VAC: Financial Literacy Semester 1 Notes by Abhishek Kumar Syllabus: UNIT- I Financial Planning and Financial Products (3 Weeks) • Introduction to Saving • Time value of money • Management of spending and financial discipline UNIT- II Banking and Digital Payment (4 Weeks) • Banking products and services • Digitisation of financial transactions: Debit Cards {ATM Cards) and Credit Cards., Net banking and UPI, digital wallets • Security and precautions against Ponzi schemes and online frauds UNIT- Ill Investment Planning and Management (4 Weeks) • Investment opportunity and financial products • Insurance Planning: Life and non-life including medical insurance schemes UNIT- IV Personal Tax (4 Weeks) • Introduction to basic Tax Structure in India for personal taxation • Aspects of Personal tax planning • Exemptions and deductions for individuals • e-filing 1|Page Financial Planning • Financial planning is the process of managing and assessing your finances to achieve your life goals and assets. • The goal of financial planning is to ensure enough money is available at the right time to meet life goals. • Financial goals may include purchasing a car, a flat, funding education, protecting family through insurance, planning for retirement, managing debt, saving taxes, and passing on wealth to the next generation. • The process involves evaluating investments and estimating future needs to create a plan that will help clients achieve their financial goals. Financial planning also includes: • Using a monthly spending plan or budget to keep finances on track • Making decisions about the job and its benefits • Getting the most out of other financial resources, including insurance and employer provided benefits • Saving and investing money • Controlling expenses and staying out of debt • Planning for estate transfer The Need of Financial Planning • Financial planning is necessary to meet one's financial goals, which help achieve one's life goals. • Financial planning involves analyzing one's current situation, including income level, wealth, responsibilities, aspirations, risk profile, ability to save, and lifestyle. • Changes in the Indian financial markets have made financial planning more important due to increased volatility and integration with global markets. • Investment options have increased and now include bank deposits, bonds, mutual funds, equities, derivatives, gold, real estate, and equities of foreign companies, with the universe of options likely to expand further. 2|Page Steps in financial planning: Financial planning is the process of setting financial goals, evaluating an individual's financial status, and developing a comprehensive plan to achieve those goals. The following are the steps involved in financial planning: 1. Assessing the Current Financial Status: This step involves evaluating an individual's financial situation, including income, expenses, debt, assets, and liabilities. 2. Setting Financial Goals: Once an individual has assessed their current financial status, they can set realistic and achievable financial goals. 3. Developing a Financial Plan: A financial plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the steps an individual will take to achieve their financial goals. 4. Implementing the Plan: This step involves taking the necessary actions to put the financial plan into action. 5. Monitoring and Revising the Plan: Financial plans should be reviewed periodically to ensure that they are still aligned with an individual's current financial situation and goals. Financial Products Financial products refer to various types of investment vehicles, insurance policies, and banking services offered by financial institutions to help individuals and businesses manage their finances, achieve their financial goals, and protect their assets. Here are some examples of financial products: • Savings and deposit accounts: These are banking products that allow individuals and businesses to deposit money, earn interest, and withdraw funds as needed. • Credit cards and loans: These are financial products that allow individuals and businesses to borrow money and make payments over time, with interest charged on the outstanding balance. • Mutual funds: These are investment products that pool money from multiple investors to invest in a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and other assets, managed by a professional fund manager. 3|Page • Stocks and bonds: These are investment products that allow individuals and businesses to buy ownership in a company (stocks) or lend money to a company (bonds) in exchange for potential returns. • Insurance policies: These are financial products that protect against potential losses due to unforeseen events, such as life insurance, health insurance, auto insurance, and property insurance. • Retirement accounts: These are investment products that help individuals save for retirement, such as 401(k) plans, IRAs, and pension plans. There are many other types of financial products available, and each product has its own features, benefits, and risks. It's important to carefully evaluate each product to determine if it aligns with your financial goals and risk tolerance. Introduction to Savings Savings is the process of setting aside money for future use. It is an important part of financial planning as it helps individuals to achieve their financial goals. Saving money has many benefits, some of which are: 1. Financial Security: Having savings provides financial security and can help individuals to cope with unexpected expenses such as medical emergencies, car repairs, or job loss. 2. Achieving Financial Goals: Saving money can help individuals to achieve their financial goals such as buying a house, saving for retirement, or starting a business. 