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The EduFund college cost calculator is India’s first education cost calculator that helps parents estimate the future cost of college. This user-friendly calculator provides accurate estimates of future costs associated with higher education, allowing individuals to make informed financial decisions.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV0_hgP8S1w India’s first college cost calculator in India  EduFund's College Cost Calculator is the first of its kind in India, specifically designed to cater to the unique needs of Indian students and parents. It considers various factors such as tuition fees, living expenses, scholarships, and rate of inflation to provide a comprehensive estimation of the total cost of a college education.  1. Saving for College made easier  One of the key features of EduFund's College Cost Calculator is its ability to help individuals save for college expenses. By inputting their current savings and monthly contributions, users can visualize how their savings will accumulate over time. This feature allows students and parents to set realistic savings goals and create a solid financial plan for future education.  2. Beyond Tuition Fees: School Fees, Laptops, Books, and More EduFund's College Cost Calculator goes beyond just estimating tuition fees. It considers additional expenses such as school fees, accommodation costs, transportation, laptops, textbooks, and other educational resources. By including these factors, the calculator provides a more accurate and holistic picture of the overall expenses students and parents may encounter during the college journey.  3. User-Friendly Interface  EduFund's College Cost Calculator boasts a user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of calculating college expenses. With intuitive navigation and clear instructions, users can effortlessly input relevant information and receive instant estimates. The calculator ensures that even individuals without a financial background can easily comprehend and utilize the tool effectively.  4. Future cost of studying  One of the most powerful aspects of EduFund's College Cost Calculator is its ability to calculate the future cost of studying. By considering the projected inflation rate and the duration of the course, the calculator provides an estimation of the total cost a few years down the line. This foresight allows students and parents to plan and adjust their financial strategies accordingly.  Calculate College Cost How to use EduFund's college cost calculator?  Using EduFund's College Cost Calculator is a straightforward process that allows students and parents to gain valuable insights into the financial aspects of higher education. By following these simple steps, users can effectively utilize the calculator to plan for college expenses:  Visit the EduFund Website:  Access EduFund's official website to find the College Cost Calculator. The calculator is usually prominently displayed on the homepage or can be located in the "Tools" or "Resources" section.  Provide Basic Information:  Begin by entering the required basic information. This typically includes the current age of the student, the age at which they plan to start college, and the expected duration of the course. Input College Expenses:  Next, input the various college expenses that need to be considered. These may include tuition fees, school fees, accommodation costs, transportation expenses, books, laptops, and other related costs. EduFund's calculator is designed to provide a comprehensive estimation of all potential expenses.  Consider Inflation:  To ensure an accurate projection, the calculator factors in inflation rates. Enter the expected inflation rate based on historical data or estimates. This step is crucial as it helps account for the rise in college costs over time.  Include Current Savings:  If you have any existing savings earmarked for college, include them in the calculator. Enter the current amount saved as well as any ongoing monthly contributions towards the college fund. This feature allows users to understand how their savings can grow over time.  Review and Analyze Results:  Once all the necessary information has been entered, review the results provided by the calculator. EduFund's College Cost Calculator typically generates a detailed breakdown of the estimated total cost of college education, including a year-by-year analysis. It may also provide insights into the amount needed to save monthly or annually to achieve the desired goal.  Adjust Parameters:  If the results do not align with your expectations or financial capabilities, you can adjust the parameters within the calculator. Try modifying the duration of the course, monthly contributions, or inflation rate to explore alternative scenarios and find a plan that suits your needs.  Save or Print Results:  To have a record of your calculations or to share the information with others, consider saving or printing the results. This allows you to refer back to the estimates and financial projections whenever needed.  Remember, EduFund's College Cost Calculator is a dynamic tool that helps you gain insights into the future cost of studying. As circumstances change, such as college selection, scholarships, or financial situations, you can revisit the calculator to adjust and refine your financial plan accordingly.  By following these steps and utilizing EduFund's College Cost Calculator, students and parents can proactively prepare for the financial demands of higher education, empowering them to make informed decisions and create a solid financial strategy for a successful college journey.  What is College Cost Calculator? Read More Conclusion Empowering Financial Preparedness with EduFund's College Cost Calculator. By providing accurate estimations, a user-friendly interface, and comprehensive insights, this tool equips students and parents to plan effectively, ensuring a stable financial foundation for higher education. 

