Back to Blog How Much Monthly Pension Can I Get From NPS? May 19, 2022 The National Pension Scheme or NPS is a retirement scheme launched by the Government of India in 2004. Initially only available to government employees, in 2009, it was made accessible to Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders, and all working citizens between the ages of 18 and 65 years. You can begin contributing with a minimum monthly amount of ₹500 or an annual lump sum payment of ₹6,000 (NPS tier-1 account) under this scheme. The NPS offers monthly pay-outs after one’s retirement so they have a means of income during those years. While calculating the monthly pension, many confuse NPS with the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS). In reality, both are different and use different methods for pension calculation. For example, EPS pay-out is determined using a fixed formula. It factors in your service period, salary at the time of retirement, and a few more. On the other hand, the amount and type of annuity investment are crucial in the NPS calculation formula. Factors Influencing the NPS Pension Payout The three key factors that impact your NPS returns are: NPS contribution amount Unlike EPS, NPS does not put restrictions on the maximum contribution amount. Thus, you can earn a higher amount as pension during your retirement, with higher monthly contributions in your working years. Return on investment When you choose NPS, your funds are invested in different asset classes: equity, corporate bonds, government securities and alternative investment funds. The scheme allows you to allocate your funds in these asset classes based on your risk appetite. In case you opt to allocate more of your funds towards equity (maximum 50%), the expected rate of return on NPS investment will be higher. Annuity factor An annuity is a crucial factor when calculating your returns from NPS. Once you attain the age of 60 years, you will have to invest at least 40% of your accumulated corpus to purchase the annuity. However, you may opt for a higher investment depending on your budget. Remember, the higher the annuity investment, the higher the pension and vice versa. You can purchase the annuity from the NPS annuity provider through which you want to receive a pension. Different Types of Annuities Available Under NPS There are a total of five different types of annuities available with NPS. They are: Annuity for life plan with ROP (Return of Purchase Price)Joint life annuity plan with ROPFamily income plan with ROPAnnuity for life plan without ROPJoint life annuity plan without ROP Among these, you can choose the annuity plan that is most suitable for you and your needs. Each of the annuity plans come with their own salient features and it is important that you understand that the same annuity will not work for different people with different investment needs. If you are still confused about the NPS return rate, you can use the National Pension Scheme return calculator. To sum it up Here are some things you should keep in mind when you want to invest in NPS. First, the NPS investment and annuity plan return determine your pension amount. Second, none of the factors mentioned above are under one’s control. So, the best you can do is use the NPS calculator online and invest sensibly and reap the benefits of a pension. Featured Posts NPS Calculator: A Complete Guide to Planning Your Retirement SmartlyWhat is an NPS calculator and how do you use it to plan your retirement?NPS Retirement Plan: Building a Corpus for Your Future? How can it help?7 Key Benefits of Investing in the National Pension System (NPS)Planning to Register for e-NPS? Avoid These Common Mistakes
Back to Blog NPS and Annuity: Everything to Know May 18, 2022 The National Pension Scheme (NPS) is a government-backed pension plan available for public, private, and unorganized employees. It is a voluntary plan that matures at the age of 60. At maturity, you can withdraw 60% of the scheme’s value in a lump sum and cater to your immediate financial needs. However, the remaining 40% has to be used to purchase an annuity plan. If you are using or wish to use NPS for your retirement financial security, there are some things you must know about NPS annuity plans. What is Annuity in NPS? As stated above, 40% of your scheme’s value must be used to buy an annuity policy at maturity. An annuity is a legal agreement between you and your service provider. As per the contract, you pay an upfront amount to purchase the plan, and receive a regular income for the rest of your life or the chosen term. How to Choose the Best Annuity Service Provider in NPS? In order to ensure that you get the best annuity policy for your hard-earned savings, there are many Annuity Service Providers (ASPs) in India that you can choose from. Each ASP can offer unique features. They also add returns to your fund’s value that are given to you along with your regular pay-outs at the chosen intervals. You can select the best annuity plan for NPS out of the available options per your preference and needs. What is the Current Annuity Rate in NPS? The annuity rate in NPS can differ for each annuity service provider. It also varies as per the type of plan and the value of the annuity. However, you can visit the official government’s NPS website to find out the latest interest rates at the time of purchase. What Types of Annuity Plans are Available under NPS? The precise annuity features can be different for each annuity service provider for NPS. However, you can pick from one of the following plans: Annuity for life for the subscriber: This type of annuity plan offers a regular income to the NPS subscriber for life. Post-death of the annuitant/subscriber, the plan terminates automatically. Annuity with life for the subscriber with the return of purchase price: This type of plan offers a regular income to the NPS subscriber for life. Post the demise of the annuitant/ NPS subscriber, the nominee or legal heir of the annuitant can claim the entire amount used for purchasing the annuity plan. Annuity with life for the subscriber with the return of purchase price on the diagnosis of a critical illness: This type of annuity policy offers a regular income to the NPS subscriber for life. Additionally, the annuitant can claim the entire annuity amount to cover the medical expenses of