Tuesday 20 November 2012

Role of Electronic Social Media in the Business Sector



In today’s modern age of Information Technology, Electronic Social Media has a Major Role to play in almost many sectors of life. Even the sector of Business and Economy has now felt the need to use this powerful tool of Electronic Social Media. This form of media consists of Social Websites be it Social Networking Sites like Face book, Twitter and Google+ or even Digital Media Sites like YouTube and Flickr.

Face book was the site which made Social Networking very famous over the Internet. Nowadays, many company websites open their Face book Account to reach out to people over the World that too in minimum time, thus saving costs. They open a Group Profile for sending and accepting Friend Requests for expanding their network.  They also launch a Fan Page from the same account for displaying their posts publicly so that even those Internet Users can view the posts that are not Registered Members of Face book. Only the Registered Members of Face book can give their likes to the Fan Page.

Twitter is a Social Networking Site where people or Companies open their accounts and can then gather Followers and also be following others’ posts. Private Messaging is possible amongst Twitter Members who follow each other. Twitter Posts are known as Tweets and have a restriction of 140 Characters. People can make their own or others tweets as Favorite and can also publicly subscribe to anyone’s tweets.

Google Inc has also launched its own Social Networking Site known as Google+ which is open for all Google Email ID Holders only. Here, people can add each other to their Circles made under different categories. People can give a +1 to each others' posts. Here, people have to make their Individual Profile and after that they can also make a Website Profile pointing towards a Website, Company, Product or Service. People have the option to share their posts publicly or privately amongst their G+ Members.

Thus, we can say that Electronic Social Media has made Electronic Commerce alias E-Commerce even more powerful in the field of Information Technology, especially in Developing Economies like India.

Friday 31 August 2012

Real Estate - A Lucrative Sector for Business & Investment



Real Estate can be defined as a kind of business or as a tangible asset. Now as a tangible asset, it can be defined as a property which can only consist of land or a land which also has houses and buildings built over it. These are all real and immovable things and thus the name Real Estate is given to it. Now as a business, Real Estate can be defined as the profession, where the buying, renting or selling of land and housing is involved. Real Estate is a very lucrative and promising sector for people to earn money, especially in Developing Nations like India.

There are many advantages of Real Estate. This is a sector which is usually free of external economic factors like Recession as Land & Property are things which are always in huge demand due to rising population. Real Estate is also a very safe Investment Option as compared to the riskier Stock Markets Sector. Usually, the price value of a property increases with time, just like wine gets richer in its content the more old it gets.

There are some disadvantages of Real Estate as well. Inflation is an economic factor which at times shoots up the prices of a particular property and if it’s not located at a favorable place then this can affect the sales of that property. It’s so as buyers alias customers in Real Estate want a good Return on Investment (ROI) even in Real Estate just like other Investment Options. Improper Land Acquisition Policies followed by any Real Estate Developer can also hamper the price value and reputation of a property like land or any establishment like buildings and bungalows.

Real Estate involves putting a huge amount of money into buying a Real thing like a flat, bungalow or land instead of Conceptual things like Shares. This is the reason that a buyer should properly investigate about the past & present of a land, its area, infrastructure and other essentials involved with it. Now taking online help from Real Estate Sites and Reputed Real Estate Consultants is also very important. After all, Real Estate is a serious business and not a matter of joke for individuals, families and organizations.

Monday 30 July 2012

Mutual Funds - The Safer Portion of Equity Investment


Apart from Stock Shares, Mutual Funds are another aspect of Equity Investment, where equities are in the hands of private individuals.  Mutual Funds are usually considered as the Safer Portion of Equity Investment.

Mutual Funds can be defined as a professionally managed Investment Program which is funded by shareholders and it does trade in diversified holdings. Like Stock Shares, even Mutual Funds have their own pros and cons. Now being part of Equity Investment, even Mutual Funds may not give total guarantee of all time fruitful monetary profits so even over here careful & planned investment is recommended by various market experts.

In Mutual Funds, money is taken from various investors and is invested in Stock Markets on the behalf of the investor(s). Mutual Funds hold various numbers of companies so even if one company’s value falls in the market, then also an investor does not lose all the money.  An investor has to sell or purchase Mutual Funds from the Funds House itself. Mutual Funds cannot be sold or bought from another investor like it happens in Stock Shares.

