SANDY TECHFANATIC

Are you a member of the 'There's a Hole in My Wallet' club?
And does the hole in your wallet seem to be getting bigger lately? Does shopping for groceries make your palms sweat due to a serious liquidity crunch?

Studies have shown that when money gets tight in the economy, a lot of us cut back on groceries and switch to buying cheaper prepared foods that stimulate our taste buds but are not necessarily good for us. According to most health officials, the economic slump has a devastating impact on the population's diet and health.

A lot of us may actually wind up packing on the pounds by eating so-called 'comfort foods' that are laden with sugar and saturated fats.

Practical tips to prevent wallet-busting

Offered below are a few tips to help you make better choices with a limited budget. So guys, tighten your belts!

Set a budget: Track all food purchases for a few weeks and identify areas where you can cut back.
Use leftovers: Frozen cuts of meat, bags of cut green beans or shelled peas, other essentials that you might have forgotten about -- you will find use for all of them.
Off-season foods are always more expensive: Do you really need to buy out-of-season fresh foods each week, or will frozen veggies do? In-season produce is hands down less expensive. Set a weekly or monthly spending limit.
Make a shopping list, and then stick to it: Keep a running list on the fridge and write down necessities as you think of them. Before you're off to the store, find out what's there in your pantry and fridge and add or remove items as needed.
Buy only what you'll use: Purchase foods that you use regularly. Remember, fruit and vegetables are still fairly cheap and also very filling, so don�t miss out on them.
Do not experiment with new foods: If you happen to dislike a particular food or cuisine, this isn't the time to try it. It will likely end up in the trash.
Don't buy in bulk unnecessarily: Buying in bulk only helps if a food is a staple in your house, like whole wheat flour, eggs, biscuits, fruit or some staple vegetables like potatoes and onions.
Be realistic: If you don't eat too much of a particular food, don't buy a super-sized amount, as you probably will never get through the whole thing.
Know your good, bad and evil comfort foods: Cook more at home -- it's much cheaper. And cut down on buttery baked foods like pastries, pies, puffs, cakes as well as other packaged foods like wafers, cookies, mixtures and fried variants. They're expensive, unnecessary and will make you gain weight. What's wrong with soul-satisfying soups, grilled home-made panini sandwiches, chicken frankies or rolls and savoury veggie omelettes instead? These are just a few substitutes that are not only healthy, but provide you with loads of nutrition.
Now for a little savings game:

Dinner for two at a restaurant involves:
Waiting time of 30 minutes
Cost:
1 portion of salad: Rs 50
4 rotis: Rs 100
1 portion gobi mattar: Rs 90
1 portion dal makhani: Rs 120
2 portions of dessert: Rs 240
Total bill: Rs 600

Dinner for two at home involves:
A few minutes' planning time (this can be done while you're commuting to or from work)
Preparation time of 30 minutes
Cost:
1 portion of salad: Rs 20
4 rotis: Rs 10
1 portion gobi mattar: Rs 25
1 portion dal tadka: Rs 50
2 portions of dessert (sliced fresh fruit): Rs 50
Total bill: Rs 155

Which is the healthier option, in terms of diet and cost? Think about it! Food prepared at home is less expensive, more nutritious and can feed more people.

So put on your recession cap and ensure:

That you balance your budget scale and your meals -- never, never overeat.
That you're smart and turn this into an opportunity to save some money and work your way to a healthier you.
Seal that hole in your wallet, make the moolah go farther and feel good about yourself, knowing you are a step ahead of the game!

Some one Help me on TAX

1) Qus. : What are you doing?

Ans. : Business.

Tax : PAY PROFESSIONAL TAX!

2) Qus. : What are you doing in Business?

Ans. : Selling the Goods.

Tax : PAY SALES TAX!!

3) Qus. : >From where are you getting Goods?

Ans. : From other State/Abroad

Tax : PAY CENTRAL SALES TAX, CUSTOM DUTY & OCTROI!

4) Qus. : What are you getting in Selling Goods?

Ans. : Profit.

Tax : PAY INCOME TAX!

5) Qus. : How do you distribute profit ?

Ans : By way of dividend

Tax : Pay dividend distribution Tax

6) Qus. : Where you Manufacturing the Goods?

Ans. : Factory.

Tax : PAY EXCISE DUTY!

7) Qus. : Do you have Office / Warehouse/ Factory?

Ans. : Yes

Tax : PAY MUNICIPAL & FIRE TAX!

8) Qus. : Do you have Staff?

Ans. : Yes

Tax : PAY STAFF PROFESSIONAL TAX!

9) Qus. : Doing business in Millions?

Ans. : Yes

Tax : PAY TURNOVER TAX!

Ans : No

Tax : Then pay Minimum Alternate Tax

10) Qus. : Are you taking out over 25,000 Cash from Bank?

Ans. : Yes, for Salary.

Tax : PAY CASH HANDLING TAX!

11) Qus.: Where are you taking your client for Lunch & Dinner?

Ans. : Hotel

Tax : PAY FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT TAX!

12) Qus.: Are you going Out of Station for Business?

Ans. : Yes

Tax : PAY FRINGE BENEFIT TAX!

13) Qus.: Have you taken or given any Service/s?

Ans. : Yes

Tax : PAY SERVICE TAX!

14) Qus.: How come you got such a Big Amount?

Ans. : Gift on birthday.

Tax : PAY GIFT TAX!

15) Qus.: Do you have any Wealth?

Ans. : Yes

Tax : PAY WEALTH TAX!

16) Qus.: To reduce Tension, for entertainment, where are you going?

Ans. : Cinema or Resort.

Tax : PAY ENTERTAINMENT TAX!

17) Qus.: Have you purchased House?

Ans. : Yes

Tax : PAY STAMP DUTY & REGISTRATION FEE !

18) Qus.: How you Travel?

Ans. : Bus

Tax : PAY SURCHARGE!

19) Qus.: Any Additional Tax?

Ans. : Yes

Tax : PAY EDUCATIONAL, ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL & SURCHARGE ON ALL THE CENTRAL GOVT.'s TAX !!!

20) Qus.: Delayed any time Paying Any Tax?

Ans. : Yes

Tax : PAY INTEREST & PENALTY!

21) INDIAN :: can i die now??


Ans :: wait we are about to launch the funeral tax!!!
Tax Structure in India....... Funny But True

