Showing posts with label Best Mutual Funds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best Mutual Funds. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Mutual funds (MFs) vs Sansex for investment option

Mutual funds (MFs) vs Sansex for investment option : Mutual funds (MFs) are considered a better investment option but they have also scored over the direct stock market investments in terms of returns to investors. According to a performance analysis of stock market benchmarks and mutual fund equity schemes, about 50 large equity MF schemes have given better returns than Sensex in the first quarter of 2012. For the latest updates on the stock market, PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market Today For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Features of IRA Financial Group solo 401K plan

Features of IRA Financial solo 401K plan : A solo 401K Plan, also known as an individual 401(k) or self-directed 401(k) plan offers one the ability to use his or her retirement funds to make almost any type of investment on their own tax-free and penalty free without requiring the consent of any custodian or person.

Establishing a solo 401(k) plans offers a number of tax, retirement, and investment advantages,” stated Adam Bergman, a tax attorney with the IRA Financial Group. “IRA Financial Group’s Solo 401K plan is unique and so popular because it is designed explicitly for the self-employed professional, “ stated Mr. Bergman.

There are many features of the IRA Financial Group’s solo 401K plan that make it so appealing for small business owners.

-High Contributions: 

Like all solo 401K plans, IRA Financial Group’s solo 401K plan will allow a plan participant to make annual contributions in 2012 up to $50,000 annually with an additional $5,500 catch-up contribution for those over age 50. The high contribution feature is one of the reasons a solo 401K plan is the most popular retirement vehicle for the self-employed.

Tax and Penalty free loan: 

IRA Financial Group’s solo 401K loan allows plan participants to borrow up to $50,000 or 50% of their account value (whichever is less) for any purpose, including paying credit card bills, mortgage payments, or anything else. The loan has to be paid back over a five-year period at least quarterly at a minimum prime interest rate (you have the option of selecting a higher interest rate).

-Checkbook Control:  

With IRA Financial Group’s solo 401k plan, a plan participant will be granted checkbook control over his or her retirement funds. With IRA Financial Group’s solo 401K plan, the plan account can be opened at any local bank, including Chase, Wells Fargo, and even Fidelity. In addition, the plan participant can make almost any traditional as well as non-traditional investments, such as real estate, precious metals, tax liens, and much more.

-Roth Contributions & Conversion: 

IRA Financial Group’s solo 401K plan contains a built in Roth sub-account which can be contributed to without any income restrictions. In addition, the solo 401(k) plan allows for the conversion of a traditional 401(k) or 403(b) account to a Roth subaccount.

-Easy Administration: 

IRA Financial Group’s individual 401K plan is easy to operate. There is generally no annual filing requirement unless the solo 401(k) Plan assets exceeds $250,000, in which case a short information return with the IRS (Form 5500-EZ) must be completed.

The IRA Financial Group was founded by a group of top law firm tax and ERISA lawyers who have worked at some of the largest law firms in the United States, such as White & Case LLP, Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, and Thelen LLP.

IRA Financial Group is the market's leading Solo 401(k) Plan provider. IRA Financial Group has helped thousands of clients take back control over their retirement funds while gaining the ability to invest in almost any type of investment, including real estate without custodian consen

To learn more about the IRA Financial Group please visit our website at http://www.irafinancialgroup.com
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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

best performing mutual funds in philippines 2012

best performing mutual funds in philippines 2012 : the Philippines has a total of 46 active Mutual Fund Companies as per Philippine Investment Fund Association (PIFA). Here are the rankings as of February 2012 For the latest updates on the mutual funds in philippines, visit mutualfundphilippines.com

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Sunday, February 19, 2012

nsc calculator 2012 online

nsc calculator 2012 online : After the major changes in several post office schemes w.e.f. 01-Dec-2011, I've changed all the pages in Government section of this website including all online calculators also. You can find the updated calculators at the same link. read more..

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best tax saving investment in india 2012

best tax saving investment in india 2012 : Apart from the regular investment options under Section 80C of the income tax act, this year investors have an added advantage of investing in infrastructure bonds and enjoy an additional deduction in tax under section 80CCF of the Income Tax Act.

SECTION 80C DEDUCTIONS:
Investment options under Section 80C can be broadly categorised as market linked, fixed income and insurance. The fixed income category includes investment options such as the Public Provident Fund (PPF), Employee Provident Fund (EPF), tax-saving bank fixed deposits, National Savings Certificate (NSC) and senior citizens savings schemes.

While it is the most popular tax saving category, market-linked instruments including tax-saving equity mutual funds (ELSS) and unitlinked insurance plans (ULIPs) are gradually catching up.

PUBLIC PROVIDENT FUND (PPF):
One of the oldest investment options, PPF scores on all grounds as it is one of the very few investment options that fall under EEE (exemptexempt-exempt) tax regime.

This implies that not only the investor can enjoy deduction on the amount invested in this scheme but the interest received on maturity is also exempt from tax.

PPF offers an interest rate of 8% compounded annually, with the maximum investment restricted to Rs 70,000 a year and mandatory investment tenure of 15 years.

An investment of Rs 70,000 every year in PPF for 15 years will amount to a taxfree maturity sum of Rs 20.5 lakh at the end of the 15 year tenure.

EMPLOYEE PROVIDENT FUND (EPF):
Under the current norms, 12% of the employee's salary is contributed towards EPF, which is exempt from income tax. Any contribution over and above the 12% limit by the employee towards EPF is consider as voluntary provident fund (VPF) and the same is also exempt from tax, subject to the overall 80C limit of Rs 1 lakh per annum.



