Problem: Article: It might sound basic, but you should only apply for a country's passport if you qualify for one. Confirm that you satisfy the requirements for a passport by visiting your nearest consulate or embassy, where you can ask the staff about the requirements. Avoid relying on government officials who say they have a "friend" or "contact" who can get you a passport even if you don't qualify. These scams typically involve bribing a government official, which is illegal. Although the passport may be legitimate, the methods used to obtain it are not. These type of "grey market" passports are very popular in Bulgaria, Cambodia, Mexico, and Paraguay. A common fraud is to use the identity of a dead person to obtain a passport. You should never accept a passport that doesn't contain your name and correct personal information. Also avoid applying for a passport where you are encouraged to provide fake documents, such as a fake birth certificate. It is a major red flag if a government official tells you something that contradicts the laws of the nation. This person is lying to you and probably trying to scam you. Common scams involve economic citizenship programs. In many countries, you can become a citizen if you invest a certain amount of money to start a business in the country. However, these programs should be public knowledge. Avoid someone who hypes an economic citizenship program you can't find any information about. The cheapest economic citizenship programs run about $100,000 per person and have five-figure fees. It also takes several months to be accepted by the program. If someone promises lower fees or faster processing, then recognize you are being scammed. You can ask about economic citizenship programsand all other immigration lawsby visiting your nearest embassy or consulate. Most countries have a rigorous application process for becoming a naturalized citizen. You typically must spend a certain amount of time in the country and undergo a background check. If the application process seems easy, then it may be a scam. When in doubt, talk to an immigration attorney who can confirm that the application process is legitimate. In the United States, you can obtain a referral to an immigration attorney by contacting your nearest bar association. In other countries, you can find a qualified attorney by visiting your country's consulate or embassy. For example, a U.K. citizen in Thailand should find the U.K. embassy. You should renew a passport through the government office that issued your passport. Only work through them. Another common scam is for third parties to advertise that they can expedite the renewal process in as little as 24 hours. Many of these scammers advertise through Google Adwords, so you'll probably see their names at the top of the results page. As part of the scam, they usually have you fill out detailed forms that ask for personal information. Scammers then use this information. These scam websites typically do not list a physical address and have 800 telephone numbers which no one picks up. " Some people might sell something called a "world passport," which they claim allows you to travel anywhere. Only a few countries recognize a world passport. To obtain this passport, you fill out an application and pay a fee. The U.S. does not recognize the world passport, so don't buy one expecting to gain admission into the U.S. At various points in time, only a few countries have recognized the world passport. These countries have included Tanzania, Burkina Faso, and Zambia. It's not clear these countries would accept the world passport today. Avoid the world passport at all costs. Instead, seek a legitimate passport from a country where you are a legally-recognized citizen.
Summary: Confirm you meet the requirements for a passport. Accept passports only in your name. Pay attention to liars. Note if the application process is easy. Don't renew your passport through third parties. Avoid the "world passport.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: The total return on a fund is the sum of the value of any dividends the fund paid out, the value of any capital gains the fund paid out, and any increase in NAV over the life of the purchaser's holding, divided by the purchase price of the fund. The total return is expressed as a percentage, to illustrate what percent of the purchase price holders have received in cash distributions and fund appreciation during the fund life. Mutual funds are required by law to distribute capital gains (positive cash flow from the purchase and sale of stock with mutual funds) to fund shareholders. This is different than a share of stock, where the holder receives capital gains as an increase to share price, not a direct pay out. For this reason, the NAV of a fund isn't enough on its own to evaluate long-term performance of a fund. You should analyze your total return rate to determine whether or not you are earning enough income off of your fund investment. Most funds are fairly diverse, and mutual funds should over-perform the stock market. While the stock market does fluctuate constantly, you should evaluate your fund's performance against the market's to ensure you are getting a reasonable return. From 1926 to the present, the annualized return for the S&P 500 has been about 10 percent. The annualized return from Sept 2005 to Sept 2015 for S&P 500 has been about 7%. Note that returns can vary depending upon holding period, and that returns of individual stocks can vary significantly. You should compare your total return rate to the return rate on the stock market for the period you are assessing, while considering your overall acceptable return rate. The net asset value is a good indicator of whether or not your investment in the fund is retaining its value. If you purchased a share of a mutual fund for $50, receive investment income on the fund of $5 each year, and maintain a net asset value of $50 each year, you will essentially be earning 10% interest on your investment, which is a much higher rate than a savings account. By following the NAV of your fund shares, you can monitor whether or not your base investment is retaining its value, in addition to bringing in income. Most investment strategists caution against using the NAV to value your investment in the same way you might value an investment in stock using the daily stock price. Because mutual funds pay out all of their income and capital gains to shareholders, (besides the management fees charged to operate the fund), successful mutual funds don't have to increase their NAV over time. They instead need to maintain NAV while providing interest payments to shareholders. After assessing the NAV and total return performance of your fund investment, you may consider whether or not to adjust your investments. While mutual funds are considered some of the most secure and diverse investments in stocks, some funds focus on specific market areas, like tech or healthcare. If you feel your specific fund isn't providing the returns you are seeking, and you think you can get those returns elsewhere, adjust your investments accordingly.
Summary:
Calculate your fund's total return. Evaluate your fund's total return rate. Evaluate your fund's net asset value. Adjust your fund investments.