a critical illness. However, if the annuitant is not diagnosed with a critical illness during the policy term and passes away, the nominee or legal heir can claim the entire amount used for purchasing the annuity plan. Joint-life annuity for subscriber and secondary annuitant with return of purchase price: This type of plan offers a regular income to the NPS subscriber for life. NPS annuity after the death of the primary annuitant/ NPS subscriber is given to the secondary annuitant of the policy. After the death of the secondary annuitant, the nominee or legal heir can claim the entire amount used for purchasing the annuity plan. Benefits of NPS Annuity Plans Here are some benefits of NPS annuity plans: An annuity policy can offer regular income post-retirement. An annuity plan helps to secure the spouse and legal heirs of the NPS subscriber. Annuity plans are low-risk, so there is no fear of losing money. Each annuity service provider for NPS offers add-ons and benefits that can help to increase the fund’s value over time. Conclusion When it comes to choosing an annuity plan with NPS, make sure to compare your options and pick the best annuity service provider. This is an excellent way to secure your retirement as well as offer your spouse and dependents adequate funds in your absence. Featured Posts NPS Calculator: A Complete Guide to Planning Your Retirement SmartlyWhat is an NPS calculator and how do you use it to plan your retirement?NPS Retirement Plan: Building a Corpus for Your Future? How can it help?7 Key Benefits of Investing in the National Pension System (NPS)Planning to Register for e-NPS? Avoid These Common Mistakes
Back to Blog Mistakes to Avoid to Grow your money through SIPs May 12, 2022 One of the most common methods of growing your wealth is through a Systematic Investment Plan or SIP. As the name suggests, an SIP means saving small sums of money over a period of time, which ultimately results in you ending up with quite a large corpus. An SIP is one of the most convenient investment vehicles that lets you accumulate a considerable amount of wealth in the long run. In order to ensure that you make the most of your SIPs, and grow your wealth to its fullest potential, there are a few basic things that need to be taken care of. Let us discuss some of the common mistakes made by investors that you need to avoid to make the most out of your SIP. Do not set unrealistic goals One of the most important things to consider when making an investment decision is to set a goal. Having a definitive goal will give you clarity on several factors, like the tenure of your investment, the number of instalments you have to pay, the target amount, and the time it would take you to fulfil your goal. Having goals that cannot be monetized within the given time frame makes the goal unrealistic, which can harm your goals and lead you to make investment decisions that are not right for you. Setting a goal that is achievable and suitable for you according to your income and tenure will help you choose the right SIP. Increase your SIP investment amount It is always advisable to make investments in an SIP, or any investment, for that matter, based on your income. It is also important to increase your contributions as your income and surplus increase year on year. As you move ahead in your career, your income increases, which results in a better, more expensive lifestyle. Over the course of time, it is crucial to ensure that your investments also increase along with your expenses so you can maintain the same quality of life. Increasing your SIP contributions over time ensure that your corpus grows and you are able to derive the maximum benefit through compounding and reap the maximum possible returns on your investment. SIPs & market fluctuations It is always advisable that you invest in equities in the long term. Equity funds perform the best when there is a long-term timeline along with a proper target amount. However, the market is meant to be volatile and market fluctuations are a part of the investment journey. You should never cancel your SIP during periods of market correction since it can have a negative effect on your investment. While planning your SIPs, you should have a somewhat flexible timeline that lets you accommodate for market fluctuations. During the ups and downs of the market, remain patient instead of cancelling your Systematic Investment Plan. Review your SIP performance Investing in an SIP is one of the first steps of your investment journey. Therefore, you need to monitor the investment from time to time, to ensure that your long-term goals are in sync with your SIP. It is important for you to review your SIPs to help you understand which of your mutual fund schemes have performed according to your expectations and which haven’t. If you find that one of your schemes has been underperforming for the last 18-24 months, you may choose to exit the scheme. Furthermore, if you monitor your SIPs periodically, you also get an idea of how to rebalance your portfolio depending on your asset allocation. Invest early You can invest in an SIP at any point in your life, but it is advisable to start investing as early as possible. Investing early ensures that you get the chance to accumulate a higher corpus, and have a high wealth ratio. Even if you have a lower contribution margin, provided you start early, you have the chance to maximise your returns through the power of compounding. The power of compounding ensures that your principal earns returns, and your returns earn returns. The earlier you invest, the more time you leave for your principal to compound. Have a disciplined approach When investing in an SIP, it is important to understand that you have to remain invested until the investment tenure is over. In case you choose to leave the SIP, you may not be able to fulfil your financial goals. Therefore, it is important to be disciplined when making contributions to the SIP. Before you start your investing in your SIP, you should decide on an amount that is feasible for you, after you meet your regular financial obligations. You can use an SIP calculator to estimate if an SIP will be able to fulfil your investment needs based on your budget, your risk tolerance and the tenure of your investment. It is important that your investment amount is not extremely high, leaving you enough room to navigate your regular expenses. Following these easy, but important steps ensures that you make the most out of your SIPs. However, always understand that these investments are subject to market risks, and you should always consult your financial advisor before making a financial decision. Featured Posts How Technology Is Transforming Asset ManagementMutual Fund Software for Distributors: Explained!Understanding the Key Responsibilities of Mutual Fund DistributorsWhy Mutual Fund Software Is Essential for MFDs and Asset ManagersThings to Avoid While Choosing a Mutual Fund Software
