These are the 5 best investment options in which safe investment and excellent returns

 

The best investment option for anyone, including a businessman, depends primarily on four factors - risk appetite, cash requirement, tax slabs and investment duration. Here are the 5 best investment options that can be considered by working people.

 

Bank fixed deposit

 

Bank Fixed Deposit (Bank FD) provides depositors with capital security and fixed income. The interest rate applied during the opening of an FD account remains the same during the FD period regardless of any change in the interest rates. FDs opened in scheduled banks are also covered under a deposit insurance program provided by DICGC, a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank (RBI). This insurance scheme gives financial security to the deposits in banks, under this, the bank account holder will get up to Rs 5 lakhs per FD, if the bank fails, this includes current and savings accounts. At present, some small finance banks and some private sector banks are giving 7 to 8.25 per cent on FDs.

 

Small saving schemes

 

Small savings schemes mean very little to middle-class people, especially to the employed. These schemes are sponsored by the Union Ministry of Finance and they declare interest rates for these savings schemes every quarter. These schemes carry slightly higher interest from the bank. Individuals who desire the highest interest rate and security on their investment may prefer it. Income tax exemption is also available on these deposit schemes.

 

Public Provident Fund (PPF)

 

The PPF comes with the government's sovereign guarantee, making it the safest of all investment options. Under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, PPF enjoys EEE tax status, so it gets tax rebate on the amount of investment, interest received as well as the amount received on maturity. PPF's tax-free status and sovereign guarantee make it a better option than a 5-year tax-saving FD. However, the lack of liquidity is the biggest negative point of PPF. The investment lock-in period in PPF is 15 years. Investors, who do not want to take a risk, want to invest for a long period and also prefer capital security, should opt for PPF.

 

Equity mutual fund

 

Equity mutual funds have to invest a minimum of 70 per cent in equity. Because equities have given higher returns than fixed income instruments and inflation, it is a good option for investors who want higher returns through equity but do not have the time or expertise to invest directly in stocks is. Additionally, equity mutual funds also include a special category called Equity Linked Saving Scheme (ELSS), which is eligible for tax exemption under Income Tax Section 80C. Of all the investment options covered under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, ELSS is the shortest period (three years). If you keep investing in it for three years, you will get tax rebate under Section 80C on the return.

 

Debt mutual fund

 

Debt Mutual Funds typically invest in market-linked fixed income instruments such as government securities, money market instruments, corporate bonds, etc. Due to fixed income instruments, debt mutual funds are considered more secure than equity funds, as fixed-income instruments can be bought and sold, hence debt funds offer higher returns than savings accounts and fixed deposits. Thus, debt funds are an ideal option for those who want an investment option for short-term economic goals that give higher returns than fixed deposits.