Making an investment is important but making the right investment decision is crucial. No matter the amount of money you save and invest, unless you make the right investment choice, you will not be able to grow your money. The equity market is well known for its volatility and this is what keeps the investors away from the stock market. It deprives them of the high returns in the long run and it is something that cannot be predicted.

Various factors are responsible for volatility in the market, which cannot be controlled. It is always difficult for a retail investor to time the entry and exit in the market. However, if you are tired of the market swings and do not have the risk appetite to tolerate the volatility, it is best to opt for Unit-Linked Insurance Plans [ULIPs].

You can deal with fluctuations in the market by finding the best ULIP plan for yourself. ULIPs allow you to achieve multiple financial goals with one investment product. There are a number of benefits of investing in ULIPs as compared to the stock market. The same is elaborated below.

Dual benefit

When you invest in a ULIP, you enjoy a dual coverage. ULIP will give you an insurance cover and provide you with the best investment options. The premium amount you pay on your ULIP investment will be divided into two. Some part of it will go for your insurance cover and the balance will be invested into the fund chosen by you. The stock market does not provide an insurance cover to you.

Lock-in period

ULIP has a lock-in period of five years and this will ensure that you remain invested for that particular duration. It will bring financial discipline and will allow your money to grow. You can avoid the bullish and bearish period of the stock market and do not have to worry about when to buy and sell securities. When you remain invested for a long period of time you can gain from the equity market.

Minimum risk

When you invest in the stock market, you have to tolerate the risk of market volatility. The ups and downs in the market movement will have an impact on your returns whereas if you invest in a ULIP, you can beat inflation and meet your long-term goals. You can invest your money into different types of funds, which will help reduce the risk.

Wider choice

Investing in the stock market means that you need to conduct research on the securities and choose the one that meets your long-term financial goals. When you make a ULIP investment, you only need to choose the fund keeping your goals in mind. You can choose from equity, debt, or a mix of funds. In addition, you have the freedom to switch between funds. If you think that a particular fund is not performing well, you can make your shift to a different fund.

Tax benefits

There is a tax benefit of making an investment in ULIP. You can claim a deduction for the amount invested into a ULIP under Section 80C. The maximum amount of tax deductible is Rs. 1.5 Lakh.

There are various reasons as to why investing in ULIP scores over investing in the stock market. ULIP returns have shown strong consistency over the past few years. This shows that investing in ULIP for the long-term will reap results and minimize your risk. Consider your investment goals and choose a fund that helps generate maximum returns on your investment.

The recent re-categorization of some of the mutual funds in India by SEBI has evoked concern among many investors. This is mainly because new schemes have undergone major changes in recent years to fit within SEBI’s guidelines. While it has brought a big change in the industry, it has also stirred some confusion amongst investors.

Why are mutual funds being re-categorized?

The capital market regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India [SEBI], came up with the idea of categorizing and rationalizing the functioning of Asset Management Companies [ASC]. Under this regulation, SEBI did two things

First, it divided the industry into 36 categories of fund. This was done to bring about uniformity in functioning, and allow every fund house to have only one scheme in each category. Fund houses can accordingly place their funds in respective categories. Experts believe that this breakdown will make the process extremely organized and clutter-free.

Prior to this, mutual fund companies were releasing too many new schemes that replicated older ones. These duplicate options eventually led investors down the same road, causing confusion.

Secondly, SEBI tightly detailed and defined the 36 categories to the fund houses. Many believed that this move was necessary, as the old business practices were outdated and in dire need of change.

Further, SEBI also classified stocks in categories such as ‘large cap’, ‘mid-cap’ and so on. It has even predefined the percentage of stocks that a balanced fund can hold. To put it simply, SEBI has cleaned up a big, cluttered house and placed things in neatly labelled boxes.

Where are these norms applicable?

SEBI has identified specific circumstances where these new norms will be applied

• All open-ended schemes of all prevalent mutual funds.
• All open-ended schemes wherein the fund house is going to file a draft of the scheme document.
• All open-ended schemes for which SEBI has sent out the final recommendation, but is yet to be implemented by the fund house.
• All open-ended schemes wherein the fund house have already filed a draft of scheme as required by SEBI.

What are the latest schemes in the market?