Back to Blog How does determining your investment objective indicate your risk profile? May 9, 2022 All investments carry with them a disclaimer that states that returns are subject to market risks. Investing in the market carries with it a certain element of risk, and you must understand these risks before you make any financial decision. While it is important to make investments to fulfil your financial goals, it is crucial that you understand the risks to avoid any mistakes that may set you back. Your risk profile indicates the kind of investment vehicle you should choose, and your investment objective determines your risk tolerance. Let us first understand what a risk profile is, followed by how your investment objective can determine the risk profile you’re a part of. What is a risk profile? A risk profile can be defined as your willingness or tolerance toward taking risks. Creating a risk profile is an imperative process towards determining the right investment asset allocation in your investment portfolio. It enables you to identify the acceptable amount of risk that you can endure. In this particular case, risk refers to your tolerance to market fluctuations and volatility. If you’re looking for your principal investment amount to not decline, and are willing to let go of potential capital appreciation in this process, you have a low willingness to take on market risks, and hence have low risk tolerance. On the other hand, if you desire to make the highest possible earnings from capital appreciation, and are willing to take the chance that your principal investment amount may decline if a particular investment may not pan out, you have high risk tolerance. Your ability to take risks is determined by reviewing your liabilities and assets. If you have more assets than liabilities, you can take more risk, and vice versa. However, your will to take on risks and your ability to sustain them might not always match up. For example, you may have a lot of assets, but are of a conservative nature, and showcase a low desire to take on risks. In this case, the ability and the willingness to take risks are different, which affects the portfolio construction procedure. Now that we have a fair idea of what a risk profile is, let us understand the factors that determine your risk appetite. Factors that dictate your risk appetite Prior Experience: Just like you become better at a sport, or any other task with practice and experience, you gain more experience as you continue investing in the market. Your knowledge of investment products, market trends, your last portfolio, and its performance are all key factors that are included in your past experience. These experiences make you a veteran investor and can impact your risk appetite. Present Scenario: Your present age, financial liabilities, income sources, and engagement levels are key determinants of your risk tolerance. If you’re a young investor with no financial liabilities, you can have high risk tolerance. On the other hand, if you are a middle-aged man with a family, you’re unlikely to take heavy risks with hopes of high returns. Investment objectives: The most important factor that determines your risk appetite is the reason why you started your investment journey and why you’re continuing the same. How does determining your investment objective indicate your risk profile? You can begin investing for a plethora of reasons, and every reason has a different mode of investment suitable for fulfilling the objective. From wanting to go on an international vacation, to buying a car, to a retirement plan, everything can be a reason to start investing. Depending on your investment objective, your risk profile can be indicated. For instance, if you’re starting your investment journey to create a stable retirement plan, it is unlikely that you will undertake huge risks and be an aggressive investor. In this case, you would rather invest in funds that provide consistent market returns despite any fluctuations. What are the types of risk profiles? There are three broad brackets in which risk profiles can be categorised into. Based on this categorization, you can identify which profile you come under. Conservative: A conservative risk profile indicates an investor with a low risk tolerance. If you’re a conservative investor, you will be inclined towards investment methods that are safe and protect your principal corpus. Returns on investments are secondary as long as your investments do not depreciate. Moderate: If you’re a moderate risk taker, you tend to strike a balance between risk and reward. You would opt for a high returns scheme on an acceptable risk level, but you’d probably skip anything with extremely high risk elements. Aggressive: This particular risk profile showcases the most willingness towards withstanding market fluctuations, aiming at high returns on their investments. Usually, this profile constitutes veteran investors who are well versed with the market and investing intricacies. Moreover, these investors also have long-term plans, which is why they are okay with absorbing any short-term market fluctuations. All being said, fixing your investment objective can help you analyse your risk profile better, and no matter what risk profile you consider yourself to be, you should always consult your financial advisor before making any financial decisions. 