Mutual Fund

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Why Invest In Mutual Funds?


Let’s glance at why should one consider investing in mutual funds over other options to achieve their financial goals:


Professional Managers:

Mutual funds are managed by professional people who have years of experience handling different types of assets. They are a group of dedicated fund managers that handles all financial decisions based on the performance & prospects available in the market.

Offers Convenience:

If saving time & convenience is what you seek then mutual funds are an ideal choice for investment. Because of low investment amount options, multiple choices based on one’s life & financial goals, offering the ability to redeem them on any business day, mutual funds are much sought after.

Diversification:

Mutual funds help counter risks to a large extent by equally distributing your investments across diverse range of asset classes. Mutual funds work by the adage “Do Not Put All Your Eggs in One Basket”.

Counter Inflation:

Investing in mutual fund is a smart way of beating inflation as it helps investors to generate inflation-adjusted returns, without spending much time or energy on it. This choice of investing makes sure that the purchasing power of your money doesn’t go downhill over some years.

Less Expensive:

As compared to investing directly in capital market, mutual funds offer investors the advantage of low cost investment. Most stock options require a huge capital to begin with, on the other hand mutual funds can be started with as low as Rs.500 per month & investors can derive benefit from the long-term equity investment.

Safe & Transparent:

Since every mutual fund is managed & regulated by SEBI, you need not worry as your investments are safe. SEBI has several regulations & legal frameworks in place which ensures that your investments are managed in a disciplined manner. Now it’s true that every investment is subject to certain risks, however, prudent selection based on strong market knowledge & fundamentally sound securities with diversification can help hedge such risks and generate high returns on your investments.

Types of Mutual Funds​


 

Equity Funds

These are type of funds that primarily invest in stocks and main investment objective of this class of funds is long term capital growth. Further, there are many types of equity funds which are categorized based on the size of the companies like large, medium or small.

Debt Funds

These funds are known as safe investments and provide fixed returns. In these, funds are invested in debt instruments like company bonds, government bonds, fixed income assets.

Balanced Funds

The strategy used by these funds are to maintain a certain percentage of mix of both fixed income & equities. Normally, a typical balanced fund will maintain a distribution of 60% equity & 40% fixed income. A similar type of fund known as “Asset Allocation Fund” follows on similar objectives that of Balanced Funds but then these kinds of funds do not hold any specified percentage of any asset class.

Dividend Fund:

This type of mutual funds invests in stock of companies that pay dividends, which are profits that a company shares with its stakeholders. These are income generating funds & tend to be less risky than other types of funds. It is a good choice of investment for those who seek regular payments over appreciation.

What Is SIP?


Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) is a very easy & convenient mode of making investments in mutual funds on a regular basis. SIP allows one to cultivate a habit of savings & creating wealth for the future by starting early. Offering ease & flexibility, through SIP one can create a planned approach towards investing right. SIP gets auto-debited from the investors account and the amount is invested into a mutual fund scheme that has been specified. The investor then gets a certain number of units which is based on the current ongoing market rate. Every-time a SIP is made, additional units keep getting added to the investor’s account. SIP has proved to be an ideal choice of investments for retail investors who lack resources to pursue active investments.
Benefits of SIP
 
 

convenience

Offering a hassle-free mode for investing, one can directly get the SIP amount deducted from one’s bank account via a standing instruction to facilitate auto-debit function.

 

Disciplined Saving

By investing through SIP, you commit to saving regularly. So, with SIP, one gets into a mode of disciplined savings along with creating a path of attaining one’s financial objectives & goals.

 

Flexibility

With SIP, one can decide and increase/decrease the amount as they wish, although it is always recommended to continue SIP with a long-term perspective.

 

Long Term Gains:

Investing with SIPs leads to long term gains because of the power of compounding & rupee cost averaging. Rupee cost averaging is an automated market timing technique that eliminates one’s need to time the market.


STP (Systematic Transfer Plan)

 

STP is a way through which one invests a lumpsum amount in one scheme & regularly transfers a pre-defined amount into another scheme of the same mutual fund house. In the long run, STP helps in cutting down risks to a considerable level & earning good returns. Basically, STP means transferring an investment from one asset or asset type into another asset or asset type. This transfer process happens gradually over a period of time.

Further, STP can be classified into three parts

  • Fixed STP - Here the investors take out a fixed sum from one investment to the another.
  • Capital Appreciation STP - Here the investors take out the profit part of the investment & invest it in another.
  • Flexi STP - Here, the investor has a choice to transfer a variable amount towards the investment.

Benefits

Helps in Re-balancing Portfolio:

 

Through STP, one can balance their portfolio effectively as this method allows the allocation of investments from equity to debt or vice versa. If your investment equity goes up then it can be switched from an equity to a debt fund.