Like PPF, EPF, also falls under the EEE tax regime wherein the interest received (on retirement from service) is tax-free in the hands of the investor. The interest payable on EPF is determined each year by the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). After having maintained a steady interest rate of 8.5% per annum for quite some time, the EPFO has enhanced the rate of interest to 9.5% for the financial year 2010-11.

While it is still not sure whether such an attractive interest rate will continue in the following years, those who have been contributing to EPF for quite some time now and have accumulated a large corpus are bound to benefit immensely with this year's higher interest as interest is compounded annually.

NATIONAL SAVINGS CERTIFICATE:
Similar to PPF, NSC also earns an interest rate of 8% per annum and investment up to Rs 1 lakh is exempt from tax under section 80C. However, unlike PPF, interest received on NSC, at the time of maturity, is taxable in the hands of the investor which makes it comparatively less attractive.

On the positive note, however, NSC has a relatively shorter lock-in period of just about 6 years and the interest here is compounded halfyearly. Thus, every Rs 100 invested into NSC will grow to Rs 160.10 on maturity.

TAX SAVING BANK FDS:
Investment up to Rs 1 lakh in these special tax saving bank fixed deposits also entails an investor tax deduction under Section 80C.

These fixed deposits mandate a lock-in period of five years and interest is compounded quarterly, just like any other ordinary bank fixed deposit.

The drawback is taxability of interest income upon maturity. As most banks are currently offering attractive interest rates, tax-saving bank fixed deposits are currently offering interest rates as high as 8.5% to its investors.

SENIOR CITIZENS SAVING SCHEME:
Indian citizens who have attained 60 years of age or those who have attained at least 55 years of age and have opted for voluntary retirement scheme are eligible to invest in senior citizens saving scheme, which offers a fairly attractive interest rate of 9% a year, payable on quarterly basis.

While investment in this scheme is eligible for tax deduction under Section 80C, interest earned shall be taxable in the hands of the investor.

EQUITY LINKED SAVINGS SCHEME (ELSS):
These tax saving mutual fund schemes do carry an embedded market risk and calls for investor prudence before making an investment decision. However, their returns are equally rewarding and tax free in the hands of the investor.

As ELSS has a mandatory lock-in period of three years, they are positioned as long-term equity assets and thus returns are taxfree in the hands of the investor. And though these schemes mandate a threeyear lock-in period, investors are likely to be better off if they continue to stay invested for a longer term as equities generate best returns over a longer time frame.

For instance, on an average, ELSS category of funds has returned about 22% compounded (CAGR) returns per annum over the past 10 year period. Some of the better performing schemes in this category include Canara Robeco Equity Tax Saver, Fidelity Tax Advantage and HDFC Taxsaver for investors to choose from.

LIFE INSURANCE PREMIUM:
Any premium payable by an investor to provide cover to his life is also eligible for deduction under Section 80C, subject to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh. The life insurance policy may be purchased either from LIC or from any other private player in the insurance industry.

Investors should, however, make sure that premium payable is not more than 20% of the sum assured (amount of life cover) in order to avail Section 80C deduction.

UNIT LINKED INSURANCE PLANS (ULIPS):
Ulips, or marketlinked insurance schemes, are also eligible for deduction under Section 80C. As these schemes provide investors the benefit of both life cover and investment in equity and debt markets, these are highly popular with investors.

Investors would, however, do well to check the premiums charged by these schemes before making an investment decision as most Ulips charge high premiums.

SECTION 80CCF DEDUCTION:
A new Section 80CCF has been inserted in the Finance Bill 2010-11, which provides an additional deduction of Rs 20,000 to investors for investing in infrastructure bonds issued by notified organisations.

This deduction is over and above the Rs 100,000 deduction available under Section 80C. In the latest tranche, infrastructure bonds offer an attractive interest rate of about 8% to investors with a minimum lock-in period of five years.

Source: economic times
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Saturday, February 11, 2012

Why You Should Consider Index Funds in 2012

Why You Should Consider Index Funds in 2012 : Index funds can always be advantageous because of their simplicity and low cost. However, 2012 could be an especially good year for index funds and ETFs because navigating financial markets in 2012 will be difficult, even for the most seasoned of fund managers. Therefore the passive vs active debate may prove to be in favor of index funds (passive) for 2012. For the latest updates on the stock market, visit Stock Market Today For the latest updates PRESS CTR + D or visit Stock Market news Today

best mutual funds to invest in india 2012

best mutual funds to invest in india 2012 : Mutual fund is an investment scheme where people deposit money in funds and many other securities like bonds, stocks or cash investments.

Even though in times of sluggish economy and when the markets are volatile it has been challenging to select the best mutual fund schemes. Here are some of the mutual funds that investors can consider when there is uncertainty in future outlook for equity market and have performed consistently over years.

1. Franklin India Bluechip
This company is one of the oldest mutual fund schemes and attracts many young investors. It is a top performers and delivers decent gains. It features conservative investment approach and a large cap portfolio orientation.

2. ICICI Prudential
ICICI Prudential Dynamic is flexible when the markets are volatile. The scheme moves its assets between cash and equity depending on the markets. When the market is extremely volatile they take cash calls of around 35% of the portfolio.

3. HDFC Top 200
HDFC Top 200 is one of the largest equity scheme and has performed consistently irrespective of the conditions of the market. It did face criticism in 2007 but it dint falter and overcame all the allegation and today this scheme is an all rounder.

