​Tips and Articles

Ultra short-term funds – a better avenue to meet near-term needs

Demonetisation has brought forth the idle cash held by Indian households, resulting in a lot of inflow into the mainstream financial (banking) system - Rs 14.971 lakh crore until December 10, 2016 according to RBI. While a portion of this...

Take your pick during taxing times – PPF or ELSS?

Tax planning tops the list of to-dos for salaried professionals towards the last quarter of the fiscal. Let’s consider two popular instruments - Equity-Linked Saving Schemes (ELSS) the Public Provident Fund (PPF) - in this article. While ELSS funds are...

Opt for ELSS - save on tax, generate higher return

The tax fever is back to haunt investors. While most Indians prefer traditional instruments that offer fixed returns, we believe market-linked options like the Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) that mutual funds offer, can be more lucrative over the...

What are New fund offers (NFOs)

You may often wonder what are New Fund Offers and what benefits they bring. This article attempts to break some myths about NFOs.

Choose MIP - Growth Option & Start A Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP)

Financial planning has two angles to it, one is the investment, and the other withdrawal either regular or one time. While the systematic investment plan (SIP) helps you invest in mutual funds at regular intervals, systematic withdrawal plan (SWP)...

Gilt Funds demystified

Securities issued by the government, known as gilts, are considered to be safer fixed income instruments, as they are sovereign in nature. There is an easier route to invest in these instruments government securities via gilt funds.

Look beyond traditional instruments for retirement planning

Retirement is inescapable. Most of us prepare for this eventuality by investing in provident fund (PF). Considering rising lifestyle expenses, span of retirement and increasing nuclear structure of Indian households, investors should look..

Add dynamism to your portfolio with sectoral and thematic funds

The Indian equity benchmark Nifty 50, impelled by weak global and domestic cues, returned a paltry 10.22% in the one year ended August 2016. However, Nifty Realty delivered 27% in this period on the back of robust demand in the sector.

Diversification is an essential part of investing

It is generally advised 'not put all the eggs in one basket' when it comes to investments. Distributing risk across various baskets – or asset classes - will reduce the achievable gains in one basket, but importantly lowers the risk of losing all the eggs due to an adverse event.

Saving tax while building the equity habit

There are only approx 2.71 crore demat accounts in our country of over 125 crore population, implying a meager penetration of just over 2%. To penetrate further and promote ‘equity culture’ in the country, the government of India launched Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme (RGESS)

How mutual funds are relatively stable to invest

Mutual funds have emerged as an attractive investment option for investors, as indicated by sharp growth in industry assets (~14% rise in the average asset under management (AUM) since September 2010), totaling over Rs. 16 trillion1 at last count. Professional fund management,

Global influence on India

The subprime crisis of 2008 and the monetary tightening by the US Federal Reserve, first in June 2013 and periodically thereafter, are stark reminders of the cascading effect of global developments on all countries. There is no escaping globalisation. Every season blows in fresh concerns; rout in Chinese equities and Brexit are the current headline grabbers. Though India is currently in a sweet spot as confirmed by positive domestic data (growth of 7.6% in fiscal year 2015-16, narrowing of the current account deficit or CAD, decline in the interest rates), it is not immune to global woes. We take a look at India’s reaction to the latest global event - Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU).

Plan your dream with Systematic Investment Plan (SIP)

Dreams can only be achieved if you work towards them. Even building wealth is no different. A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) helps you do just that. SIP is a method of investing a fixed sum, regularly, in a mutual fund scheme. SIP allows one to buy...

Befriend MIPs for post-retirement planing

Retirement planning has become unavoidable, with living expenses going up every day and new generation nuclearisation of families. While people are warming up to the thought that equity plays an integral part of retirement planning to generate an optimum retirement...

Understanding Debt mutual funds

Indians’ penchant for debt investment is quite well known. About 59%* of financial saving is parked in bank fixed deposits (FDs).But take a look at the investment universe. It is huge and flooded with other debt instruments which can be used to generate returns. In this...

Mutual fund investments going the digital way

E-commerce has practically captured every facet of our lives today. Whether it is transacting online, purchasing groceries, planning vacations or trading in stocks, everything can now be done in a jiffy. Access to internet and smartphones enables...

Mutual funds score over conventional investment avenues

Indians find it hard to wriggle out of their archetypal behaviour when it comes to investing. Despite several new products flooding the market recently most investors still choose safer options like savings accounts and fixed deposits offered by banks. Next...

When to start investing in mutual funds?

One of the most important factors to consider while drawing a financial plan is fixing the time period, especially if you are a beginner. The thumb rule is the earlier you start, the greater the chance of achieving your financial goals.​​ Further, an early start significantly...

Understanding mutual funds across market capitalisation

If you’ve seen mutual fund advertisements, odds are you’ve come across the terms large-cap funds, mid-cap funds, mid-cap funds and small cap funds. In this context, the word ‘cap’ refers to the market capitalisation, or the size, of a listed company As you will learn...