3. Earning Interest: Savings that are deposited in a bank account earn interest, which can help individuals to grow their wealth over time. 4. Avoiding Debt: Having savings can help individuals to avoid taking on debt to cover unexpected expenses. 5. Peace of Mind: Knowing that one has savings can provide peace of mind and reduce financial stress 4|Page TIME VALUE OF MONEY • Money has time value because a rupee today is worth more than a rupee in the future due to factors such as the opportunity cost of sacrificing present needs for future goals, inflation, and the need for compensation for risk and returns. • In an inflationary period, the purchasing power of money decreases over time, so it's important to consider the impact of inflation when saving and investing for the future. • The person who saves money will ultimately use it for productive purposes, so they should be compensated for the sacrifice of their present needs through interest or returns. • When lending money to others, there is a risk of default, so compensation in the form of interest or returns is needed to offset this risk. In this topic, various numericals with their calculations are given to enable one to become competent in solving problems on financial mathematics and ultimately in making an appropriate financial plan which will meet the financial needs of the clients as and when the time for this arises. In order to do financial mathematics, one needs to buy a financial calculator — either CASIO FC 100 or FC 200V, but these can also be done on an Excel sheet. The various terms used in financial mathematics are: PV Present value FV Future value Pmt Payment/annuity/cash inflow/cash outflow i Interest rate/discount rate/required rate N/Nper Number of periods Bgn Beginning of the period End End of the period Type 1 for beginning of the period and 0 for end of the period (Excel) 5|Page CALCULATION OF FUTURE VALUE FOR A ONE-TIME INVESTMENT I.E. A SINGLE INVESTMENT The formula for calculating the future value (FV) of a one-time investment (PV) is: FV = PV x (1 + r)^n Where: • r = the interest rate or rate of return per compounding period (usually expressed as a decimal) • n = the number of compounding periods For example, if you invest Rs. 10,000 today for 5 years at an annual interest rate of 8%, the future value of your investment can be calculated as follows: FV = 10,000 x (1 + 0.08)^5 = 10,000 x 1.469 = Rs. 14,690 Therefore, your investment of Rs. 10,000 today would be worth Rs. 14,690 after 5 years at an annual interest rate of 8%. With the help of Financial Calculator In FC–100 or FC–200 or FC–200 V Go to CMPD (compounding) key and feed the values To go to the next step, use the EXE key Here PV (present value or one-time investment) is Rs. 10,000, i is 8% and n is 5 years PV is always indicated as a minus – 10000 PV 8 i 5 n Compute/solve FV = Rs. 14690 6|Page Q. A person borrowed Rs. 1,00,000 at 8% per annum, compounded quarterly. What amount does he have to pay back after 5 years? Solution: With the help of a Financial Calculator – 100000 PV 2 i 20 n Comp FV = Rs. 1,48,594.74 In this case, the rate of interest will be divided by 4 as it is quarterly compounding and the number of periods will be 5 × 4 = 20. The same data will be fed into an Excel sheet to compute future value. When one takes a loan, it will be assumed as PV and in this case one has to make a lump sum payment of the loan with interest at the end of the 5-year term. Q. What amount should be invested now for it to become Rs. 85,000 in 5 years when the rate of return is 9% per annum and compounding is done once a year? Formula PV = FV/(1 + R)^N = 85000/(1.09)^5 = Rs. 55,244.17 With the help of Financial Calculator 85000 FV 5 n 9 i Comp PV = Rs. –55,244.30 With the help of Excel Go to fx, select the category: Financial, select PV and feed the values Rate = 9% or 0.09 7|Page Nper = 5 FV = Rs. 85,000 Formula result is Rs. –55,244.17 Q. Richa invests Rs. 55,000 into a bank fixed deposit which pays semi-annual interest. Richa has given the option of reinvestment. After 5 years the amount becomes Rs. 85,413.31. Calculate the annual rate of interest given by the bank? With the help of a Financial Calculator –55000 PV 85413.31 FV 10 n Comp I = 4.49 or 4.5% Annual rate will be 9% This i will be a semi-annual rate; it will be multiplied by 2 to arrive at the annualized rate. Management of spending and financial discipline: Managing spending and practicing financial discipline are essential for achieving financial goals. Financial discipline is the ability to control your spending habits and make responsible financial decisions. The following are some tips for managing spending and practicing financial discipline: 1. Create a Budget: Creating a budget and sticking to it is the foundation of financial discipline. A budget helps individuals to track their spending and ensure that they are living within their means. 