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Back to Blog IPO – Terms that you must know April 29, 2022 Initial Public Offerings, or IPOs, have been on the rise these last few years with a lot of companies going through the process recently. These IPOs have created a huge buzz, and have made a lot of investors curious and willing to invest. Though they are a fairly commonly seen term nowadays, there are a lot of industry terms that can confuse you, or worse yet, make you shy away from an excellent investment opportunity. While it is important to know the market and which companies are launching their IPOs, it is also important to have a basic understanding of the terms that can help you navigate your way around these IPOs. Let’s decode in layman’s terms the commonly used jargon, and hopefully make your IPO processes a little easier. What is an IPO? Short for Initial Public Offering, an IPO is the point where any existing company decides to invite the public to invest in them by buying their shares. The company, thereafter, gets listed on the stock exchange and is open for investment by the public, with its stock being publicly traded. Any company can only ever have one IPO, though a company may issue new shares after its IPO is completed. In case a company that is already listed on the stock exchange comes out with a new range of shares, it is known as a Further Public Offer. Pricing and Book Building The issue/offer price of a share is the price at which a share is distributed to the general public, before they are traded on the stock market and the price fluctuates according to market trends. The process of discovering the issuing price of the shares is known as price discovery and can be done using two methods. The first, is called a Fixed Price Issue. In this method, the price of a share is fixed by the company (with the help of its Lead Manager) and applications for shares are invited at this fixed price. The second method is something called book building, where bids are invited for shares, not at a fixed price, but within a range. The lower limit of this range is called the floor and the higher limit is called the cap. During the bid, you can ask for the number of shares you’d like to have and the price that you are willing to pay for them, within the price band. The actual price is then discovered based on the bids received. What is an Allotment? Allotment, in simple terms, can be defined as the process by which you are given shares upon your application. During the book building procedure, there are three kinds of investors who can make a bid for the shares. The first category of investors are the Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs). These consist of mutual funds, and foreign institutional investors. The next is retail individual investors. Any investor that makes a bid under Rs. 50,000 can be labelled as a retail investor. The remaining shares are offered to individual investors with a high net worth (HNI) and the employees of the company. Depending on how a company chooses to go about its price discovery, there are rules that govern what percentage of shares should be allotted to which investors. For example, if a company chooses a fixed price issue, a minimum of 50% of shares should be allotted to retail individual investors. Once all applications are received and validated, shares are allotted to investors, with everyone who applied getting their allotments in an ideal scenario. When the number of shares applied for is greater than the actual number of shares available, the IPO is said to be oversubscribed. In these instances, shares are again allotted based on prescribed SEBI guidelines. One scenario worth discussing is if an IPO is oversubscribed to the extent that not everyone who applied during the IPO can even get one share. In these cases, final allotment is decided based on a lottery to ensure no preferential treatment. What is a Draft Offer Document? Any company aiming at issuing its IPO is required to file its prospectus with SEBI, which contains all the information about the company. This prospectus also tells you why the company is issuing shares for public investment purposes, along with information about the company’s financial position, and the issuing price of the shares. The Draft Offer Document is first filed with SEBI, at a minimum of 21 days before filing it with the stock exchange. Prior to filing the Draft Offer Document with the Registrar of Companies (RoC), the document needs to be revised with all suggestions from SEBI. What is a Red Herring Prospectus? A Red Herring Prospectus is basically the same as a draft offer document and contains the same information, without the addition of the number of shares being issued and the price per share. The reason for the prices being undisclosed is that a red herring prospectus is used exclusively for book-building purposes. Who is an Underwriter? An underwriter is the entity that picks up the remaining shares at the IPO in case all shares are not subscribed to. An underwriter to an IPO can be a merchant banker, a broker, or a financial institution that has given a commitment to underwrite the issue. In case an underwriter fails to hold up their end of the commitment of picking up the remaining shares, their licences get cancelled by SEBI. Who are Lead Managers? Lead managers are the entities who are responsible for acting as the intermediaries between the company and the investors, with proper validated registration from SEBI. They are merchant bankers who are in charge of the entire issue process. It is a lead manager’s role to certify an issue in accordance with the regulations and carry out due diligence that everything mentioned in the prospectus is correct. Furthermore, they are also accountable for the book-building process, in which case, they are referred to as the Booking Running Lead Managers. Activities that come after the issue, such as the intimation of the allotments and the refunds, are also taken care of by the lead managers. There are never any guarantees that you will get an allotment on subscribing to an IPO. However, it always helps when you’re familiar with the terms being thrown around during the process and will hopefully help your next IPO application be a little easier to navigate. Featured Posts What is an IPO, how do you invest in it, and what should you consider?What is an IPO? Why do companies do it, and how is it important? 5 Important Things to Check Before Investing in an IPOHow to Improve Your Chances of Getting IPO AllotmentIPO vs FPO: Understanding the Difference for Smarter Investing