The stock market is not just a trading hub but also a real-time tool for monitoring the state's financial performance.   Having one of the strongest economies in the world, the stock markets in the United States are one of the most financially rewarding avenues for people interested in investing in company shares, derivatives, bonds, futures, commodities, and other financial instruments, which is why foreign investors keep an eye on US market trading hours.   Indian investors can now easily invest in the stock markets of the United States thanks to technological advancements. Through this article, you will get to know everything about the US stock market timing Regular trading hours in US time  The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, in particular, open at 9.30 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. ET (Eastern Time), a time zone that encompasses the Eastern states of the United States and parts of Canada. On weekends and holidays, the stock exchanges are closed.  Every year, there are a few market half-days. Depending on the calendar, they may fall on July 3 or 5, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas night. The NASDAQ and NYSE both close at 1 p.m. ET on certain half-days.  Regular trading hours Indian time  Investing in India is critical to account for the time difference between the United States and India. The NYSE and NASDAQ open and close at 8 p.m. (IST) and 2.30 a.m. (IST) respectively.  Due to daylight saving time, this varies throughout the year (DST).   Eastern Standard Time, or EST, is a time zone observed throughout the United States throughout the autumn and winter months.   EDT is 9.5 hours behind IST because it is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (UTC - 4).  Source: Pixabay Daylight saving time  One factor to remember when it comes to stock market timing in the United States is the effect of daylight-saving time, which occurs when the country's clocks are ahead by one hour.   DST is observed from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. The stock markets in the United States open at 7:00 p.m. IST and close at 1:30 a.m. IST.  Eastern Daylight Time, or EDT, is observed during the summer and spring seasons. Compared to Greenwich Mean Time or UTC - 5, EST is 5 hours behind and 10.5 hours behind IST.  Pre-market and after-hours trading hours  Trading is done in the United States even outside of typical business hours. Pre-market trading runs from 8 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. ET, or 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. IST, while after-hours trading runs from 4 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET, or 1:30 a.m. IST to 5:30 a.m. IST.   However, one should be mindful of the hazards because of the poor liquidity, low volume of participants, and volatility associated with pre-market and after-hours trading. The investing platform will determine whether one can invest pre-market or after-hours.  The timings in IST for other US stock exchanges are given in the table below.  NameStateOpening Bell (in IST)Closing Bell (in IST)Boston Stock ExchangeMassachusettsIt was acquired by NASDAQ Inc. in 2007.Chicago Stock ExchangeIllinois7:00 PM1:30 AMInternational Securities ExchangeNew YorkIt is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NASDAQ Inc.Miami Stock ExchangeFlorida7:00 PM1:30 AMNational Stock ExchangeNew JerseyThis was acquired by the NYSE in 2017 and is now traded as NYSE National.Philadelphia Stock ExchangePennsylvaniaThis was also acquired by NASDAQ Inc. and is traded at NASDAQ as Nasdaq OMX PHLX. The two largest stock exchanges in the United States, NYSE, and NASDAQ have bought the bulk of regional stock exchanges. As a result, regional time zones do not affect the timings of US stock markets in India.  List of holidays observed by the US Stock exchange Holiday202220232024New Year’s Day—Monday, January 2 (New Year's holiday observed)Monday, January 1Martin Luther King, Jr. DayMonday, January 17Monday, January 16Monday, January 15Washington's BirthdayMonday, February 21Monday, February 20Monday, February 19Good FridayFriday, April 15Friday, April 7Friday, March 29Memorial DayMonday, May 30Monday, May 29Monday, May 27Juneteenth National Independence DayMonday, June 20 (Juneteenth holiday observed)Monday, June 19Wednesday, June 19Independence DayMonday, July 4Tuesday, July 4**Thursday, July 4**Labor DayMonday, September 5Monday, September 4Monday, September 2Thanksgiving DayThursday, November 24***Thursday, November 23***Thursday, November 28***Christmas DayMonday, December 26 (Christmas holiday observed)Monday, December 25Wednesday, December 25**** ** On Monday, July 3, 2023, and Wednesday, July 3, 2024, At 1:00 p.m., each market will close early (1:15 p.m. for qualified options).  On these dates, Crossing Session orders will be accepted starting at 1:00 p.m. for continuous executions until 1:30 p.m., while the late trading sessions for NYSE American Equities, NYSE Arca Equities, NYSE Chicago, and NYSE National will close at 5:00 p.m. All times are in Eastern Standard Time.  *** On Friday, November 25, 2022, Friday, November 24, 2023, and Friday, November 29, 2024, each market will close early at 1:00 p.m. (1:15 p.m. for qualified options) (the day after Thanksgiving).   On these dates, Crossing Session orders will be accepted starting at 1:00 p.m. for continuous executions until 1:30 p.m., while the late trading sessions for NYSE American Equities, NYSE Arca Equities, NYSE Chicago, and NYSE National will close at 5:00 p.m. All times are in Eastern Standard Time.  **** On Tuesday, December 24, 2024, each market will close early at 1:00 p.m. (1:15 p.m. for qualifying options).   On this date, Crossing Session orders will be accepted starting at 1:00 p.m. for continuous executions until 1:30 p.m., while the late trading sessions for NYSE American Equities, NYSE Arca Equities, NYSE Chicago, and NYSE National will close at 5:00 p.m. All times are in Eastern Standard Time. FAQs What are the trading hours in the USA? The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, in particular, open at 9.30 a.m. and close at 4 p.m. ET (Eastern Time), a time zone that encompasses the Eastern states of the United States and parts of Canada. On weekends and holidays, the stock exchanges are closed. What time can Indians invest in USA stocks? Investing in India is critical to account for the time difference between the United States and India. The NYSE and NASDAQ open and close at 8 p.m. (IST) and 2.30 a.m. (IST) respectively.  What are Pre-market and after-hours trading hours in USA? Trading is done in the United States even outside of typical business hours. Pre-market trading runs from 8 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. ET, or 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. IST, while after-hours trading runs from 4 p.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET, or 1:30 a.m. IST to 5:30 a.m. IST. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you TALK TO AN EXPERT