Puja Tandon highlights lucrative career paths in the exciting world of Finance.
The brave new corporate, is an exciting place to be in right now. If there is a right time and right place – this is
it. Many indicators are moving north! But as always, it will make things better if we are prepared and if we
know what to expect. In today’s fast paced world planning a career is a great challenge. The tremendous
growth in the economy is opening up new opportunities as new businesses get set up. India has become a global
hunting ground for talent. Now we have the opportunity to think of “global” careers. A career as a finance
professional today is vastly different than it used to be years ago. The study and analysis of today’s markets,
financial products and other financially related sectors of the business world are the foundation of financial
activities to date. Stockbroker, financial planner, and investment banker are just a few examples of jobs that
may be chosen when pursuing a career in finance. As finance grows year to year, being accurate and up to date
with financial information and financial techniques is essential when considering a career in finance.
New trends in Financial Markets:
Financial markets across the world are getting integrated and complex due to technological advancements of
most of the erstwhile closed economies. This process warranted the market professionals to be equipped with
the knowledge of the various market processes, and the understanding of broader role of various segments of
the markets. Over the past few years the financial market has seen a tremendous change in the activities that
are transacted in it. Reliance , Infosys, Wipro, L&T, Mahindra & Mahindra, ICICI, Satyam are few amongst the
many companies who have tapped offshore markets to raise capital. The journey of IDR has just begun. The
conditions set for the issue are stiffer; yet taking into confidence the realities of market conditions is a step
for the convergence and harmonisation of whole stock markets. The introduction of derivatives has brought in
a number of challenges. These assets are like dynamite. Used properly, they can be extremely effective and
beneficial. The problem is they can also destroy careless users. There are several problems faced by
derivatives markets across the globe. Even today, majority of the investing public do not share the advantages
of these products due to the enormous margin requirements. The Indian stock market is on the roll. Today
India is one of the favourite investment destinations of FII’s. Restructuring and consolidation have become a
norm rather than an exception. Internet has touched almost all aspects of our lives. In their quest to
differentiate their services and gain competitive advantage over their competitors, the financial service
providers are trying to provide their services to the customers in the comfort of their homes. The internet has
emerged as a convenient channel for these service providers. Internet-Based trading technologies together
with shifts in the economy and the business environment are transforming treasury investing. Online trading
platforms are making significant inroads into cash management functions; treasurers are increasingly relying
on these tools to find and execute the best trades. Banking sector is also witnessing changes. Banks are eyeing
retail segment as it offers immense opportunities. However, on the governance front, the sector is facing
multiple challenges like: increased competition, rising customer expectations, and diminishing customer
loyalty. Corporate governance is in fact the crying need of the day as Indian banks endeavor to make global
players. Mutual funds are also competing with commercial banks in the race for retail investor’s savings and
corporate float money. The power shift towards mutual funds has become obvious. The coming years will show
that the traditional saving avenues are losing out in the current scenario. Many investors are realising that
investments in savings accounts are as good as locking up their deposits in a closet. The opportunities in
finance are many with a wide choice of organisations and jobs to choose from. Prof. Vijay Page, Director
General - MET Institute of Management says “The financial sector is now poised for a quantum leap and the
challenges are so vast that they will fulfill the aspirations of the innovators, the workaholics as well as the
researchers from all streams of society. Those who join the finance sector in the take off stage will dominate
business and trade worldwide for decades to come.”
Careers and Job Information
“Finance is the key when you think about strategy, because what are we all about? It’s about creating
shareholder value.” You can grow a company volumetrically as much as you want and you may not create any
value at all. So underpinning all of those strategic decisions to sell properties or to make acquisitions – is the
financial analysis says Janet F. Clark, CFO Marathon Oil Corp.
Today's finance professionals assume a broad range of responsibilities involving capital budgeting, risk
management, project analysis and evaluation, and short-term and long-term financial planning. Finance
professionals are key to the strategic management and success of the business enterprise. They are often
responsible for making investment decisions and determining financial policy for their organisations.
The finance career field includes:
CORPORATE FINANCE
In Corporate finance you would work for a company to help it find various sources to raise finance, grow the
business, make acquisitions, plan for it’s financial future , manage any cash in hand and ensure future
economic viability.
Job Options
The following are just a few of the job options available for professionals seeking a career in coporate finance:
Treasurer: responsible for capital raising, financial planning, cash and asset management.
Impeccable analytical abilities as well as management and motivation skills are essential in this upper level
administrative position.
Credit Manager: Responsibilities consist of establishing rules for credit collection as well as for the
securitisation of receivables. Must be able to analyse accounting data and know a lot about their customers.
Investor Relations Officer: responsible for publishing corporate financial information and events through
press releases, coordinating with investors and replying to investor inquiries. You are in close contact with top
management officials and demands you understand both finance as well as public relations.
Controller: Responsibilities include accounting, cost analysis, financial planning and reporting, creating
costing systems, transfer pricing issues. CA/Cost Accountant with extensive experience in the field. For this
function candidates need to prepare themselves academically with at least a bachelor’s degree in accounting,
finance, economics, or business administration. In an increasingly competitive market, a master’s degree—
especially in business administration, economics, or risk management—is increasingly important. Employers
value the analytical skills and the training in the latest financial methods and technology that these degrees
provide their employees.
INVESTMENT BANKING
Investment Banks help companies and governments issue securities, help investors purchase securities,
manage financial assets, trade securities and provide financial advice.
Job Options
Initially, you may start as an analyst and be responsible for writing reports, maintaining spreadsheets, trading
stock options, research, etc. You will need to involve yourself in an intensive study to find out opportunities to
invest in profitable shares, debentures and other financial instruments. You need to have in- depth knowledge
of money markets, the state of the economy and business and industry in general. Moreover, you will need to
continuously involve yourself in extensive research on these subjects, and be up-to-date with the latest
information. . Often, bankers specialise in a particular industry and follow its fortunes over the years.
Most foreign banks and financial institutions prefer management graduates from the premiere management
schools, or professionals in accountancy, (chartered accountants and cost accountants), finance experts and
economists with postgraduate qualifications in finance, economics, financial planning, capital markets and so
on. A Ph. D in Economics and relevant experience in the industry can also get you a good job.
COMMERCIAL BANKING
Commercial banks serve large corporations, small businesses, as well as the general public. Despite recent
consolidation in commercial banking, the industry continues to provide more career opportunities in finance
than any other sector in the financial services industry.
Job Options
The opportunities at commercial banks are more numerous today than they have ever been. With entry level
tellers, leasing agents, international finance officers, trade credit specialists, and credit card banking
specialists, the options in commercial banking are seemingly endless. As a mortgage banker the responsibility
is to supply potential homeowners and businesses with loan opportunities. Recruitment for the public sector
banks is done through the Banking Service Recruitment Boards (BSRBs).
Foreign banks pick up their personnel management institutes, from interviews held in the premiere
management institutes, from among finance professionals such as Chartered Accountants, Cost and Works
Accountants and Chartered Financials Analysts and also from the fold of experienced personnel of the apex
financial institutions and public sector commercial banks. Private banks recruit Officer Trainees from amongst
first class graduates, Management Trainees from amongst MBAs, and also recruit experienced personnel from
the banking sector for middle and higher management positions.
FOREX MANAGEMENT
Indian Companies have been increasingly attracting foreign capital either through listing on international stock
exchanges or through private equity placements. Companies that wish to access markets for capital or that
wish to become leading global suppliers to corporations in developed markets have to hedge forex exposure.
Job Options
The Forex Treasury division in banks offers full range of vanilla and derivative products in forex, interest
rates and commodities. These include spot, forward, swaps, currency options, interest rate derivatives,
commodity futures and options in addition to high yield structured deposits linked to currencies, interest rates
and commodities. Several companies are looking for professionals who understand the nuances of
international finance, international capital markets and risk management.
The MBAs /CFAs may seek careers in the following areas: overseas fund mobilisation, risk management, Forex
dealing or Forex consultancy.
MONEY MANAGEMENT
Money managers purchase and carry corporate bonds, agency securities, asset-backed securities and other
fixed-income investment products. Some specialise in small stocks, large cap funds, fledgling markets, and
other equities.
Job options
Portfolio Manager: Managers specialise in specific areas like growth stocks, hedge or commodity funds.
Competency in analysis of securities and a broad knowledge of companies and markets in the financial sector
is required.
Mutual Fund Analyst:skills are required in finaancial analysis, asset selection, stock selection, plan
implementation and ongoing monitoring of investments.
Hedge Fund trader: To get started be sure to study portfolio theory, learn fixed income investments, take
CFA/MBA exam and learn the industry.
FINANCIAL PLANNING
Financial planning helps people make advance provision for financial needs that may arise in future .You can
draw parallels between the family doctor and a financial planner. The family doctor takes care of your
physical health and the financial planner takes care of your financial health, ensuring orderly and systematic
achievement of your financial goals
On the technical side, strong attention to detail is required as you analyse all types of financial options,
including their tax implications and legal restrictions. Financial computing skills are recommended for
performing the mathematical calculations quickly and accurately. You must also have the ability to
communicate somewhat complex financial concepts and strategies to clients in non-technical, easy-tounderstand
terms.
The Chartered Financial Planner (CFP) course is presently offered in India by two authorised education
providers of the Association of Financial Planners (AFP) in technical collaboration with the Financial Planning
Association of Australia Ltd. (FPA). The 2-year distance-learning programme covers topics such as insurance
planning and risk management, retirement planning, tax and estate planning, employee benefits, wealth
creation, budgeting, cash flow management, debt management and financial plan construction. Alternatively,
an MBA/CFA/CA/Insurance specialisation - singly or in combination, would also give you a broad understanding
of the various investment instruments and options, and their implications.
STOCK BROKING
Brokers or stock market professionals are now either playing host to foreign investment bankers, who are
looking for opportunities on the Indian stock market, or visiting fund managers abroad seeking investment
here. Stock market houses are redefining themselves and the business of stock broking is highly visible today.
Communication links between the dealing room and the trading ring are being improved.
The National Stock Exchange or NSE (inaugurated on 23 July 1994) provides nationwide facilities with access to
investors all over the country. The automated, screen-based trading system using state-of-the-art technology
makes market operations transparent. Stock broking business requires the services of specialists (in varied
fields) - economists, accountants, finance managers, financial analysts, capital market specialists, and
investments and financial planners.
1. Postgraduate courses in economics and commerce are available in most universities in the country.
2. Finance managers may be MBAs with specialisation in finance from the reputed institutes of
management or from the departments of business administration of the major universities.
3. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), New Delhi, conducts the chartered accountancy
course for the plus two level through the foundation course and directly for graduates.
COMMODITY TRADING
Commodities Trading is a global phenomenon and offers tremendous potential to market participants for both
profit taking on small price corrections as well as to hedgers looking at managing price risk on account of price
fluctuations. In developed markets, futures trading is conservatively 10 times the size of cash market in
commodities. If we consider the fact that in the US, where the futures trading is almost 20 times that of the
cash market production, it would only be fair to suggest that our futures market would be a very large and
deep market, easily many times more than that of the securities market.
MCX CERTIFIED Commodity Professional (MCCP):The Exchange offers this certification course for
professionals who want to pursue a career in Commodity derivatives markets. It is designed with necessary
information and inputs so as to enable the participants to get well versed with the modalities of the
commodity markets in India. Certification as "MCX Certified Commodity Professional" is given on passing.
INSURANCE
Apart from career opportunities available with insurance companies employment avenues are also open in
corporate sector, stock broking firms, finance companies, shipping companies etc. With private participation in
insurance sector the number of employment opportunities have gone up.
Actuarial: An actuary holds one of the most important position in an insurance business. He is involved in
solving wide range of financial problems related with insurance investments, financial planning and
management. Graduates in maths or satistics are suited for this kind of a job because the work is based on
mathematical and statistical skills. In the coming times it will definitely make one of the highly paid career
option in the insurance sector.
Underwriting: The life and non-life insurance segments require professional underwriters. Underwriters assess
the risk in the business and takes care of risk management.
Investment: Like banks and mutual funds, investment professionals will be required in insurance sector as
well. Professionals with degree in finance from reputed institutes as well as experienced professionals from
banks and mutual funds will have promising career options to look forward. MET Asian Management
Development Centre offers a Post Graduate in e Management and Business Administration (PGeMBA) in
Insurance Management.
REAL ESTATE
Real estate is collateral for mortgages and a large amount of financial assets. Identifiable real estate fields are
mortgage banking, property management, real estate appraisals, brokerage and leasing, and real estate
development.
The old stereotype that financial officers do nothing but crunch numbers all day is fading quickly. Thanks to
computers who do the number crunching, finance officers now spend their time assessing reports generated by
computers. The CEO of Coca-Cola said: “The secret isn’t counting beans, it’s growing more beans ” Thus the
need has increased for intelligent, dynamic communicators and analysers in all aspects of the financial world.
Puja Tandon, Finance Faculty at MET Institute of Management has authored this article.

Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) is a professional designation given out by the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association to establish an educational standard for individuals that specialize in the area of alternative investments (such as hedge funds, venture capital, private equity and real estate investment). In order to receive the designation, individuals must have at least one year of professional experience, a U.S. bachelor's degree and must pass two levels of curriculum that include topics ranging from qualitative analysis, trading theories of alternative investments, to indexation and benchmarking.
Because the realm and scope of alternative investments is dramatically different from conventional investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, a specific designation was necessary to distinguish those individuals who are best qualified in dealing with this class of investments. Similar to the Chartered Financial Analyst(TM) designation, possessing the CAIA designation provides individuals with access to jobs, member chapters and sources of education
CAIA Practitioners Benefits
The CAIA curriculum's focus on analysis, application and standards of practice creates the benchmark that institutions, investors and regulators recognize and welcome globally
Professional Discounts: CAIA members receive discounts to a number of professional services, including several top news services and research sources. Members also gain discounted access to a host of industry conferences and CAIA events.
Ongoing Educational Opportunities: The CAIA Association and its membership place high value on ongoing education. Earning the designation is the first step in a CAIA member's access to a host of professional development opportunities like Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP), Life Office Management Association (LOMA). Successful completion of the CAIA program exempts members from the Professional Risk Managers' International Association (PRMIA) exam
Career Opportunities: The CAIA designation can help open doors to a variety of professional opportunities by enhancing your industry marketability. Designees can be found in a variety of positions, including, Hedge fund, CTA, real estate and private equity fund management, Chief investment officers, Consultants to institutions, family offices, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, Investment analysts, Regulators, Due diligence officers, Investment bankers, Asset allocators, Capital introduction specialists, Fund administrators, Lawyers, Accountants
Requirements to obtain the CAIA designation

The right to use the CAIA designation is earned by (1) successfully completing the CAIA program (passing both the Level I and Level II exams) and (2) becoming a member of the CAIA Association. In order to qualify for membership in the Association, you must fulfill each of the following:

Pass the Level II exam within three years of passing the Level I exam
Hold a U.S. bachelor's degree or the equivalent, and have more than one year of professional financial experience, or alternatively have at least four years of professional financial experience
Submit payment for the annual CAIA Association membership fee
Agree on an annual basis to abide by the Member Agreement
Membership is the final requirement for individuals who wish to use the CAIA designation.

CAIA Exam Structure

The exams are offered twice each year, once in May and once in September. The exams are administered in computerized format at proctored test centers around the world. The Level I exam is composed of three sections. The format for the entire Level I exam is multiple-choice.