An Investor may have to pay annual expense penalties for early withdrawal of Mutual Funds which makes this option of Equity Investment a bit rigid similar to Bank Fixed Deposits in Safe Financial Investment. Various Financial Consultants and websites over the Internet provide detailed explanations regarding Mutual Funds. Now it’s totally up to the Investor to decide whether he or she wants to go for Stock Shares or Mutual Funds in Equity Investment with some part of the earned money.

Saturday 30 June 2012

Stock Shares - The Risky Portion of Equity Investment


In today’s time of Modern Financial Investment Methods, many people want to invest their money into Equity Investment also, apart from Savings Investment like Bank Fixed Deposits. Equity Investment can be defined as the buying and holding of Stock Shares by any individual or organization done in return of earning income from Dividends when the Market Value of that particular share will rise. Mutual Funds are another aspect of Equity Investment, where equities are in the hands of private individuals.  Mutual Funds are usually considered as the Safer Portion of Equity Investment.

In Developing Economies like India, there is a huge scope for Equity Investment in Stock Shares. The Four Major Metropolitan Cities of India which are New Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay) and Chennai (Madras) have got their dedicated Stock Exchange Office Buildings. There have been some Stock Share Scams in India in the past many years which has resulted the Union Government of India to set up a Stock Market Regulator for trying to prevent such scams by the name of Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Investment in Stock Shares can be fruitful or loss worthy as this is a Financial Sector which is prone to external factors like Recession and Financial Policies of a nation’s Union Government. An organization or individual should not only take ample advice from a reputed Financial Consultant but also do some personal research of the Stock Markets, Economic Climate and the company’s Financial Condition, whose stock shares are to be bought.
 
Many Financial Experts in India and rest of the World feel that it would be wise to invest some amount of our income into Equity Investment, be it Stock Shares or Mutual Funds for better Financial Gains. Such steps can help our money from becoming stagnant and this may help us in growing our income positively.

Wednesday 30 May 2012

Indian Railway Budget, Balance Sheet of the World’s Largest Democracy’s Railway System


The Railway Budget of India can be referred to as the Annual Financial Statement of the Indian Railways. The Railway Budget is presented in the Indian Parliament by India’s Union Minister for Railways, every year usually two days before the General Budget in February. The First Railway Budget of Independent India was presented by Mr. John Mathai in November of 1947.

In the year 1924, India’s Railway Budget was separated from the General Budget [Please see 2nd Paragraph of this blog article: http://businessfinancialplan.blogspot.in/2012/03/general-budget-of-india-balance-sheet.html]. The people of India have been taking interest in the Railway Budget since after Independence as it brings along information about the Changes in Train Fares, be it Passenger or Freight Rail Services. It also gives information about the various Railway Projects from the past and also about their future plans. The projects can be Track Doubling, Track Gauge Conversion, Track Electrification or introduction of new routes.

The Railway Budget of India also acts as a Balance Sheet which describes the Annual Earnings and Expenditures made by the Indian Railways. It also announces the list of various trains which will be introduced, the extension of existing trains and increase in some train’s frequencies. The Rajdhani Express, Shatabdi Express and Duronto Express are examples of some Superfast Train Services which have been announced and then introduced during various Indian Railway Budgets over the years. The Kolkata-Amritsar Superfast Express which runs between Kolkata Chitpur Terminal (KOAA) and Amritsar (ASR) is one train as an exception which was converted from a Duronto Train to a Normal Superfast Train just before its inauguration.

           Thus, it can be concluded that the Railway Budget of India is a hefty but important aspect for the smooth functioning of the Indian Railways. Ultimately, it’s the Ministry of Railways which frames the Indian Rail Budget in consultation with the Railway Board of India.