You've probably asked yourself this question repeatedly- 'why investing is important?'. While there are many reasons, the most significant is financial stability. Investing refers to channeling your money into different financial instruments to achieve profits and grow your capital. You can earn money in two ways - work for someone else or work on your venture. You sharpen your mind and different skills that help you earn money.   Another way to make money is by making your money work to get wealthier. Investing serves this purpose. This article will figure out a few reasons why investing is essential. What are the different ways to invest?  There are many ways to invest, for example, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options, futures, precious metals like gold and silver, real estate, and other small businesses, or possibly a combination of all of the above.   Income can come in the form of appreciated value to the investment, dividend income or from, the sale of a business or liquidity of any other of the above instruments. Source: Pexels Why investing is important?   Investing is essential for many reasons. For example, to create wealth that might help you in tough times or help you achieve goals.   And you also want to take advantage of the power of compounding, not forgetting inflation, so that your money is worth it over time.   If you plan to retire at some point in time, you must invest in getting a corpus for yourself to live your retired life in a hassle-free manner.  Wealth creation could mean having a certain amount of money in your bank account or having a particular value of assets under your name.  Let's see how investment helps in wealth generation. Why should you invest? Investment is a way to grow your money. The creation of wealth isn’t merely a goal; it will help you through your lifetime; in fact, it can help your future generations shape their future.   Investing will allow you to take advantage of the compounding power of money. For every rupee that you invest and earn, your investment base will grow, and thus grow; your capital will grow.  For example, we can take the 15 * 15 * 15 rule that we have read in another article; it is a powerful way to invest and achieve your financial and life goals.   Money sitting in your bank account loses its value over time because of rising prices in the economy. If prices are rising, your money will be bought less today than yesterday.   If there is inflation over 30-40 years, the value of your money is going to be reduced by a significant amount. Investing can help you beat inflation by earning more than what is lost by inflation - so that your money remains worth at least the same over time.   Retirement is also a valid reason for you to start investing. You need to have a large corpus to live off the last 20-30 years of your life.  Saving and investing for retirement requires careful planning and calculation of the amount you will need, and then proceed with an investing strategy.   Your child's future: In one of the previous articles, we talked about how important it is to save and invest for a secure future for your child.   Investing in your child's education and marriage requires investing in a well-phased manner with appropriate withdrawal options in times of need. Benefits of Investing   1. Returns on your investments  The greatest benefit of investing is the returns you gain in the long haul. Investing right, consistently, and early on can help any investor make good returns. While saving your money in a bank account is tempting and safe, it is not always the best option for your money. Make the most of your savings by learning the importance of investment.   From investing in Indian stocks, US stocks, index funds, and mutual funds to ETFs, the choices are endless. After determining your goals, preferences, and risk appetite, you can either invest on your own or approach a financial advisor to make the best possible decisions.    2. A chance to meet your financial goals   The importance of investment lies in what it can help you achieve! From building a house to financing your child’s education, you achieve them all with the right kind of investments. Once you have your financial goals in mind, a time horizon, and understand your risk appetite, you can start making investments.   You can start investing with as small as Rs. 100 and step up your investments as your income goes. There are many ways to invest such as SIP and lumpsum, you can either invest consistently every month or in one go.    3. A way to plan your retirement   Investing is also a means of creating a retirement fund for yourself sooner than later. By investing in mutual funds, you can create a retirement plan in the time horizon you want and make use of compounding that can double the returns. Another benefit is that investment helps you beat inflation.   4. Investing saves taxes Investing can help you save money on taxes as well. If you make an investment of Rs 1.5 lakh under Sec 80C to reduce your taxable income. You can invest in PPF, ELSS (Tax Saver Funds), Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY), Fixed Deposits, and National Pension System (NPS).    5. Investing helps with big purchases  The greatest benefit of investing your money is that it can help you make big purchases. Whether it’s your child’s education, a retirement fund for yourself, buying a house, a luxury car, or taking a world tour. Good investments can help you make all these big purchases easily without taking a loan or digging into your current savings.   For example, you have 15 years till your child is off to college. You decide to save a small sum of money every month for the next 15 years and increase the investment every few months to achieve your set goal. By the end of these fifteen years, you will have built a sufficient education fund that your child can use and make their college dream a success without worrying about debts or loans. This is the power of investing and a good investment requires great market research, diversification, and attention to detail!   6. Beats Inflation   Inflation is the greatest villain in your financial journey. It gradually erodes the value of your money, increases the cost of all essential goods and services, and devalues your savings. Certain investments like gold, mutual funds, index funds, ETFs, and stocks have the potential to beat inflation. They have the potential to give you an interest above the estimated inflation rates in the years to come. This is not feasible if your money is in a savings account or stored away in an FD.   In fact, inflation affects certain areas of life more than others. Education, healthcare, and the oil industry are impacted most by inflation. The cost of education is rapidly increasing as a result of it – universities like Allahabad University have increased their tuition fees by 300% this year. This is just one example – pursuing medicine in India is a rich man’s dream now. It can cost you nearly 1 Cr to complete a medical degree from a private college today.    7. It acts as an emergency fund   Investments are also your emergency funds. A medical crisis, an emergency, or a job loss – investments can help you with a host of financial problems and ensure you are able to take care of your responsibilities with ease. Good investments are hard to manage on your own, you can always reach out to a financial advisor that can help you invest in funds that you can liquidate and use whenever the need arises. Remember investing and saving must go hand in hand if you want to meet your financial goals timely and successfully!   FAQs What are the different ways to invest? There are many ways to invest, for example, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options, futures, precious metals like gold and silver, real estate, and other small businesses, or possibly a combination of all of the above. What are the benefits of investing? Benefits of Investing: Returns on your investments A chance to meet your financial goals A way to plan your retirement Investing saves taxes Investing helps with big purchases Beats Inflation It acts as an emergency fund What is the value of time in investing? Time is extremely valuable while investing. It helps you grow your wealth without the fear of sudden losses. It allows you to invest in assets that have long-term benefits. Consult an expert to get the right plan for you TALK TO AN EXPERT

