Found 25 Articles for Personal Finance

Introduction Earning interest from the excess money can be done through a Sweep account. When the customers' account balance gets above the average limit they set, the excess amount gets transferred to a high-interest-bearing money market account. The excess money is automatically swept into the money market account for investment purposes. The amount within the threshold limit gets 4%–6% interest rates, whereas the excess amount invested in the money market gets 8%–9% interest rates. Sweep Account: Definition A sweep account transfers funds into a safe, higher interest-earning investment option at the close of the business day. Sweep accounts lower ... Read More

Introduction When you apply for a credit card or financing or a mortgage the first thing a lender checks is your credit score. In this process what the lender does is called an inquiry. Now when it's an inquiry by a lender it is a hard inquiry or often called hard pull. However, when a person or a company does an inquiry it is called a soft inquiry. There is a major difference between the two. Let us understand what a soft credit inquiry is and how it's different from a hard inquiry. Soft Credit Inquiry: Definition A soft credit ... Read More

Introduction In business and finance, quarter-to-quarter (QoQ) analysis is a useful tool for analysing recent performance and making defensible choices. Metrics or data points from two successive quarters can be compared to spot patterns, gauge growth or decline, and assess the success of different tactics. Financial reporting, forecasting, budgeting, performance assessment, investor relations, and industry benchmarking all frequently use QoQ analysis. It enables data-driven decision-making for sustainable growth and offers insightful information on areas for advancement. Quarter on Quarter: Definition and Explanation Quarter on Quarter (QoQ) is the term used to describe comparing a particular measure or data point over ... Read More

Introduction Organizations may make wise financial decisions and guarantee the effective use of resources for program success by clearly understanding the program budget. We shall discuss the idea of a program budget and its function in financial management in this tutorial. We will look at how program budgets are made, how they are used to allocate resources, and what benefits and drawbacks come with using them. We will also give instances of program budgets from other industries to show how useful they are. Program Budget: Definition A program budget is a financial plan that specifies how money will be ... Read More

Introduction Post office schemes have a variety of investment and savings options made available by a nation's postal service. Post office schemes aim to offer safe investment options, encourage saving habits, and provide financial services to the general population. The accessibility of post office programmes is one of its essential characteristics. People in both urban and rural locations can easily utilize these programmes because post offices are widely dispersed across the nation. Because of this accessibility, many people, including those without access to traditional banking services, can take advantage of the advantages that these programmes have to offer. About ... Read More

Introduction Taking out loans is a convenient way of financing projects or property buying. However, what is the option when you don't need funding of such large amounts. What if you are in need of smaller amounts and that too immediately. This is when a Payday loan comes into picture. Let us understand what a Payday Loan is in detail. Define Payday Loan Payday Loans are short-term loans unlike other loans. As they are short term loans, the rate of interest is higher as compared to other loans. These loans are generally $500 or less depending on your ... Read More

Introduction According to research, the vast majority of cross-border payment management practises are inefficient in terms of both cost and time. Current business practises frequently result in lower productivity, more labour, higher payment fees, and strained relationships with suppliers. However, these issues can be addressed by implementing best practises and software technology to improve cross-border payment effectiveness, such as an advanced global payments system. Cross-Border Payments: Definition Cross-border transactions commonly referred to as international payments, comprise entities that do not reside in the precise same country which can be the payer (the customer) or the recipient (the merchant). Such transactions ... Read More

Introduction Managing assets requires professional experience and legal advice. Discretionary trust is something that offers just that. It like a tree hierarchy where the trustee heads the trust and the beneficiaries follow. The trustee decides the number of beneficiaries this legal arrangement should have. As fiduciary duty is one of the main attributes of discretionary trust, the trustee acts in the best interests of the parties. Meaning of Discretionary Trust A discretionary trust is a legal arrangement in which a trustee holds and manages assets on behalf of beneficiaries. The trustee can distribute income and capital from the ... Read More

Introduction A contribution plan is a retirement plan for working class where the employee, and employer contributes a specific amount to the scheme. The invested money gets accumulated as the contributions progress. The returns on this plan are used for fulfilling individual's retirement goals.       Fig 1: Laying out ideas for Contribution Plan Define Contribution Plan When an individual or employer contributes a fixed amount to the retirement plan, it is said to be a contribution plan. The contributions are invested in mutual funds, bonds or even stocks. These funds are used to fund ... Read More

Introduction Fixed deposits are popular among senior citizens because they are safe and secure. However, there may be better options regarding returns and growth potential. As every person wants a peaceful post-retirement life journey, investing in high-risks can be somewhat a debatable thing. But going with an amalgam of choices that touches upon low-risk, mid-risk and high-risk can be an ideal combination for the investor. Alternative Options to Fixed Deposits for Senior Citizens Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) − Backed by the government, this scheme is specially designed for senior citizens. It offers an attractive interest of ... Read More