Planning For Intermediate-Term Financial Goals

PPFAS Long Term Value Fund is advertised with a tagline: Only for “truly” long term investors!  The funds scheme document states, “Investors should note that this scheme is suitable for investors who have an investment horizon of minimum 5 years”. Unfortunately,this can give investors the wrong notion that ‘long term’ implies duration of 5 years…

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Debt Mutual Funds vs. Fixed Deposits: Volatility Simulator

This simple Monte Carlo simulator gives you the probability of a debt fund, with variable annual returns, outperforming a fixed deposit. If you are thinking about investing in a debt mutual fund, but are worried about fluctuating returns (volatility) – especially after the recent crash in bonds, this tool could answer a pertinent question: What…

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XLFinplan – Excel based Personal Financial Planning and Wealth Management Application

XLFinplan is an extraordinarily comprehensive Excel based financial planning application developed by Satish Mistry of Money Care Financial Planning Services. This commercial software has many interesting applications that will be useful not only for financial planners but also for individual investors. I requested Satish to send me a write up of the main features of…

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Mutual Fund Returns Comparison: Direct Plan vs. Regular Plan

It is now seven months since direct mutual fund plan were introduced. Using NAV history of HDFC Top 200, I have calculated the actual difference in returns between the regular-plan and direct-plan (growth option) obtained so far (Excel sheet attached). Let use recall that regular funds will have a higher expense ratio than direct funds. …

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Use of Monte Carlo simulations in Financial Planning

This is a guest post by Jitendra Kumar, Sr.Business Analyst- Fiserv. Mr Kumar is a certified financial planner. His additional qualifications include MBA and Certification in Investment & Portfolio Mgmt. (IIMB). He is also a certified associate of  the Indian institute of bankers (CAIIB).  ~~~~~ Traditional Financial Planning works on certain assumptions on returns, risk, inflation, savings growth…

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Before applying for a BIGGER home loan and buying a BIGGER house, read this

“This is a guest post from Abhinav Gulechha.  Abhinav is a Certified Financial Planner and writes at www.sohamfp.com. Views expressed are personal.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In today’s credit-driven economy in which we live, one can buy anything provided you have the income to support it. Owing to an easy availability of home loans and rising salary levels, it…

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