All you Wana Know

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

All about CFA Level 1 Exam

Registration

Students can register online from the parent division: http://www.cfainstitute.org/cfaprogram/process/Pages/index.aspx

Exam Format

The Level I exam is composed of multiple choice questions only.

Syllabus

The Level I curriculum concentrates on tools and concepts relating to investment valuation and portfolio management. The course also covers securities laws and regulations, and the CFA® Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct. The curriculum highlights an overview of asset valuation and portfolio management practices:

1. Financial markets and other financial instruments
2. Corporate finance
3. Analysis of financial statement
4. Quantitative methods of investment analysis"

Exam Schedule for December 2011

Level 1 Exam happens in June and December, the registartion for the exma shall be open for more than a Year. The earlier you register, the cost of entrolment shall be minimum.

The registration for next year June Level 1 eam shall start immediately after the results of June 2011 are published.

December 2011 Exam Schedule (Level I only)

Mid-January	December 2011 exam registration opens
Upon registration	Sample exams become available at time of registration
16 March 2011	First deadline to enroll and register for the December 2011 exam
24 August 2011	Second deadline to enroll and register for the December 2011 exam
1 September 2011	Exam scholarship application deadline
1 September 2011	Mock exams become available
14 September 2011	Final deadline to enroll and register for the December 2011 exam
20 September 2011	Final deadline for disability and religious alternate date accommodations requests to be received by CFA Institute
Early November 2011	Exam admission tickets available online
11 November 2011	Test center change request deadline (login required)
3–4 December 2011	Exam days
December 2011–January 2012	Exams graded
January 2012	E xam results available

Experts suggest that we register a year before because of the following reasons

Pros:

1. the cost of enrollment shall be minimum, $300 or more can be saved!!

2. the time for preperation shall be good enough

Cons:

1. The time to take level 2 and 3 will be delayed by another 6 months

2. Factor in the oppurtunity cost

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

How to Find All Unread Messages/Mails in Gmail

Find All Unread Messages in Gmail

To view all (and only) unread messages in your Gmail account:

Firstly: Type "is:unread" (not including the quotation marks) in the Gmail search field.
Secondly: Click Search Mail.
If you do this search repeatedly or generally appreciate brevity, you can use "l:unread" or even "l:^u" instead of "is:unread" (or "label:unread").

For advanced features:
If we want to find unread mails from a specific entity: say Ravi , you can combine the quest for unread messages with others:

"l:^u from:Ravi" finds all unread messages from "Ravi",
"l:^u l:^t" finds all unread starred mail
"l:^u l:^k subject:Hello" finds all unread messages with "Hello" in the subject that are in the Trash.

Hope this was helpful
You can made lot more on email facilities from http://email.about.com

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Phone numbers of Railway stations in Kerala

Railway Station Phone Numbers In Kerala

Station Name	Phone Number
Aluva	0484 2624141
Alappuzha	0477 2253965
Ambalappuzha	0477 227262
Angamali	0484 2452340
Chalakkudi	0480 2701368
Changanassery	0481 2420108
Chengannur	0479 2452340
Cherthala	0478 2812500
Cochin Terminals	0484 2666050
Edappalli	0484 2344202
Edava	0470 2660322
Eranakulam Jng:	0484 2376131
Eranakulam Town	0484 2390920
Ettumanoor	0481 2535531
Guruvayoor	0487 2554300
Harippadu	0479 2412714
Irinjalakkuda	0480 2881243
Kadalundi	0495 2470244
Kalamassery	0484 2532579
Kaniyapuram	0471 2450241
Kanjangadu	0467 2204444
Kannur	0497 2705555
Karunagappally	0476 2620240
Kasaragod	0499 4220800
Kayamkulam	0479 2442042
Kollam	0474 2765231
Kottayam	0481 2563535
Kozhikkode	0495 2701234
Kuruppumthara	0482 9242319
Mavelikkara	0479 2302249
Mulamthuruthy	0484 2740234
Nilambur	04931 220237
Ollur	0487 2352325
Ottappalam	0466 2244353
Palakkadu	0491 2555231
Parappanangadi	0494 2410235
Pattambi	0466 2212227
Payyannur	04985 203078
Piravam	04829 257138
Quilandy	0496 2620255
Shornur Jng:	0466 2222913
Thalassery	0490 2322250
Thiruvalla	0469 2601314
Thiruvananthapuram Cntrl:	0471 2331047
Thiruvananthapuram Petta	0471 2470181
Thrissur	0487 2423150
Thrippoonithura	0484 2777375
Thiroor	0494 2422240
Vadakara	0496 2524254
Vaikkam	0482 9236356
Varakkala	0470 2602222

Investment options

Various investment options are available, offering differing risk-reward trade offs. An understanding of the core concepts and a thorough analysis of the options can help an investor create a portfolio that maximizes returns while minimizing risk exposure.