Fund Size(Rs Crores): 9,425
Return (%):
1 Year: 21.9
3 Year: 9.9
5 Year: 23.0
Sharpe Ratio: 0.70
Expense Ratio: 1.81

4. DSP BlackRock Top 100 Equity
This scheme is 100 percent large cap portfolio. Defensive approach and buy and hold strategy characterize this mutual fund.

Fund Size(Rs Crores): 2,811
Return (%):
1 Year: 13.7
3 Year: 4.5
5 Year: 22.3
Sharpe Ratio: 0.69
Expense Ratio: 1.87

5. Birla Sun Life Frontline Equity A Gr

Fund Size(Rs Crores): 2,719
Return (%):
1 Year: 16.2
3 Year: 5.2
5 Year: 22.7
Sharpe Ratio: 0.68
Expense Ratio: 1.99

6. HDFC Growth Gr
Fund Size(Rs Crores): 1,361
Return (%):
1 Year: 23.5
3 Year: 5.0
5 Year: 22.3
Sharpe Ratio: 0.67
Expense Ratio: 1.99

7. UTI Dividend Yield Gr
UTI Dividend Yield has been given Gold ranking. It protects from the risk when the market is volatile and gives huge gains. It is known for doubling the money of the investor in past 5 years without any risk.

Fund Size(Rs Crores): 2,859
Return (%):
1 Year: 23.0
3 Year: 9.4
5 Year: 21.5
Sharpe Ratio: 0.67
Expense Ratio: 1.95

8. Birla Sun Life Dividend Yield Plus
Birla Sun Life has been given the Platinum ranking. It has become a hug success as it has the mandate to invest in companies that give high dividend yields. The companies are expected to have strong balance sheets, earnings visibility and healthy cash flows.

Fund Size(Rs Crores): 684
Return (%):
1 Year: 24.7
3 Year: 12.4
5 Year: 18.3
Sharpe Ratio: 0.56
Expense Ratio: 2.33

Some of the other funds are Fidelity Equity fund growth, Fidelity India growth fund and Franklin India blue chip growth fund.

Best top performing sector mutual funds:
HDFC Mid Cap Opp. Fund
Reliance Banking Fund

Best balanced mutual funds:
HDFC Prudence Fund
HDFC Balanced Fund
DSP BlackRock Balanced Gr
Birla Sun Life 95 Gr
Tata Blaanced Gr

Best tax saving mutual funds/ ELSS (Equity Linked Saving Scheme):
HDFC Taxsaver
ICICI Taxsaver
Franklin India Taxshield Gr
HDFC L/T Advantage Gr
Sundaram Taxsaver Gr

Source http://www.supermoneysave.com/top-8-best-mutual-funds-to-invest-in-2012-in-india/


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Saturday, January 14, 2012

best mutual fund investment options in india 2012

best mutual fund investment options in india 2012 ; Investment options in India are plenty. Investing money ultimately depends on the risk appetite of the person who is investing. There are so many options and it is difficult to choose the best one because most of them are giving good returns. Mutual fund is an investment scheme where people deposit money in funds and many other securities like bonds, stocks or cash investments.

Even though in times of sluggish economy and when the markets are volatile it has been challenging to select the best mutual fund schemes. Here are some of the mutual funds that investors can consider when there is uncertainty in future outlook for equity market and have performed consistently over years.

Best mutual funds to invest in 2012 in India


1. Franklin India Bluechip
This company is one of the oldest mutual fund schemes and attracts many young investors. It is a top performers and delivers decent gains. It features conservative investment approach and a large cap portfolio orientation.

2. ICICI Prudential
ICICI Prudential Dynamic is flexible when the markets are volatile. The scheme moves its assets between cash and equity depending on the markets. When the market is extremely volatile they take cash calls of around 35% of the portfolio.

3. HDFC Top 200
HDFC Top 200 is one of the largest equity scheme and has performed consistently irrespective of the conditions of the market. It did face criticism in 2007 but it dint falter and overcame all the allegation and today this scheme is an all rounder.

Fund Size(Rs Crores): 9,425
Return (%):
1 Year: 21.9
3 Year: 9.9
5 Year: 23.0
Sharpe Ratio: 0.70
Expense Ratio: 1.81

4. DSP BlackRock Top 100 Equity
This scheme is 100 percent large cap portfolio. Defensive approach and buy and hold strategy characterize this mutual fund.

Fund Size(Rs Crores): 2,811
Return (%):
1 Year: 13.7
3 Year: 4.5
5 Year: 22.3
Sharpe Ratio: 0.69
Expense Ratio: 1.87

5. Birla Sun Life Frontline Equity A Gr

Fund Size(Rs Crores): 2,719
Return (%):
1 Year: 16.2
3 Year: 5.2
5 Year: 22.7
Sharpe Ratio: 0.68
Expense Ratio: 1.99

6. HDFC Growth Gr

Fund Size(Rs Crores): 1,361
Return (%):
1 Year: 23.5
3 Year: 5.0
5 Year: 22.3
Sharpe Ratio: 0.67
Expense Ratio: 1.99

7. UTI Dividend Yield Gr
UTI Dividend Yield has been given Gold ranking. It protects from the risk when the market is volatile and gives huge gains. It is known for doubling the money of the investor in past 5 years without any risk.