The newest categories along with their classifications, based on the regulations of SEBI, are listed below:

• Equity funds – These types of funds are divided in ten categories – small-cap fund, mid-cap fund, large-cap fund, large and mid-cap fund, multi-cap fund, value fund, contra fund, dividend yield fund, sectoral or thematic fund, focussed fund and ELSS.
• Debt funds – These types of funds are divided in sixteen categories – liquid fund, short duration fund, low duration fund, long duration fund, medium duration fund, overnight fund, credit risk fund, corporate bond fund, dynamic bond fund, ultra-short duration fund, money market fund, banking and PSU fund, floater fund, Gilt Fund and Gilt fund with ten year constant duration.
• Hybrid funds – These types of funds are divided in six categories – equity savings fund, aggressive hybrid fund, conservative hybrid fund, balanced hybrid fund, multi-asset allocation fund, balanced advantage fund and arbitrage fund.
• Solution oriented funds – These are divided in two categories – children’’s fund and retirement fund. Generally, these funds come with a 5-year lock-in term.
• Other funds – These types of funds are divided in two categories – fund of funds and index funds.

After this change was brought into effect, fund-advisors have continually spoken about how it’s been able to bring an exceptional change in the system. It has not only minimized confusion, but also made the entire process transparent for investors. Now that you’re familiar with these mutual funds basics, and the several types of funds available, you too can make an informed decision while investing.

When you buy a vehicle insurance plan, you get some papers in exchange of the money paid. These are known as the policy documents and they state that the cover is issued to your car for the stipulated policy period.

If you buy a policy offline, these policies might be given to you by an agent or they may arrive at your registered address through post. If you have purchased a policy online, you can download the policy from your account or get it in your registered email id.

These papers are essential documents that you need to keep very safely. However, under some unfortunate circumstances, you may end up losing these documents. What should you do in such a situation? Read on to get the answer.

Steps to follow after you lose vehicle insurance policy documents purchased via offline method

1. Inform the insurer – You need to be proactive at such a time and act fast. First and foremost, you need to inform your insurance provider about the loss of the car insurance documents. You can call the customer service helpline and inform them. Or you can send an email. The insurer will issue you a replacement certificate in the meantime, which you can use till the new papers are issued.
2. Don’t drive – Don’t drive your vehicle till you get a replacement of your lost policy documents and you do not have photocopies of the same. You will need some form of proof to show that the vehicle is insured. Your insurance provider will send the duplicate documents soon, but till then arrange for a different mode of transportation as it is illegal to drive without a car insurance policy.
3. Listen to your insurer – Different insurance companies might have different rules when it comes to getting your policy documents retrieved. So, speak to your insurance provider and understand their process carefully. Follow the instructions given and get a new set of car insurance policy documents issued.
4. Stay calm – While completing the steps, remember to stay calm. Don’t panic when you lose the papers. So just be methodical and you won’t face problems.

Steps to follow after you lose vehicle insurance policy documents purchased via online method

First of all, the policy might be in your email inbox since the process opted is an online one. If that’s not the case, then the policy shall be stored in your account on the online insurer’s website. If you are unable to find the policy, simply call or email your insurance provider, share details asked by them and they shall send you your car insurance policy instantly. Refrain from driving your car till the time you have substantial proof that your vehicle is insured.

Go digital

It is not uncommon for people to lose their car insurance documents. The physical papers get lost at times. What is the solution? Well, it is simple – just opt for online motor insurance. You can buy a new plan online or go in for an online car insurance renewal. When you have a digital car insurance plan, you don’t have to worry about the physical copies of the documents as everything is available online.

Online car insurance renewal has several benefits – one of it is that it allows you to do a car insurance comparison easily before you get a cover. Online car insurance comparison helps you to find the best plan at the best rate and that too in a quick and convenient manner. So do remember to explore the wonderful world of online insurance and car insurance comparison before you purchase your next plan.

The final word

Don’t hit the panic button when you find your car insurance documents to be missing. Keep the points mentioned above in mind and follow the steps. Once that is done, your new policy documents will be issued to you. Also remember to go digital if you had chosen the offline process, as that minimizes the paperwork and makes the entire process a lot simpler for you.

Life is uncertain and one never knows when an emergency can strike. In such situations, covering for medical expenses can sometimes be tough and may even go out of one’s budget. Hence, buying a health insurance policy at an early stage in life is absolutely critical and necessary.

People often think that health insurance covers only those expenses that they incur during their stay in the hospital. However, in reality, this is not always the case.  The insurance also covers the expenses incurred prior to getting hospitalized as well as post discharge.

