Questions about money - follow-up financing, performance and allowance
Artistic funds?
Time and again I read the term "performance" in the newspaper when it comes to funds. I thought he refers to art. What does he mean in this context? (Investment) bankers describe the performance of an investment, eg. B. an investment fund. It has nothing to do with art, but with performance. It is measured by the percentage change in the unit value, and within a certain time period, eg. Over three or five years. In this case, the distributions are taken into account, the initial charge (purchase fees) usually not. An example of a three-year performance: On 2 January 2004, a share of the equity fund Templeton Growth cost 8.88 euros. Three years later, on 2 January 2007, a share cost 12.50 euros. The value of a share has thus increased by 40.77 percent in these three years.
Facility for training?
My five-year-old daughter received 10 000 euros from her grandparents. The money should be invested for their education. What would be useful? In my opinion, what are ideal are so-called target savings funds, also called target funds, which are not as well known to us. They have fixed maturities, 10, 15 or 20 years, sometimes longer. Interesting in target savings funds: at the beginning of their term, they invest at a higher percentage in equities, which can generate a good return. During the 15 years it is systematically reorganized into less risky papers. Your money is secured when you need it.
Expensive loan?
The follow-up financing of my apartment is due, and my bank has sent me the new conditions. But their interest rates are much higher than those in the newspapers. Am I at the mercy of this bank at the mercy? Not at all. Unlike house banks like to claim, you can easily switch to follow-up financing the bank. The resulting costs are far below what you save by a cheaper credit. Do not be afraid to ask for other offers. Because: Many banks rely on the sluggishness of their customers in the follow-up financing and submit correspondingly expensive offers. An interest rate difference of 0.5 percent does not look like much, but keep in mind that if you pay interest of 5 percent instead of 4.5 percent on a follow-up loan of 100,000 euros, this will increase by about 4,700 euros (with a fixed interest rate of 10 years and a repayment of one percent).
Good mixture?
I would like to invest in a mixed fund. But there are so many and so different. Can you tell me what is important for such funds? In my opinion, mixed funds, which have no firm limits on the share and the pension share, are particularly interesting. For example, a fund manager should be able to invest 90 or even 100 percent in equities in boom times, and exit in times of crisis and get on hold. Only then does he have the chance to really implement the concept of wealth management for "little people". In addition, you should be shown, of course, the results of the mixed fund in the past, and in different investment periods, ie in the stock boom and the subsequent crash in 2001/2002. If you are planning a longer investment period, the mixed fund should not be too defensive. If fluctuations are to be as small as possible, this is at the expense of the return.
Save free allowance?
The allowance for interest income was halved on 1.1.2007. That hits me, because I have almost only interest papers, and I have to tax accordingly. Is there also a tax-favorable option? However, I attach importance to a secure investment! Open real estate funds can be a solution. These funds mostly invest throughout Europe in good commercial real estate in interesting locations. Their yield usually corresponds approximately to the fixed-income securities, is currently between 3.5 and 4.5 percent. While you have to pay tax on interest income on fixed-income securities, income from open-end real estate funds is in part tax-exempt. This considerably improves the return if the savings allowance has already been exhausted. Open real estate funds offer a tax-favorable, stable investment without drastic price fluctuations, ie they are a stable investment with low risk.
Who pays rehab?
I am 43 years old, work full time as a typist and often fall for a long time because of my strong back pain. Due to my current state of health, my doctor advises me to apply for a rehab. Where can I get an overview and who pays for it? The first point of contact for those who are still working is almost always the pension insurance.It also offers medical rehabilitation to people with work-related illnesses. Thus, the ability to work should be maintained or restored in order to avoid early retirement. In this respect, the principle of "rehabilitation before retirement" applies. Only if these conditions do not apply, your health insurance is responsible. Medical rehabilitation measures are carried out both inpatient and outpatient. The benefit period is three weeks, but can be extended if medically necessary. Rehabilitation services are carried out in own pension insurance clinics, but mostly in contracting institutions. Increasingly, the pension insurance institutions also offer outpatient rehabilitation services. This means that you can stay in a rehabilitation clinic near you during the day, but return home in the evening.
