Finance Forum India

Dematerialization is the procedure wherein the physical share certificates are converted to a digital form. To hold investments in an electronic mode, you need to open a dematerialization account with a Depository Participant (DP). The primary objective of digitalization is to enable you to hold your investments in a digital form. It is more convenient and secure because there is no risk of damage or loss that is associated with the physical holdings. Features of a dematerialization account You may open a demat account with a DP either in a single name or as a joint account. However, this account can...

Trading in equity is one of the most common investment practices. Yet, when it comes to the stock market, many investors are still iffy as it can sometimes be volatile and too critical for the investors who are just starting out. However, there are a few general rules that you can follow to make investing in equity market safer. Here are a few mistakes you should avoid when dealing with stocks.   Don’t worry about timing the market   The equity market falls down or up depending on many external matters. If you are new at it then it might not...

There are numerous investment products available in the market, Systematic Investment Plan being a popular option. A Systematic Investment Plan involves investing a small amount every month on a pre-determined date into specific mutual funds. The main goal of such an investment vehicle is to accumulate a huge corpus by investing small amount of money on a monthly basis. There are numerous advantages of investing in Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs). You may send a one-time instruction for an auto debit every month, thus eliminating the possibility of missing out on a monthly payment. This provides you with a high degree of...

IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) are means of raising capital and means of getting listed in a stock exchange for a company. An IPO happens when a company decides to raise capital by offering its shares to investors. While IPOs are an attractive investment avenue for any investor, it is important to avoid making mistakes while investing in IPOs so that you don’t lose your hard earned money. Buying a stock at an IPO price does not necessarily mean that an investor is buying it at the lowest price. It is simply priced in accordance to how much the market is willing...

With numerous investment instruments available, choosing the best-suited one according to your needs may sometimes become a cumbersome task. If you are seeking to reap the benefits of long-term capital growth, equities are the most suitable investment vehicle. Besides offering long-term benefits, equities provide a host of other advantages. You may mitigate risk by diversifying your portfolio. Besides, you may beat inflation effectively. Due to such benefits, equities are a popular option among investors, both beginners or experienced alike. You may enjoy numerous long-term benefits on your equity investment. Following are five of them. Combats market volatility Market volatility is common...

  When the destination is Goa, taking a vacation is easy. You call up your gang of friends, hop into your car and lo, your weekend vacation has already begun. You need little or no planning for such short trips. But when it comes to international vacations, you need to plan a little more. In this article, let’s explore the different ways you can finance the foreign trip that has been on your bucket list forever. Estimate how much the trip is going to cost you Alright, you have decided to take a vacation abroad. But where do you want to...

Traditionally, investors used to hold physical certificates of shares. However, physical share certificates carried numerous risks such as loss, theft, and bad delivery, among others. With the advancement of technology, transactions are now done through a dematerialization account. About dematerialization account According to the guidelines of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the regulator for the securities market in India, investors can no longer transact shares in the physical form at the BSE and NSE exchanges. This, therefore, indicates that a dematerialization account is mandatory for the purchase and sale of shares. A Dematerialization account, also known as a demat...

The main purpose of the investment is to earn good returns and create wealth over a period. With numerous investment vehicles available in the market, it often becomes difficult to make the right choice. One of the most common and popular avenue for investment in Indian markets is a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP). You may buy shares in a similar manner by using a service known as equity systematic plan. Through such a vehicle, you may buy gold exchange-traded funds, index exchange-traded funds, and shares through a regular interval of time. Based on your choice, you may opt to invest at...

“A Demat account is an account that allows investors to hold their shares in an electronic form.” It’s just like a bank account, wherein you hold all your money and cash transaction entries occur in a bank passbook. Similarly, in a Demat account, certificates of financial instruments like shares, government securities, bonds, mutual funds, etc. stay in electronic form and are debited or credited subsequently. This type of trading account can be opened with zero balance of shares. The procedure to open a Demat account is almost the same across different firms and institutions. Opening an online Demat account is extremely...

For an average Indian household, children’s education continues to be one of the biggest expenses. Education costs are constantly rising and planning for this outflow is very important. Lifestyle inflation also affects the cost of your child’s education. As living standards become higher, parents want to send their children to the best institutions. Furthermore, children grow up in a certain atmosphere and do not want to attend government institutes that do not offer the latest and best technologies. In this situation, financial planning is crucial to ensure your child’s education is not compromised. You may be able to build the required...