Saturday 19 May 2012

Bank Fixed Deposits, a very safe option for Financial Investment


A Bank Fixed Deposit also known as an FD is a facility provided by banks in Asian Nations like India to its account holders. An FD provides a higher interest rate as compared to a normal Savings Account to bank account holders, until a fixed date of maturity. A separate account’s creation in a bank only depends upon the particular bank’s rules and policies for availing the Fixed Deposit Scheme. Banking is a system of money saving and transactions which was believed to be started by the Egyptians. This system brought along with it modern tools of handling money like Fixed Deposits or Recurring Deposits in terms of schemes and cheques or drafts in terms of cash alternatives.
          There are various advantages which a Bank Fixed Deposit provides to its bank account holders. Some banks can provide loan to FD Holders against their Fixed Deposit Certificates at interest rates which are competent. A Fixed Deposit Investment in India is usually considered safer than a Post Office Account Money Deposit as it’s covered under the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Scheme of India. An FD Scheme is also said to provide benefits in taxes like Income Tax.
          There are some disadvantages of a Bank Fixed Deposit for its investors also. FDs don’t always guarantee good interest rates as banks may provide lesser interest rates if a nation’s economic conditions are unsteady. Investors can’t withdraw money from a Fixed Deposit before maturity which makes an FD’s nature a bit rigid as compared to a more flexible Recurring Deposit.
          Thus, it can be concluded that a Bank Fixed Deposit is till today considered as one of the safest options for investing money, especially in Developing Economies like India. Ultimately, it’s an option which people can safely go for rather than the more risky financial system of Stock Equities consisting of Shares and Mutual Funds.

Tuesday 13 March 2012

General Budget of India, Balance Sheet of the World's Largest Democracy



The General or Union Budget of India is also referred to as India’s Annual Financial Statement, according to Article 112 of the Constitution of India. The General Budget is presented in the Indian Parliament by India’s Union Minister for Finance, every year on the last working day of February. The First General Budget of Independent India was presented by Mr. R.K. Shanmukham Chetty on 26th November, 1947.
            During the British Rule in India, the Railway Budget and the General Budget were presented together. It was in the year 1924 that both the budgets were separated. They were separated as the Indian Railways started turning into a Huge National Network Organization to itself so it required a separate budget, which could deal with Expenditure on Infrastructure and Coming up Fiscal Years & also on Operating Revenue, Passenger and Freight Tariffs & also Investment on Infrastructure. According to the Separation Convention on the recommendations of the Acworth Committee 1924, the Railway Budget is presented to the Parliament by the Union Minister for Railways, two days before the General Budget, usually around 26th February.
            There are some advantages of conducting the General Budget. By this exercise, the Central Government of India can try to gain control over unnecessary and necessary expenditures while planning its Fiscal Deficit. The General Budget also acts as a kind of Balance Sheet for the Central Government separating the Assets from the Liabilities, while planning National Economic Policies. It also helps the Union Ministry for Finance to formulate Tax Benefits and Proposals towards Individuals & Companies, which includes both Public and Private Enterprises.
            There are some disadvantages while framing the General Budget as well. This exercise is at times very Time-consuming to carry out. This exercise becomes more cumbersome to handle especially when the surrounding environment is very unstable like that during times of a National Emergency or Unstable Central Government.
            The General Budget is a complex and lengthy document which is prepared by the Senior Officials of the Union Ministry for Finance and the Planning Commission of India. Then the Budget Speech Papers are taken by the Union Minister for Finance and are presented in the Parliament House. The General Budget has to be passed by the House, before it can come into effect on 1st April which is the beginning of India’s Financial Year.
 Thus, it can be concluded that the General Budget of India is a complex but important aspect in increase or decrease of commodity prices & taxes for Indians. Ultimately, it’s the mirror towards the Growth Story of the Republic of India to attain 9% Gross Domestic Product alias GDP.