Back to Blog Demat Accounts – A Beginner’s Guide April 22, 2022 You are probably familiar with the idea of investing in shares and equities, which give you returns on your investment based on market fluctuations. The first thing you’ll need in order to invest in these shares and equities is a demat account. Over the past few years, you may have seen the term ‘Demat Account’ quite frequently, causing you to wonder what they were all about. Let’s try to answer a few basic questions about demat accounts. What exactly is a demat account? Short for dematerialisation account, a demat account is like a bank account, but instead of storing or holding your money, a demat account holds your securities in the form of shares, debentures or bonds. This information is stored in a digital format and acts as an alternative to the physical certificates that were used previously. According to the rules set by the Stock Exchange Board of India (SEBI), in order to invest or sell securities in the stock market of India, it is mandatory for you to hold a demat account, along with a Depository Participant (DP). Depositories and Depository Participants A Depository is an organisation responsible for holding your securities along with facilitating your transactions. These transactions are performed by intermediaries, called Depository Participants (DP), and they act as a bridge between the depositories and the investors. In order to use the services of a depository, you are required to have a DP. What are the different kinds of Demat accounts? In order to understand the market and the kinds of trades that are possible within it, we need to have an understanding of the different types of Demat accounts. Regular Demat Account: A regular demat account is meant for investors that are based in India. A regular demat account is best used when specifically dealing in equity shares. The shares that you buy are stored in the account digitally, and the ones that are sold are removed from the account. There are many depository participants that offer demat accounts, but the charges levied by each may vary. Repatriable Demat Account: A repatriable demat is ideally meant for non-resident Indians (NRI), still want to invest or take part in the Indian markets in some way. These demat accounts allow for NRIs to invest in the Indian share markets from anywhere in the world. A repatriable demat account will need to be linked with a NRE bank account. Note that you cannot hold both a regular demat account and a repatriable demat account at the same time, since they are meant to cater to two entirely different demographics. With a repatriable demat account, an NRI can transfer up to $1 million out of the country in a calendar year. Non-repatriable Demat Account: If you are an NRI who wants to partake in the Indian markets but does not want/have any intention to transfer the funds abroad, a non-repatriable demat account is suited for you. However, you must have an NRO linked to this type of demat account. Trading account vs. demat account While both trading and demat accounts are required for us to be able to invest and trade in the stock market, there are some differences between them. The main difference between a trading and a demat account is that a demat account is responsible for holding the securities and shares in an electronic format, while a trading account is responsible for providing you with an interface that allows you make trades in the stock market, which is primarily buying and selling of shares and securities. Essentially, a demat account can be said to be a storage space, while a trading account can be defined as a transactional interface. How do you benefit from having a Demat Account? A dematerialisation account, or a demat account serves multiple purposes, and brings a lot of benefits for a customer, a few of which are listed below: The information about your securities and shares are held and stored securely in an electronic mediumThe transaction charges associated with a demat account are significantly lesser than its physical counterpart because of not having to pay any stamp dutiesHaving the data stored in an electronic medium ensures speed and convenience during electronic settlementsAll data being digitally stored also means that paperwork is reduced by a large margin in case of securities being transferredThe risks of theft, fraud and non delivery, associated with the certificates in case of the physical medium are eliminatedThe largest advantage of having an electronic medium is the ability to make online investments and sell any number of shares according to your convenience. You can even sell one share if that is what you deem necessary. If you are looking to start your investment journey in the stock market, get a demat account here https://ipo.kfintech.com/ with KFintech. Featured Posts What is an IPO, how do you invest in it, and what should you consider?What is an IPO? Why do companies do it, and how is it important? 5 Important Things to Check Before Investing in an IPOHow to Improve Your Chances of Getting IPO AllotmentIPO vs FPO: Understanding the Difference for Smarter Investing
Back to Blog Factors to consider while choosing a mutual fund April 21, 2022 Money makes money, is an often quoted mantra and investors are willing to do just that, aiming to fulfil their personal financial goals. However, with the number of options available at hand when it comes to mutual funds, it is very important for us, as an investor, to understand the kind of investment we want to make, and the exact mutual fund we want to invest in. Choosing the right mutual fund is a two-step process, and we need to carefully consider multiple factors before we lock in on an option. The two factors that matter the most are our appetite for risk and the reason we’re investing in a mutual fund. Even so, it isn’t a one size fits all solution and the same mutual fund scheme is not perfect for all investors. Considerations before choosing a mutual fund category Let’s take a look at some of the more crucial ones now: Investment Objective: The first, and most important thing to consider before you choose a mutual fund category, is the reason for starting the investment in the first place. The investment can be either short or long-term, depending on our financial aspiration. It can be as short as going on a vacation, or as long as the time it takes for us to retire. The mutual fund category choice we make should depend on the goal we want to achieve