2. Avoid Impulse Buying: Impulse buying can lead to overspending and can derail an individual's financial goals. To avoid impulse buying, individuals should make a list of necessary items and stick to it. 3. Use Cash: Using cash instead of credit cards can help individuals to manage their spending and avoid overspending. 4. Avoid Debt: Avoiding debt is critical for financial discipline. Individuals should aim to pay off their debts as soon as possible and avoid taking on new debt. 8|Page 5. Save First: Instead of spending first and saving what is left, individuals should aim to save first and then spend what is left. 6. Review your finances regularly: It's important to track your expenses, income, and net worth regularly to ensure you're on track to meet your financial goals. You can use a personal finance app or a spreadsheet to track your finances. Review your budget, spending, and investments periodically and adjust them as needed. 7. Build an emergency fund: An emergency fund is a savings account that you can use to cover unexpected expenses, such as medical bills, car repairs, or job loss. Aim to save three to six months' worth of living expenses in your emergency fund. Banking and Digital Payment • Banking involves depositing money into an account, which can be used for making payments, earning interest, and borrowing money. Banks also offer various financial products such as loans, credit cards, and insurance. • Digital payment refers to the use of electronic means to transfer money from one account to another. This can be done through online banking, mobile wallets, and payment gateways. Digital payment is convenient, fast, and secure, and is increasingly replacing traditional cash and check payments. Banking products and services in India are diverse and cater to the needs of various individuals and businesses. Here are some of the most common banking products and services available in India: 1. Savings Account: A savings account is a basic type of bank account that allows individuals to deposit and withdraw money, earn interest on their deposits, and access basic banking services such as debit cards and online banking. 2. Current Account: A current account is designed for businesses and allows them to deposit and withdraw money, make and receive payments, and access overdraft facilities. 3. Fixed Deposits: Fixed deposits are investment products that offer a fixed rate of interest over a fixed period of time. They are popular among individuals looking for a low-risk investment option. 4. Loans: Banks offer various types of loans such as home loans, personal loans, car loans, and education loans. These loans provide individuals with the necessary funds to purchase a house, a car, or finance their education. The interest rates and eligibility criteria for each type of loan may vary. 5. Credit Cards: Credit cards are payment cards that allow individuals to make purchases on credit. Credit card users can repay their debt in full or in part, with interest charged on the outstanding balance. 9|Page 6. Online Banking: Most banks in India offer online banking services that allow customers to access their accounts, make transfers, and pay bills from their computers or mobile devices. 7. Wealth Management: Wealth management services are offered by banks to help individuals manage their investments, plan for retirement, and minimize their tax liability. 8. Insurance: Many banks in India offer various types of insurance, including life insurance, health insurance, and vehicle insurance. 9. Investments: Banks offer a variety of investment products, such as mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and other securities, to help customers grow their wealth 10. Mutual funds: Banks also offer mutual fund investment products where customers can invest in a pool of securities managed by a fund manager. Digitization has transformed the way financial transactions are conducted. Some of the popular digitized financial transactions in India include: 1. Debit Cards (ATM Cards) and Credit Cards: Debit and Credit cards are widely used for cashless transactions. Debit cards allow the cardholder to withdraw money from ATMs and make payments online or in stores. Credit cards, on the other hand, allow the cardholder to borrow money from the bank up to a pre-determined credit limit and repay it with interest. Credit cards also offer various reward programs and cashback offers. 2. Net Banking and UPI: Net banking enables customers to perform banking transactions such as fund transfers, bill payments, and check account balances through the internet. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a real-time payment system that enables instant fund transfer between bank accounts through a mobile phone. 3. Digital Wallets: Digital wallets are mobile applications that enable users to store digital money and make cashless transactions. They can be used to pay for bills, recharge mobile phones, and make online purchases. Some popular digital wallets in India include Paytm, PhonePe, and Google Pay. Security and precautions against Ponzi schemes and online frauds: It is important to be aware of security measures and precautions against Ponzi schemes and online frauds to protect your finances. Some of the measures are: 1. Research and verify: Before investing in any scheme or product, it is important to research and verify its authenticity. Check for licenses and registrations, track record, and reviews from trusted sources. 