Personal Finance

Strike gold in times of financial crisis

Posted by : MMB Messenger

There is gloom and depression all over; but these times provide some of the best opportunities to create wealth.

Tax calculation

Posted by : subasu

Of course. That is why every assessee is given a basic exemption limit of Rs. 1,50,000, every lady (resident) Rs. 1,85,000 and every resident senior citizen Rs. 2,25,000.

Do you want more than this! Well, write your suggestions to the Finance Minister! He may give you a parting gift.

guidance pls

Posted by : roshninaath

hi all..

I am having SBI Magnum contra Fund in SIP. Is it wise to continue SIP for another one year or 6 months?

Advice me

Thanks

rosh

taxability of interest on PF

Posted by : Guest

at the time of withdrawal from recognised PF is the interest part taxable

need advice on my plan of investment

Posted by : RANJAN

Go for SIP in HDFC Top 200 instead of HDFC Equity Fund.
Go for Sundaram Select Focus instead of Sundaram Select Midcap.
You can continue SIP in the other two funds. Reduce your SIP amount by 50% in Tata Infra & Reliance Growth and increase your amount accordingly in the two new funds suggested.

taxability of interest on PF

Posted by : Guest

at the time of withdrawal from recognised PF is the interest part taxable

My PF dues are pending. What should I do?

Posted by : karen

I resigned from company A in March 2007. Before leaving, I filled up all PF forms promptly. The HR promised to transfer money soon. It`s been more than a year and nothing has happened yet. I sent them numerous remainders and made many calls asking them about my PF status but they keep evading me. Should I thereaten to take them to the consumer court?

Need help to continue SIP

Posted by : ashalanshu

Dear roshninaath, From ur list,
1. HDFC equity - Stop SIP & divert new SIPs to HDFC Top 200 (A large cap fund)
2. Birla sunlife equity - Stop SIP& divert new SIPs to Birla SL Fr`line Eq. (A large cap fund)
3. Reliance growth - continue
4. Reliance diversified Power sector - sectoral fund, Stop SIP & divert to one of the above mentioned large cap funds
5. DWS investment Opportunities - continue (multicap fund)
6. Sundaram Select Focus - continue (Large cap fund)
7. ICICI Pru power - continue
8. Reliance Vision - Stop, Divert new sip to one of large cap funds
9. Franklin Flexicap - Stop (a multicap fund not performing well) & divert the SIP to Large cap funds.

Thanks

Ashal

life insurance

Posted by : rashmi26

dear ranjan, hi
i am a 40 yr old homemaker and hav 3 kids,aged16,10 and8.my husband is 42.is there any mediclaim policy,which i can opt fr as a family pack.also, the religare policy,u were referring to,means depositing rs3236into20.that means rs64720.aftr 20 yrs will i get rs 20 lakhs.is this policy good or are any bettr than this.
regds rashmi

Should SIP in IDFC premier equity be stopped now

Posted by : vmd74

Dear friends I am investing in IDFC premier equity (G) through SIP since last 10 months Should I continue the SIP or switch to some other fund

5 mutual funds to watch

Posted by : sambala

These mutual funds have been good performers in recent quarters. Keep an eye on them in these uncertain times.


Reliance Mutual Fund: Mammoth Player

Reliance Mutual has a history of letting its funds get bloated in terms of its assets under management, or AUM. And the firm’s culture places a premium on running a big fund.
Ever since it started in 1995, it has rapidly increased its AUM. From being India’s largest private sector mutual fund in 2006, it became the largest mutual fund by 2007. Reliance Equity Advantage fund created history by mopping up Rs2,700 crore in its new fund offer, or NFO, in 2007. This year, Reliance Natural Resources Retail mopped up Rs5,660 crore. Reliance has managed to garner a huge amount of assets because it actively pursues NFOs. It started with the launch of two equity funds, Reliance Vision and Reliance Growth, whose performance in 2002 and 2003 made it a hit with investors.


The asset management company (AMC) has many firsts to its credit among sector funds: banking, media and entertainment, and power. This year, it came out with a Natural Resource Fund. On the debt side, the fund house has good, low expense ratio funds such as Reliance Short Term and Reliance Liquid Treasury.

Though the fund house barely has a presence in the hybrid category, it does have a huge choice in the types of funds, with some good performers.

HDFC Mutual Fund: Star Performer

One of the industry’s sturdiest shops, its performance has been strong over time. Lately, however, it has gravitated towards the back of the pack.

HDFC Mutual’s temperate ways have served it well over the years. It has been a consistent performer, providing a cushion as racier options fell. But investors are disappointed with its performance in the second half of the bull run. Certainly the risk-adjusted returns were not impressive, but it is no cause for alarm. These funds lag the pack when the market’s raciest names lead the charge.

In Prashant Jain, investors have a fund manager who has proved his mettle over various market cycles. In 2003, HDFC Mutual Fund bought out Zurich Mutual Fund to become the second largest fund house in India, inheriting a great equity portfolio, an aspect missing earlier (prior to this, HDFC Mutual Fund was focused on debt offerings.)

The funds’ performances have an enviable track record. The company currently has nine funds with a four-five-star rating. But there seem to be no star fund managers other than Jain. Recently, the fund house has also been losing talent. It seems to have gone on an asset-building spree—surprising, since it always steered clear of the NFO mania. In 2007, it launched a number of funds, including two close-ended equity funds, a mid-cap offering and an infrastructure fund.

ICICI Prudential Mutual fund:Impressive Growth

It’s like having two AMCs under one roof: a large, well-run fixed income one and an average equity one.

This fund house has been quite aggressive in its product launches. In the equity segment, it came out with three schemes this year. It offers a lot of variety to investors.

Unfortunately, its performance in equity does not match up to its debt funds.

From its inception a decade ago, it created history in the fund management industry, reaching the No. 2 position in just five years. But ICICI Prudential is more dependent on institutional investors and debt assets. Out of its asset base of Rs49,371.12 crore, around 28% comes from cash funds and almost 20% from fixed maturity plans, or FMPs. The company is credited with running the largest ultra short-term fund and floating rate short-term fund.


ICICI Mutual Fund was promoted by ICICI and later, US-based investment bank JPMorgan acquired a stake. In 1997, the latter was replaced by Prudential Plc., a British insurance and pension major, with a name change to Prudential ICICI (a joint holding in 55:45 ratio).

UTI Mutual Fund:Needs a performance boost

Only a few of UTI’s funds are great performers but this public sector fund house has advantages its rivals lack. It has a huge base of retail equity investors and a vast distribution network largely inherited from the Unit Trust of India.

In the last few years, UTI slipped from being the largest AMC to being No. 4. However, its asset growth has been robust, if slow. It still has the largest investor base and biggest equity assets besides being, by far, the country’s most profitable fund company. Its conservative approach and stable parentage make it attractive.
Its problem is dragging performance. Recently, it has made an effort to improve, merging several equity schemes and overhauling its approach to equity investment. However, falling stock markets have made it impossible to judge its success. UTI’s top performers are a few index funds, some hybrid funds and its infrastructure funds. Some income funds also stack up well.