with it. Time Horizon: This is the amount of time we want to keep our money invested in the mutual fund scheme. Some funds invest in shorter-dated debt periods than others. If our investment period is more than 5 years, an equity fund is likely the best option for us. For shorter terms, the market can be extremely volatile, which can be more risky, but there is always the chance of higher earnings as well. Risk Tolerance: Tolerance or risk appetite is the limit of risk that we are willing to take against the money that is invested in the mutual fund category of our choice. As of 2015, SEBI issued a mandate for all mutual funds to carry a riskometer that indicates the risk level of a fund scheme. There are five levels of risk, namely low, moderately low, moderate, moderately high, and high. It is always best to choose a mutual fund category whose risk category matches our risk tolerance. Measures to look at when choosing a mutual fund scheme Now that we have discussed the considerations before choosing a mutual fund category, we should also discuss some of the attributes to look at when choosing the best mutual fund scheme for our purpose: Performance Against Benchmark: This is a comparison of a mutual fund scheme’s performance against a standard benchmark, which is usually chosen by the mutual fund house. The investment philosophy of a mutual fund scheme can be said to be guided by its benchmark index. Asset allocations of the benchmark index should ideally be the same as the investment objective of the scheme. For example, the benchmark of a mutual fund with a banking index should be focused on banking stocks. Comparisions against this benchmark will usually reveal whether our fund itself is performing above or below expectations. Performance Against Category: While choosing a mutual fund scheme, it is important for us to compare the performance of that fund against other mutual fund schemes in the same category. Doing this gives us a broad idea of the fund’s performance, and ensures that we have an understanding of the fund before investing. However, such comparisons should be done only across the same type of mutual fund schemes. For instance, a small-cap mutual fund should only be compared with other small-cap funds. Performance Consistency: As already stated earlier, the market is a very volatile environment, and it is critical that we know if a fund performs consistently. Consistent returns are important to ensure that our money does not to go waste, and that we get returns during both market ups and downs. Experience of the Fund Manager: As an investor, we should always be aware of the capabilities of the person who will be handling our finances. It is important to understand how well a mutual fund scheme is being managed by the fund manager. Company Legacy: Mutual Fund investments should always be made in fund schemes that are brought to us by credible financial institutions. Not only does this remove any chances of fraudulent activities, but it also ensures that the fund is consistent, and that our investments are well researched. A poorly selected stock can cause losses, which is why it is imperative that we check the track record of the asset management company. Ratio of Expenditure: While our finances are being managed under the mutual fund scheme, there are some charges that are billed to us directly. There are charges for administration, management, as well as promotions and distributions, all of which are expenses incurred during the running and maintainence of the fund, and are included in this figure. The higher the overhead expenditure, the lower our net returns from the mutual fund scheme. Now that you know what to look for when choosing a mutual fund category or scheme, you should be able to make a more informed decision on your investments. There are a lot of other factors that can influence this decision and it’s outcomes and we always suggest that you consult your financial advisor before making any investment decisions. 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Back to Blog What is the Alternative Fund scenario in India? April 13, 2022 In order to understand the Alternative Fund scenario (AIF) in India, we first need a clear understanding of what Alternative Investment Funds are. An AIF is any financial asset that does not fall under regular investments categories, like debts, equities etc. Any funds that are established in India, and are privately pooled investments that collect their funds from high profile investors (national or international), with the purpose of investing the money in accordance with certain guidelines or policies can be classified as an AIF. Any privately held equity, a hedge fund, and even real estate can be considered to be a form of alternative investment. Since an investment in AIFs is generally manifold higher than an investment in a regular Mutual Fund, they are mostly invested in by High Net work Individual (HNIs). The Stock Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has categorised AIFs into three broad categories, and understanding them should give us a better understanding of the Alternative Funds scenario in the country presently. AIF scenario in the country Since its inception in 2012, AIFs in India have seen unprecedented growth and investments in them have steadily gained a lot of traction, with the number of investors increasing year on year. Furthermore, hedging strategies are allowed to be incorporated into Alternative Funds, unlike mutual funds, where there is no scope for implementing similar strategies. As of 2017, AIFs were regarded as the second most active sector in India. The reason for this high spur of activity within the industry was because of the Indian Government’s allocation of Rs 20,000 Crores to the National Infrastructure Investment Fund. By September of 2020, AIFs managed to raise investments worth a whopping figure of nearly $27 Billion, with a 74.4% compund annual growth rate (CAGR) between the years 2014-20. However, in India, AIFs are not allowed to invite public investors for subscribing to their securities. Instead, they are privately pooled and raise funds specifically using private investment vehicles only. The minimum corpus for an AIF stands at a high $2.7 million, and the same for an angel fund corpus is at $1.4 million. In it’s current state, AIFs can be broadly