Fund Size(Rs Crores): 2,859
Return (%):
1 Year: 23.0
3 Year: 9.4
5 Year: 21.5
Sharpe Ratio: 0.67
Expense Ratio: 1.95

8. Birla Sun Life Dividend Yield Plus
Birla Sun Life has been given the Platinum ranking. It has become a hug success as it has the mandate to invest in companies that give high dividend yields. The companies are expected to have strong balance sheets, earnings visibility and healthy cash flows.

Fund Size(Rs Crores): 684
Return (%):
1 Year: 24.7
3 Year: 12.4
5 Year: 18.3
Sharpe Ratio: 0.56
Expense Ratio: 2.33

Some of the other funds are Fidelity Equity fund growth, Fidelity India growth fund and Franklin India blue chip growth fund.

Best top performing sector mutual funds:

HDFC Mid Cap Opp. Fund
Reliance Banking Fund
Best balanced mutual funds:
HDFC Prudence Fund
HDFC Balanced Fund
DSP BlackRock Balanced Gr
Birla Sun Life 95 Gr
Tata Blaanced Gr

Best tax saving mutual funds/ ELSS (Equity Linked Saving Scheme):

HDFC Taxsaver
ICICI Taxsaver
Franklin India Taxshield Gr
HDFC L/T Advantage Gr
Sundaram Taxsaver Gr

Source www.supermoneysave.co

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

how 401(k) and IRA rules will change 2012

how 401(k) and IRA rules will change in 2012 ; Workers will be eligible to contribute an extra $500 to their 401(k)s next year, the Internal Revenue Service announced this week. Employees with higher incomes will also be eligible to get a tax break for saving in a traditional IRA, contribute to a Roth IRA, and qualify for the saver’s credit. Here’s a look at how 401(k) and IRA rules will change in 2012

Higher 401(k) contributions. The contribution limit for 401(k), 403(b), and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan will increase to $17,000 in 2012, up from $16,500 in 2011. However, catch-up contribution limits for those age 50 and over will remain $5,500.

Increased IRA income limits. IRA contribution limits will remain $5,000 in 2012, and $6,000 for those age 50 and older. And, like this year, only workers who earn below certain income levels get a tax break for contributing to a traditional IRA. But those income limits will relax slightly next year. The tax deduction for traditional IRA contributions will be phased out for singles and heads of households with workplace retirement plans who have modified adjusted gross incomes between $58,000 and $68,000 in 2012 ($92,000 to $112,000 for couples), up $2,000 from 2011. For IRA owners without a retirement plan at work the deduction is phased out if the couple’s income is between $173,000 and $183,000, up $4,000 from last year.

Roth income limits relaxed. The income limits for making contributions to a Roth IRA will be between $110,000 and $125,000 for singles and heads of household in 2012, up $3,000 from 2011. For married couples filing jointly the income limits will increase by $4,000 to a phase out range of $173,000 to $183,000.

Expanding the saver’s credit. Workers with slightly higher incomes will be able to get a tax credit worth up to $1,000 ($2,000 for couples) for low-income workers who save for retirement. Single workers who contribute to a retirement account such as an IRA or 401(k) may be able to claim the saver's credit if they have modified adjusted gross incomes of up to $28,750 in 2012, up $500 from last year. The income limits will increase by $1,000 to $57,500 for married couples filing jointly and by $750 to $43,125 for heads of households. For the latest updates on the stock market, visit Stock Market Today
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Saturday, December 10, 2011

best Fidelity funds for 2012

best Fidelity funds for 2012 ; Fidelity Blue Chip Growth is a diversified bet on large-cap growth. America’s global leaders are gaining market share worldwide, so their future is bright. The European sovereign debt crisis has made them unusually cheap, but even in a worst-case scenario, they won’t suffer like they did in 2008-09. And they’ve got plenty of cash to scoop up any foreign targets that look attractive.

With dozens of small-cap analysts covering companies that Fidelity’s competitors don’t even track, Fidelity Stock Selector Small Cap is a pure play on Fidelity’s research advantage.If there’s anywhere that the company's team-management approach should result in superior stock picking over the long run, this would be the place.

What are the best stock funds to hold in 2012? The following are four choices among Fidelity funds that we think are well-positioned for the upcoming year:

Fidelity Contrafund (FCNTX +1.50%), Fidelity Low-Priced Stock (FLPSX +1.41%), Fidelity Blue Chip Growth (FBGRX +1.87%) and Fidelity Stock Selector Small Cap (FDSCX +2.71%). They are listed in increasing order of risk.Stock Market Today
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Strategies investments & Foreign Stock Funds for 2012

Strategies investments & Foreign Stock Funds for 2012 : 2012 carries the same overall theme for international investing as 2011 -- the sovereign debt crisis makes foreign stock a higher risk area for the year but investors can use a balance of caution and skill to minimize risk but maximize chances for better possible returns.

In 2009 and 2010, investors who were willing to stick their necks out after the terrifying credit crisis and Great Recession in 2008, were rewarded greatly for venturing into foreign stock, especially emerging markets (e.g. China, India and Brazil), at that time. Now, considering the immense uncertainty surrounding the European debt crisis and China's economy looking more and more like recession, foreign investing carries greater potential market risk when compared to US (domestic) stock investing.

There are three basic strategic routes mutual fund investors can take with foreign stock investing in 2012:

Choose Geographic Regions: This strategy carries the greatest potential market risk because even a knowledgeable and skilled investor can make large mistakes by concentrating significant amounts of a portfolio into just a few select countries or regions of the world. However, the investor choosing to concentrate in certain countries or regions is likely to be an aggressive investor willing to take such risk for the prospects of being rewarded with higher returns. For example, if an investor believes the European debt crisis will be contained in 2012, they could select a mutual fund or Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) that invests primarily in Europe. This investor will want to look at the mutual fund or ETF category called Europe Stock. Similarly, an investor could choose the Pacific Rim region, which includes China, Japan and Australia, or Emerging Markets, which includes China, India and Brazil.