Parag Parikh Financial Advisory Services is a unique fund house that draws its inspiration from the Hammurabi Code. King Hammurabi (18th Century BC) is recognized as the world's first coder of social laws. Hammurabi's law stated that if a house collapses, causing the occupant's death, it is the builder's liability, and he must be executed. To demonstrate this conviction in their asset management methodology, the management motivated company insiders to buy units in the Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund. Presently, company insiders hold 4.653 crore units, and the total amount they have invested is INR 156.41 crores. The management believes that when their own stake is involved in the fund, they will take informed decisions and never indulge in reckless behavior. The promoter of PPFAS Asset Management Company (PPFAS AMC) is Parag Parikh Financial Advisory Services Pvt. Ltd. (PPFAS Ltd.). PPFAS Ltd. is a 1992-incorporated boutique investment advisory firm. It is also one of the oldest SEBI Registered Portfolio Management Service (PMS) providers in India. The PPFAS mutual fund's investment methodology is much different from other mutual fund houses operating in India. While most other companies run after algorithms, momentum, and technical analysis, PPFAS mutual fund relies on conventional metrics like cash flow, debt, price earnings, etc., to pick stocks with tremendous growth potential. Another unique thing about PPFAS mutual fund is that it stops accepting lump sum deposits from the public when equity valuations are extremely high. Generally, when the market is at its peak, retail investors get carried away and pour in money. While eventually, the market consolidates, investors grapple with monumental losses. PPFAS mutual fund's innovative fund management style intends to reduce losses and generate profits consistently. PPFAS AMC is headed by Mr. Neil Parag Parikh, who is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company. He holds 15,61,216 units in the Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund. The Investment Manager of PPFAS Mutual Fund is PPFAS Asset Management Private Limited. The company was registered on 08/08/2011. Parag Parikh Financial Advisory Services Private Limited holds 100% shares in the company. PPFAS mutual fund's Asset Under Management (AUM) grew to INR 2,871.87 Crore in the financial year 2019-20 from INR 1,961.51 Crore in the previous financial year. In the financial year 2018-19, the AMC had 80,289 investors investing in its various mutual fund schemes. The figure increased to 1,84,789 in the financial year 2019-20. PPFAS Asset Management Private Limited's operating income increased to INR 1,832.12 lakhs in the financial year 2019-20 from INR 1,538.31 lakhs in the previous year. The AMC's Profit before Depreciation, Tax, and Exceptional & Extraordinary items grew to INR 638.29 lakhs from INR 618.53 lakhs. And the Reserves & Surplus increased to INR 3,061.16 lakhs from 2,715.15 lakhs. Important information about PPFAS Mutual Fund Mutual Fund NamePPFAS Mutual FundInvestment ManagerPPFAS Asset Management Private LimitedEstablished10th October 2012Date of Incorporation8th August 2011Sponsor Parag Parikh Financial Advisory Services Limited 81/82, 8th Floor, SakharBhavan, Ramnath GoenkaMarg, 230 Nariman Point,Mumbai-400021TrusteePPFAS Trustee Company Private LimitedChairman and Director, PPFAS Asset Management Private LimitedNeil Parag ParikhChief Executive OfficerNeil Parag ParikhDirectorRajeev Thakkar Shashi KatariaIndependent DirectorsKamlesh Somani Rajesh Bhojani Arindam GhoshChief Financial OfficerShashi KatariaCompliance OfficerPriya HarianiInvestor Service OfficerAalok MehtaStatutory AuditorsCVK & Associates, Chartered Accountants 2, Samarth Apartments, D S Babrekar Road,Off Gokhale Road (North), Dadar (West),Mumbai 400 028Tel. No: +91-22-24468717,+ 91-22-24451488Fax. No: +91-22-24466139BankersHDFC Bank Limited 81/82, 8th Floor, Sakhar Bhavan, Ramnath Goenka Marg, 230 Nariman Point - 400021Registered Address, PPFAS Asset Management Pvt.Ltd.81/82, 8th Floor, Sakhar Bhavan, Ramnath Goenka Marg, 230 Nariman Point Mumbai - 400021Phone 22-61406555 / 1800-266-7790Fax022-61406590Emailmf@ppfas.comWebsitehttps://www.amc.ppfas.comRegistrar & Transfer AgentComputer Age Management Services Ltd. Address: 7th Floor, Tower II, Rayala Towers, 158, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600002 Phone: 1800-3010-6767 / 1800-419-7676 Fax: 044-30407101 Email: enq_h@camsonline.com Website: www.camsonline.com Three top-performing Parag Parikh mutual fund schemes  1. Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund (formerly known as Parag Parikh Long Term Equity Fund) The Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund, with a NAV of 38.8948 (Regular Growth) (as of 13th April 2021), is the top-performing fund in the 'Equity: Flexi Cap' category. This open-ended fund was launched on 28th May 2013 and has given trailing returns of 70.41% in one year (as of 13th April 2021). The fund considers the NIFTY 500 TRI as its benchmark.  Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum Additional InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load2% for redemption before 365 days; 1% for withdrawals between 366 and 730 days; Nil for redemption after 731 daysReturn Since Inception (28th May 2013):18.81% (as of 13th April 2021)AssetsINR 8,182 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio1.86% (as of 28th February 2021) 2. Parag Parikh Liquid Fund The Parag Parikh Liquid Fund, with a NAV of 1,150.8854 (Regular Growth) (as of 14th April 2021), is the top-performing fund in the 'Debt: Liquid' category. This open-ended fund was launched on 11th May 2018 and has given trailing returns of 3.10% in one year (as of 12th April 2021). The fund considers the CRISIL Liquid TRI as its benchmark.  Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum Additional InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit LoadNil for redemption after 6 daysReturn Since Inception (11th May 2018):4.92% (as of 14th April 2021)AssetsINR 1,243 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio0.26% (as of 28th February 2021) 3. Parag Parikh Tax Saver Fund The Parag Parikh Tax Saver Fund, with a NAV of 14.5112 (Regular Growth) (as of 14th April 2021), is the top-performing fund in the 'Equity: ELSS' category. This open-ended fund was launched on 24th July 2019 and has given trailing returns of 59.68% in one year (as of 12th April 2021). The fund considers the NIFTY 500 TRI as its benchmark.  