Investments can be catogerised into various time frames namely short, Medium and Long Term investments

Short Term (0- 3Yrs)

Savings Account
Fixed Deposits
SIPS
Chitty funds
Recurring Deposits
Day Trading
Derrivatives and Options
Forex
ETFs
Bonds- Treasury bills and govt bonds

Medium Term ( 3+ Years to 10 Years)

Mutual Funds
SIPS
Commodity market- Namley Gold and Silver , as coins or bars
Stocks
Forex
ETFs
Bonds- Treasury bills and govt bonds

Long Term ( 10+ Years)

Real estate- namely Flats and Land at metros
investment on green field projects or flats at base prices
insurances
Long term stock market invesetments
Commodity markets- spices, rubber etc

Gold investments at its Peak -2011

The price of gold has risen every year for the past decade.

1. Economic stability
Gold prices tend to rise most when the economy is bad and fall most when things are good, since the economic downturn has been in reversal mode in last few months, Gold prices shall be affected in this respect.

2. US dollar strengthening
One reason gold is so popular right now is many investors see it as a hedge against a falling dollar. Currently US dollar has started picking up, rising against currencies that have suffered because of the severe debt crisis in Europe. A rising dollar usually results in decreased demand for gold

3. Mass investments
When each and everybody invests in GOLD, leaving a high level of speculations which could quickly develop into a selling panic like the bursting of the tech bubble a decade ago.

4.Soaring Interest Rates
With the ever increasing interest rate trend, all investments will suffer including GOLD.

A decade ago, people who invested in GOLD could have churned quite a huge return. The bottom line for any investments is - No one can predict the future!.
Always try and diversify your risks by ensuring a uniform dependency/ concentration in various investment options.

You may refer to the following websites for forcaste details of GOLD pricing

http://www.easygoldinvestment.com/gold-price-trend-forecast-2011.html
http://www.goldbullionpro.com/10-reasons-why-investment-in-gold-is-at-its-peak-these-days/

Thanks.

Pincode Directory of India

PINCODE Directory of INDIA

The following websites are useful and are the easy sources to find pincodes of cities in India

http://india.gov.in/directories_pin.php
http://www.mapsofindia.com/pincode/index.php
http://www.pincode.in/search.php
http://www.india4u.com/pincode/pincode.asp
http://www.tajonline.com/pin-codes/

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Skill sets required - Sales Agents/ Consultant/Associate/Analyst

The skill sets measured during the interview process for the roles of Consultant are:

Technology Application/Utilization:

Possess skills and knowledge common to the communications industry
Reflect the ability to grasp new concepts
Demonstrate skills necessary to implement complex technical solutions
Apply technical knowledge to solve problems

Communication:

Convey information in a manner that is understandable and persuasive
Be able to identify and remedy situations when the audience has not understood the message
Be willing and able to repeat or rephrase explanations
Question and probe others to obtain information or to identify their underlying needs

Planning/Organization:

Plan work to maximize efficiency (in time and resources) and minimize downtime
Recognize priorities and balance conflicting demands
Identify desired outcomes and determine steps needed to achieve them
Structure work activities to ensure that work is done efficiently and effectively

Problem Solving:

Seek out and collect relevant information to solve problems and achieve goals
Be able to systematically collect information to aid in making decisions
Take advantage of available resources
Be able to gather information and extract relevant data and apply it to a problem in order to develop a solution

The skill sets measured during the interview process for the roles of sales agents are:

Sales Ability:

Promote ideas and shape opinions while overcoming resistance
Show confidence even after a hard refusal/rejection
Focus on achieving goals
Present compelling rationale to gain acceptance for ideas and plans

Communication:

Convey information in a manner that is understandable and persuasive
Be able to identify and remedy situations when the audience has not understood the message
Be willing and able to repeat or rephrase explanations
Question and probe others to obtain information or to identify their underlying needs

Flexibility/Multitasking:

Recognize priorities and balance conflicting demands
Identify desired outcomes and determine steps needed to achieve them
Structure work activities to ensure that work is done efficiently and effectively
Organize their work activities to meet the requirements of the job
Posses the ability to perform multiple activities at the same time

Behavioral interview- Tips, Sample questions, Steps to tackle

Behavioral interview

A behavioral interview is a structured interview that is used to collect information about past behavior. Because past performance is a predictor of future behavior, a behavioral interview attempts to uncover your past performance by asking open-ended questions.