For Europe Stock funds, an investor can consider T. Rowe Price European Stock (PRESX) or Vanguard European Stock Index (VEURX) and for Emerging Markets an investor can consider T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets (PRMSX) or Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index (VEIEX).

Choose a High Quality Actively-Managed Fund: Rather than spend the time and energy researching, an investor can simply pick a good actively-managed foreign stock fund and let an experienced fund manager select which areas are best to invest. Be sure to choose among the category called Foreign Stock. This assures the fund will invest mostly outside of the US but not concentrate on specific regions -- it is diversified.

A few good actively-managed foreign stock funds are Harbor International Inv (HIINX) and Dodge & Cox International Stock (DODFX).

Choose Diverse Index Fund or ETF: This strategy for investing, in the opinion of your humble Mutual Funds Guide, is likely the best for both beginners and experienced investors. The health of world economies and the particular regions that will do best in 2012 is as uncertain now as it has been in the past several years. Because of this uncertainty, and because Foreign Stock still plays an important role in diversification, a good foreign stock index fund or Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is an excellent choice for 2012.

A good diversified foreign index fund is Vanguard International Total Stock Index Inv (VGTSX) and a good diversified foreign ETF for 2012 is SPDR MSCI ACWI ex US (CWI). Source mutualfunds.about.com

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Demand for mutual funds, insurance Forecast 2012

Demand for mutual funds, insurance Forecast 2012 ; Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) predicts that mutual funds and insurance will become popular savings avenues for retail investors in 2012 as deposit products become less attractive because of lower interest rates. After flat growth in 2011, mutual funds will grow again next year because the return on deposits will be lower than on mutual funds, said Smith Banomyong, executive vice president.

The mutual-fund market saw flat growth this year as retail investors shifted their investments to deposits because of healthy returns. Banks' interest rates rose gradually in line with the policy rates until the central bank's Monetary Policy Committee decided to cut the rate by 25 basis points to 3.25 per cent on November 30 to revive economic growth after the recent floods.

The rate is likely to be cut again in 2012, and as a result the returns on deposit products might not be attractive enough, forcing investors to explore other products, especially mutual funds and insurance.

Smith said mutual funds were expected to grow by 10 per cent in 2012 and SCB aims to outpace the market in this segment by 50 per cent.

SCB's assets under management are valued at Bt500 billion while deposits and bills of exchange (B/Es) amount to Bt1.4 trillion. The amount of deposits this year increased by Bt200 billion, while mutual funds did not grow because the higher interest rates persuaded retail investors to choose fixed deposits.

He said bills of exchange would be also less attractive in 2012 after regulators sent out letters seeking a hearing from banks about their B/Es.

Regulators are concerned about sales of B/Es to retail investors, hence banks are not expected to sell those products aggressively until regulators make a clear rule, Smith said.

The recent floods have also persuaded retail clients to buy life insurance, he said. The bank expects its first-year premiums in 2012 to grow more than 50 per cent from Bt1.1 billion this year.

Life-insurance premiums make up only 4 per cent of gross domestic product in Thailand, lower than 6-7 per cent in some other countries. The life-insurance market therefore has room for growth. SCB projects penetration of insurance to rise gradually to 10 per cent.

However, deposits remain an important savings product for the general public and there is still stiff competition in this segment because state-owned banks are expected to mobilise funds as the government needs a huge amount of money for flood rehabilitation. The commercial banks will have to offer special rates to attract depositors and keep their deposit base. For the latest updates on the stock market, visit Stock Market Today
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Best 401(k) Mutual Funds to invest 2012

Best 401(k) Mutual Funds to invest 2012 ; As Americans look back at 2011 and look ahead to 2012, many are wondering what to do about their 401(k) retirement accounts and mutual fund investments. After a year like this one — with lots of short-term fireworks but little overall gains for the market — it seems harder than ever to plot a way to get ahead with your 401(k) mLinkutual funds.

Best 401(k) Mutual Funds for 2012
With this in mind, here are the 10 best mutual funds to consider for 2012, with two picks each across five distinct investment classes: blue-chip stocks, midsize stocks, small stocks, global investments and bonds. Read More..

Fees for 401(k)s will be revealed in 2012
Save the date. Come April 2012, some 65 million workers with 401(k) plans are in for a change. For the first time ever, sponsors of 401(k) plans — employers — will have to disclose what workers are paying for the investments in their 401(k) plan. Read More..

Best Mutual Funds for 2012
It іs аlmоst а nеw year any investors аre lоokіng fоr the bеѕt mutual funds to invest in 2012. However, unlеѕѕ yоu havе a thorough knowledge of how tо invest in thеm аnd еxaсtly and how thеу generates returns, іt wіll be difficult tо make an informed decision. Briefly speaking, a mutual fund is а company whіch holds a number of stocks, bonds and securities аnd othеr investments. When уоu make аn investment, thе company invests yоur money in thеsе dіfferеnt sectors in return for a fee. Read More..

Year-End Tax Plans Focus on 2012 Rule Changes
Year-end tax planning for U.S. taxpayers may be more about what’s happening next year. While there aren’t major changes to federal tax law for 2011, there’s an “overhang of uncertainty” about what Congress will do next year to reduce the national debt and improve the economy, said Clint Stretch, managing principal of tax policy at Deloitte Tax LLP in Washington. Read More..