2. Avoid high returns: Be cautious of investment schemes that offer exceptionally high returns. Such schemes could be a trap for Ponzi schemes. 10 | P a g e 3. Don't share sensitive information: Avoid sharing sensitive information like bank account details, passwords, or any personal information with anyone over phone calls, text messages, or emails. 4. Use secure platforms: Always use secure websites and apps for financial transactions. Look for the "https" protocol and padlock icon on websites before making any financial transactions. 5. Keep software updated: Keep your computer and mobile devices updated with the latest security software, operating systems, and web browsers to prevent online fraud. 6. Use two-factor authentication: Enable two-factor authentication for your financial accounts. It adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to enter a unique code sent to your phone or email along with your password. 7. Stay alert: Be aware of any suspicious emails, messages, or calls claiming to be from financial institutions. Report any such instances immediately to your bank and law enforcement agencies. 8. Use antivirus software: Use antivirus software to protect your computer or mobile device from malware and viruses that can compromise your personal and financial information 9. Be cautious while using public Wi-Fi networks as they are often unsecured and can be used to steal personal information 10. Educate yourself and others about online security risks and ways to protect against them. Stay informed about the latest security trends and best practices By following these security measures and precautions, you can safeguard your finances against Ponzi schemes and online frauds. Investment Planning and Management Investment planning involves the process of identifying investment goals and developing a plan to achieve those goals. Investing can help individuals to grow their wealth over time and achieve their financial goals such as saving for retirement, funding a child's education, or buying a house. Steps in Investment Planning: 1. Determine Investment Goals: The first step in investment planning is to determine investment goals. Individuals should identify their short-term and long-term investment goals and determine how much money they need to achieve those goals. 2. Assess Risk Tolerance: Risk tolerance refers to an individual's willingness to accept risk when investing. Individuals should assess their risk tolerance and choose investments that align with their risk tolerance. 11 | P a g e 3. Determine Investment Options: There are various investment options available such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate. Individuals should research and evaluate different investment options and choose the ones that align with their investment goals and risk tolerance. 4. Develop an Investment Plan: Once investment goals, risk tolerance, and investment options are determined, individuals should develop an investment plan. The plan should include a portfolio allocation strategy, investment timeline, and expected return on investment. 5. Monitor and Adjust the Investment Plan: Monitoring and adjusting the investment plan is essential to ensure that the plan is on track to achieve investment goals. Individuals should regularly review their investment portfolio and make adjustments as necessary to ensure that their investment plan aligns with their investment goals and risk tolerance. Benefits of Investment Planning: 1. Achieving Financial Goals: Investment planning can help individuals to achieve their financial goals such as saving for retirement, funding a child's education, or buying a house. 2. Wealth Accumulation: Investing can help individuals to grow their wealth over time and achieve financial security. 3. Diversification: Investment planning can help individuals to diversify their portfolio and reduce the risk of losing money. 4. Tax Benefits: Some investments offer tax benefits such as tax-deferred growth or tax-free withdrawals. 5. Inflation Protection: Investing can help individuals to protect their investments from the effects of inflation. Investment opportunity and financial products Investment opportunities refer to the various ways you can invest your money with the aim of earning a return on your investment. Some popular investment opportunities include: 1. Stocks: These are shares of ownership in a company. When you buy stocks, you become a shareholder in the company and are entitled to a portion of its profits. 2. Bonds: These are debt securities issued by companies or governments. When you buy a bond, you are essentially lending money to the issuer, and in return, you receive 12 | P a g e regular interest payments and the return of your principal when the bond matures. 3. Mutual funds: These are professionally managed investment portfolios that pool money from many investors to buy a diverse mix of stocks, bonds, and other assets. 4. Real estate: This includes investing in rental properties, REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts), and other real estate-related assets. 