There is no wonder that you will be at peace if you have a shield in the veil of a health insurance plan.  In fact, you can stay care-free about the pre Hospitalization and post Hospitalization expenses!

What are pre-hospitalization and post-hospitalization expenses?

Pre-hospitalization expenses typically include costs incurred before a patient is moved into the hospital for treatment. On the other hand, post-hospitalization expenses, also known as recuperation expenses, are costs incurred by the insured to get back to his/her pre-illness state of being.

To get a better understanding of both these phases, take a look at the benefits covered under each phase.

Pre hospitalization Benefits Cover

Before you buy health insurance policy, understand what pre Hospitalization benefits cover.

• To claim the benefits, person needs to undergo hospitalization.
• The insurance will cover the expenditure of only those ailments for which a person will be hospitalized.
• The expenses include doctor’s consultation fee, diagnostic charges [such as blood test, urine test and x-ray] and medicine cost that you incurred a month before you getting hospitalized.

Post Hospitalization Benefits Cover

Post Hospitalization benefits cover bills related to the diseases for which one was hospitalized. The benefits under this phase cover the following.

• It is mandatory that you have undergone hospitalization to claim this benefit.
• All the bills related to disease, for which you were hospitalized, are payable under this policy.
• It will also cover the expenses like doctor’s fees, diagnostic bills [blood test and more] and medicine costs incurred after 30 to 60 days you were discharged.

Keep in mind that pre and post Hospitalization benefits will not cover the medications that are unrelated to the ailments for which you have been hospitalized.

Health insurance has become an important part of one’s life.  To avail the maximum benefits, you must ensure that you carefully check the included and excluded costs of health insurance under pre and post Hospitalization.  In fact, there are a lot of factors that one should take into consideration – the nature of policy to the benefits that it covers, everything should be scrutinized thoroughly.

If your Hospitalization claim is accepted by the insurance that you have chosen, then what are you waiting for? Now, claim the health insurance online and save life, save time!  Don’t forget to buy health insurance coverage for your loved ones too!

Are you planning to retire? Well! If you do, you must have known by now that retirement has not been a cakewalk for you. You’ve had to undergo a lot of responsible planning. And, those that are far from retiring now must know the importance of responsible planning right at this moment!

You must know how much to save for retirement in order to secure your life at old age. Retirement means no cash flow from our place of employment. Hence, the only source of income comes from your investment instruments. For instance, if you have had mutual funds investment in place, you can spend your old age reading your favorite novels at home or traveling to places day in and day out. So, needless to say, the best investment plan, i.e. mutual funds investment, can help you keep your financial flows steady even after retirement.

Why is it important to look for better investment plans/opportunities for attaining good returns on your retirement investment?

You must remember that your retirement funds comprise of what you invest and what you earn as a result of the investment. It is extremely crucial as it forms the base of most of your decisions post retirement. However, as far as investments and savings are concerned, you should start early, even when it comes to your retirement period. This is mainly because if you start early, you will reach a stage when your earnings from those investments will exceed the total amount of investments simultaneously.

This is what your goal should be. A lot of you might think that the interest received on mutual funds investment is not even as high as 10 per cent so how is it even possible for the returns to exceed the invested amount? That is when the power of compounding comes to play. Even when you start small, over the years, the returns keep accumulating and start getting more weightage when compared to the principal fund. That is also when your investment itself starts saving for you. That is the place you want to reach but it is only possible when your time horizon exceeds 10-15 years. But again, this break-even point depends on various factors like the rate of return applicable in the said situation, your income growth trajectory, your life cycle and how diligently you stick by your saving plan.

People who are serious about investing their funds might also be confused about where they should park their funds. Here’s what you should do so as to invest in mutual fund based on risk parameters

1. For people with low risk profile, invest [100 per cent ~ 15 per cent – your age] per cent of your funds in equity and the rest in fixed income instruments.
2. For people who have a medium risk profile, the best option for them is to invest [100 per cent – their age] per cent of their funds in equity and the rest in fixed income avenues.
3. For people who are okay to be associated with high risk instruments, invest [100 per cent + 10 per cent – age] percent in equity and the rest in fixed income avenues.

These fixed instruments can be Senior Citizen Saving Scheme, PMVVY Pension Scheme, Ultra Short Term Debt Mutual Fund or Fixed Income Debt Mutual Funds.

How and why should one consider mutual fund investment as an avenue for retirement planning?

Now, there are quite a few people who are confused as to how they should start investing in Mutual Funds. Keep the following things in mind while looking for the best mutual funds to invest in.

