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Mutual Fund investments: 5 ways to invest in the bull market

A mutual fund means a fund established in the form of a trust to raise monies through the sale of units to the public or a section of the pubic under one or more schemes for investing in securities, money market instruments, gold or gold related instruments, real estate assets and such other assets. In case of a first-time investor in mutual funds, you need to formulate an investment strategy to diversify your investment which may help to generate long term risk adjusted return. A stock market on the bull run seems an exciting moment to invest, but one needs to be patient while investing in the market.

You can follow the following strategies while investing in mutual funds when the market is high.

1. Review your portfolio: When you initially constructed a portfolio, the markets must have been quite different. Currently, you may be cautious of market behaviour. This is a good time to assess your mutual fund investments and make a comparison of the mutual funds. If you have been investing in equity funds, you can transfer some of your mutual fund investments to debt funds to protect mutual fund investments from volatility.

2. Goal evaluation: It is essential to revaluate one’s goals at regular intervals. Newer goals will help you to invest your money efficiently. If you were an aggressive investor in the past, now you can follow a slightly conservative policy. Your mutual fund investments should be in line with your financial goals. Make a comparison of various mutual funds and choose a mutual fund based on the terms and risk profile of the goal.

3. Stick to SIPs during market high: Investors who are not aware of the market dynamics should go in for systematic investment plan(SIP) in mutual funds. When one invests a certain amount in a fund at regular intervals, one buys more units when the price is lower and lesser units when the price is higher. This is called the ‘rupee cost averaging’ method.

You can use a mutual fund calculator which is a financial tool that helps you calculate the returns from the mutual fund investments. You can thus determine the maturity value of an investment if you invest a lump sum amount or use the SIP route.

4. Choose funds as per your investment profile: Financial goals and risk tolerance should be the priority of every investor. It is essential to invest as per your risk profile and market levels should not hinder your financial goals.

For example: if you invest in mutual funds aiming to finance your retirement years after around 25 years, a sudden spike in market levels should not stop you from investing. You should keep investing in whatever funds you have invested in.

A mutual fund calculator is important because you can calculate the returns based on assumed rate of returns on investments.

5. Do not try to time the market: Every investor has done this at some point. Not only does it result in missed opportunities, but can also lead to wrong choices that hamper the growth of your portfolio.

Finally, be lion-hearted and invest in the market. The rise and fall in stocks is fundamental to market behaviour. A good financial advisor can come up with a good investment plan that can help you to create wealth in the long term.

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Should You Invest in SIPs when the Market Is Rising?

As a new investor if you wish to invest in mutual funds or make new investments to achieve your financial goals, then you would have wondered if this was the right time to invest in SIPs.

Investors generally believe that if they invest in rising markets, they will earn lower returns because further growth may be limited.

The meaning of SIP in mutual fund is that you invest a certain amount at regular intervals on a weekly, monthly, quarterly or bi-annual basis.

Any time is a good time to start investing through an SIP in mutual fund meaning as long as you invest regularly despite the market conditions. Timing the market can be a meaningless activity as it is challenging to predict market behaviour.

Investing via SIP in mutual fund means timing the market becomes futile and you can focus on ‘time in the market’. When you invest in SIP meaning investment, you acquire more mutual fund units when prices are low so when the market rises, it results in higher returns. When prices are high you acquire fewer mutual units when prices are high. This lowers your average investment cost over a period. However, one should note that investing in SIP are subject to market risk and do not assure a profit or returns or protection against a loss in a downturn market.

It is important to consider the following factors to get the best out of your investment:

1) Select worthy schemes

Different mutual fund schemes have different investment strategies, objectives, risk profile, etc. Select schemes that meet your financial goals, risk profile, and investment objective. Also consider qualitative parameters like the efficiency of the mutual fund house’ systems and processes, the fund management team, and portfolio characteristics. Once you have determined your requirements, select the mutual fund scheme by examining risk-reward parameters. Do not be fixated on the fund’s past performers because past performance is no indicator of future returns.

2) Invest the right amount

Though the mutual fund scheme is good, you could fall short of reaching your goal, if you do not invest a sufficient amount. The amount to be invested regularly will depend on your desired corpus as well as the investment goal. Use an SIP calculator to calculate returns to be earned on the investment amount meant to receive from SIPs. You should adjust the investment amount for inflation.

