How to choose the best Liquid Mutual Fund

How to choose the best Liquid Mutual Fund

by | Apr 12, 2021 | mutual-funds

Health Insurance
Liquid funds are best for those who are looking for short-term investment avenues. Instead of keeping it in a savings bank account, you can invest that recent bonus which you received in a liquid fund. In this case, you want to know the parameters of choosing the best liquid mutual fund. Also understand if there are limitations of the scheme.

PARAMETERS TO HELP CHOOSE THE BEST LIQUID FUND:

  • Returns & Fund house checks: Past Performance of the fund and the track record of the AMC has to be checked. The long term track record of the AMC need to be given attention. Choose a fund house with a consistent fund history/performance/return record for the last 5 to 10 year.
  • Securities details: It will be good to know the portfolio break-up in terms of the type of securities. The ratio of CBLOs, commercial papers, treasury bills, certificate of deposits, bonds with residual maturity of less than 91 days. This shows the true liquidity of the liquid portfolios.
  • Credit Rating: Highest rating is AAA. Higher credit rating denotes less chances of default, hence less risky.
  • Portfolio Allocation: Liquid funds have nearly zero marked-to-market component hence credibility of the issuers in the portfolio has to be looked at.Scheme’s portfolio and instruments in which allocation has been done has to be checked.
  • Average Maturity: Liquid funds invest in instruments which mature within 91 days. Lower average maturity indicates that the fund is holding more cash, which in turn gives less return on capital gains.
  • Objective of the fund: There are different plans like growth plans, daily dividend plan, weekly dividend plans and monthly dividend plans. Plans have to be chosen based on your risk appetite & fund requirement.
  • Costs: Liquid funds charge a fee to manage your money called an expense ratio. Analyse least expense ratio with consistent fund returns.

LIMITATIONS OF LIQUID MUTUAL FUNDS

Costs: Some mutual funds have a high cost associated with them. Depending on the fund, the expense ration can be significant. Different funds have different expense ratios and need to be checked.

Dilution: Diversification has an averaging effect on your investments. While it saves you from suffering any major losses, it also prevents you from making any big gains! Therefore, major gains get diluted. That is why it is recommended that you do not invest in too many mutual funds.

Any financial decision has to be an informed one, where all the details need to be read and understood. Mutual funds are subject to your risk appetite and financial goals. Liquid funds pose as a good investment for those who have idle cash for a short time span.

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World Health Day 2021, Theme of World Health Day

World Health Day 2021, Theme of World Health Day

by | Apr 6, 2021 | whd

World Health Day 2021

WCRD-2021

Every year April 7 marks the celebration of World Health Day. From its inception at the First Health Assembly in 1948 and since taking effect in 1950, the day is aimed at creating health awareness on various critical issues. 

Over the past several years, Consumer VOICE has been relentlessly working on critical health areas – from harmful effects of tobacco consumption to health hazards related to transfats. 

With Covid-19 hitting us badly, it is important ’for us as consumers to take care of our health both as a curative measure and preventive measure’ as rightly pointed out by Mr Ashim Sanyal, Consumer VOICE.

This World Health Day therefore serves as a reminder for all of us to avoid unhealthy foods, foods that are high in sugar, salt and fats which are actually a major cause of non-communicable diseases. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and hypertension have crept quietly in our lives and are here to stay. It is therefore imperative for us to know about the nutritional content of ultra-processed foods that are highly loaded with HSSF (High Salt Sugar Fat) components and have fewer foods contributing to a ‘balanced diet’.  This can be possible to a certain extent with Front of Pack Labeling. Globally many countries have already implemented the  Front of Pack Labeling  system and studies have proved that they are effective in the reduction of consumption of HSSF foods. consumers taste buds will also have to change but it’s better than suffering from non-communicable diseases than to indulge in such food habits. This article of Consumer VOICE COO is a reassertion of  FSSAI’s slogan “Thoda Kam” which should remind us that as consumers, we need to be a part of the harm reduction process as mere regulations will not solve the problem. 

Events

Twitter Chat

Webinar on Prevention & Control Of Avian Influenza & Covid 19 For Consumers

MDR

MDR

by | Apr 2, 2021 | banks

Health Insurance

Consumer VOICE, launched a report highlighting the need to rationalize Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) to boost digital financial inclusion. The report provides consumer and industry perspective on the government-led policy reform to implement zero MDR. The report delved upon different critical aspects of the digital payments ecosystem and suggests measures to increase the sustainability of the payments model.