1. Start investing at an early age. Do not wait to turn 35 years. Start when you reach 25~26 years of age. This will help you reach the breakeven point early.
2. Understand various things like your expectation, your risk temperament, your income trajectory etc. before you narrow down on the funds.
3. Diverse funds help as they help in spreading the risks over a variety of market instruments. Not only that, because different instruments react differently to the ups and downs of the market, it is advised to have a diversified portfolio of top mutual funds.
4. Understand that re-balancing your portfolio must be done or even considered only when there are major changes taking place. These changes can be in terms of fund mandate alterations, asset management company acquisition etc. Hence, do try and understand the market scenarios once in a while.

Even though retirement can be a major phase of your life, you can make it a peaceful one by planning well in advance. If you’re not sure yet, you can also seek assistance from an online retirement calculator, and get an idea about how much to save for your retirement. Lastly, Mutual Funds are a definite option that you must consider when you are looking for a profitable investment avenue. Explore the best mutual funds offered by IndiaBulls without any further delay!

As per the legal norms, every two-wheeler must be insured against the third party liability. In India, the majority of the population are preferring two-wheelers for commuting due to the increased efficiency of the vehicles, low cost of maintenance and the convenience they provide. Along with the third party insurance, also vehicle owners should opt for comprehensive insurance so as to have full coverage of the driver and the pillion as well.

Now, with the increasing Insurance companies and stringency for laws, awareness among people for buying a two-wheeler insurance policy is also increasing. The process of purchasing insurance policies has also become convenient. People can sit at home, compare two wheeler insurance policies of different companies and buy two wheeler insurance online without any hassle.

Sometimes, it happens that people are ignorant about the rates of premium and taxes etc. resulting in high expenditure while purchasing insurances and also at the time of their renewal. Mostly this happens in case of bike insurance. Bike Insurance is usually done by the young masses in our country and since they are inexperienced they sometimes fall prey to expensive insurance. It is always better to buy two wheeler insurance online to ensure you buy a good policy.

Reasons for expensive two-wheeler Insurance

• Inexperienced vehicle riders – This happens in the case of bike insurance. Youngsters are inexperienced and hence insurers do not find them trustworthy for insurance. Hence, the cost of insurance rises for the bike riders.
• Unsatisfactory driving records – If you are having not so good driving records, then the Insurance Companies charge more from you.
• Wrong selection of vehicle – If you are ensuring an exotic vehicle with a very complex machine, then it implies very exotic Insurance rates as well.
• Paying for unwanted coverages – Sometimes, you are unaware or not so clear about your needs and end up taking additional coverages and add-ons. These bring a rise in Insurance premium as well.

Seven easy tips to bring down the cost of two-wheeler insurance

1. Preference for an annual payment of premium – Instead of going for monthly installments for paying a premium, the vehicle owners should opt for annual payment of premium. If opting to pay annually, you might be offered with certain discounts and offers which in turn reduces your insurance cost.
2. Small claims should be avoided – Every Insurance company provides the offer to claim the NCB i.e. No-claim bonus only when no claims have been made throughout the year. So, by avoiding small claims throughout the year you can claim a lucrative bonus at the end of the year.
3. Wise purchase of add-ons – Selection of add-ons should be made wisely. Comprehensive Insurance policy offers along with it several add-ons like the Personal accident cover, Roadside assistance coverage, Daily cash allowance cover etc. So, it is advisable that instead of purchasing all the add-ons that are available you should select the ones which you need.
4. Selection of the right coverage type – Selection of the right coverage type is essential in order to bring down the Insurance cost. Third party coverage or the comprehensive policy, you can choose according to your requirements. If you are a regular rider then you can opt for a comprehensive policy which offers full coverage. On the contrary, if you are an occasional rider then third-party coverage will be adequate for you.
5. Comparison of plans before buying – With all the Insurance policy activities happening online i.e. from the purchase of policies to renewal, claims etc. it has become a convenient affair. Before purchasing, you can compare two-wheeler insurance online and then depending upon the benefits, offers, your requirements etc. you can select the policy. This will avoid the high cost of insurance.
6. On-time policy renewal – Your insurance policy should not lapse. It needs timely renewal. You should remember the dates of renewal and accordingly, complete the renewal process. Renewal procedure has been made easier by online methods nowadays and can be done easily without any inconvenience. If the policy lapses then all acquired benefits will also go with it.
7. Multi-year Renewal policy – You can choose Multi-year insurance renewal policy over Annual renewal policy because it does not have the limitation of remembering the renewal dates, once renewed the vehicle is secured for 3 years. Since it’s a long term payment you tend to get discounts and also avoid the annual hike on premium.