Investing in stock versus equity mutual funds

Equity is one of the best asset classes to build wealth over long term. The benchmark Nifty 50 and S&P BSE Sensex indices have returned 14% each over 15 years to May 31, 2016 (Source: Cri​s​il Research) . However, direct investing in equities requires for a lot...

Choose growth over dividend in MIPs for systematic withdrawals

Financial planning has two angles to it, one is the investment, and the other withdrawal either regular or one time. While the systematic investment plan (SIP) helps you invest in mutual funds at regular intervals, systematic withdrawal plan (SWP) can help you...

This Akshaya Tritiya add sheen to your portfolio through gold

Indians have always been eager to invest in gold and this is an inexorable relationship. . It goes beyond festivals and special occasions What is restrictive is that normally we tend to accumulate the metal as physical gold and jewellery and that has many limitations...

Fixed maturity plans simplified

Attainment of financial goals requires perseverance. It does not happen overnight. The changing macros, such as inflation,can become spokes in the investment wheel. To keep that wheel running smoothly, one has to widen one’s investment diaspora beyond...

Union Budget - A ready reckoner

On February 29, 2016, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would announce the Union Budget for fiscal 2017,With the global economy beset with uncertainty, intensified by the slowdown in China and falling crude oil prices, every Indian eagerly awaits the Budget one to assess...

Usher in 2016 with financial resolutions

The New Year always connotes new beginnings, ideas and opportunities. And not to forget, New Year resolutions when people vow to lead a healthy lifestyle, work harder to fulfil their goals and make their lives – both personal and professional more meaningful...

ELSS could be a win-win; help you cut tax out-go and maximise returns

The rising inflation takes a toll on living expenses and sharply erodes our disposable incomes. Add to this the tax burden and voila you find your wallet size shrinking… So what is the holistic solution that helps you trim your tax outgo and also offers you higher...

Adding equity to your retirement kitty

Retirement planning is still at a nascent stage in India for several reasons. For a long time, the traditional joint family system was seen as a canopy offering pension to senior citizens. However, with India seeing a demographic shift – thanks to nuclearisation and urbanization...

Hybrid funds help you spread risks over equity and debt

Hybrid funds – which invest in equity and debt- are increasingly seen as an alternative for investors to diversify risks.These funds can assist steady income for investors (from the debt component) and facilitate capital appreciation (from the equity side)...

How can you survive Equity Roller Coaster

Running with the bulls and lumbering with the bears is quite a skill in the equity market. Two emotions – greed and fear – are constantly at play. History proves that equities, though volatile in the short term, create wealth in the long term. The CNX Nifty and S&P BSE...

Balanced funds - Growth from equity and stability from debt

Balanced Funds provide investors with an option of a single mutual fund that combines both growth and income objectives by investing in equities for growth and debt for income. These funds help to diversify equity risk by exposure to debt while maintaining potential...

Risk profiling + Riskometer = Successful financial planning

Mutual fund advertisements carry a disclosure on risks. Mutual fund schemes were labeled as blue ​​​​​​​(low risk), yellow (medium risk) and brown (high risk). Ever wonder why? These are indicators that help investors take decisions in line with their risk profile and investment...

Women should take charge of financial planning

Today’s women handle home and office with equal ease. However, when it comes to financial planning, they still rely on their father or brother (if single) or their husbands (if married). While reliance is ok, they should be pragmatic and independently plan for ...

ETF - A resourceful product to invest across asset classes

Mutual Funds provide an important and convenient way of financial planning for retail investors due to various factors such as economies of scale and low costs. In addition, Mutual Funds also provide investors with an opportunity to invest across asset classes...

Securing your child's future with mutual funds

Parents always aspire to provide the best to their children and leave no stones unturned for securing a child's future. From the time of their birth until the children have grown up, the requirements vary according to the different life stages ​​Parents try to save to the best of their...

Why start early

One of the most important things that you can do as an investor is to get an early start on investing The old saying "the early bird gets the worm," certainly applies to investing in a big way. Investing is defined as making an investment in order to earn a profit...

How one should start ?

Among the many mantras of investing, market timing is the most commonly used one, where nvestors look to invest, book profits and exit quite often. There are also diehard followers of the "invest and hold" strategy. At the same time there are people who believe that portfolio...

Dynamics of Investment Planning

Financial independence is now an integral part of our complex lives Gone are the days when it meant having enough to tide over one's personal needs without really having to struggle. In current times, due to various reasons like a fast-paced life job insecurities...

Can't gauge the volatile market? Take professional help

Today’s highly advanced print and electronic media have been able to share nvestment-related information with the investors. The ensuing confidence encourages investors to manage their own money. There are some, though, who shy away from solo...

Potential benefits of gold as an asset class evident over the long term

Interestingly, gold has been treasured as a valuable commodity for as long as one can remember. From barter trade to jewellery investment and now pape gold, the sheen continues and its universal appeal is intact. Gold has proven to be a safe-haven...