Friday 20 January 2012

BSE Stock Market Trading News and Tips

BSE Stock Market Trading News and Tips

In today's fast pace world, where time is money and people need to handle their finances in an efficient manner, taking Financial Advice at times from Financial Advisers has become very important. An advice given to an individual, family or to an enterprise, on topics like Money Management, Home Loan, Investment, Pension Plan, Personal Finance or Tax Savings, is known as a Financial Advice. It is better to take a financial advice from a well qualified financial adviser, who is well versed in the field of Finance and Commerce. A Financial Adviser is a professional who gives financial services to individuals as well as to businesses. These services can include investment advice which may include pension planning and other financial advice related to topics like mortgages and insurance. Thus, a financial advisor helps the client in maintaining a balance between income from investment, gains from capital and an acceptable level of risk by using proper allocation techniques on assets.
There are various types of financial advice to adhere to. Some of them are Insurance Advice, Investment Advice, Tax Advice and Personal Finance Advice. An Insurance Advice is related to various types of insurance policies like Health Insurance and Car Insurance to name a few. An Investment Advice is related to various kinds of investments like Stock Market Equities or Fixed Deposits in Banks. A Tax Advice is related to the know how of various types of taxes to be paid by an earner or business like Income Tax, Sales Tax, Property Tax and so on. A Personal Finance Advice is related to the handling of an individual's or family's Personal Finances like Household Expenses and Personal Loans to name a few.
There are various advantages of listening to a Financial Advice. Through such advices, an individual or a family can be able to manage their finances and income in a better manner and can be prevented from debt and unnecessary expenditure. The same thumb rule also applies to businesses, as they can also prevent themselves from debt and can move towards profit generation and can maximize their wealth. A good financial advice also helps in bringing discipline in the handling of one's finances, so that there is minimum requirement of taking risks.
There are some disadvantages of listening to a Financial Advice also at times. If a financial advice is followed over the Internet, then it must be followed from a valid and reputed finance based website. If the website is not properly checked, then it may result in the following of wrong or inaccurate financial advice, resulting in financial loses. Even off line, if financial advice is followed from a financial advisor, who may not have a sound knowledge on financial issues, may result in suffering financial losses.
Thus, it's also important to take a financial advice from an authorized and reputed financial advisor to take accurate and useful financial advices. Other forms of media like reputed finance based newspapers, journals and magazines are also to be taken in account for following useful financial advices.

Let's Talk Money - NDTV Social

Let's Talk Money - NDTV Social
A Financial Plan is a set of stages which is carried out and is related to an individual’s or family’s or a business’s financial matters. This technique is derived from the well defined procedure of Financial Planning.
In Personal Finance, a Financial Plan for an individual or a family refers to a set of stages for defining fixed targets related to money expenditure and savings. This kind of financial plan, can be used for allocating money for payment of taxes, daily expenditure and other miscellaneous expenses. Further in Personal Finance, a financial plan can also help in investing of income towards financial sectors like Stock Market Equities or Bank Savings. In Business Finance, a Financial Plan consists of Strategic Planning Procedures like Forward or Future Planning and Financial Year Forecasts of a company. Here, financial documents like Company Balance Sheets and Cash Flow Statements are also prepared.
There are various advantages of creating a Financial Plan. In Personal Finance, it can help an individual or a family in channelizing their money. This is done for meeting future expenditure and planning out further savings for long term financial gains. In Business Finance, it can help an enterprise in prevention of it’s fund misuse and also help in Wealth Generation. It can also help an enterprise in installing confidence within banks and financers, for giving them financial help if required.
There are various disadvantages of creating a Financial Plan also. In Personal Finance, it can take a lot of time of an individual or of an entire family, if the plan is not sorted out in a well defined manner. This plan can only provide a road map for future personal financial planning but can’t provide guaranteed returns of financial gains for a person. This can only depend upon the person’s or family’s lifestyle and spending habits, which can enhance or spoil the personal finances of a household. In Business Finance, it can take a lot of time of an enterprise, if the Strategic Planning Procedures of a financial plan are not carried out in an analyzed manner. This plan can also turn into a liability if a lot of money has to be spent on a financial advisor for making it and ultimately if the end result turns out to be unsatisfactory.
In today’s IT World, various softwares for constituting a financial plan are available on the Internet. Examples of such softwares are Excel Templates which are used as Financial Projection Softwares, Expert Softwares for carrying out Strategic Planning and Tally for making financial documents like Company Balance Sheets and Cash Flow Statements. Some of these softwares are available for free download on the Internet and are known as Free wares, where as some of them are available for download only in exchange of some online payment. Even for Personal Finance, softwares like Microsoft Excel and Access are available for jotting down a financial plan and they don’t need to be downloaded from the Internet.
Thus, a Financial Plan has become an important tool in the handling of Personal as well as Business Finances. It is also the base of a Financial Planning Process.