Section 1: Quantitative methods.
Section 2: Foundations of alternative investments and includes such topics as alternative investment asset classes, trading strategies employed by alternative investment managers, sources of returns to these asset classes and strategies, and background on legal aspects of alternative investments.
Section 3 : Standards for professional conduct.The format for the Level II exam is both multiple-choice and essay. The Level II exam covers;
the application of portfolio theory to alternative investments,
selection of assets, managers, and strategies,
oversight and due diligence of investment managers, and risk management.
Standards of professional conduct are included as a separate section.
CAIA Exam Registration

Level I and Level II exams are administered in computerized format at proctored test centers around the world. To view a list of current sites offering the CAIA exams:

Visit www.vue.com and select "Locate a Test Center" at the top of the page.
Under Area of Study, select "Financial Services"
Choose "CAIA Association" from the Testing Program drop-down menu and proceed.
CAIA Fees

Standard

Program Registration Fees: USD 400
Level I Exam Registration: USD 1000 (USD 900 Early Registration)
Level II Exam Registration: USD 1000 (USD 900 Early Registration)
First-year-only membership dues: USD 250
Subsequent annual membership dues: USD 250
For AIMA/CISDM Member Companies

Program Registration Fees: USD 400
Level I Exam Registration: USD 750 (USD 650 Early Registration)
Level II Exam Registration: USD 750 (USD 650 Early Registration)
First-year-only membership dues: USD 150
Subsequent annual membership dues: USD 250

* Hard work: All hard work brings profit; but mere talk leads only to poverty.
* Laziness: A sleeping lobster is carried away by the water current.
* Earnings: Never depend on a single source of income.
* Spending: If you buy things you don't need, you'll soon sell things you need.
* Savings: Don 't save what is left after spending; spend what is left after
saving.
* Borrowings: The borrower becomes the lender's slave.
* Accounting: It 's no use carrying an umbrella, if your shoes are leaking.
* Auditing: Beware of little expenses; a small leak can sink a large ship.
* Risk-taking: Never test the depth of the river with both feet.
* Investment: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Option is a contract which gives buyer the right , but not the obligation to buy or sell an underlying asset at a specific price on or before a certain date. An option has an Expiry date , when its automatically exercised if it has any intrinsic value left . When you buy an option you have to pay some premium at the time of buying it.

You can buy or sell Options just like you buy or sell Shares. They are traded in real time. An option value depends on some underling, which can be a stock or an index or even interest rate, The scope of this article is restricted to Stock options or index options. An example of index option is Nifty option , so its underlying is Nifty.

You must know that its a kind of Derivative : Derivatives are any instrument whose value are derived from some other thing, there value depends on some other thing , like In case of options in stock market , there value depend on either a stock or an index. Futures are also a kind of Derivatives, The minimum money required for trade in Futures are much more than Options. You can trade in options with as little as 2,000 or 3,000 (depending on the option you are trading in).

Types of option: CALL and PUT

CALL option gives you the right to BUY something anytime before expiry at a predetermined price. The value of the CALL option increases as the Price of the underlying thing increases. The reason for this is because you can still buy it at the fixed price and the difference is your profit.

PUT option gives you the right to SELL something anytime before expiry at a predetermined price. The value of PUT option increases as the price of the underlying Decreases. The reason is that you still have the right to SELL it at fixed price and difference will be your profit.


SOME OPTION TERMS

Exercising an Option : To exercise an Option means to Buy(CALL) or Sell(PUT) the stock on the expiry date if they are European style else Buy or sell anytime on or before Expiry if they are American Style.

Expiry Date : The date on which an option will expire and then it will be exercised automatically if it has any intrinsic value left.

Option Style : Options are of two styles , American style (It can be exercised any time before or on expiry date) and European Style (exercised on expiry only).

STRIKE Price : Strike rate is Stated Price for which the underlying stock can be purchased or sold on expiry date.

SPOT Price : The current price of the underlying at a particular time.

LOT : Options are traded in lot size , you can buy 1 lot , 2 lot or any number of lots , and a lot has a particular number of shares in a single lot , Like Nifty options have lot size of 50.

Premium : Every option has some premium which users have to pay when they purchase an Option . So for a CALL option, the premium increases when its underlying price increase and decreases when its underlying price decreased and just opposite of PUT option.


How does an OPTION look like?

Example : CHAFER 90 CE 1.95 , EXPIRY 26th June

CHAFER is the symbol for a stock called CHAMBAL FERTILIZERS , so its a Stock option. The expiry date of this option is 26th June (current year). 90 CE means its a CALL (C) option ,which is European Style (E , can be exercised on expiry date only) and the Strike rate is 90 , means that you have right to buy 1 lot (3450 shares , it depends on the option how many shares a lot has) of chambal fertilizers shares at Rs 90 on the date of expiry if you want.

What are the Profit and Losses you can make?

The Losses are always limited to the extent of premium you pay (in worst case you do not exercise the option and you let your premium go) , On the other hand the profits are theoretically unlimited , because the option price can keeps increasing when underlying increases or decreases depending on the type of option.


What is time value and option value ?

The Premium you pay for the option has two components
- Time Value
- Intrinsic value

Premium = Time value + Intrinsic Value

Intrinsic value is the true worth of the option (premium) and Time value is the value which is there because of the time left for the expiry , because as the Expiry time comes near the risk of loosing the money is high. So time value keeps decreasing as the expiry comes closer. There fore you will see that even if STRIKE price is closer to SPOT price , the option price will be very high if the expiry is after many days .

For CALL option price moves towards 0 if SPOT is less then STRIKE price and expiry comes closer .
For PUT option price moves towards 0 id SPOT is higher than STRIKE and expiry comes closer.


How does it works
You can either sell it at the profit or still hold it.

Case 2: If market does not fall as per your expectation and still is at 4400 before 10 days of expiry and the current price of premium is suppose 10 , you can sell it at loss , because you don't want it to become 0 . Suppose you didn't sell it and market really closed above 4300 on expiry date , then you loose whole your premium (as SPOT < style="font-weight: bold;">Options used for Hedging
Example 1:

Suppose you buy CHAFER 90 CE EXPIRY 26th June , at a premium of 1.95 (you will have to pay Rs 1.95 * 3450 to buy this option) , and the SPOT is 78 , means currently price of Chambal fertilizer share is Rs. 78 , now the price of option will follow the price of the share price. If price increases to say 85 , then the option may increase to 4.5 (depending on demand and supply) , and at this point you can sell the option and earn a profit of 4.5-1.95 = 2.55 Per share , profit of 130% . Now suppose on 26th June (Expiry day) , the price of Chambal Fertilizer is Rs 100 , then the option will be exercised and who ever has the option at that time will receive the profit of Rs 10 (total 10 * 3450) and the option will not be exercised if the SPOT (current price) of share is below 90 , because then he will make loss if exercised. (Remember , its not your obligation to exercises the option (you exercise if its in profit , or you loose your premium)

When do you buy Options

Example 1 :

Suppose Infosys is at 2000 today (1st June) and you are optimistic that its price will go further go up 10% or 15% (2200 or 2300) . so you buy a CALL option of Infosys which is going to Expire in approx 1 month , say INFOSYS 2200 CE 10.5 26th June is available and lot size is 1000 , so you pay 1000 * 10.5 = Rs 10,500 for this option.

