Author

Mutual fund investments might seem complicated to first-time investors. Regardless, understanding how mutual funds work is the first step in your investment journey.

How to invest in mutual funds?

Adhering to the following points will aid you in choosing the right mutual fund for your portfolio and accumulate wealth over time:

1. Identify the objective of investing

   You need to start by defining your financial goals. This is the primary and most significant step towards investing in mutual funds. These can be buying a new car or a house, saving for your child’s education or marriage, planning an international holiday, retirement, etc. Identifying your investment objective would also help zero in on the mutual fund investment options based on factors like the level of risk, lock-in period, payment period, etc.
   

2. Duly fill the KYC (know your customer) form

   If you wish to invest in a mutual fund scheme, you need to comply with the KYC guidelines. These include submitting copies of the PAN (permanent account number) card, age proof, proof of residency, etc., as specified by the mutual fund house.

3. Read up on all the available options

   The mutual fund market is literally swamped with options and there are schemes to suit the needs of all investors. An investor is advised to do his/her homework by exploring the market and understanding the different types of schemes available. The mutual fund you choose should be aligned with your investment objective, investment horizon, risk appetite, affordability, etc. You can also consider seeking the help of a financial advisor if you want to invest in mutual funds online in a hassle-free manner. These financial advisors will ensure that you fetch maximum returns on your investments.

4. Consider the risk

   You should be wary about the risks associated with mutual fund investment. Equity schemes are associated with higher risk compared to other securities. If you do not have a high risk appetite, you should consider investing in debt funds.

You can invest in mutual funds via the lumpsum or SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) mode. While both avenues are widely popular among investors, the latter has the upper hand as SIP investments can be afforded by everyone.

Under the SIP method, an individual contributes a fixed amount periodically over an investment tenure. The minimum SIP amount is Rs500. An individual can use a SIP calculator to identify the amount of money required to invest in their desired mutual funds. For e.g., you can invest Rs1,000 per month in XYZ mutual fund. Each month, on a date predetermined by you, this amount will be debited from your bank account and credited to your desired mutual fund account. This will then be further parked in the various instruments that form your portfolio.

SIPs help achieve your long-term financial goals. Hence, it is always advised to align your portfolio with your SIP investment strategy as it results in better execution of your financial goals. Happy investing!

Read more

There are a lot of things that we buy almost on a daily basis. Similarly, there are other things that we do not buy and would like to rent instead. The line between these items gets blurry at times when things that one used to buy is now available to rent at a much cheaper rate. People usually buy clothes that they wear. If they need to wear a costume for a particular party or another occasion then it would make more sense to get the outfit and related props on rent. These decisions aren’t limited to products alone. They are applicable to a range of services as well.

People like the feeling of using expensive things like a limousine or a sports car. While buying these items may not make sense to them. Hiring them for a day or a limited period of time gives them the same experience at an affordable rate.  There are a lot of professionals who can be asked if you are looking to hire services like photography or bartending among other dozens of services. In a situation where the market is saturated with well qualified and experienced professionals, it could be hard to select which one would work best for you. A corporate service provider may have some uniform standards. A freelance professional may offer unique services.  This leaves one in a position where they have to make a time-bound decision where they may feel like they’re not privy to the complete information.

To make things easier there are online marketplaces that compare services, rate them and provide details about them. Price comparison for rental services could be a good starting point from where one can make a decision. Any platform that helps a user categorize services and helps them compare based on independently verified information will provide a lot of help in this decision-making process. Hiring such experts for an event can improve the quality of the event itself. These can be used to get the potential participants interested. During the actual event, such professionals would also improve the quality of engagement.  There is less likelihood of a mishap or a substandard service when you choose to rely on hired talent. Too often organizations try to cut costs by having people that are employees with them do things at the party that they are interested in. They may not necessarily have the capability of a professional who does that for a living.

There are occasions like an intimate gathering where a known person handling a key responsibility may make sense and also save costs. In a corporate event or an event of a bigger magnitude key responsibilities should be left to the professionals who have handled the kind of work they are assigned to do. A person from the organization can be assigned to overlook different aspects of the event. They should not be put in the role that would be better done by a professional though. If cost-cutting takes away from the quality of the event it would cost the organization much more than they saved.

Read more

There are many things both inside and outside a home or business that could result in flooding. Any type of water damage can cause serious harm to a building. Burst pipes, water heater failure, sewer backup, sump pump failure or a clogged toilet are some of the many ways water damage can happen to a home or business. Hurricanes have wreaked havoc on many homes and businesses along the coast. The water damage that incurs from a natural disaster can be devastating. While some of the damage may leave the home uninhabitable or destroyed, sometimes water restoration can return families to their homes. Water damage must be remedied soon after it happens before it gets worse. The longer the water has time to sit, the more problems the homeowner or business owner will have.

That is where water restoration comes in. It isn’t just drying and cleaning up a home or business. Surface drying is not sufficient after a flood or any kind of water damage. Carpets, furniture, and drywall can hold water even after they feel dry. A restoration team can dry surfaces properly which would eliminate potential foul smells, bacteria, and viruses. If not done properly anyone who lives or visits the home may experience health issues.

The process can be a long or short one. It all depends on the extent of the damage done to the property. There are three classes of water damage. Class 1 is when part of a room is damaged. Class 2 is when the entire room is damaged including the carpet and the walls. Class 3 is when the water damage is in the walls and the entire area and the water may be entering through the ceiling. Class 4 will require special drying as the damage may be in hardwood, stone or concrete.

There are also different categories of water damage. Category 1 is when the damage comes from a clean water source. These sources include toilet tanks and broken pipes that contained cleaned water. Category 2 is water damage that comes from grey water. Grey water comes from water that contains detergents like, from a dishwasher or washing machine. It could also come from water containing urine. Category 3 is water damage that comes from unsanitary water. This water may cause illnesses, diseases or death. This water comes from sewage, river flooding or standing water that is growing bacteria.

First, there is an inspection. Someone will look at the building and the water damage source. An inspector will determine what class and category the damage is. They will use moisture detection equipment to analyze the damage. Then the water is removed. Next, any of the contents or structures that are no longer usable are discarded. These contents include carpet, other floorings, damaged drywall, paneling, shelving, and cabinets. The area is then cleaned and disinfected. Once that is done the area is well ventilated and dehumidified. This last step is extremely important. If the structure isn’t properly ventilated mold or more water damage can happen. Mold can start inside the walls and it would not be noticed for a long time. Mold could cause serious health problems. Then there is a final inspection to make sure the restoration was done correctly.

The damage done to the property is documented before, during and after the process. The documentation makes it easier to deal with insurance companies.

When dealing with water damage it may not seem like a big deal at first. The damage may be relatively small but that doesn’t mean the restoration shouldn’t be implemented. On the outside, it may seem like it’s just a wet spot, but the internal damage may be significant and should be dealt with in a timely manner.

Read more