categorised into three sections, which also showcase their market size. Category I AIF Category I AIFs are funds that operate with the strategy of investing in a startup or venture in an early stage. SMEs or social ventures, which the government considers to be desirable by the society, are a part of category I AIFs. Category I AIFs generally tend to have a positive spillover effect on the economy of the country, due to which SEBI, and the Indian Government, along with other regulators sometimes consider providing concessions and incentives to these AIFs. Under the regulatory framework, Category I AIFs may be sub-categorised into venture capital funds, infrastructure funds, social venture funds and so on. Category II AIF Alternative Investment Funds that have a motive of investing in multiple securities, that comprise both equity and debt, can be put under Category II AIFs. These funds cannot be put under Category I or Category III by SEBI and other regulators, and are not given any particular concession or incentives by the Government for investing in these funds. However, Category II AIFs are the largest component of the Indian AIF industry, and alone makes up for nearly 77% of the same. Close ended funds like private equity funds, debt funds and fund of funds can be considered to be Category II AIFs. Category III AIF This category of Alternative Investment Funds undertake complex strategies and diverse trading methods to get short term returns on their capital. These can be open ended as well as close ended funds, which have the option of making an investment in both listed and unlisted derivatives. Unlike conventional investments, they are less regulated and hence do not have the requirement of publishing their information on a regular basis. However, like Category II AIFs, the AIFs in Category III are also exempt from all forms of incentives and concessions from the government and other authorities. Hedge funds can be said to be an example of a category III AIF. While AIFs raise funds from high profile private investors, there are taxation rules that apply to these funds. Category I and II AIFs are exempt from taxes, and the fund itself does not have to bear taxes based on its earnings. However, the investors, on the other hand have to pay taxes based on their respective tax slabs. Investors have to pay a tax ranging from 10% to 15% based on the holding period, provided there has been capital gained from the stocks. The Category III AIFs fall under the highest tax slab at the fund level, with the rate standing at 42.7%. The investors are given their returns post the deduction of relevant taxes. Featured Posts 5 Common Myths About Alternative Investment Funds in IndiaAlternative Investment Funds: A Complete Guide to Building Scalable Fund OperationsWhy Alternative Investment Funds Are Reshaping the Future of InvestingHow Technology Is Transforming Alternative Fund Management in IndiaThe Growing Importance of Alternative Investment Funds in India’s Evolving Investment Ecosystem
Back to Blog The different types of Mutual Funds April 12, 2022 You may have heard of the term ‘Mutual Funds’ frequently over the last few years, but do you know exactly what they are? Mutual Funds are investment platforms that pool money from different investors, and provide these investors with returns on the collected corpus over a period of time. This accumulated money pool is invested into the equity market by investment professionals, who are known as portfolio managers or fund managers. Fund managers invest your money into various forms of securities, like stocks, gold, bonds and other similar assets, which have the potential to provide satisfactory returns. These returns are then shared amongst the investors proportionate to their investment in the mutual fund. While the crux of mutual fund investments is market returns, they can be classified into various segments, based on their investment goals, and other forms like structure and asset classes. Classification on the basis of structure Close-Ended Funds: Close ended funds are ones which are available for purchase only during an initial offer period. For the purpose of providing liquidity, these schemes are often listed for trade on the stock exchange. Close ended mutual funds need to be sold via the stock market at the prevailing price of the shares. Open-Ended Funds: Open ended funds are those which can be purchased throughout the year. Open ended funds allow you to keep investing as long as you want, without any limits being imposed on the investment amount. Because of the active management these funds are subjected to, open ended funds charge a higher fee when compared to passively managed funds. Since they are not bound to a particular maturity date, open ended funds are the perfect choice if you are looking for liquidity. Interval Funds: Interval funds are a combination of both open ended and close ended funds. These can be purchased at different time periods during the tenure of the fund. During this time, if you are a shareholder and wish to sell the shares, you can offload them to a fund management company that offers to repurchase the units from you. Classification on the basis of asset class Equity Funds: These are funds which provide high returns, but also come with high risk. Equity funds invest in company shares and are linked to the stock market, which is why returns may fluctuate. Money Market Funds: Money Market funds invest in liquid instruments like Treasury Bills (T-Bills). They are moderately safe and good for you if you are looking to gain immediate returns. The risks associated with these kinds of funds are credit risks, reinvestment risks and interest risks. Debt Funds: As implied by the name, Debt funds invest in company debt instruments like debentures, and other fixed income assets. They are safe investment platforms and deliver fixed returns. Balanced or Hybrid Funds: These funds combine both equities and debts, however, the proportion invested in each varies between funds. Both the risk and returns are balanced out in a similar fashion. Investments are done in a mix of different asset classes. Classification on the basis of investment goals Income Funds: These funds are primarily used to invest in instruments providing a fixed income. The main motive of income funds is to provide you with a regular stream of