A guide to investing in annuity plans Guaranteed income during retirement is something that many people dream of. Hence annuity plans have many takers. An annuity is a contract between an individual and an insurance provider in which the former will make a lump sum payment and will get a steady income after retirement. Since pension plans are less common for employees in the country, annuity plans are preferred by many. Annuity plans can also be used to cover specific goals such as principal protection, legacy planning or long-term care costs. Annuity payments are mostly based on your life expectancy. In annuity plans, you don’t need to pay insurance premiums for an indefinite period. After a predetermined period, the annuity plan will start paying you back. The premiums can be paid as a lump sum amount, or monthly, quarterly or annually. Immediate annuity plans are also possible in which you will get payments immediately after you buy the plan. In such plans, you will need to pay a lump sum amount and start getting income after one month to one year. An immediate annuity calculator will help you decide how much you need to pay at once to get a steady income later.

The most profitable small business ideas in the country Small businesses are the best way to start a career in the business domain. These are more profitable than other businesses. Small businesses are also considered the backbone of the country, as they generate employment for millions of people across the country. Moreover, small businesses have less overhead and expenses, which make them economical to run. However, the hard fact is that not all small business ideas excel. Some are more successful than others. Even though your idea might be good, it can fail in the market if people are unwilling to buy your product. So to succeed in the business, you should have a perfect idea that will be loved by all; only then will you be able to generate good revenue and grow your business. There are many small business ideas to start building your company. Once you know the right product, there is no looking back.If you are looking to start a small business, this article will help you select the best small business to start your career with. What is a small business? As per the definition, a company that employs less than 500 employees comes under the small business category.

A guide to starting a small business from home Are you thinking of gaining financial independence? Have you always thought about utilizing your free time at home better? Well, if the answer is yes, you can start a small business right in the comfort of your home with your own ideas. Continue reading for some exciting small business ideas, their benefits, and tips on running a small business successfully. What are the tips for starting a small business at home? Find a mentor : It is true that you are the boss of the small business that you start at home. However, you do require professional advice and help every now and then to achieve the desired growth and development of the business. So, you need to find a mentor who can provide you with all the help and guidance you require. Know your industry/field well : Before starting your small business, make sure you know the industry inside out. You must know the competitors, the target audience, and the ways to succeed. Put your skills to the best use : You must think of ideas, a concept, a product, or a service for your small business, which can put your knowledge and expertise to the best use.

An overview of exchange-traded funds and mutual funds Two common pieces of financial advice, which few people follow, are having a diversified portfolio and investing in stocks. Only about 17% of people in the country listed stocks as the ideal way to invest money they don’t need for a while, whereas 30% cited real estate, and 23% preferred investments in cash. Research shows that stocks fair much better in comparison to cash investments as well as real estate. Investing in stocks may be a little confusion as compared to buying a house or saving cash in the bank. However, there are two ways to invest as well as diversify your portfolio, namely, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds. Below is some information to help you understand ETFs as well as mutual funds, the benefits, and more. What are ETFs? Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a pre-selected collection of bonds and funds that you can buy or sell through a brokerage firm on a stock exchange. An ETF trades like a common stock on a stock exchange, which is in contrast to the traditional mutual funds . As the ETFs are bought and sold, they undergo price changes throughout the day. This type of funds own assets, such as bonds, oil futures, shares of stock, gold bars, foreign currency, etc., and divide ownership of these assets into shares.

A guide to investing in mutual funds Investors in the country often turn to mutual funds and/or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for their financial goals and to save for retirement. Although both these funds have similarities, they have their set of differences. Understanding both help in better investments and a diversified portfolio. Mutual funds are investments made using money that is collected from various investors. These funds are collected for investment in a number of securities including bonds, assets, stocks, and instruments of money markets. Mutual funds are wisely managed and operated by official money managers. They allocate the investment of the funds and attempt to produce a huge capital amount or income for the funds raised by the investors. The portfolio of various mutual funds is constructed and maintained such that it conveniently matches the objectives of the investments. Mutual funds best suit the individuals who wish to invest even a small amount of money. Best mutual funds give its investors an access to professionally controlled portfolios of bonds, securities, and equities. Every shareholder proportionally gets to participate in the various losses or the profits of the mutual fund. In case you are planning to invest your hard earned savings in mutual funds then make sure to compare the 10 best mutual funds and then make a wise choice.

Top 10 dessert recipes for winters Dessert being the last course in most cuisines around the world, it is crucial to get it right. It is the concluding meal and needs to be delicious to create a lasting impression. The name dessert is supposed to have originated from the French language. It is usually a sweet food, like cake, jelly, cookies, pudding, ice-cream etc but the definition can be stretched to include savories like cheese, almonds, nuts, etc. It can be served as warm, hot, chilled or frozen. Desserts need not necessarily be solid either. Desserts can be both healthy and delectable depending on its ingredients. It can boost your physical and emotional wellness in multiple ways. And desserts are not for summer alone. There are hundreds of dessert recipes which you can prepare at home during the winter season. Let your choice be sweet or sour or even a little bit of spice, there is no dearth of options in desserts to suit your taste. Are you looking for the best winter dessert recipes? Compiled below is a handpicked list of the top 10 dessert recipes to try out this winter. Why you should eat desserts in winter? Desserts are good for health if you choose the ones made out of healthier ingredients.

15 Best Creamy Pudding Desserts of All Time After enjoying a scrumptious meal, every individual craves for creamy pudding desserts. To ascertain the perfect end to every meal, it is essential to prepare dessert recipes when hosting a party or a barbeque. However, there are many individuals who do not have the time needed to bake sumptuous dessert dishes. If you were facing this problem so far, no need to worry any longer as you have the option of cooking fuss-free recipes that do not take much time. Weight watchers need not be uneasy either. Consuming sugar is not wrong as long as you know your limits. People simply love the sight of delicious and lip-smacking desserts. There is absolutely nothing wrong with trying homemade dessert recipes that are both healthy and delicious. What are the 15 best creamy pudding desserts of all times? Creamy chocolate pudding made from the perfect blend of cocoa, sugar, rice flour, cornstarch, and salt. Sweeten your menu for the season with chocolate mint delight which is a velvety chocolate pudding made of crushed sandwich cookies, whipped cream and peppermint candies. Salty and sweet, the salted caramel popcorn pot pudding is a decadent dessert that is served in specific pots.

Index funds – What are the Benefits? Index funds are types of investments similar to mutual funds that are in a customized and structured portfolio to closely track the performance in the bigger stock markets. Index funds are also known as ETF (exchange traded funds). Index funds are remotely managed by portfolio managers who track the performance in the markets. There are numerous ways to invest in stocks and choosing from the huge list is challenging and risky. A lot of research is required to eventually make the decision of investing in stock markets. An Index fund is a tried and tested option to invest in stocks and obviously easier than any other. These investments and funds are easier and cheaper to manage. What are the types of funds for investing? There are majorly two types of funds- Actively managed : In this type of funds, the investment is managed actively and requires more finances for tracking the performance of the stocks. Actively managed funds generally struggle to reach their target set for the benchmarks. These types of funds need a research team for management of funds which results in higher maintenance costs for the investor. Index Funds: This type of fund requires minimal management as they are tracked passively.