CAGRfunds – Blog

As per a recent survey by SEBI, more than 95% of Indians prefer parking their money in Fixed Deposits (FD). Well, if that is true by any measure, then it is only likely that a good number of those FD(s) are maturing every single day. And the looming question is – Should I start another FD?

Before we answer this question, let us look at the various options we have in hand.

Retain it as cash – Unless you have a spending need within the next 7 days, there is ABSOLUTELY no reason to consider this. Liquid funds work best for any spending needs in near future. Idle cash at home is like a bucket of still water. The level only depletes with time gradually.

Start another fixed deposit – Fixed deposit returns have been falling and the extent of our expenses is increasing. Healthcare costs increase by approximately 15% every year. Are the fixed deposit returns still attractive? We would say a big NO to that. Low returns coupled with taxation of returns renders them to be an unattractive investment destination. With easy access to better information, a lot of Indians are now realizing this. Have you awaken yet?

Invest in debt funds – Debt funds are a type of mutual fund which invest in debt related instruments like Government bonds, corporate bonds, commercial paper (CP) etc. The reason a lot of people are now shifting to debt funds is because of better returns and lower taxation possibilities. With the tax net getting stringent, it only makes sense to explore all possible avenues of reducing tax liability. Read more about how debt funds fare better over FDs here

Invest monthly in equity funds – Equity mutual funds are the latest talk of the town. Useful or in-vogue, whatever you call them, they are amongst the very few wealth creating asset classes available to Indians today. A pre decided monthly investment in equity mutual funds can result in double digit returns over the long term. But only and mostly over the long term. And by long term we mean that your money should stay invested for more than 5 years. For example, an investment of INR 80,000 over 18 months (INR 14.4 lakhs) can lead to a corpus size of INR 41 lakhs after 10 years (Assuming annual return of 12%). And that too tax free.

Therefore in conclusion, the best investible options available are debt and equity mutual funds. You can choose either of them or a mix of them depending on your risk profile, return expectations and time horizon.

How do we help?

At CAGRfunds, we assess your complete profile in terms of risk, return and time horizon and accordingly make customized suggestions to you. We ensure that your money gets invested in the right avenues and meets your expectations.

“I do not regret the things I have done, but those I did not do” – Rory Cochrane

I cannot agree more to the statement above. Through a large part of my working 20s I believed that we earn a living to live an enjoyable life in the present. Makes perfect sense. But it was only until recently that I started to think differently. It took a medical emergency in my family to make me realize the importance of financial planning. As I reflect on my past, I realize I made several mistakes, all of which could have been avoided had I thought about the uncertainty that future holds.

Mistake 1: Reckless Expenditure

I never made a budget for my expenses. Spending on anything and everything I ever wanted was my road to happiness. But now I have learnt that it is important to differentiate between what I need and what I want. A careful thought before every purchase we make will uncover the extent of our wasteful spends.

Mistake 2: Inconsistent savings

I never thought about savings. I spent first and then whatever was left at month end amounted to my savings. A recent consultation with a financial advisor coaxed me to take a reverse approach. I now decide the percentage of my salary I want to save and then plan my expenses.

Mistake 3: Saved but not invested

I never looked at money beyond my bank account. Whatever I saved, sat idle in my account, growing only by a meagre 4% every year. As per NSSO data, between 2004 and 2014, the average medical expenditure per hospitalisation for urban patients increased by about 176%. Ever wondered how your bank balance will cater to your future needs? Channelizing our savings into return generating assets is inevitable now.

Mistake 4: No emergency fund

A year back someone asked me if I had an emergency fund. I thought it was a crazy idea to plan for an emergency. But if only such situations came knocking at the door. It is advisable to park at least 6 months of expenses as an emergency fund so that any untoward incidents can be accounted for.

Mistake 5: Excessive use of credit card

My credit card enabled me to defer my payments. So, I seldom had control over how much I was spending. Not to mention, the innumerable defaults I made in repaying my credit card bills. Sometimes, I did not have sufficient money to pay it back and sometimes I just forgot. I now keep just one credit card with a very tight credit limit.

Mistake 6: Got greedy about making quick money in the stock market

My friends used to regularly tell me about how stock market offers opportunities to make quick profits. I saw someone make 30% profit in 8 months and I felt like I am missing out on the rocket to richness. So I immediately invested all my savings in a “tip” I received from one such friend. I had no idea what business that company was in, who managed the company and how did they make money. All I was interested in was my 30% profits. Well, after 3 years, I made a loss of 35%. Anything that is too good to be true, is perhaps not true. Lesson learnt the hard way.

Mistake 7: Got excited about “instant” personal loans

I once got a message that I was eligible for an instant personal loan. I was royally ecstatic. No questions, no checks. I grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Little did I read the footnotes about exorbitant interest rate. Thanks to my financial advisor, I now know the difference between good loans and bad loans.

Mistake 8: Trusted my Provident Fund to be sufficient for my retirement

I had been living under this solemn belief that my PF balance will be more than sufficient for my retirement. No, I did not make any calculations. I was simply assuming that the Government had us covered. But as alarming as it might sound, my PF balance might not cater to even 10% of my needs when I retire. Again, channelizing our savings into return generating assets is inevitable now.

How do we help?

At CAGRfunds, we help you NOT commit any of the above blunders. With a careful analysis of your cash flow and future goals, we tell you how much you need to start saving every month to ensure a comfortable and peaceful future. We also be with you throughout your financial journey to help you manage your financial commitments and make course corrections if required.

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