Now option price will move the same way as the price of Infosys share. At the end of the Expiry date if Price of Infosys share will be more than the 2200 then the option will be called "In the Money" as it will be in profit when exercised Else it will be out of money. So suppose Price of Infosys share is 2280 at the end of Expiry then you exercise the option and get 1000 * 80 = Rs 80,000 , you can also sell the option anytime before Expiry date if you want to make profit and convinced that the option price has reached at a good point.

Example 2:

You think that Economy is not doing well and markets as whole will fall because of high inflation news and political issues (or for any reason) , Suppose Nifty is at 4600 and you believe that it will fall to 4300 in 2-3 months , Suppose current date is 1st June then you can buy NIFTY PE 4300 AUG , assume premium is Rs 15.

Case 1: If markets fall badly and reaches 4500 in 1 month and the premium increase to 330 . You can either sell it at the profit or still hold it.

Case 2: If market does not fall as per your expectation and still is at 4400 before 10 days of expiry and the current price of premium is suppose 10 , you can sell it at loss , because you don't want it to become 0 . Suppose you didn't sell it and market really closed above 4300 on expiry date , then you loose whole your premium (as SPOT < STRIKE)

Options used for Hedging

The main use of Options is for hedging , So if you have bought some 1000 shares of company ABC at Rs 20 , and think that price may fall to 15 in one month ,you can ABC PE 20 or 19 , and pay a small premium , Now you are covered for the loss you will make on shares , because you have right to sell the shares at 20 or 19 (depends on the price you bought the options at).


Some other important points

- Options are very risky and very rewarding , it can give returns of even 100% or 200% in day , or can give negative returns of 50% or 80% in a day.

- Options are very volatile , so its a good idea to be patient with options.

- Buying Options near its Expiry dates are highly risky , because if they go in wrong direction they don't have time to come back.

- Its not a good idea to buy a option with strike price very far from the SPOT price unless there is some good reason for it . Options with more gap between between STRIKE and SPOT have less premium , but very risky (and can be very rewarding too).

- Its not a good idea to put a Stop loss for your option very near to the current price , because its highly probable that it will come to Stop loss point and then again bounce back because of there high volatility.

- Its a good idea to set a target to book profits and get out , rather than trying to get maximum out of option . If you don't exit at a good point , the chances are that value will again bounce back to normal price and you will miss a chance. (I sold Chambal Fertilizer CALL 90 option when it price went up to 6.5 though 8-9 looked achievable target next day , but i thought its a great return and didn't miss the chance of booking 250% return in 2 days , Buy price was 1.95).

Earlier individuals used to approach self proclaimed financial advisors for advice. Over a period of time things changed, one started looking at banks, brokerage houses, insurance companies, tax consultants for advice. However, individuals still aren’t getting the counsel that takes an integrated view of their life and financial goals. Even professionals like CAs, CWAs, CFAs are aptly qualified to handle one’s personal finance for instance Chartered Accountants specialise in accounting, CWA specializes in costing, CFA specialises in portfolio management and investment analysis, MBA in finance specializes in general finance and management.
Therefore today the need for a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) is growing. A CFP has specialisation in areas of insurance, investment, taxation, estate planning and retirement planning. A CFP doesn't see an individual’s financial needs such as insurance or investment in isolation but considers all aspects in totality.

SCOPE OF CPF
An increasing number of banks like ICICI bank, Standard Chartered Bank and others are making it mandatory for their Relationship Managers to acquire the CFP certification. Regulatory bodies like SEBI, IRDA, PFRDA etc are gradually educating and encouraging individuals to consult CFPs for their financial needs.

According to a recent report, there will be a need for 50,000 CFPs in India in the next few years. Currently India has around 450 + CPFs. As mentioned above, jobs would be offered in banks, insurance sector, financial services sector.

Overview of comprehensive Financial Planning

What is overall comprehensive Financial Planning
The place, role & importance of each module in this process
Holistic approach & code of ethics
Personal/Intra personal communication skills required.
Risk Management & Insurance Planning

Different kinds of risks & how to manage them
How dose insurance works
Doctrines of insurance
How the cost of insurance is determined
Rating practices in general insurance
How to plan the insurance –Life stage wise
Once case study
Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits

Need for Retirement Planning
How to determine the retirement corpus & planning for it’s achievement
Statutory retirement benefits offered by the Govt. / Pvt. Employees
Mathematical calculation of Gratuity / EDLI / Leave Encashment / EPS 1995 / EPF / PPF
Tax treatment of the above
Group Insurance schemes
OASIS
Investment Planning

Different classes of assets and their characteristics
Liquid Assets
Call money / Notice money / T Bills / Commercial Paper / Commercial Deposits
MMMF’s
Fixed Interest Earning Securities
Govt / PSU / Corporate Bonds /
Understanding the Concept & Calculation of YTM
Growth Assets
Equity
Valuation of Shares
Calculation of EPS / Dividend Yield / P.E. ratios
Mutual Funds
Selection process
Subtopic
Real Estate
Risk Profile
Asset Allocation
Strategic / Tactical
Rebalancing techniques
Concept of returns
Various types of returns and how to calculate them mathematically
Concept of Risk
Various types of risk & to measure them
Risk Adjusted Returns
Standard Deviation / Sharpe Ratio / Treynor Ratio / Jensen Ratio
Risk hedging Techniques
Forwards / Futures / SWAP / Options
Portfolio Design based on life stages & risk profile
Case Study
Taxation & Estate Planning

1. Tax Avoidance / Tax Evasion / Tax Planning
2. Ways & Means of Taxation Planning for Salaried Individuals, firms, Companies
3. Use of Taxation Planning in Management Decision Making Process like –
Make or Buy, Choice of Entity, Capital Structure etc.
4. Residential Status & Applicable Tax Laws to them
5. Taxation Laws & Rules applicable to Individuals / HUF / Firms / Companies / Co. Op. Soc. Etc.

Advance Financial Planning


HOW 2 BECOME CFP
The 4-step process involving 4 Es to become a Financial Planner.

1. Education.

Eligibility.
Ensure you have the requisite education requirement: HSC Marksheet / Graduation / Post Graduation from a recognized university.

Skills.
Ensure you have the skills required to be a Financial Planner:

Ability to understand the Financial Planning process
Ability to gain trust and build relationships with clients
Ensure you have the technical competence in the following areas:

Insurance Planning
Investment Planning
Tax Planning
Retirement Planning
Cash Flow Analysis Budgeting and other mathematical skills
2. Experience

The experience requirement centers on work that involves personal financial planning. It is designed to provide the public with the assurance that the candidate understands the counseling nature of personal financial planning. For CFPCM certification examination, the candidate is required to have a minimum of three years of relevant work experience.

3. Examination

Appear for the globally recognized CFPCM certification examination.

What’s the CFPCM exam all about?
Get your technical skills tested in the following areas:

* Risk Management & Insurance Planning
* Investment Planning
* Retirement Planning
* Tax and Estate Planning
* Advance Plan Construction

All the above exams are conducted by the FPSB in every alternate month, across 7 cities in India.
Click here to know the exam details»

Who gives the CFPCM certification in India?
CFPCM is conducted by Financial Planning Standards Board of India (part of Financial Planning Standard Board Council located at Denver, USA) and is recognized by its Indian charter members.