 

Consistent Returns:

 

Through STP one can transfer the set amount to a target equity fund while still being invested in a debt or liquid fund. So, an investor stands to gain benefit from the returns of the equity fund to which the funds are being transferred to & at the same time remain protected as a part of the investment remains in debt.

 

Averaging of Cost:

 

STP helps in averaging out the cost as it assists in buying units when the rates are lower & vice versa.


Power of Compounding

 

Time has the greatest influence on your investment portfolio than any other force. Investments have the potential to increase in value over time and hence longer the time frame the greater the value. That’s why, financial advisors always recommend to start saving early in order to gain benefits from the power of compounding. Let’s explore this concept further.

 
  • Compounding basically is long term investment strategy which means to re-invest ones earnings from interest or dividend for receiving additional units

  • The benefit from compounding comes primarily from the fact that income keeps growing the principal to generate higher returns as time progresses

  • Higher rate of returns or longer investment duration plays a key role that leads to increase in principal amount

  • Hence, we can say that a successful investment planning is all about making the most of compounding by getting time on one’s side. Hence the earlier you start investing, the greater will be the power of compounding

What is ELSS?

 

ELSS OR Equity Linked Savings Scheme, as the name suggests, is an equity based mutual fund. Through ELSS, one can invest in tax saving mutual funds & avail tax deductions under Section 80C. There are many advantages to investing via ELSS like:

 
  • Your principal amount gets multiplied due to the POWER OF COMPOUNDIMG

  • The returns you earn within the lock in period are TAX FREE

  • Substantially HIGHER RETURN

  • Minimum lock in period of 3 YEARS
 

ELSS is an equity diversified fund & investors enjoy both the benefits of capital appreciation as well as tax benefits. But for long term, ELSS generate better returns though with slightly higher risk.
 

Benefits of ELSS

Advantages one can achieve by investing in ELSS

Equity’s Potential in Getting Return:

Equities are known for giving potentially higher long-term gains compared to other tax saving instruments available in the market. So, with ELSS, one can more effectively & efficiently construct a portfolio keeping in mind the long-term perspective.

 

Tax Saving Instruments:

Under section 80C, investments in ELSS are exempt from tax. And the returns received from equity funds after the end of 1 year is also tax free. As ELSS funds come with a lock in period of 3 years, the returns, dividends, capital gains also become tax free.

 

Outperforming Funds:

If you want to save money & earn higher return of approximately 15 percent & more, ELSS funds are the way to go.

 

Financial Goal Planning:

With inflation beating returns, ELSS funds are the best when it comes to long term financial planning. Under the guidance of an expert financial advisor, one can easily achieve the set goals of buying their dream home, children’s education, wedding, car & much more.

 

Less Lock in Duration:

ELSS funds have a 3-year lock in period, which is less as compared to other investment avenues like PPF, FDs, NSC.

 

Investment Option:

One has an option of either investing in one go I.e. lumpsum amount or can opt for SIP. SIP or Systematic Investment Planning is where a certain amount gets deducted from your account on a monthly basis.


Debt Mutual Funds vs Fixed Deposits

 

Currently, there are two most popular methods of investing - Fixed Deposits & Debt Mutual Funds. These two methods of investment are normally do meet primary goals of an investor which are low risk investment avenue, seek returns in 5 years & to gain atleast 8% to 9% of rate of returns. But then there are certain aspects like benefits, features that differentiate them & the difference in the way they work can be of advantage or disadvantage depending on the type of investor one is.

 

Debt Mutual Funds Bank Fixed Deposits
Return is market dependant hence may vary as per the prevailing conditions Returns are fixed & not subject to any market fluctuations
There is a scope for capital gain & loss In FDs, there is no scope for capital gain or loss
Tax liability only arises when the investor sells the units of the mutual fund These attract higher tax rate. Tax is also applicable on accrued income which is due to be received
There is no concept of premature withdrawal Penalty is levied on premature withdrawal
Are more tax efficient if the investment horizon is for more than 3 years Interest income is taxed. If the interest paid exceeds Rs. 10,000
Can liquefy investments quickly Funds are locked in until maturity date

SWP (Systematic Withdrawal Plan)



 
 

SWP is a facility offered by mutual funds to enable the investors to redeem the units in small portions at regular intervals so that short term goals or monthly income needs are met. The intervals period can range from monthly or quarterly. SWPs are preferred choice by retired individuals as it can help in creating regular flow of income from their investment corpus in mutual funds. Other investors can opt for this to pay EMIs, pay bills, & to take care of other expenses.

 

SWP can be effectively used to make better use of surplus funds as it allows you to invest that amount in mutual fund schemes & facilitates withdrawal as per your requirement. It also offers capital protection as returns on arbitrage funds are risk-free.




 

Benefits


 

 

Tax Advantage

When one withdraws through SWP, the amount doesn’t attract any tax. All the money withdrawn will be capital itself.
 

Fixed Income:

This facility is a good choice for those who are looking for regular income over a period of time.

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