income. Growth Funds: Growth Funds primarily invest in the equity market with the aim of gaining revenue from capital appreciation. These are subject to market risks, and are beneficial if you are looking to make high returns on your investments. Liquid Funds: These are very short term investments that provide you with high liquidity. While they are low risk investments, the returns from liquid funds are moderate, and good for you if you have short timelines. Capital Protection Funds: Capital protection funds are invested in a split between equity markets and income instruments with a fixed return. The motive of making the split investment is to protect the principal amount invested by you. Tax-Saving Funds: With high risk and high returns, these funds primarily invest the capital in equity shares, which qualify for deductions under the Income Tax Act. Pension Funds: These funds have the aim of providing you with regular returns on your retirement after a long investment period. While they are mostly hybrid funds, they have low but stable future returns. Fixed Maturity Funds: These funds invest in the debt market instruments which have a similar maturity period as the fund. While it is definitely beneficial to be aware of the forms of mutual funds and align these with your financial goals, you should also know about the risks associated with each and consult your financial advisor before making any financial decisions. 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Back to Blog What is POP? How do you know your NPS POP? March 30, 2022 The National Pension System, or NPS is a retirement and social security plan introduced by the Government of India in 2004. Though initially introduced for government employees only, it was made accessible to all Indian citizens in May 2009. With the NPS, money invested is pooled together to form an investment fund. This investment fund is then reinvested by professional fund managers who are vetted by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. Investments are done in the equity market in a diversified portfolio that comprises government bonds, bills, corporate shares and debentures. You can decide how much of your investment goes in to equities, but it is capped at a maximum of 75%, making the NPS a relatively safer investment plan, and suitable for building a stable retirement corpus. On retirement, you are allowed to withdraw 60% of the corpus as a lump sum, which is non-taxable. The remaining 40% is used to purchase annuities which provide you a monthly return as pension. Since the government has made the NPS available for all citizens of the country, there is now a need to provide everyone with a method that can be used when people want to operate, change or track their NPS accounts. This is where Points of Presence, or PoPs, come into play. What are PoPs? Points of Presence, or PoPs, are service providers present all across the country to ensure that you are able to operate your NPS account smoothly without any hindrance. PoPs are also appointed by the PFRDA, forming a network of branches, which are known as PoP Service Providers (PoP SP). Apart from providing you with facilities like opening a Permanent Retirement account, and being able to contribute to your NPS fund, PoPs also serve a plethora of other purposes. What are the functions of PoPs? The primary function of a PoP, or a PoP SP, is to enable you to register a Tier I or a Tier II account, as per your convenience. A PoP is responsible for accepting your duly filed Composite Subscriber Registration Form (CSRF) and verifying the form for your date of birth, bank, details of the scheme and the nominations. The PoP also serves the purpose of verifying your customer documents as per existing, prescribed norms. A PoP is also responsible for collecting your NPS Contribution Instruction Slip (NCIS) along with your application form, ensuring that mandatory and relevant details are given by you in your NCIS. They also remit the funds, after deducting their charges and taxes, to the Trustee Bank within one banking day from the date of your application. While you submit your NCIS, the PoP shall also perform the due diligence of checking your Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN), along with your payment details and other documents. Your contribution details are then uploaded to the Central Recordkeeping Agency system bank in correspondence to your PRAN. A Point of Presence also serves the purpose of changing your personal details as per your requirement, within one banking day of your application. You can also change your investment scheme or your fund manager, through your PoP, if you are not happy with the performance of your fund. In case you are unhappy with the overall performance of your NPS account and choose to withdraw your account, the PoP will facilitate it on the same day, provided your application is processed within banking hours. In case your application is processed after banking hours, the same is processed the next banking day. Your PoP SP is also responsible for changing your location and issuing prints of your account statement, as and when needed. In case you lose your PRAN card, you can also apply for another one from your PoP. In case you have any grievances pertaining to your National Pension System account, you can submit them to your respective PoP, which would then receive and upload the same on the Central Grievance Management System (CGMS) of the CRA. In short, all services that are prescribed by the PFRDA are provided by the PoPs or the PoP SPs. How do you know your PoP? In case you have difficulties locating a Point of Presence close to you, you can check your transaction statement, if you have one, and it should have your PoP listed. You can also locate your closest PoP by clicking here https://nps.kfintech.com/index/allcitizens/ If you are looking for a suitable solution to a stable retirement plan, you can choose to go with NPS with KFintech CRA, by clicking here nps.kfintech.com Featured Posts NPS Calculator: A Complete Guide to Planning Your Retirement SmartlyWhat is an NPS calculator and how do you use it to plan your retirement?NPS Retirement Plan: Building a Corpus for Your Future? How can it help?7 Key Benefits of Investing in the National Pension System (NPS)Planning to Register for e-NPS? Avoid These Common Mistakes