Key Information Minimum InvestmentINR 500Minimum Additional InvestmentINR 500Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum WithdrawalINR 500Exit LoadNil (Lock-in period - 3 years)Return Since Inception (24th July 2019):24.12% (as of 13th April 2021)AssetsINR 179 Crore (as of 31st March, 2021)Expense RatioINR 179 Crore (as of 31st March 2021) How can you invest in PPFAS Mutual Fund via EduFund? EduFund is a one-stop app for investing in the top-rated schemes of the PPFAS mutual funds. All transactions on EduFund are secured with international-standard authentication and encryption. Hence, hackers or malware can never infringe upon your financial privacy. Investing in PPFAS mutual fund is a straightforward six-step process Step 1: Open Google Play Store or Apple App Store, type 'EduFund,' and download the app. Step 2: Create an account by entering details such as name, email, and mobile phone number. Step 3: Browse the various PPFAS mutual fund schemes, view the Net Asset Value (NAV), and check the returns, expense ratio, nature (open-ended/ close-ended), date of launch, returns since inception, and other details. Choose the scheme that best suits your financial goals. Step 4: Choose an amount to invest. You can start with a lump sum of INR 5,000 or a SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) of INR 500. EduFund provides you with two options - Growth and Dividend. The dividend option will suit you more if you want to get a regular income. In contrast, the growth option is better if you are investing for getting a lump sum amount after a few years.  Step 5: When you invest in a scheme, the units get credited to your EduFund account within four (4) days. You can check the current value, NAV, balance, and other details in the app. You can also invest more, withdraw money, or switch to another fund. In case you need further help, EduFund's expert advisors are available to help you with the selection process.  Step 6: You are all set to witness the growth of your capital.  Three best-performing fund managers at PPFAS Mutual Fund 1. Mr. Rajeev Thakkar Mr. Rajeev Thakkar, Chief Investment Officer and Equity Fund Manager, at PPFAS mutual fund, joined the company in 2001. His professional journey started in 1994. He has extensive experience in asset management and capital markets. His specialties include investment banking, fixed income, Portfolio Management Services, and broking operations. Before joining PPFAS AMC, he worked as Manager of Fixed Income Securities at DIL Vikas Finance Limited for two years. He also worked with Prime Securities as Manager of Investment Banking for five years. Mr. Thakkar did his schooling at St. Xavier's High School and a Bachelor of Commerce from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics. He is also a Chartered Accountant (The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) and CFA Charter (CFA Institute, USA). Mr. Thakkar manages the Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund. 2. Mr. Raunak Onkar Mr. Raunak Onkar, Research Head of, PPFAS mutual fund, joined the company in January 2012. Before joining PPFAS AMC, he worked with Parag Parikh Financial Advisory Services Limited as an Analyst and Intern (Research Trainee) between May 2008 and January 2012. He has more than ten years of experience in Equity Research, Portfolio Management, Research, Capital Markets, Valuation, Business Analysis, Investments, Finance, Hedging, Asset Management, and Mutual Funds. His educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and a Master in Management Studies Finance (University of Mumbai).  3. Mr. Raj Mehta Mr. Raj Mehta, Fund Manager, of PPFAS mutual fund, joined the company in August 2012 as a Research Trainee. Before joining PPFAS AMC, he worked with K.P. Mehta & Co. as an Article Assistant. His specialties include Equity Research Analysis, Financial Analysis, Financial Modelling, Auditing, Accounting, and taxation. Mr. Mehta did B.Com and M.Com from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics. He is also a CFA Charterholder and Chartered Accountant. He participates in various TV channels and writes for several financial publications.  Why should you invest in PPFAS mutual fund? PPFAS is a unique mutual fund house that offers only three schemes. They identify value-oriented stocks with solid fundamentals and invest. The best thing about PPFAS mutual fund's flagship scheme Flexi Cap Fund is that it invests in high-quality Indian and international companies that have delivered steady returns irrespective of market conditions. The fund managers at PPFAS AMC have a consistent track record of generating gravity-defying returns. Another exciting thing about PPFAS mutual fund is that it stops accepting lump sum public deposits when they find that the valuations are too stretched. Hence, you should consider investing in a PPFAS mutual fund scheme if you want to make decent profits over the long term. EduFund brings PPFAS mutual fund schemes to your fingertips. You can start investing with as little as INR 5,000 and benefit from the market upswings.  EduFund offers you the following distinct features: Customized Financial Plans - EduFund tracks all mutual fund schemes offered by mutual fund houses in India. It uses over 1 lakh data points and 400 financial situations to display the best mutual fund schemes for you. For every financial goal, you can get a personalized investment plan exclusively for you. Talk to a Financial Counsellor - EduFund's financial counselor employs time-tested methods to help you find the best scheme that suits your financial profile and goals. You can get free counseling about all your fund-related queries. Explore International Instruments - Besides Indian mutual funds, EduFund also provides you access to US Dollar ETFs and International mutual funds. You do not need any special account to invest in international financial instruments. EduFund's app is a one-stop destination for everything related to investments. Get Free Calculators - Your goals are unique. EduFund simplifies the more challenging task of calculation. You may use various free tools like the SIP calculator, College Savings Calculator, etc., to easily figure out the amount you will need to fulfill your goals and select the right mutual fund. EduFund uses bank-like security protocols to ensure 100% safe transactions. FAQs How can I invest in PPFAS mutual fund? Step 1: Open Google Play Store or Apple App Store, type 'EduFund,' and download the app. Step 2: Create an account by entering details such as name, email, and mobile phone number. Step 3: Browse the various PPFAS mutual fund schemes, view the Net Asset Value (NAV), and check the returns, expense ratio, nature (open-ended/ close-ended), date of launch, returns since inception, and other details. Choose the scheme that best suits your financial goals. Step 4: Choose an amount to invest. You can start with a lump sum of INR 5,000 or a SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) of INR 500. EduFund provides you with two options - Growth and Dividend. Why should you invest in PPFAS mutual fund? The fund managers at PPFAS AMC have a consistent track record of generating gravity-defying returns. Another exciting thing about PPFAS mutual fund is that it stops accepting lump sum public deposits when they find that the valuations are too stretched. What are some popular funds by PPFAS mutual fund? Parag Parikh Liquid FundParag Parikh Flexi Cap FundParag Parikh Tax Saver Fund Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

