  Canadian student visa fee - 9,170 INR  MBA costs in Canada for Indian students  The majority of the total MBA costs in Canada are made up of the MBA fees for overseas students. The actual cost of attending school in Canada, particularly for MBA specialties, varies depending on your preferences and the institution you attend. You can check the university's official website for the admission and school year you are planning to apply for as an overseas student. The table below contains a ranking of the top MBA universities in Canada for Indian students.  Ivey Business School, University of Western Ontario - 74,61,231 INR per annum  Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University - 60,11,275 INR per annum  Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto - 82,41,186 INR per annum  Smith School of Business, Queen’s University - 62,89,183 INR per annum  Schulich School of Business, York University - 67,81,564 INR per annum  Living expenses and MBA costs Next, let's talk about the living costs for overseas MBA students studying in Canada. These are significant contributing variables to the price of an MBA program in Canada. The table below is a list of all the basic and required expenses that must be paid when an international student is studying in Canada. The average cost of an MBA program in Canada.  Accommodation - INR 24,500 - INR 36,700 Food & Grocery -INR  12,053 - INR 18,000 Transportation - INR 6,000 - INR 15,000 Internet- INR 1,800 - INR 3,000 Miscellaneous - INR 36,200 - INR 42,200 Other important MBA studying costs There are other necessary charges to be paid in addition to the MBA in Canada fees and living costs. Below, we have a detailed explanation of them.  Visa Cost   You must pay the visa cost as an international student when you apply for a student visa to study for an MBA in Canada. It costs 150 CAD or 9,170 INR, and the biometric fee is 85 CAD or 5,200 INR.  Application Fees  You should submit an application fee when submitting your MBA application through a Canadian university's official website. It needs to be paid at the same time as submitting the online application. Each university has a separate price. The price ranges from 45 CAD (2,750 INR) to 200 CAD (12,220 INR).  Student Health Insurance Abroad  International students may be eligible for health insurance from some universities. You can look for MBA tuition costs in Canada on the university's official website. If such were the case, other expenses would be covered by the MBA tuition for overseas students in Canada. Before you apply for your student visa, you must have health insurance. Therefore, you must buy health insurance if your university does not provide coverage and the government of the state in which your university is located does not provide health insurance to international students.  Conclusion  You can make additional plans now that you are fully aware of the different costs associated with studying for an MBA in Canada. You can choose the style of lodging you wish to stay in and come to a decision regarding the whole cost of your MBA studies in Canada. In order to achieve your educational objectives, it is crucial to pick the best MBA specialization and a Canadian university.  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