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Friday, December 2, 2011

HDFC mutual fund forecast 2012

HDFC mutual fund forecast 2012 ; This is not the first time that the world is facing a financial crisis. Crises have come and gone and so will the sovereign one. With valuations near a trough, it may be time for investors with a two-to-three year horizon to buy stocks, says HDFC Mutual Fund’s chief investment officer Prashant Jain, who manages more than Rs 90,000 crore, in an interview with ET. Edited excerpts:

HDFC Asset Management Company Ltd (AMC) was incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956, on December 10, 1999, and was approved to act as an Asset Management Company for the HDFC Mutual Fund by SEBI vide its letter dated July 3, 2000.

The registered office of the AMC is situated at Ramon House, 3rd Floor, H.T. Parekh Marg, 169, Backbay Reclamation, Churchgate, Mumbai - 400 020. In terms of the Investment Management Agreement, the Trustee has appointed the HDFC Asset Management Company Limited to manage the Mutual Fund. The paid up capital of the AMC is Rs. 25.169 crore. For informations visit www.hdfcfund.com
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Bank of Baroda Mutual Fund forecast 2012

Bank of Baroda Mutual Fund forecast 2012 : Indian banking sector emerged stronger during 2010-11 in the aftermath of global financial meltdown of 2008-10 under the watchful eye of its regulator. The timely and calibrated policy responses by the RBI and the government excellently supported the economic recovery process and aided the banking business during the year 2010-11.

As inflation remained the dominant policy concern in 2010-11, the monetary and liquidity conditions during the year remained consistent with the anti-inflationary stance of the RBI. Liquidity conditions had switched to deficit mode since end-May 2010, due to large increase in government balances with the RBI resulting from 3G/BWA auctions combined with the impact of advance tax outflows. Structural factors like imbalances between deposit and credit growth coupled with high currency demand too added to the pressure on liquidity during most part of the year. However, by allowing the banks to avail of additional liquidity support under the LAF and by conducting second LAF on daily basis, the RBI tried to ease the liquidity pressures. For the latest updates on the stock market, visit www.bankofbaroda.com
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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

municipal bond funds outlook 2011

municipal bond funds outlook 2011 ; the unemployment report was really impressive. The reported decline of 533,000 jobs lost in November was significantly higher than the 350,000 average estimated by many economists and our own estimate of 300,000 to 400,000 for the month. This level of loss monthly employment is higher than that experienced in the last recession of 2001-02 and the rivals of the worst recessions in the postwar period.

In addition, loss jobs previously recorded for the months of September and October were revised sharply downward to the average levels of more than 350,000 during the two months, 100,000 more than the average reported above. Therefore, the labor market, like much of the rest of the U.S. and international economies has fallen sharply and precipitously since last summer read more tax-free-saving-account.biz

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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Markets Are Rewarding Companies That Pay Dividends

Markets Are Rewarding Companies That Pay Dividends : Slow economic growth. Whipsawing volatility. In an environment like this, it is little wonder investors are piling into stocks with steady dividend payments.

Mutual funds specializing in dividend stocks have seen inflows of $12.6 billion so far this year, four times as much as in all of 2010—even as stock funds as a whole have posted outflows of nearly $25 billion, according to fund tracker Lipper.

But dividend stocks aren't a panacea—and buying them willy-nilly can lead to disappointment down the road. Dividend stocks are notorious laggards during big rallies, which often start when investors are most averse to risk. source online.wsj.com
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Monday, August 29, 2011

best performing mutual funds in malaysia 2011

best performing mutual funds in malaysia 2011 ; Mutual funds are simply investment vehicles or packages of securities like stocks and bonds… that are designed and managed for people who want help managing their investments. The best funds for you will depend on your objectives.

Finding your best investment in funds for 2011 will be much like finding your best deal on a car. Every fund states its objective, characteristics, fees and charges up front – like the sticker on a new car. Here are your 4 basic types: stock, bond, money market, and hybrids. Let’s take a closer look under the hood and see if we can find your best investment. Read More www.sc.com.my List of Malaysian mutual funds

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Thursday, August 25, 2011

Best pension plans tips 2011- 2012

Best pension plans tips 2011-2012 : Suffice to say, then, if you plan to enjoy retirement, there's work to be done; a long and fulfilling life awaits many of us, but we're going to need to plan properly if we're to pay for it, pension tips to help you get – and stay – on the right track.

1. Seriously review; carefully re-plan

Retirement might seem aeons away, but that's no excuse to turn a blind eye and lapse into spendthrift ways.

If you don't know how much you've saved (via pensions, Isas, stock market investments, property etc.) then run a comprehensive review. Done on a regular basis – perhaps once or twice a year - this will help keep you on straight and narrow.

There are three essential boxes to tick before pension tinkering can begin, says Nick Lincoln, an independent financial adviser at Values to Vision Financial Planning.

First, work out when you want to retire and the income you'll need to live the retirement life you want. Calculate all your potential income streams in retirement (state pension, rental incomes, Isa investments, final salary benefits, employer pensions). Compare the two numbers. The shortfall figure should guide your action plan.

If you're not meeting your target, you'll have four main options: retiring later, saving more now, accepting less retirement income, or taking more risk to improve returns.

Steve Laird, an independent financial adviser at Carrington Wealth Management, has these top tips: 'If you have one or more existing pension plans, get a projection of what the benefits are likely to be at your chosen retirement age. If you have a company pension scheme you should be able to get this information from the scheme trustees.