Investment tips can be a life savior. Especially when life today is expensive and getting costlier. Education, housing and other costs of living are certainly not getting any cheaper. Your savings will only take you so far and thus, financial planning and investment have become a necessity today. Education planning in India is getting popular, especially for parents looking to send their kids to study abroad without taking out education loans. If you are a beginner investor, and thinking about child investment plans or other strategies, here are some things you should know. 1. Invest with a plan You should always invest with a plan. It is very important to be clear from the get-go about what your financial goals are. Investments in a house, investments for buying a car, investments for retirement, and investments for child education are all very different financial goals. Some financial goals require short-term planning while others require planning long-term.  For example, buying a car is a short-term goal, while creating a proper education plan for your child or planning for retirement are long-term goals. A diversified short-term investment plan is much more suitable for the former and a long-term investment scheme will be more useful for your long-term goals. If you are a beginner, it can be a good idea to invest with a financial service that manages your investments for you. A personalized and customized financial plan created by experts is useful when you are short on time or expertise yourself. If you want to create a solid education plan for your children, you can invest your money in mutual funds and ETFs through EduFund.  2. Educate yourself about the stock market While it may be tempting to leave everything to the experts and rest stress-free, that is not a very good attitude to have. You should educate yourself about what you are investing in and why. A lot of beginner investors follow trends and invest in whatever is being talked about the most. There is a chance of this being profitable in the short term but this definitely not a good long-term strategy. For that, you will need to educate yourself on the stock market. You need to understand how the stock market works and what it means when a stock rises or falls. What is a stock and what does it mean when you buy a stock? You should also educate yourself on the jargon. What is BSE, NSE, Sensex, Nifty, etc? What is the difference between investing and trading? First-time investors also need to specifically look at what they are investing in and learn as much as possible about it. If you are investing in ETFs, it is important to first understand what an ETF is and why they are so popular with beginner investors.  Sometimes, the experience can also be a teacher. When you enter the market as a rookie, you may make mistakes and suffer losses. Take these losses as a learning experience to understand what to do and what not to do. Knowledge is your friend when you are an investor and not all of this knowledge needs to be bookish. 3. Understand market risk When you invest your money into the market, you can either make a profit or suffer a loss. The more money you have invested, the more your exposure and consequent risk.  Volatile or trendy stocks and options can be risky. Balanced mutual funds, real estate, and high-income bonds are relatively low risk. Bank savings deposits, fixed deposits, and government bonds are the lowest-risk investments. As an investor, what you need to do is determine how much risk you are willing to take. It is always a good idea to start slow. Do not speculate too much too quickly. Rather, plan things out and invest according to your goals. Your risk tolerance will also differ depending on your financial goals. If you are investing to fund your child’s education plan, which is an expensive, long-term investment, you should not take unnecessary risks.  Diversification is a great idea to lower risk as this ensures that your invested principal is not tied up in only one thing. This balances out your risk. Investing in ETFs and mutual funds is a great way to do this. These funds are already diversified and their investment portfolio is structured and balanced to ensure relatively lower risk. 4. Invest in what you know We have recently seen big booms and falls in the prices of certain stocks like GameStop. A lot of people invested in these stocks due to the hype and media attention. While many of them made huge profits, when the stocks eventually fell, many investors ended up losing a lot of money as well.  This is a great example of what happens when you invest out of herd mentality, without fully understanding what you are investing in and why. While these types of investments can be good for a quick and sudden cash fall, they are completely inappropriate as a long-term investment strategy.  When you invest in a stock, you purchase yourself a stake in the company. As a stakeholder, you should do your due diligence about the company and its stocks. Understand how the company makes its money and stays profitable. If you don’t do this, you will not be able to predict or understand when a company’s stock may fall and put you in a financial crisis. If you don’t understand how or why a particular stock shot up, it's not a good investment. 5. Stay calm This is perhaps the most important aspect of investing. The stock market with its highs and lows can lure you into making impulsive, emotion-driven decisions. It is important to have self-control in these matters and stick to proven investment strategies rather than variable market trends. It is also equally important to understand that short-term market fluctuations, by and large, don’t affect your long-term investments in the long run. With financial goals like education plans and home ownership, any rise and fall in stock prices can make you nervous. But it is important to have faith in your long-term investments. If you have done your due diligence and research in picking the right plans and strategies for yourself, the only thing you need to do is relax and keep faith in your investments. Conclusion Investment is a strategy for creating wealth in the long term and requires patience, faith, knowledge, and planning. It is important to educate yourself as much as possible about all relevant issues and keep in touch with experienced advisors and analysts. FAQs What is the best strategy for a beginner investor? You should always invest with a plan. It is very important to be clear from the get-go about what your financial goals are. Investments in a house, investments for buying a car, investments for retirement, and investments for child education are all very different financial goals. Some financial goals require short-term planning, while others require long-term planning.    How can I invest smartly? Stay calm. This is perhaps the most important aspect of investing. The stock market, with its highs and lows, can lure you into making impulsive, emotion-driven decisions.   It is important to have self-control in these matters and stick to proven investment strategies rather than variable market trends.   It is also equally important to understand that short-term market fluctuations, by and large, don’t affect your long-term investments in the long run. What should beginning investors invest in? Invest in what you know. When you invest in a stock, you purchase a stake in the company. As a stakeholder, you should do due diligence on the company and its stocks.    Understand how the company makes its money and stays profitable. If you don’t do this, you will not be able to predict or understand when a company’s stock may fall and put you in a financial crisis.    If you don’t understand how or why a particular stock shot up, it’s not a good investment.   What are 5 tips for beginner investors? Invest with a plan   Educate yourself about the stock market   Understand market risk   Invest in what you know   Stay calm   With good advice, planning, and a solid portfolio, investing can help you achieve your life goals and dreams.