Be CFPCM certified.
CFPCM is a global certification, which endows the holder with the freedom to practice in more than 19 countries (You only need to clear one module on local tax laws to be eligible to practice in these 19 countries). The CFPCM certification is regarded as a premier qualification in financial advisory services and is among the leading career choices in developed countries.

With a CFPCM certification, you will get on a golden career path alongside fellow Financial Planners from 20 countries.

How do you register for the exam?
1. Become an FPSB India Student member.
You can register with FPSB India by paying a Student Registration fee of Rs. 5000.The Student Registration is valid for 1 year. To download form click here
FPSB India Student Regisration form

2. Exam Details and Fees.
FPSB, India conducts the exam every two months. The test fees are Rs. 1000 per test for the first 4 modules and Rs. 5000 for the last module. The Examination is outsourced to NSE, for which you will have to fill the NCFM form and attach a Passport size photograph , To download form click here
Note: Please make separate DDs for Registration and Exam Fees favoring Financial Planning Standards Board, India payable at Mumbai.
NCFM Examination form

4. Ethics

On completion of the education, examination and experience requirements, the candidate for CFPCM Certification receives a Declaration Packet which includes an ethics statement form. Prior to certification, the candidates will be required to disclose past or pending litigation or agency proceedings, and to acknowledge the right of FPSB to enforce its Professional Standards through its Disciplinary Rules and Procedures. By fulfilling this requirement, the candidate demonstrates to the public that he/she has agreed to provide personal financial planning in the clients best interest and to act in accordance with the highest ethical and professional standards for the practice of financial planning.


CFP Examinations for Modules 1,2,3,4 are now conducted everyday. Student has to schedule his/her own Examination on the website www.nseindia.com. All the four modules will be conducted online viz. on real time basis.
Note: The CFP Examination are as follows

Examination 1 - (Risk Management and Insurance Planning), Examination 2 - (Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits), Examination 3 - (Investment Planning) and
Examination 4 - (Tax Planning & Estate Planning)
A candidate needs to be registered with FPSB India and have a NCFM Number to register for CFP examination.
A candidate can register with FPSB India by submitting the New FPSB India Registration Form along with a DD of Rs. 7500/- drawn in favour of “Financial Planning Standards Board India ” payable at Mumbai to his education service provider.
One can obtain a NCFM Number by registering himself/herself on the NSE website as follows
Log on to the website www.nseindia.com
Click on NCFM on the top menu bar of the website
Select – Online Register / Enroll
Click - New User? Register here
Fill up the online form completely
Check the filled up form thoroughly. Ensure that your name, date of birth, email id and mobile number has been filled up correctly.
Click on Submit after checking the form once again
The NCFM Number will be sent on your email id.
NOTE: In case you have already taken any other module or exam from NSE/NCFM you would already have a NCFM number, DO NOT create a new NCFM number in that case

A Fresh candidate can appear for any module examination (except 5th module) after 60 days of his /her registration with FPSB India. A candidate will not be able to view the CFP modules on NSE site in case he has not registered with FPSB India.
After obtaining the NCFM Number or candidates already having NCFM Number, in both the cases, the candidates will have to create their User ID & Password on the NSE website as follows
Log on to www.nseindia.com
Click on NCFM on the top menu bar of the website
Select Online Register / Enroll
Click on “Existing NCFM Candidates can click here to obtain their User ID & Password”

After creating the user id and password, upload your recent passport size photograph on the NSE website.
Note: It is mandatory for all students to upload their photographs with NSE, if not done earlier. The same has to be done at www.nseindia.com

Choose the module you want to appear for. For example Risk Management and Insurance Planning
Select the name of City where you want to take the test and the date/month/year you wish to take the exam.
Note: CFP Exams for modules 1,2 3,4 are now conducted in 71 cities in India . The examinations will be centrally administered by National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), at their test centers.Examination Centers for Module 1, 2, 3 & 4 will be decided as per the vacancies and slots available with NSE at the time of enrolment for the Examination.

View the seats available.
Note: All the Exams are of 2 hours duration. Students can schedule any number of Examinations as per availability of seat.

Book your seat
Note: Request for carry forward of examination OR request for change in exam dates, change in exam & change in exam centre etc. would NOT be entertained by FPSB India under any circumstances, hence select the date carefully

Pay the Examination Fee. Examination fee can be paid in three ways i.e. online by debit/credit card or by cash at the designated ICICI Bank branches or net banking. Enrolment/registration for Examination can be done only on payment of fee to NSE. For more details refer website www.nseindia.com .
Note: The Examination Fee has been revised as below:

For students taking the examinations during the dates 14th July 2008 to 9th August 2008: Rs 1,000/- per ExaminationFor students taking the examinations from 11th August 2008 to 31st March 2009: Rs 1,500/- per Examination
For students taking the examinations from 1st April 2009 onwards: Rs 2,000/- per Examination

Admit card (Hall ticket) will be generated by the system. Students are required to take a printout of their admit card and carry the same to the test center. The student will be informed about the examination schedule via SMS alert.
Candidates have to carry a photo ID Proof to the exam hall. For example, PAN Card, Driving License, Passport.
Candidate who do not attend the Examination in spite of registering for the exam will be considered as absent for the said examination.

Career Objectives : You could talk about your career objectives and how the two year MBA programme will help you achieve them. This implies that you have a clear idea of what your career objectives are and how you wish to achieve them. For example, you may want to be an entrepreneur and wish to set up your independent enterprise after doing your MBA and then working for a few years in a professionally managed company. You could explain to the panel that the MBA programme will provide you with the necessary inputs to help you run your business enterprise better. But then you must be clear about what the inputs you will receive in the MBA programme are.

Value Addition : That brings us to the second area that your answer should touch upon. What is the value you will add to yourself during your two year study of management. Value addition will essentially be in two forms knowledge and skills. Knowledge of the various areas of management e.g. marketing, finance, systems, HRD etc. and skills of analysis and communication. You will find it useful to talk to a few people who are either doing their MBA or have already done it. They will be able to give you a more detailed idea of what they gained from their MBA.

Background : Remember, there must be no inconsistency between your proposed study of management and your past subject of study or your past work experience. If you have studied commerce in college then management is a natural course of higher studies. If you are an engineer this is a tricky area. You must never say that by pursuing a career in management you will be wasting your engineering degree. Try and say that the MBA course and your engineering degree will help you do your job better in the company that you will join. But then you should be able to justify how your engineering qualification will help.

Opportunities and Rewards : You could also at this stage mention the opportunities that are opening up in organizations for management graduates. Highlight with examples. At the end you may mention that while monetary rewards are not everything they are also important and MBAs do get paid well. You must not mention these reasons as your primary motivators even if that may be the case.

What to Expect ?

In general, B-school interviews are not formulaic. The focus can range from specific questions about your job responsibilities to broad discussions of life. Approach the interview as a conversation to be enjoyed, not as a question-and-answer ordeal to get through. You may talk more about your hobbies or recent cross-country trip. This doesn't mean that it won't feel like a job interview. It just means you're being sized up as a person and future professional in all your dimensions. Try to be your witty, charming, natural self. Interviews are conducted by students, faculty, admissions personnel and alumni. Don't dismiss students as the lightweights; they follow a tight script and report back to the committee. However, because they're inexperienced beyond the script, their interviews are most likely to be duds. You may have to work harder to get your points across.