Click here to read the full report

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More than 60 per cent of loose edible oil in market is adulterated: CGSI

by | Mar 26, 2021 | loose edible oil

More than 60 per cent of loose edible oil in market is adulterated: CGSI

The Consumer Guidance Society of India (CGSI) has informed that sample tests conducted recently indicate that 64 per cent of loose edible oil sold in the market is adulterated.

“To test the quality of loose edible oil, we collected a total of 291 samples in 100 gm/ml quantity from various shops sold to consumers in plastic pouches and containers across the city,” CGSI chairman Sitaram Dixit said. He said samples of loose edible oil were sent to a designated laboratory to test for poisonous and harmful adulterants.

“All edible oil samples were checked for its iodine value and refractive index to confirm whether the oil was genuine or adulterated,” Dixit said. As per the test results, more than 64 per cent of loose edible oil like sesame oil, coconut oil, groundnut oil, mustard oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil and soyabean oil is adulterated with inexpensive palmolein.

Digital Literacy Initiative

Digital Literacy Initiative

by | Mar 25, 2021 | Campaigns

Digital Literacy Initiative

OVERVIEW

The Anne Fransen Fund (AFF) of Consumers International was founded in 1988 following the death of Anne Fransen, the first director of Consumers International member organisation, Consumentenbond in 1981. The main aim of the fund is to promote and support the growth of consumer organizations in developing countries.

Consumer Voice was one of the seven Consumers International members that promoted the protection of consumers around the globe through the funding provided by the AFF2017.

Consumer VOICE trained a group of consumer activists on digital economy who will then carry the mission forward.

CAMPAIGN FOCUS

The overall objective of Digital Literacy Initiative is to empower the vulnerable consumer group on digital issues so that they may effectively explore the opportunities provided by digitally empowered knowledge economy. ‘Be safe yet be digitally empowered’, is the message that is given through the project. Some of the important goals of Digital Literacy Initiative include:

  1. To create a cadre and network of trained digital consumer activists
  2. To empower vulnerable consumer groups by imparting digital literacy
  3. To help consumers address their digital complaints
  4. Empower the trained group to reach out to others where constant help and updating from the project will be of assistance.
  5. Target a cross section of the community in a limited pilot phase and then tie up with a large corporate like Google / Microsoft / to take the initiative forward.

CHALLENGES

  • Empowering the vulnerable section who have very limited knowledge of computers, with digital tools was a challenge
  • Designing ToT modules for maximum reach across all sections

OUR STRATEGY

For the pilot project we chose National Capital Territory of Delhi which includes New Delhi and urban areas surrounding it in neighbouring states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan as it is one of India’s world’s largest agglomerations, with a population of around 5 crore.  We chose the project area due to factors like the largest number of targeted consumers, lack of digital literacy, and high rate of cyber crimes. Apart from this due to our presence and strengths in NCT, there are more chances of creating maximum impact in given budget and time.

The following steps were taken to implement the project:

A WELL TRAINED GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WERE CREATED THROUGH A TRAINING OF TRAINER (TOT) MODEL

A single day ToT workshop for consumer activists (30 in all) were trained on digital issues where intensive training on issues related to handling of digital devices and safe internet usage were imparted.

DEVELOPED AND DESIGNED TRAINING MODULES FOR TOT & DIGITAL LITERACY CAMPS CONSUMER

Consumer VOICE created digital literacy awareness material and dedicated pages on social media platform to maximize reach and ensure engagement of all stakeholders.

ORGANISED DIGITAL LITERACY CAMPS ACROSS DELHI NCR FOR WIDER REACH

Consumer Voice organised six Digital Literacy camps across NCR with different categories of vulnerable consumer groups such as youngsters, women, and elderly. The purpose of these camps is to make them digitally literate to boost their confidence to join the digital economy and society.

ASSISTED CONSUMERS REGISTER THEIR COMPLAINTS RELATED TO DIGITAL ISSUES

Consumer Voice helped consumers in redressal of their complaints related to digital issues. This was a continuous activity and continued even after the project duration.

Consumer VOICE implemented this project with the help of local partners for on-field activities. Government and regulatory agencies were involved to advocate for better policy decisions and strict enforcement and monitoring mechanism.

IMPACT

  • Empowered vulnerable consumers to effectively engage digitally in their daily activities
  • Formed a team of digital activists through the ToT model to carry the project forward

CAMPAIGN UPDATES

Digital Literacy

Digital Literacy India is one of the fastest growing economies of the world. Digital literacy is almost non-existent in a country where 25-30% of the population are illiterate. While India boasts being the world’s second fastest growing mobile market, it is lagging...

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