'If it's a personal pension plan then write to the plan provider. Ask for a projection 'in today's money' – this will give you a much better idea of what you'll be able to buy with your pension fund.

'If there's a big shortfall between what you'll get and what you'll need then the time to take action is now – the longer that you leave it, the more it will cost you to make up the difference.

As a guide for how much to save, Alan Maxwell, a chartered financial planner at Corporate Benefits, says around 10% to 15% of your salary should be dedicated towards long-term planning - at all times.

2. Take advantage of Isas

Each year you can save up to £10,200 into an Isa (£5,100 in cash). Each year the allowance rises slightly (it's linked to inflation).Isas are simply investment 'wrappers' that shelter your cash from the long arm of the taxman. For basic rate taxpayers, this is a better saving solution than a pension (see below). The key difference with Isas is that you have access to your cash before age 55. If you're unsure which is right for you, check our Isa vs. Pension pros and cons round up.

Danny Cox, an adviser at Hargreaves Lansdown, says: 'Make full use of your Isa allowance. Less tax means the potential for much better returns from your savings and investments.'

Ian Lowes, of Lowes Financial Management, says: 'Despite the fact that Isas have been around for more than a decade, there is still a lot of misunderstanding surrounding them.

'An Isa is simply an annual allowance that everyone over 18 has to shelter some of their investments or savings from income tax and/or capital gains tax. They should be used by most investors each year in one form or another.

3. Use a pension to claw back tax

Pensions are the archetypal retirement savings product. It is more than possible to get all the way to retirement without them. But higher rate taxpayers should take note: a pension can help claw back some of the 40% or 50% tax you cough up each year.

Quite simply, the Government refunds your income tax when you store money in a pension. This is reward for being unable to use it until you're 55. Income tax is paid on the way out of the pension in retirement. But, the benefit is that you'll probably qualify within a lower income threshold – usually as a basic rate taxpayer – and so reduce your percentage liability from 40% or 50% to 20%. Additionally, you can claim a quarter of the pension pot direct as a tax-free lump sum – you'll never, ever have paid tax on this cash.

Ian Lowes says: 'Tax relief means a £1,000 contribution will cost a higher rate taxpayer just £600. The downside is that you can only have 25% of the fund back - and only once you're at least 55. The rest of the fund has to provide a taxable income (via an annuity or drawdown policy – see below).

4. Check how your pension is invested

This is one of the serious areas of concern for those already with a pension. Poor performance can leave you seriously under-funded in retirement. In particular, watch out for so-called 'zombie funds'. We warn about these at This is Money.

An estimated 11 million savers are trapped in failing pension funds that deny them thousands of pounds of yearly income in retirement.

Peter McGahan, an independent financial adviser at Worldwide Financial Planning, says: 'Make sure your money is being invested by the best fund managers. A decent investment-based IFA will know how to pick these.'

Alan Maxwell, a chartered financial planner at Corporate Benefits, says many people - particularly those with funds in very old pensions - never bother to check how their money is managed. They just presume solid returns are a given. They're not. With fund managers changing regularly and performance varying, it's a serious concern.

Nick Lincoln, independent financial adviser at Values to Vision Financial Planning recommends that younger investors with more than ten years to retirement make sure they're reaping the rewards of the stock markets.

'It's too risky to invest in anything else (risk defined here as the likelihood of your fund not growing fast enough, which is the biggest risk of all),' he says. 'Divest back out of equities as you approach retirement.'

In your 50s, you must reconsider your 'risk profile'. This means opting out of riskier investments – shares – to lock in your gains. Instead, cash and bonds will provide a more consistent return.

Chris Wicks, a chartered financial planner at Bridgewater, explains: 'If you are retiring in the next couple of years you need to start to reduce the risk of your pension fund by moving to fixed interest and cash funds to avoid the impact of a last minute stock market drop on your retirement income.

5. Cut costs with a fund supermarket

To optimise your investments to the full, steer clear of dinosaur personal pension plans altogether. Instead, try a Self-Invested Personal Pensions (Sipp). These allow you to choose exactly how your cash is invested, whether in shares, funds, commercial property or something else. Created 21 years ago for high net wealth savers, they have become far more accessible in the 21st Century.

For the majority of mid-wealth investors, a fund supermarket-style Sipp – which is simply a low-cost platform for investing in different funds – could work perfectly.

Danny Cox says: 'Use a fund supermarket to reduce costs and simplify your investments. As the name suggests a fund supermarket is a one stop shop for Isas, Sipps, funds, shares, ETFs and investment trusts.

'They buy in bulk and pass those savings onto the investor, meaning you can invest in a unit trust saving as much as 5.5% on the cost when buying direct. Fund supermarkets enable you to consolidate your investments and pensions into one simple statement, view the value at anytime on line and deal on-line from the comfort of your own home.'

Some of the cheapest fund low-cost Sipps are run by Hargreaves Lansdown, James Hay, AJ Bell's Sippdeal, and Alliance Trust. Help on finding the cheapest low cost Sipp.

6. Get the right annuity

From April, some retirees will no longer need to purchase an annuity to convert their pots into an income. It will be possible, instead, to stay invested in the stock market and draw money slowly from your pot.

But the operative word here is 'some' people. Most will still find that the secure income stream from an annuity is necessary for a hassle-free old age. Others simply won't be allowed to opt out of annuity purchases because their funds won't be large enough. More on the new rules here.