5. Cryptocurrencies: These are digital currencies that use encryption techniques to secure and verify transactions and control the creation of new units Financial products refer to the various types of investment vehicles and tools that are available to investors. Some popular financial products include: 1. Bank products: These include savings accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs). 2. Insurance products: These include life insurance, health insurance, auto insurance, and home insurance. 3. Investment products: These include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, futures, and real estate investment trusts (REITs). 4. Retirement products: These include 401(k) plans, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), and annuities. 5. Credit products: These include credit cards, personal loans, and mortgages. 6. Alternative investments: These include hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, and commodities. 13 | P a g e Insurance Planning: Life and non-life including medical insurance schemes Insurance planning involves evaluating your risks and determining the appropriate types and levels of insurance coverage to protect yourself and your assets from financial loss. Factors to Consider: When selecting insurance policies, individuals should consider various factors such as their current and future needs, their budget, and the policy's features, including the premium, coverage, and benefits. It is also essential to review insurance policies periodically to ensure that they continue to meet the policyholder's needs and to make any necessary changes to the policies. Need for insurance: Insurance provides financial protection against potential risks and losses. It helps individuals and businesses manage the financial impact of unexpected events such as illness, injury, property damage, or liability claims. Insurance also provides peace of mind by ensuring that individuals and businesses have the necessary financial resources to cope with such events. Insurance can be broadly categorized into two categories - life insurance and non-life insurance. Life insurance provides financial protection to your family in case of your untimely death. There are two main types of life insurance policies: 1. Term life insurance: This provides coverage for a specified term, typically 10, 20, or 30 years. If the policyholder dies during the term of the policy, the beneficiaries receive the death benefit. 2. Permanent life insurance: This provides coverage for the lifetime of the policyholder. Permanent life insurance policies also have a savings component that grows over time and can be used to borrow against or withdraw from. 14 | P a g e Non-life insurance, also known as general insurance, provides financial protection against losses arising from events like accidents, illness, theft, and damage to property. The most common types of non-life insurance include: 1. Health Insurance: Health insurance provides financial protection to the policyholder in case of illness or injury. Medical expenses can be high, and having health insurance can help reduce the financial burden on the policyholder and their family. Health insurance is especially important for individuals who have a chronic illness or a family history of medical conditions. 2. Property Insurance: Property insurance provides financial protection to the policyholder's property in case of damage or loss due to unforeseen events such as theft, fire, or natural disasters. Property insurance can help the policyholder cover the cost of repairing or replacing damaged property. Property insurance is especially important for homeowners who have invested a significant amount of money in their property. 3. Credit Life Insurance: Credit life insurance provides financial protection to the policyholder's family in case of the policyholder's death. This type of insurance is usually taken out in conjunction with a loan or mortgage to ensure that the debt is paid off in case the borrower dies before the loan is fully repaid. Credit life insurance is especially important for individuals who have significant debt and do not want to burden their family with it in case of their death. 4. Professional Liability Insurance: Professional liability insurance provides financial protection to individuals in case they are sued for negligence, errors, or omissions in their professional capacity. This type of insurance is especially important for professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and accountants who have a high risk of being sued due to the nature of their work. 5. Travel insurance: This provides coverage for medical expenses, trip cancellations, lost luggage, and other travel-related expenses. Travel insurance policies can also cover emergency medical evacuation and repatriation. Personal Tax Personal tax planning is the process of minimizing your tax liability by using various tax strategies and techniques. It's important to have a basic understanding of the tax system in your country, including the various tax laws, deductions, exemptions, and credits. Tax planning strategies can help you minimize your tax liability, including timing your income and deductions, maximizing your tax credits, and investing in tax-advantaged accounts. Major life events can have significant tax implications, so it's important to plan accordingly. Tax compliance involves following the rules and 15 | P a g e regulations set forth by the tax authorities, including filing your taxes on time, paying your taxes, and keeping accurate records. 