The stock market is volatile with prices constantly moving up and down. This volatility makes it nearly impossible to time the market to earn profits. You may not have the experience or expertise to invest in the volatile markets. There is another financial instrument that allows you to hedge your risk while choosing the most appropriate timeframe and price. This instrument is known as derivatives. Such products have gained popularity because of their versatility and potential returns. What are derivatives? Derivatives are financial instruments deriving their value from an underlying asset. A derivative is simply a contract between two parties. The...

Investing in mutual funds has become something as simple as grocery shopping. However, picking the right type of mutual fund is essential if you want to achieve your financial goals. There are a variety of mutual funds available in the market, hence picking the right one can often be confusing. You can choose to invest in a mutual fund as a lump sum or choose an MF systematic investment plan. The right type of mutual fund is not always the one that gives you the highest returns. When it comes to investing in mutual funds, you need to consider a variety...

Your marriage is probably the first most important life event for which you may start saving. It marks a new beginning for a lot of things; new spending habits and new savings targets. Here are five financial tips if you are newly married. Discuss your finances It is imperative that you share all the financial commitments and mutually prioritize them. You must gain a clear understanding of your total income, expenses, and liabilities. Here is how to achieve this. Get a comprehensive and clear picture of the current and future total income Work on clearing the loans, if any, at the...

Equity linked savings schemes (ELSS) offered by mutual funds are a good investment avenue for investors with the risk profile to save tax as well as generate higher returns on their investments. Here we look at frequently asked questions pertaining to this category.    1.       What is ELSS? ELSS are schemes offered by mutual funds, which allow investors to save tax under section 80C of the income tax act. Investments up to Rs 1.5 lakh in the schemes are allowed as deduction from taxable income as per the income tax laws. However, to claim benefit, investment in these fund need to be locked...

  The new pension scheme announced in 2009 is an economical and lesser known government approved plan for investors aged between 18 and 60 years. The scheme was launched by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), with a minimum contribution set at INR 6,000 per year. 1.    Lower Costs The national pension scheme has minimum cost at 0.25% of the invested amount to be paid to the intermediary as the fund management fee. In comparison, other investment avenues like ULIP pension plans and mutual funds charge 1.35% and 1.25% respectively. The lower costs result in huge savings over a...

The new rule from RBI could change the face of banking in India. The new guidelines will look to pave the way for small finance and payment banks. If the consumer takes a liking for these small players then it will not be too late before the big monolithic banks start feeling the heat. The current standards of banking seem to be only in the dreams for the take it for granted attitude public sector banks, almost nil or low profit target banks, and self-appraising private sector banks who feel they are the best. In fact most banks feel they are...

Health Insurance offers an umbrella against unforeseen medical expenses when an illness strikes, incapacitating the individual and affecting his income. If taken well in advance, it can meet the medical treatment costs and spare financial trouble for the family. However, to claim the benefits, the beneficiary must file a medical insurance claim that is the formal intimation of the illness to the insurer. Once a claim is filed, the insurer must notify the beneficiary within a certain time-frame that his/her claim has been accepted or rejected. Though there are some health insurance companies which settles down insurance claims within 30 days from...

In our country, parents go great lengths to provide better future to their children. Not just their daily needs but parents try and make all the wishes of their children come true and strive to make the future better for their little ones. If you’re a young parent, it is imperative for you to start thinking about your child’s future today. The sooner one starts planning for their children’s future, the better it is and more convenient it will be later. Be it higher education or marriage, parents want nothing but the best for their children. In order to make it...

Has the sky ever fallen on you under the guise of medical bills? If high medical bills have managed to burn a reasonable hole in your pocket, then it would be advisable to save a certain portion of your regular income towards mediclaim or health insurance. The thought of spending the entire savings on a medical bill can be daunting for an average middle income person. In the eventuality of unforeseen medical bills and rising inflationary trends, they can land on us like a ton of bricks leaving us in precarious financial state of affairs. A timely investment in the form...

“If I were a rich man! Yubby dibby dum!” We all love humming similar tunes to man singing his tune on The Fiddler on the Roof. Even a rich man cannot buy health in today’s world of increased pollution and disease threats. Health is now more valuable than gold and diamonds. Hence, the surge in the number of insurance companies available in the market today is understandable. Investing in one’s health is more valuable than investing in high-yielding stocks and bonds. Yet, not all health insurance plans are suited for all. Based on one’s lifestyle and family size, it’s important to...