Hence, if you compare two-wheeler insurance online and do proper research before purchasing your policies then definitely you will be able to get economic two-wheeler Insurance policies.

Talking about urgent monetary requirements, personal loans are the best fit for you. However, there might be moments when the getting personal loans become difficult because of the documentations required for the same. A fastest personal loan lender might as well take 5~10 days in the approval of the loan.

In that case, what if your monetary requirements are urgent and you do not have the time to wait for the loan to get approved by the lender? Loans on credit card can be the solution for the existing trouble of finances on urgent terms. These loans are similar to personal loans but without any kind of documentation and delay as in the case of personal loans. There are many credit card issuing banks who offer loans on credit card.

Interest rate for loans on credit cards

If you are thinking that these loans are just similar to the cash withdrawal facility that your credit card provides then you are wrong. Different from the credit card withdrawal facility, you can get a loan on your credit card for the interest rate that is higher than a personal loan. While a personal loan charges an interest rate between 18%~22% from the borrowers, these cash withdrawal on your credit will charge you the interest rate ranging between, 25%~40%.

Further, loans on credit card are not available to anyone. Those who possess a credit card with high rate of credit can get these loans. So, if you have been using your credit card from quite some time now and are regular in paying off your credit card debts, then it might easy for you to avail these loans.

Loan on credit cards

Many of the banks like HDFC, ICICI and Standard Chartered bank offer loans on credit card to their customers. If you are in a dire need for money with no adequate time to indulge the cumbersome process of documentation, you can opt to apply for these types of loans. For the first step, you should get in touch with your credit card issuing bank about whether it offers the facility of loan on credit card.

If your bank offers the facility, the next step involves that whether you are eligible for the loan or not. In case your bank tells you that you are eligible to avail the loan, you must next ask for what might be the maximum amount of money that you can take home if you get approved for the same. The amount that you can take out will be depending on your credit history, credit card and type of card that you currently have.

While taking out this type of loan, your bank will conduct a strict check on your repayment transactions as undertaken by you in order to finally approve you as the appropriate borrower.

Trading today is a lot faster than it used to be. Back in the day, you would actually have to reach out to a person, talk to him or her, and place your trade. Needless to say, this process took a fair bit of time. This was pretty much the only way to trade back in those days. Now however, things have changed. Because of advancements in technology, you have access to platforms that have resulted in immense ease when it comes to trading. Gone are the days when you would have to pick up the phone, and actually call someone to place a trade. These days, most of it is done online!

While many facets of technology have resulted in the world of trading becoming easier and more accessible to large number of people, perhaps the biggest game-changer has been the ability to trade using a mobile phone. Mobile phones have truly changed our world – they have paved the way for us to track news instantaneously, stay connected with someone pretty much anywhere in the world, and even help us from remote locations. It is this mobility and access that has also paved the way for us to trade on the go with the help of apps made specifically for that very purpose. While there are indeed a plethora of apps available, one of the apps that is very popular with traders these days is the trading app by Edelweiss Wealth Management called ‘Edelweiss Mobile Trader.’

Why Edelweiss Mobile Trader

The first thing is that it is free – there’s no catch here folks, you don’t actually pay for using the app, per se. Yes, there is commission or brokerage charges involved only if you trade, but these are minimal and not something you would hear anyone complain about. In addition to trading, you can check live news, i.e., news about the market and all things related to it in real time. That is something that will help you keep an eye on the major developments faster than you can track the same on TV!

You can also get details on the best performing mutual funds and information about the global markets in addition to in depth analysis of equity and commodity markets through detailed insights. Some of these insights include items such as like 52-week high stocks, 52-week low stocks, FII DII flow, top gainers & top losers in the stock market, etc. You also get access to a dedicated research calls section that provides list of stocks that you can invest in. These research calls are based on thorough analysis done by the experts at Edelweiss who have extensive experience in evaluating investments. It also provides recommendations concerning stock picks, mutual funds, and a ton of other investment avenues.

In many ways, this app has pretty much all that anyone in the world of investing would want. The rich feature set and the ease of use of the app means that anyone using it can control all his or her investments or trades from the tips of their fingers! What more do you want!

App is available on Android & iOS. Download the app by clicking here