1. Understanding Tax Laws: The first step in personal tax planning is to understand the tax laws applicable in your country or region. This includes understanding the tax rates, tax deductions, and exemptions, and tax-saving investment options. 2. Maximizing Deductions and Exemptions: Tax deductions and exemptions are an essential part of personal tax planning. These can include expenses related to healthcare, education, and charitable donations. By maximizing these deductions and exemptions, individuals can lower their taxable income and reduce their tax liability. 3. Utilizing Tax Credits: Tax credits are incentives provided by the government to encourage certain behaviours or investments. Examples of tax credits include the child tax credit, education tax credit, and renewable energy tax credit. By taking advantage of these credits, individuals can reduce their tax liability. Tax Structure in India for Personal Taxation: The tax structure in India for personal taxation is progressive, which means that the tax rate increases as the income increases. The tax rates applicable for the financial year 2022-23 are as follows: • For individuals with income up to Rs. 2.5 lakh: Nil • For individuals with income between Rs. 2.5 lakh and Rs. 5 lakhs: 5% • For individuals with income between Rs. 5 lakh and Rs. 7.5 lakhs: 10% • For individuals with income between Rs. 7.5 lakh and Rs. 10 lakhs: 15% • For individuals with income between Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 12.5 lakh: 20% • For individuals with income between Rs. 12.5 lakh and Rs. 15 lakhs: 25% • For individuals with income above Rs. 15 lakhs: 30% Exemptions and deductions for individuals In India, individuals can claim various exemptions and deductions to reduce their taxable income and lower their tax liability. Some of the most common exemptions and deductions available to individuals are as follows: Exemptions: 16 | P a g e 1. Standard deduction: Individuals can claim a standard deduction of up to Rs. 50,000 from their gross salary income. 2. Leave travel allowance (LTA): LTA is an allowance provided by employers to employees to cover their travel expenses during leave. It is exempt from tax twice in a block of four years. 3. House rent allowance (HRA): HRA is an allowance provided by employers to employees to cover their rental expenses. The exemption amount is calculated as the minimum of actual HRA received, 50% of salary for individuals residing in metro cities, or 40% of salary for individuals residing in nonmetro cities. 4. Gratuity: Gratuity is a lump sum payment made by employers to employees as a retirement benefit. It is exempt from tax up to a certain limit based on the employee's years of service. Deductions: 1. Section 80C: Under this section, individuals can claim deductions of up to Rs. 1.5 lakh for investments in various instruments such as PPF, EPF, life insurance premiums, and ELSS, among others. 2. Section 80D: This section allows individuals to claim deductions for payment of health insurance premiums for self, spouse, and dependent children, as well as for payment of preventive health check-ups. 3. Section 80E: This section allows individuals to claim deductions for payment of interest on education loans taken for higher studies. 4. Section 80G: Donations made to certain charitable organizations are eligible for deductions under this section. It's important for individuals to understand the various exemptions and deductions available to them and to plan their investments and expenses accordingly to optimize their tax planning. 17 | P a g e E-filing refers to the process of filing income tax returns electronically through the internet. The Income Tax Department of India has made e-filing mandatory for certain categories of taxpayers, such as those with an annual income of more than Rs. 5 lakhs or those who are seeking a tax refund. The e-filing process involves the following steps: 1. Registering on the Income Tax Department's e-filing portal by providing basic details such as name, PAN, and contact information. 2. Downloading the appropriate income tax return form based on the type of income and filing status. 3. Filling in the details of income, deductions, and taxes paid in the relevant sections of the form. 4. Verifying the tax calculation and ensuring that all details are accurate and complete. 5. Submitting the form electronically by uploading it on the efiling portal. 6. Generating an acknowledgment receipt or an electronic verification code (EVC) as proof of submission. E-filing has several advantages over traditional paper-based filing, including: 1. Faster processing and quicker refunds. 2. Reduced chances of errors or mistakes. 3. Convenience and ease of use. 4. Access to online tax calculators and other tools to help with tax planning. 5. Increased transparency and accountability. It's important for taxpayers to ensure that they file their income tax returns accurately and on time to avoid penalties and other legal consequences. Consulting with a tax professional or financial 18 | P a g e advisor can help individuals navigate the e-filing process and ensure compliance with relevant tax laws and regulations. All THE BEST FOR EXAMINATION!! Regards Abhishek Kumar Insta: @abhishek_kumar_official_ YouTube: @abhishekkumardu 19 | P a g e