How to Prepare ?

Prepare for the interview in several ways: Expect to discuss many things about yourself. Be ready to go into greater depth than you did in your essays (but don't assume the interviewer has read them). Put together two or three points about yourself that you want the interviewer to remember you by. Go in with examples, or even a portfolio of your work, to showcase your achievements. Practice speaking about your accomplishments without a lot of "I did this, I did that." Finally, be prepared to give a strong and convincing answer to the interviewer's inevitable question: "Why here?"

Self Awareness

1. How would you describe yourself ?
2. Tell me about yourself ?
3. How do you think a friend or professor who knows you would describe you?
4. What motivates you to put forth your best effort ?
5. How do you determine or evaluate success ?
6. What academic subjects did you like best ? Least ?
7. What led you to choose the career for which you are preparing ?
8. What personal characteristics are necessary for succeeding in the career that you are interested in ?
9. What is your philosophy of life ?
10. Why have you switched career fields ?

Weaknesses / Negatives

1. What major problems have you encountered and how have you dealt with them ?
2. What have you learnt form your mistakes ?
3. What do you consider to be your greatest weakness ?
4. Did you ever have problems with your supervisor ?

Skills / Abilities / Qualifications

1. What do you consider to be your greatest strength ?
2. Are you creative ? Give an example.
3. What qualifications do you have that makes you think you will be successful ?
4. In what way do you think you can make a contribution to society?
5. Why should we take you ?
6. What are your own special abilities ?
7. Why should we take you over another candidate ?
8. What is your managing style ?
9. Why do you want to join this institute ?
10. What do you know about our institute ?

Values

1. What is your attitude towards working hard ?
2. What part does your family play in your life ?
3. What are the most important rewards you expect in your career ?
4. What is more important to you : money offered, or the type of job ?
5. Do you enjoy independent research ?
6. In what kind of a work environment are you most comfortable ?
7. How would you describe the ideal job for you ?
8. What two or three things are most important to you in your job ?
9. Do you prefer working with others or all by yourself ?
10. How do you like to work ?
11. Under what conditions do you work best ?
12. What is the highest form of praise ?

Experience

1. In what part-time or summer job have you been most interested ?
2. Tell me about your experience.
3. What jobs have you held ?
4. How did your previous employer treat you ?
5. What have you learnt from some of the jobs that you have held ?
6. What jobs have you enjoyed most ? Least ? Why ?
7. What have you done that shows initiative and willingness to work ?
8. Describe your current job.
9. What did you like least about your last job ?
10. What did you like most about your last job ?

Goals / Objectives

1. What are your short-term and long-term goals and objectives ?
2. What specific goals other than those related to your occupation have you chosen for yourself for the next 10 years ?
3. What do you see yourself doing 5 years from now ?
4. What do you really want to do in life ?
5. How do you plan to achieve your career goals ?

Education

1. How has your education prepared you for a career ?
2. Describe your most rewarding college experience.
3. Why did you select your college or university ?
4. If you could, would you plan your academic study differently ?
5. Do you think grades are a good indication of your academic achievement ?
6. What have you learnt from participation in extracurricular activities ?
7. Do you have plans for continuing your studies ?
8. Why did you pick your programme ?
9. What courses did you like best and why ?
10. What courses did you like least and why ?
11. How has your college experience prepared you for this job ?
12. How did you pick your dissertation ?
13. Describe your dissertation process.

Salary

1. What do you expect to earn in 5 years ?
2. What did you earn in your last job ?

Interests

1. What are your outside interests ?
2. What do you do with your free time ?
3. What are your hobbies ?
4. What types of books do you read ?
5. How interested are you in sports ?
6. How did you spend your vacations in school ?

General

1. What qualities should a successful manager possess ?
2. Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor and a subordinate.
3. What 3 accomplishments have given you the greatest satisfaction ?
4. If you were taking a graduate for this institute, what qualities would you look for ?
5. What can I do for you ?
6. Tell me a story.
7. Define cooperation.

Stress Questions

1. What causes you to lose your temper ?
2. How often have you been absent from school, work or training ?
3. Have you ever had trouble with other people on the job ?
4. Can you take instructions without getting upset ?
5. Don't you feel you are a little to old/young for this job ?
6. How does your family like you being away on business trips ?
7. With your background, we believe that you are overqualified to join this institute.
8. You haven't had sufficient experience in this field.
9. Our experience with women on this job has not been good.
10. What would irritate you most if I as a manager did it ?

Influencing Others

1. Tell me about the time you were most persuasive in overcoming resistance to your ideas or point of view.
2. Tell me about the last time someone made an unreasonable request of you.
3. Describe the most disappointing and frustrating experience in gaining the support of others for an idea or proposal.

Interpersonal Skills

1. Describe a situation where it was most important for you to display tact and diplomacy.
2. Tell me about the last time you had a clash or disagreement with someone at school/college/workplace.
3. Tell me about a time when you felt most frustrated and disappointed at a person with whom you had worked.

Personal Adaptability

1. Tell me about the last time you were criticized by a supervisor or a professor.
2. Tell me about the time when you felt most pressured or stressed at work/ school/internship.
3. Tell me about the time when you felt most frustrated at your school/workplace.
4. In what aspects of your work/internship do you have the most confidence in your abilities.

Communication Skills

1. Tell me about the time when you felt best about your ability to draw out or solicit information from another person.
2. Tell me about the time when you had to work your hardest in order to fully understand what another person was saying to you.
3. Describe the last time when someone at school/work misunderstood what you were trying to communicate.

Motivation

1. Tell me about the most long term, sustained extra hours of effort that you put into your work/college/internship.
2. Describe a time when you felt most frustrated or discouraged in reaching your goals or objectives.
3. What do you feel has been your most significant work/school/internship related achievement within the past year or so ?
4. Describe the last time you did something well which went beyond the expectations in your work/internship.

Administrative Skills

1. Tell me how you go about organizing your work and scheduling your own time.
2. What do you do to ensure that your goals and objectives are met in a timely way ?
3. Describe the most extensive planning that you have ever done.

Problem Solving and Decision Making

1.Tell me about the most difficult problem that you faced in your work/school/internship ?
2.Tell me about the last time you made a decision that backfired.
3.Tell me about the time when you regretted most not getting advice before you went ahead ?

Conflict Management Skills

1. Tell me about the last significant crisis situation that you faced in your work.
2. Tell me about a time when you were most persuasive in overcoming resistance to your ideas.
3. Tell me about the time when you had a disagreement with someone at work.

Nobody believes the official spokesman... but everybody trusts an unidentified source.

Best Careers 2008(ACCORDING TO U.S )

• Audiologist
• Biomedical equipment technician
• Clergy
• Curriculum/training specialist
• Dentist
• Editor
• Engineer
• Firefighter
• Fundraiser
• Genetic counselor
• Ghostwriter
• Government manager
• Hairstylist/cosmetologist
• Higher education administrator
• Investment banker
• Landscape architect
• Librarian
• Locksmith/Security system technician
• Management consultant
• Mediator
• Occupational therapist
• Optometrist
• Pharmacist
• Physician assistant
• Politician/Elected official
• Professor
• Registered nurse
• School psychologist
• Systems analyst
• Urban planner
• Usability/User experience specialist

31 Careers With Bright Futures

The careers listed at TOP offer strong outlooks and high job satisfaction. Each career is profiled in two parts: an executive summary and a portrait of a typical day in the life.