Methodology/Approach for behavioral interview

As you prepare to answer each question, consider organizing your response by answering each of the following components of the STAR technique:

What was the Situation in which you were involved?

What was the Task you needed to accomplish?

What Action(s) did you take?

What Results did you achieve?

SAMPLE BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

· Tell me about a time when you were on a team, and one of the members wasn’t doing his or her share.

· Tell me about a time when you felt a need to update your skills or knowledge in order to keep up with the changes in technology. How did you approach that?

· Describe a time when a customer got angry with you. How did you react? How did you resolve the situation?

· Please give me an example of a time when you took the initiative to improve a specific work process.

· Give me an example of a time when you surpassed a customer’s expectations.

· Tell me about a time when a customer requested special treatment that was out of the scope of normal procedures. What was the situation and how did you handle it?

· Describe a time when you had to use logic and good judgment to solve a problem.

· Tell me about a time when you had to cope with a stressful situation.

· Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split second decision.

· Give me an example of a time when you used your fact-finding skills to solve a problem.

· Describe a time when you put your needs aside to help a co-worker understand a task. How did you assist them? What was the result?

TIPs for Preparations

• Research the business unit or department.

· Become familiar with the products, services, structure, competitors, reputation, and any recent significant changes.

· Review the job description to understand the skills required.

• Do “research” on yourself as well.

Know why you want the job.

Review your resume.

Identify transferable skills, key accomplishments, work style, and personal and professional strengths. Remind yourself of specific experiences that exemplify these skills and strengths.

Be able to express the unique marketable skills you have to offer.

• Prepare a list of four or five questions about the department or position.

• Get a good nights’ rest.

• Know the exact place and time of the meeting.

• Allow plenty of time to get to the interview and plan to arrive early.

Try to arrive at the location at least 15 minutes before your scheduled test time to give yourself time to relax before the interview begins.

To Do your BEST

• Listen carefully, and feel free to ask for clarification before answering a question.

• Take a moment to formulate your answers before you speak.

• Project energy and enthusiasm.

• Be honest while focusing on communicating your professional achievements. Bring extra resumes, a notepad, and a pen.

• Be polite to everyone you meet at the interview.

• Do not chew gum, swear, or use slang.

• Thank the interviewer for their time. Within a day, send a written thank you note via e-mail or regular mail.

• If the interview is face-to-face:

Look your professional best.

Be conservative in your use of fragrance, cosmetics, and jewelry. Make eye contact with the interviewer.

Be aware of the interviewer’s body language and other non-verbal cues.

Spelling Tips

Tips to improve your spelling

Tip No: 1.

Remember Spelling Rules (these work with few exceptions)

“i” before “e”, except after “c”

when the above letter combination sounds like an “a” (as in “Neighbor” or “Weigh”) --Exception: Neiman Marcus ,

“q” is followed by “u”

Tip No: 2.

Listen carefully. However, spelling errors may result from listening to poor enunciation. Pronounce the word correctly. Spell it by syllables. For example:

In-de-pen-dent

Con-tent

Gov-ern-ment

Tip No 3

Use memory tricks that can help you remember the correct spelling of tricky words. For example: Tip No 4.

Piece → a piece of pie

Desert → Sahara (one “s”)

Dessert → Strawberry Straw (two “s’s”)

The best tricks are the ones you think of yourself to help you remember how to spell the words that are causing the most problems.

Tip No 5.

Make a list of words that cause you difficulty. Be sure to spell the words correctly. Review your list as often as necessary in order to visualize and memorize the correct spelling.

Tip No 6.

Read widely. Read the directory.