When you hit retirement, it's absolutely essential to shop around for the best annuity rate. At the beginning of 2011, a £100,000 pot typically buys a pension of just £5,500 a year for a couple. But different insurance companies vary wildly - by as much as 20% - in the sort of income they'll pay in exchange for your pension pot.

This is particularly important if your health is poor as you may qualify for an enhanced rate - sometimes a huge 30% - 40% more. This applies to smokers, too, as their life expectancy is shorter.

Peter McGahan points out that some pension plans provide 'guaranteed' annuity rates that comprehensively beat the open market options. But he warns that even then, these they aren't always the best option.

He says: 'Check whether your pension offers a guaranteed annuity. As you retire you might see this is around 8% or 9% and that looks very attractive. But when you dig deeper, you'll find that these often have serious downsides. Firstly, most don't include spouses in the terms. That means that if you die, your partner won't benefit – the payments will stop. (source www.thisismoney.co.u )

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Saturday, August 20, 2011

Best Mutual Funds 2011 by Forbes Magazine August edition

Best Mutual Funds 2011 by Forbes Magazine August edition : Top mutual funds list which I followed is the Forbes magazine recommendation. This ten great mutual funds details can be found below. Most of these investment funds are part of equity mutual funds or stock funds. Some may be classified as domestic stock fund, international stock fund, emerging market stock funds, small cap stock fund, multi sector equity fund, balanced fund, bond fund, etc.

Note: International stock funds and small cap stock funds could be more volatile than regular large cap domestic stock funds. The Top 10 Best Mutual Funds 2011 per Forbes Magazine on August 2011 edition are:

Turner Emerging Growth Investor
The Turner Emerging Growth Investor investment seeks capital appreciation. This Turner Investment Partners fund invests mainly in equity securities of U.S. companies with small and very small market capitalizations and also in securities of companies that are diversified across economic sectors. Its exposure is generally <5% of assets in any single stock, subject to exceptions for the most heavily weighted securities in the 2000 Growth Index. Read More...

Bernstein Emerging Markets
The Bernstein Emerging Markets fund objective is to provide long-term capital growth. The fund normally invests at least 80% of assets in securities of companies in emerging markets. It invests approximately 50% of assets in emerging markets value stocks and 50% of assets in emerging markets growth stocks. The fund may invest in more developed country markets. Read More...

CGM Focus (MUTF: CGMFX)
The CGM Focus fund is seeking long-term growth of capital. This fund normally invests in the stock of between 20-100 companies at any one time. It may invest in companies of any size, but primarily invests in companies with market capitalizations of more than $5 billion. The fund may also invest in debt and fixed income securities (investment grade & non-investment grade or junk bonds). Read More...

Bruce fund investment (MUTF: BRUFX)
The Bruce fund investment seeks long-term capital appreciation. The fund invests primarily in domestic common stocks and bonds, including convertible bonds and zero coupon treasury government bonds. This Bruce fund invests in domestic common stocks of any capitalization where the overriding strategy is long-term capital appreciation. It may also invest in foreign securities. Read More...

BlackRock International Opportunities Investor A (MUTF: BREAX)
This BlackRock International Opportunities Investor fund is to provide long-term capital appreciation. The fund generally invests majority of net assets (>80%) in equity securities issued by foreign companies of any market capitalization. This BlackRock mutual fund may invest <30% of net assets in stocks of issuers in emerging market countries. The fund primarily buys common stock but can also invest in preferred stock and convertible securities. From time to time it may invest in shares of companies through initial public offerings or IPOs. Read More...

Wasatch Micro Cap (MUTF: WMICX)
The Wasatch Micro Cap fund objective is to seek long-term growth of capital. It also has a secondary objective which is to provide income. The fund invests at least 80% of net assets in the equity securities of micro-cap companies with market capitalizations of less than $1 billion. It may invest up to 30% of total assets at the time of purchase in securities issued by foreign companies in developed or emerging markets. Read More...

Rydex / SGI Mid Cap Value A (SEVAX)
The Rydex / SGI Mid Cap Value fund is seeking long-term growth of capital. The fund generally invests >80% of net assets in equity securities of companies that, when purchased, have market capitalizations that are similar to those of companies in the Russell 2500 Value Index. This Rydex|SGI fund may invest a portion of its assets in options and futures contracts. Read More...

Wells Fargo Advantage Small Cap Value Investor (SSMVX)
The Wells Fargo Advantage Small Cap Value fund investment seeks long-term capital appreciation. The fund invests at least 80% of net assets in equity securities of small-capitalization companies, which are defined as companies with market capitalizations within the range of the Russell 2500TM Index. It can invest up to 30% of total assets in equity securities of foreign issuers through ADRs and similar investments. Furthermore, the fund can use futures, options, repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements or swap agreements, as well as other derivatives, to manage risk or to enhance return. Read More...

Royce Opportunity Investment (MUTF: RYPNX)
The Royce Opportunity fund objective is to seek long-term growth of capital. The fund invests mainly in the equity securities of small- and micro-cap companies, those with market capitalizations <$2.5 billion. Although the fund typically focuses on the securities of companies with market capitalizations up to $2.5 billion, it may, in certain market environments, invest an equal or greater percentage of its assets in securities of larger-cap companies and may invest <10% of its assets in foreign stocks. Read More...

MFS International New Discovery A (MIDAX) mutual fund
The MFS International New Discovery fund objective is to provide capital appreciation. The fund generally invests in foreign equity securities, including emerging-market equity securities. Read More...

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