Know how to use systematic transfer plans & learn about the benefits of PPF

 Moneycontrol News

The equity market held firm this week amid uncertainties remain both in the domestic and global fronts. Investors must be uncertain on which way the markets would move. During such times, mutual funds remain the most preferred mode to take exposure to equities at these high levels.

While Systematic Investment Plans (SIP) are one of the most preferred ways to invest in mutual funds, another good option could be to choose the Systematic Transfer Plan (STP). While under SIP your money gets transferred from your bank, STP allows your money to be systematically transferred from one mutual fund scheme to another. Thus, an investor can put a lump sum amount in liquid funds or ultra-short term fund & transfer a fixed amount into another fund monthly or quarterly.

This regular transfer of funds from one fund to another fund is called STP. Know all about how you can benefit from STP in our story: Here’s how to gain from Systematic Transfer Plans
While investing in equities and mutual funds has its own benefits and can act as good options for creating a corpus for retirement, one of the most preferred retirement savings instrument is the Public Provident Fund (PPF). Any citizen can open a PPF account, including parents and guardians for their minor children. Over the long period of accumulation that PPF allows one to build a good corpus since there is a compounding benefit. Read more here to know some of the salient features of PPF account that makes it one of the must-have instruments in your financial portfolio.

Staying on the theme of retirement, we tell you in our story the steps you should during your retirement years to ensure that the money you accumulated lasts you the distance. With life expectancy on the rise, you need to have savings and investment income to see you through your entire life.

The festival season has begun and soon the winter travel season will approach. Many of us like to buy a ticket for an overseas jaunt. However, if you choose to travel you might need to use your credit card for purchases. There are advantages and disadvantages of using your credit card abroad.

Read our column 'Travelling Abroad? 5 crucial things to know while using credit card' to know some crucial things while using that plastic card abroad.