You can find resources like the belwo websites to improve your spelling:

WEBSITES

http://dissc.tees.ac.uk/Mistakes/Spelling/SpellMenu.html
http://www.sentex.net/~mmcadams/spelling.html
http://www.spelling.hemscott.net/

BOOKS/ MATERIALS TO HELP YOU PREPARE

303 Dumb Spelling Misstakes…..and What You Can Do about Them

Author: David Downing NTC Publishing Group, 1989 ISBN: 0844254754

1001 Commonly Misspelled Words: What Your Spell Checker Won’t Tell You

Author: Robert Magnan and Mary Lou Santovec , McGraw-Hill, 2000 , ISBN: 007135736X

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Ideal Body Fat Percentage

Ideal Body Fat Percentage

Classification     Men           Women
Essential Fat     2-5%          10-13%
Athlete             6-13%        14-20%
Fitness             14-17%      21-24%
Average           18-24%      25-31%
Obese               25% and above 32% and above

Source * : American Council on Exercise (2003)

Resting Metabolic Rate

Resting Metabolic Rate is the rate of metobolaism which happens during a human rest phase.

its calculated as:

RMR = 9.99w + 6.25s - 4.92a + 166g-161
w = weight in kilograms; if you know your weight in pounds, divide by 2.2 to get your weight in kilograms
s = height in centimeters; if you know your height in inches, multiply by 2.54 to get your height in centimeters
a = age in years
g = gender = 1 for males, 0 for females
that if you weigh more, your RMR will be higher! RMR will tell you how many calories you need to maintain your body at rest. Your daily consumption to maintain your weight should be: RMR x 1.15

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Difference between NPV and IRR

Difference between NPV and IRR

Key differences between the most popular methods, the NPV - Net present
Value Method and IRR-
internal rate of return Method, include:

• NPV is calculated in terms of currency while IRR is expressed in terms of the percentage return a firm expects the capital project to return;

• NPV Method is preferred over other methods as it calculates additional wealth

• The IRR Method cannot be used to evaluate projects where there are changing cash flows (e.g., an initial outflow followed by in-flows and a later out-flow, such as may be required in the case of land reclamation by a mining firm);

• IRR Method - understandability is better and since the concept of returns is stated in percentages and find it easy to compare to the required cost of capital

• Both DCF models( discounted Cash flwo Methods) the use of the IRR Method can lead to the belief that a smaller project with a shorter life and earlier cash inflows, is preferable to a larger project that will generate more cash.

• Applying NPV using different discount rates will result in different recommendations.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Haircare after hair straigtening

income tax slab for 2010-11

Income Tax Rates/Slabs for A.Y. (2010-11)

Slab (Rs.)	Tax (Rs.)
less than 1,60,000	Nil
1,60,000 to 3,00,000	(TI – 1,60,000) * 10%
3,00,000 to 5,00,000	14,000 + (TI – 3,00,000) * 20%
Greater than 5,00,000	54,000 + (TI – 5,00,000) * 30%

Women aged 65 years or less

Slab (Rs.)	Tax (Rs.)
less than 1,90,000	Nil
1,90,000 to 3,00,000	(TI – 1,90,000) * 10%
3,00,000 to 5,00,000	11,000 + (TI – 3,00,000) * 20%
Greater than 5,00,000	51,000 + (TI – 5,00,000) * 30%

Senior Citizens (Individuals aged above 65 years)

Slab (Rs.)	Tax (Rs.)
less than 2,40,000	Nil
2,40,000 to 3,00,000	(TI – 2,40,000) * 10%
3,00,000 to 5,00,000	6,000 + (TI – 3,00,000) * 20%
Greater than 5,00,000	46,000 + (TI – 5,00,000) * 30%

income tax slab for 2011-12

Income Tax Rates/Slabs for A.Y. (2011-12)

Slab (Rs.)	Tax (Rs.)
less than 1,60,000	Nil
1,60,000 to 5,00,000	(TI – 1,60,000) * 10%
5,00,000 to 8,00,000	34,000 + (TI – 5,00,000) * 20%
Greater than 8,00,000	94,000 + (TI – 8,00,000) * 30%

Women aged 65 years or less

Slab (Rs.)	Tax (Rs.)
less than 1,90,000	Nil
1,90,000 to 5,00,000	(TI – 1,90,000) * 10%
5,00,000 to 8,00,000	31,000 + (TI – 5,00,000) * 20%
Greater than 8,00,000	91,000 + (TI – 8,00,000) * 30%