• Best Careers for a Changing Job Landscape
• How the Best Careers Were Selected

Best Careers 2008 (J.D. King for USN&WR)

Ahead of the Curve

Here’s a look at a dozen cutting-edge careers, viable now and poised for future growth. They stem from megatrends like globalization, digitization, and the wave of environmentalism sweeping the world.

• Ahead-of-the-Curve Overview

• Select career »
  • Asian Business Development Specialist
  • Behavioral Geneticist
  • Computational Biologist
  • Data Miner
  • Emergency Planning Manager
  • Green-Collar Consultant
  • Health Informatics Specialist
  • Immigration Specialist
  • Offshoring Manager
  • Patient Advocate
  • Simulation Developer
  • Wellness Coach

Best Careers 2008 (J.D. King for USN&WR)

Most Overrated

These 13 careers have a mystique that outstrips their reality. They’re not bad careers but they do have downsides that career seekers often find an unpleasant surprise and thus shouldn’t be ignored.

• Overrated Overview

• Select career »
  • Advertising Executive
  • Architect
  • Attorney
  • Chef
  • Chiropractor
  • Clinical Psychologist
  • Medical Scientist
  • Nonprofit Manager
  • Physician
  • Police Officer
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Small-Business Owner
  • Teacher

Get the Scoop on Salary and More

Our sortable table shows top careers' median pay nationally and for 25 metropolitan areas, plus how they scored on factors like job satisfaction and job-market outlook. Pay data from PayScale.com.

• The Components of 31 Top Careers

Join the Discussion About Best Careers

Are green-collar consultant and behavioral geneticist ahead-of-the-curve careers that are about to take off? Is being an architect or an advertising executive overrated? Offer feedback and trade career tips in our forums.

• Enter the Discussion

More on Careers

• Harness the Web to Boost Your Career
• What to Do When You Hate Your Job
• The Best Jobs for Six Personality Types
• The College Grad's Career Kit

The moment you have been waiting for is here. The new iPhone 3G premieres August 22, 2008. iPhone 3G will be available in 2 exciting options:

1. 8 GB (Black) for Rs 31000
2. 16GB (White & Black) for Rs 36100

To celebrate the launch of the iPhone 3G in India, we will be opening three of our Airtel stores, one each in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore at the stroke of midnight 12.00am (Friday Morning) on August 22nd.

Join us early on the red carpet as we camp out throughout the evening.
We are expecting some long queues, so plan your day and reach the location as soon as possible. Remember, our stock is limited and will be available only on first cum first basis.

So, gear up to witness the biggest launch event on August 22, 2008 and be a part of history at

Infinity Mall
New Link Road
Andheri West,
Mumbai - 400053

Ps: Can’t make it for the midnight launch!

In case you can't make it you can still get your iPhone on priority. Just visit one of the select Airtel stores & confirm your booking by paying Rs 5000 on August 20 or 21.You'll get an appointment to collect your iPhone after paying the balance amount. For list of the select Airtel stores log on to www.airtel.in/iphone3g.

To Get ready for iPhone 3G launch, click here

India will have uninterrupted supply of Nuclear Fuel for its US-made nuclear reactors. India and the US will agree to transfer nuclear material, non-nuclear material, equipment and components. US will support/help India in developing strategic reserves of nuclear fuel to guard against future disruption of nuclear supply using the its international 'Big Brother' role . In case of disruption, US and India will jointly convene a group of friendly supplier countries (NSG) to include nations like Russia, France and the UK to pursue such measures to restore fuel supply.


Side-effects of Npowerment

Sun, Jul 27 04:07 PM

By Alistair Scrutton and Bappa Majumdar

NEW DELHI, India (Reuters) - India's major cities were put on high alert on Sunday, with fears of more attacks after at least 46 people were killed in two days of bombings that hit Ahmedabad and Bangalore.

At least 16 bombs exploded in the Indian city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat state on Saturday, killing at least 45 people and wounding 161, a day after another set of blasts in Bangalore killed a woman.

Two more unexploded bombs were found in the city of Surat on Sunday, one of the world's biggest diamond-polishing centres, police said.

A little-known group called the "Indian Mujahideen" claimed responsibility for the Ahmedabad attack on Saturday. The same group said it carried out bomb attacks that killed 63 people in Jaipur in May.

It is unusual for any group to claim responsibility, but India says it suspects militant groups from Pakistan and Bangladesh are behind a wave of bombings in recent years, with targets ranging from mosques and Hindu temples to trains.

"The entire nation, including major metro cities in India, have been put on high alert and they have been asked to step up security in vital installations," a home ministry spokesman said.

In New Delhi, police used loudspeakers and distributed leaflets in crowded market places, warning people to watch out for unclaimed baggage and suspicious objects. Police guarded Hindu temples in the eastern city of Kolkata.

There were two separate series of bombings in Ahmedadad, the first near busy market places. A second quick succession of bombs went off 20 to 25 minutes later around a hospital, where at least six people died, police said. All were detonated with timers.

"I came with my two children to cheer up my mother admitted to hospital," said Pankaj Patel, whose son Rohan and daughter Pratha were killed at Ahmedadad hospital. "They were laughing when the blast occurred. Now they are dead."

Two doctors were killed in the hospital in a blast in which at least one bomb was tied onto a gas cylinder. Charred motorcycles and bicycles were shown outside. TV showed victims writhing in pain and covered in blood on hospital floors.

The other bombs were in Ahmedabad's crowded old city dominated by its Muslim community. Many of the bombs were packed into metal tiffin boxes, used to carry food, and stuffed with ball-bearings. Some were left on bicycles.

Police found two unexploded bombs in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The state government ordered the closure of all shops, cinemas and markets on Sunday and told people to stay indoors.

Ahmedabad is the main city in the communally sensitive and relatively wealthy western state of Gujarat, scene of deadly riots in 2002 in which 2,500 people are thought to have died, most of them Muslims killed by rampaging Hindu mobs.

Ahmedabad and Bangalore are in states ruled by the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and are among the country's fastest-growing.

Gujarat's Chief Minister Narendra Modi is one of India's most controversial politicians, accused of turning a blind eye to the Gujarat riots.

MUSLIM BACKLASH?

Some analysts say there is evidence of local Muslim groups, for years seen as unaffected by the rise of global Islamist militancy, of taking up violence against India, where they are a poor and often neglected minority. They might be getting training and financial backing from Pakistan or Bangladesh.

"Over the last few years, the dissatisfaction among Indian Muslims has hitched onto the wagon of the global/regional jihad," said C. Uday Bhaskar, a security analyst and former director of New Delhi's Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.

"If you have 150 million Muslims in India, only 0.01 percent of that figure would mean a militant nucleus of 15,000 people."

Police raided one house in Mumbai where they believe e-mails from the Indian Mujahideen were linked, local media reported.

India's home ministry said on Friday it suspected "a small militant group" was behind the Bangalore blasts, while some police officials suspected the attack could be the work of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India.

Some IT companies in Bangalore, known as India's Silicon Valley, were increasing security. Each bomb had a similar explosive force to one or two grenades.

The city is a prominent software development centre and is also home to a major outsourcing industry.

(Additional reporting by Rupam Jain Nair in Ahmedabad)