Tech
How do I choose a smallcase? Selecting a Smallase

While Technology has made investment advisory affordable, retail investors are increasingly shifting towards picking model portfolios / smallcases from the days of individual stock picking. There are 100s of smallcases available on the Smallcase platform. Hence, we are writing this article to help you in selecting a smallcase. In this article we use model portfolios and smallcases interchangeably.
Risk Appetite:
Everyone should invest only as per his/her risk appetite. Model portfolios have equity allocation ranging from 0% to 100%. While aggressive investors are comfortable investing in smallcases with even 100% equity, and conservative investors should go for smallcases which have lower allocation to equity. Because of this wide-range of smallcases collection, it’s important to assess his/her risk appetite and invest accordingly. At Gulaq, we designed a risk profiling tool which helps investors assess their risk category and select appropriate portfolios. Here’s the link to the risk profiling tool
Investment horizon:
If you are looking for long term gains, never select concentrated portfolios. The concentration might be based on sectors, or themes or factors. Always select the portfolios which are diversified in terms of market cap and also in terms of how the portfolios are constructed. For Example, momentum portfolios are based on a single factor and hence risky in the long-term. Multi-factor investing based portfolios are better suited for long-term investments, as they are diversified across themes, sectors, and factors. This will help investors avoid the unnecessary hassle of timing their entry and exit in the theme based portfolios.
Backtesting results:
Take backtesting results with a pinch of salt. It is very easy to come up with a strategy which has performed well in backtests. Whether it will perform in live markets or not, is a totally different thing. Always give more importance to live results.
Analyzing Live performance:
When you see the live performance, always see how the portfolios performed during rising markets and during falling markets. Smallcase allows users to switch time periods from 1 Month to 5 Years, check how the small case is performing compared to different benchmarks across time periods.
Investment team:
Always see the team behind the portfolios. Lately because of the huge investor interest in the model portfolios, there are many portfolios being offered by 1-2 person teams who have just started operations. See the live track record of portfolios, the quality and experience of the team behind the portfolios, and size of the team.
Diversification:
A well diversified portfolio reduces the drawdown risk over long-term. While selecting a portfolio, watch out for what kind of strategy the portfolio is based on. For example, a theme based smallcase is likely to perform well as long as the theme is performing well. Hence, one must carefully consider how diversified the portfolio is and what is the time horizon they can look at based on the extent of diversification. Go for a well-diversified portfolio.
Influencers Trap:
A recent trend has started where influencers have started offering smallcases. Even though there might be a star fund manager behind the portfolios, many of them haven’t been able to keep up with the changing nature of the markets. While picking these smallcases, be cautious about their recent 2-3 years performance. If a fund manager underperforms over a 2-3 year period then surely you need to think twice before investing with them.
Subscription fee:
Have an understanding on how much investment you are likely to make in one year, and calculate the subscription fee as a percentage of your investment. Pick such a Small case, which doesn’t cost you more than 2-3% of your AUM.
Some portfolios tend to have lower minimum investment size, which makes the subscription fee a higher percentage of AUM. Don’t get carried away with subscription fee/minimum investment percentage, instead try calculating subscription fee/annual investment size.
There is no universal smallcase, which is the right investment for everyone. The above factors help you in the process of selecting the right smallcase.
Happy investing!

Khalil ur Rehman is a proud born and raised in Abbottabad. Khalil has worked as a journalist for nearly a decade having contributed to several large publications including the Yahoo News and The Verge. As a journalist for The Hear Up, Khalil covers climate and science news. [email protected]
Tech
The Dos and Don’ts of Web Design Trends