Contrary to the usual belief that parents of the girl child are more worried about keeping their future safe, parents of boys are equally concerned about their boy’s future. They would also like to find the best investment plan for a boy child to make their future secure and rewarding.  Education inflation is high at 11% - 12%, and it is impossible to finance your children’s education without a solid backing.  A strong financial corpus will come in handy when the boy child wants to pursue higher education either in India or an overseas university. The accrued amount can also be used for setting up a business if he is interested.  It is not easy to find the best investment plan for a boy child as there are too many options available in the market. This will create confusion and can also lead to indecision or wrong choice.  In this blog, we will list some of the best child investment plans for your boy child to give more clarity. Best investment plans for a boy child 1. Aditya Birla Sun Life Vision Star Child Plan Birla Sun Life Insurance has introduced Aditya Birla Sun Life Vision Star Child Plan as a money-back plan with a terminal and reversionary bonus. It is a child education plan where you will start receiving predetermined payouts after the 5th premium-paying term is over. In case the life insured dies during the policy term, the nominee becomes eligible for the predetermined death benefit.   2. Bajaj Allianz Young Child Assurance Plan Bajaj Allianz Young Child Assurance Plan is one of the best investment plans for boy children as it has a clause of Accidental Permanent Total Disability Benefit.  It is a traditional child plan that offers insurance protection and savings to save for a boy child’s milestones in growing years.  The child plan from Bajaj Allianz has term options of 10, 15, and 20 years with a choice of quarterly, monthly, half-yearly, and yearly premium payments.  3. HDFC SL YoungStar Super Premium Child Plan As the name suggests, HDFC SL YoungStar Super Premium Child Plan is a child investment plan from HDFC with life insurance coverage and flexible twin benefit payment options, namely Save-n-Gain Benefit Option and Save Benefit Option.  The unit-linked life insurance plan can be customized to suit the boy child’s future needs with four types of funds: Blue Chip Fund, Income Fund, Balanced Fund, and Opportunities Fund.  In case of the death of the policyholder, the future premiums are paid by the company, and the sum assured is paid on maturity to the beneficiary as per the terms of the plan.  4. ICICI Pru Smart Kid’s Regular Plan ICICI Pru Smart Kid’s Regular Plan is an endowment premium plan with education benefits from ICICI Bank and Prudential Private Limited Company. The additional twin benefits of choosing this plan are income benefit rider and disability benefit rider.  The traditional child plan offers two maturity benefit options. In the first option, the benefit is received at predefined educational milestones or installments of 2, 5, and 7 years and in the second option, a part of the assured sum is paid every year in the last five years of the insurance policy.  5. Kotak HeadStart Child Assure Plan Kotak Head Start Child Assure Plan from Kotak Mahindra is one of the best investment plans for boy children with dual benefits of wealth creation and protection.  The unit-linked child education plan offers the policyholder the option of half-yearly and yearly premiums. It also allows you to partially withdraw a predetermined sum after every five years.  6. LIC New Children’s Money Back Plan LIC New Children’s Money Back Plan from LIC Corporation is both an insurance and investment plan that will secure the financial needs of the child when he turns 25 years.  It is a participating non-linked money-back plan that makes it eligible for a bonus based on the performance of LIC. This plan can be bought by parents or grandparents of a child aged between 0 – 12 years only.  An interesting fact about the child plan is that the risk cover is on the life of the child during the policy term and not the policyholder.  Conclusion The world has become a challenging place where a high inflation rate has led to higher expenses and little savings. This is the time to be aware of your surroundings and put greater focus on savings. Find the best investment plan for a boy child so that, as parents, you can create a financial corpus that would be a blessing for the boy child in later years.  Take the help of the experts on the Edufund App to create a personalized financial plan for your boy that will secure his future to a great extent. 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. About DSP Healthcare Fund Direct-Growth Investment objective The primary investment objective of the scheme is to seek to generate consistent returns by predominantly investing in equity and equity-related securities of pharmaceutical and healthcare companies.  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tucVrl2K7Vw Investment process   This thematic fund invests in established & upcoming companies in the pharmaceutical & healthcare space in India and internationally (primarily, in the United States). While selecting stocks, they focus on their growth, value, and stability. In portfolio construction, they maintain a judicious balance between sub-segments and maintain liquidity considered for stock sizing.  Portfolio composition  The portfolio major exposure of 40% in large cap followed by 23% in small cap. The top 3 sectors hold nearly 94% of the portfolio, with major exposure to Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology. 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 Name Sector Weightage % Sun Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. Pharmaceutical 16.48 Cipla Ltd. Pharmaceutical 9.33 Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. Healthcare Company 6.96 IPCA Laboratories Ltd. Pharmaceutical 5.42 Lupin Ltd. Pharmaceutical 5.41 Note: Data as of 30th Nov 2022. Source: ICICI Pru DSP Healthcare Fund Direct-Growth: performance over 4 years  If you would have invested 10,000 at the inception of the DSP Healthcare Fund, it would be now valued at Rs. 22,427. This fund has outperformed the benchmark in all time horizons. Note: Performance of the fund since launch. Inception date – Nov 30th, 2018. Source: Moneycontrol  The DSP Healthcare Fund has given consistent returns and has outperformed the benchmark over the period of more than 4 years by generating a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of 22.01%  Fund Managers  Chirag Dagli: Chirag has a total work experience of Over 20 years. He joined DSP Investment Managers in November 2020 as Vice President in Equity Team. He is a Chartered Accountant (ICAI India) and also holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree.  Vinit Sambre: Total work experience of 16 years. Vinit joined DSPIM in July 2007, as Portfolio Analyst for the firm's Portfolio Management Services (PMS) division, which manages discretionary accounts and provides advisory services to institutional clients.  Jay Kothari: Total work experience of 20 years. Vice President & Product Strategist -Jay has been with DSP Investment Managers since May 2005. He completed his Bachelor of Management Studies (Finance & International Finance) from Mumbai University, followed by an MBA in Finance from Mumbai University.  Who should invest?  An experienced investor with a well-defined core portfolio.  Investors with high patience understand that sectoral bets may come with changing cycles.  Why invest?  Offers the potential to grow your wealth & 'earn big' returns if this theme does well (a high-risk, high-return strategy).  Can help you beat the impact of rising prices over the long term.  Horizon  One should look at investing and holding the investment for more than 7 years.  Investment through a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) may help in tackling the volatility of the broader equity market.  FAQs Who should invest in DSP Healthcare Fund?  An experienced investor with a well-defined core portfolio.  Investors with high patience understand that sectoral bets may come with changing cycles.  What has DSP Healthcare Fund Direct-Growth performance been like over 4 years?  