3) Ignore the market noise

Erratic market conditions can make investors nervous about investing further. You may decide to stop or redeem your SIP investment whenever the market turns volatile. However, you can partake of the benefits of SIP investment meaningfully only if you invest regularly despite the market conditions.

If you stop SIP or miss instalments, you might forgo the advantage of compounding and thus miss your investment target. Therefore, it is important to continue investing till you meet your goal.

To conclude

Keep in mind that equity investments take time to grow. In case of SIP, give each instalment sufficient time to grow and generate long term risk adjusted returns. As you start approaching your goal, gradually reduce your equity exposure to invest in a more stable and less risky investment avenue, such as debt mutual funds and bank deposits.

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6 Fun Activities for Seniors with Limited Mobility

Old age is an inevitable part of life and as we grow older, we experience at least some loss of mobility. This occurs for a variety of reasons, including chronic medical conditions, diminished balance and even certain medications. When that happens, activities and hobbies they used to enjoy might now be too difficult.

When ageing brings physical challenges for a senior loved one, creative activities can brighten his or her life. As caregivers, we aim to provide the best elderly care possible to our senior loved ones; and loss of mobility doesn’t mean that we can’t help them have a good time.

Unfortunately, loss or lack of mobility can also have mental and psychological consequences, so this makes it even more important that we – as elderly caregivers – encourage them and help them indulge in activities that are suitable for them.

Despite reduced mobility, your loved one can capitalize on the intact faculties. Some hobbies boost cognitive function, dexterity, flexibility, and muscle tone. Here are ways to keep your loved one delightfully engaged.

Reading
Reading is a fantastic activity for older adults. It’s a fun way to spend time and keep the brain engaged. It can also improve memory, reduce stress, improve sleep, and delay cognitive decline. Whether your older adult likes reading physical books, magazines, using an e-reader, or listening to audiobooks, they can immerse themselves in a well-told story, look at photographs, or learn about an interesting new topic. Organizing a book club among their friends is another way for seniors to enjoy reading and socializing.

Enjoy Some Brain Games
Books of riddles, quizzes, word searches, sudoku and arithmetic logic are available at many bookstores. They provide endless hours of entertainment and fun; they are also inexpensive. Sit with your senior loved one and work on a riddle or word search together to inspire them. These kind of games also boost mental health and sharpen the mind, thereby making older adults more alert and aware.

Exercise Regularly
Even if your older adult isn’t very mobile, there may still be exercises they can do to get their bodies moving. Whether they’re sitting or standing, they can still get the health and mood benefits, especially from chair exercises or chair yoga routines. There are also exercise routines that can be done using a walker for stability or just focused on the feet and ankles to reduce swelling.

Get Creative
There’s at least a small spark of creativity in all of us and this doesn’t change as we get older. All things artistic are ideal for those with restricted mobility and deliver plenty of health-boosting benefits. From crocheting and colouring to knitting and whittling, making and creating is a positive and productive way to while away some hours. Getting in touch with your artistic side and learning to do something new can help boost self-esteem, create a sense of accomplishment, reduce stress and stimulate cognitive function.

Visitors
Companionship is one of the most important things for an elderly person. Ask family members and friends to drop by and spend some time together with them. You can even ask their friends to come and visit from time to time or take your senior loved one to visit them. Doing this, helps eliminate feelings of loneliness and isolation and makes them happy.

Herb Gardening
While it may be difficult for your loved one to tend an outdoor garden, who says they can’t do it indoors? Herbs are a great thing to grow indoors, especially if your loved one has a sunny windowsill for them to sit on. Pick up a few of your loved one’s favourite herbs at a garden store along with a pot or window box and some soil to replant them in. Together you and your loved one can get your hands dirty replanting the herbs. What’s also great about herbs is that they need to be watered and tended to very regularly, which will give your loved one something to do every day!

Senior citizen care doesn’t always have to be about medications and doctor/hospital visits. There are things that are sometimes way more important and that is keeping your elderly loved ones happy and mentally and emotionally well. Elderly caregivers need to encourage their loved ones who have reduced mobility to indulge in these activities and can even give them company by joining in!

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