Web design trends are constantly evolving, and as a website owner, it is important to stay up-to-date with these trends to ensure that your website remains modern and effective. However, not all web design trends are created equal, and some can actually hurt your website’s performance.
In this article, we will discuss the dos and don’ts of web design trends to help you create a visually appealing and user-friendly website. When you understand these, you can also communicate better with your web designer in Melbourne.
DO: Keep it simple
One of the most important things to keep in mind regarding web design trends is to keep it simple. While adding all the latest bells and whistles to your website may be tempting, a cluttered and complex design can be overwhelming for users. Instead, focus on creating a clean and intuitive design that is easy to navigate.
DON’T: Overuse animations
Animations can be a great way to add visual interest to your website, but overusing them can distract and annoy users. Thus, when using animations, make sure to use them sparingly and purposefully.
DO: Use bold colours
Bold and vibrant colours have become a popular trend in web design, and for a good reason. They can add energy and personality to your website and help your brand stand out. Just be sure to use them in moderation, and make sure they complement your brand identity.
DON’T: Use too many fonts
Fonts can be a great way to add personality and character to your website, but too
many fonts can be overwhelming and confusing for users. Stick to a few key fonts that are easy to read and complement each other.
DO: Focus on mobile optimisation
With the majority of internet traffic now coming from mobile devices, it is essential that your website is optimised for mobile. It means using a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes and ensuring your website loads quickly on mobile devices.
So, ask your web designer in Gold Cost to pay special attention to the mobile optimisation aspect of your website. It is completely worth the effort.
DON’T: Use pop-ups excessively
Pop-ups can be an effective way to capture leads and promote special offers, but using them excessively can be annoying for users. Limit your use of pop-ups, and make sure they are easy to dismiss.
DO: Use white space
White space, or negative space, is the area between design elements on a page. Using white space effectively can help to create a clean and organized design that is easy to navigate. Don’t be afraid to use plenty of white space on your website.
DON’T: Use autoplay videos
Autoplay videos can be a major annoyance for users, especially if they have limited data or are using a slow internet connection. If you must use videos on your website, allow users to play them rather than forcing them to autoplay.
DO: Prioritise accessibility
Accessibility should always be a top priority in web design. This means designing your website with features that make it easy for users with disabilities to navigate and use. This can include using alt tags for images, ensuring that text is easy to read, and providing closed video captioning.
DON’T: Follow every trend
Finally, it’s important to remember that not every web design trend is right for every website. Before incorporating a new trend into your website, consider whether it fits your brand identity and user needs.
Do not feel you must follow every trend because it’s popular.
DO: Use high-quality images
Images can be a powerful way to engage users and tell a story, but they must be high-quality and relevant to your content. Use clear, well-composed, and visually appealing images, and be sure to optimise them for web use.
DON’T: Use small font sizes
Small font sizes can be difficult to read, especially on mobile devices. Make sure your font sizes are large enough to be easily read and use font styles that are easy on the eyes.
DO: Test your website regularly
Regularly testing your website for usability, speed, and compatibility can help you identify and fix issues before they become major problems. Use tools like Google Analytics to track user behaviour and make data-driven decisions about your design.
DON’T: Forget calls-to-action
Calls-to-action (CTAs) are essential to any website, as they tell users what to do next. Ensure your CTAs are clear, easy to find, and visually distinct from other elements on the page.
DO: Use consistent branding
Consistent branding can help to build trust and familiarity with your audience. Use your brand colours, fonts, and logos throughout your website to create a cohesive and professional look.
DON’T: Use too many different colours
While bold colours can be effective, using too many different colours on your website can be overwhelming and distracting for users. Stick to a colour scheme consistent with your brand identity and use colour sparingly to draw attention to important elements.
Final Say
Keeping up with web design trends can help you create a modern and effective website. However, it is vital to use these trends wisely and to prioritise user experience and accessibility above all else — but don’t be afraid to try and experiment with different design elements to find what works best for your audience.
By keeping these dos and don’ts in mind, you can create an effective, engaging, and user-friendly website. One last essential to have a top-notch web design is your choice of web designer in Gold Coast.
SEO Melbourne service provider is essentially the captain of your project, so make sure to choose a capable and reliable one. Research many and pick the best.
On that note, add our recommendation to your list of potential providers — Make My Website. They have a commendable reputation and experience in web designing, so give them a shot.

Hamza Fazal is a reporter for The Hear UP. After graduating from the University of Abbottabad, Hamza got an internship at the NPR and worked as a reporter and producer. Hamza has also worked as a reporter for the Medium. Hamza covers health and science for The Hear UP.