If you would have invested 10,000 at the inception of the DSP Healthcare Fund, it would be now valued at Rs. 22,427. This fund has outperformed the benchmark in all time horizons. The DSP Healthcare Fund has given consistent returns and has outperformed the benchmark over the period of more than 4 years by generating a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of 22.01%  What is DSP Healthcare Fund Direct-Growth's investment approach? This thematic fund invests in established & upcoming companies in the pharmaceutical & healthcare space in India and internationally (primarily, in the United States). While selecting stocks, they focus on their growth, value, and stability. In portfolio construction, they maintain a judicious balance between sub-segments and maintain liquidity considered for stock sizing.  Conclusion  This DSP Healthcare Fund offers favourable sector dynamics - Rising income levels, increasing health consciousness, and government policies mean an increase in healthcare spending, so companies in this space could do well. This scheme is suitable for an investor with a high-risk appetite and who believes in high-risk high rewards.  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. DSP Mid Cap Fund  Investment objective The primary investment objective is to seek to generate long-term capital appreciation from a portfolio that is substantially constituted of equity and equity-related securities of mid-cap companies. From time to time, the fund manager will also seek participation in other equity and equity-related securities to achieve optimal portfolio construction.  Investment process    The DSP Mid Cap Fund has an investment philosophy that selects stocks with durable business, which are run by able managers and have high sustainable Returns on Equity. It focuses on small and mid-cap stocks that have a strong alpha generation potential, competitive advantage, and high cash flows.  Portfolio composition  The portfolio major exposure of more than 70% in mid-cap followed by 17% in small cap. The top 5 sectors hold nearly 48% of the portfolio, with major exposure to Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology. 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 Name Sector Weightage % Supreme Industries Ltd. Plastic Pipes Company 4.67 The Phoenix Mills Ltd. Retail Mall Developer 3.65 Atul Ltd. Chemicals Company 3.49 IPCA Laboratories Ltd. Pharmaceutical 3.36 Bharat Forge Ltd. Forging Company 3.28 Note: Data as of 30th Nov 2022. Source: ICICI Pru Performance over 16 years  If you would have invested 10,000 at the inception of the DSP Mid Cap Fund, it would be now valued at Rs. 77,034. This fund has outperformed the benchmark in all time horizons.  Note: Performance of the fund since launch. Inception date – Nov 14th, 2006. Source: Moneycontrol  The DSP Mid Cap Fund has given consistent returns and has outperformed the benchmark over the period of more than 16 years by generating a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of 14.37%  DSP Top 100 Equity Fund Read More Fund managers at DSP mid cap mutual funds Resham Jain: Total work experience of 9 years. He joined DSP Investment Managers in March 2016 as Assistant Vice President of the Equity Income Team.  Abhishek Ghosh: Total work experience of 14 years. He joined DSP investment managers in September 2018 as Assistant Vice President of the equity team.  Vinit Sambre: Total work experience of 16 years. Vinit joined DSPIM in July 2007, as Portfolio Analyst for the firm's Portfolio Management Services (PMS) division.  Jay Kothari - Total work experience of 20 years. Vice President & Product Strategist -Jay has been with DSP Investment Managers since May 2005.  Who should invest?  An experienced investor with a well-defined core portfolio.  Investors with high patience understand that this category of funds is associated with high risk.  Why invest?  Offers the potential to grow your wealth & 'earn big' returns if this theme does well (a high-risk, high-return strategy).  Can be a suitable choice for tactical allocation.  Horizon  One should look at investing and holding the investment for more than 7 years.  Investment through a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) may help in tackling the volatility of the broader equity market.  FAQs What are the top five holdings of DSP Midcap Fund? The top 5 holdings of DSP Midcap Fund: Supreme Industries Ltd.The Phoenix Mills Ltd. Atul Ltd. IPCA Laboratories Ltd. Bharat Forge Ltd. Who are the fund managers for DSP Midcap Fund? Resham Jain Abhishek Ghosh Vinit Sambre Jay Kothari What has the performance of DSP Mid cap fund over 16 years?   If you would have invested 10,000 at the inception of the DSP Mid Cap Fund, it would be now valued at Rs. 77,034. This fund has outperformed the benchmark in all time horizons. Conclusion  This scheme offers exposure to mid-size companies that have a durable business run by able managers. Mid-sized companies like these can offer more growth potential than larger companies but at lower risk levels than smaller-sized companies. This scheme is best suitable for investors with a long investment horizon. 

While investing or saving, we have always come across one thing, “Be prepared for long-term goals”. We are always advised to save early to fulfill our long-term goals, objectives, and dreams. But, what about the short-term goals? What about an emergency corpus? How do you pay for or fulfill your immediate monetary requirements?  The answer to all the above goals is answered in this article! What are short-term goals?  Short term goals are something you want to do in the near future which can be today, this week, this month, this year, or even within two years.  Some examples of short-term goals in investment are: Paying for your child’s school fees every year.  Purchasing a smartphone.  Purchasing a laptop.  Purchasing jewelry for an occasion, etc.  Short-term goals are characterized in the following ways: They’re specific.  They’re measurable  They’re achievable  They’re relevant  They’re time-bound How can you save for short-term goals?  There are two main ways of saving for short-term goals with very low-risk levels.  Savings account: Keeping money or maintaining some cash balance in your savings accounts is one of the ways for achieving your short-term goals. But one main drawback of this method is that the interest on savings accounts is not at par with the inflation rate. This may cause you to lose money over time.  Mutual funds: For short-term goals debt funds are the best option. Based on the investor’s time horizon and risk appetite there are also various subcategories in debt funds for investors to choose from. These funds generate returns that are at par with inflation.  Best debt mutual funds for short-term goals  Now that we know what investment mode to choose, let’s look at some debt funds that are performing well. Fund name Annualized Returns (1yr) (%) Annualized returns (3yrs) (%) Short Term Fund Aditya Birla Sun Life Short-Term Fund 4.937.03ICICI Prudential Short-Term Fund 5.467.15 Banking & PSU FundUTI Banking & PSU Debt Fund 10.557.43Corporate BondICICI Prudential Corporate Bond4.816.63Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund4.326.77Money Market Funds (for immediate short-term goals)Aditya Birla Sun Life Money Manager Fund3.014.92HDFC Money Market Fund2.954.88 When you have a time horizon between 3-5 years, you can also opt for Hybrid funds as they give you the added advantage of equity exposure along with debt diversification.  The above-mentioned funds are suitable for a time horizon of fewer than 3 years and for investors with a very low-risk appetite.  FAQs What are short-term goals? Short term goals are something you want to do in the near future which can be today, this week, this month, this year, or even within two years. Which mutual funds are best for short term? Here are some mutual funds for short term - Aditya Birla Sun Life Short-Term Fund  ICICI Prudential Short-Term Fund  HDFC Money Market Fund This is not an investment advice. Please consult a financial expert for investing in mutual funds for short-term goals. Are mutual funds good for short term investing? Mutual funds are good for short term investing. There are some mutual funds that you can invest in for 3-4 months. These funds are likely to get you better returns than fixed desposits and savings account. While planning for investments to achieve a goal, always consult an investment advisor who will help you with your goal-based investment journey in detail. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT DisclaimerThis is not recommendation advice. All information in this blog is for educational purposes only.

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 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

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