Is it smart to invest in mutual funds?
Many people see mutual funds as a great investment vehicle. Consider the advantage: Because they're funds that contain a variety of assets, you get automatic diversification. If Company A's stock crashes, you'd lose a lot if you were directly invested in it.
Mutual fund investments when used right can lead to good returns, keeping risk at a minimum, especially when compared with individual stocks or bonds. These are especially great for people who are not experts in stock market dynamics as these are run by experienced fund managers.
A mutual fund provides diversification through exposure to a multitude of stocks. The reason that owning shares in a mutual fund is recommended over owning a single stock is that an individual stock carries more risk than a mutual fund. This type of risk is known as unsystematic risk.
One should invest across various categories of companies/mutual fund schemes. This diversification should also be implemented across various mutual fund houses/sectors. The broad categories for equity investing are Large Cap, Mid Cap, and Small cap. One should invest in all these categories.
Mutual funds are popular because all the legwork of creating an optimally diversified portfolio is taken care of by the fund's managers. This intrinsic diversification makes mutual funds generally safer than investing in individual stocks.
Mutual funds allow investors to dollar-cost average over time and reinvest dividends, enabling compound growth. However, taxes on capital gains distributions and dividends can make them less tax-efficient. While mutual funds provide diversification, they still carry market risk based on the underlying securities.
Mutual funds are largely a safe investment, seen as being a good way for investors to diversify with minimal risk. But there are circ*mstances in which a mutual fund is not a good choice for a market participant, especially when it comes to fees.
There is no better time to start investing. It is very difficult to time the markets and although the markets are due for a correction, it would not be wise to wait further. Also, when it comes to SIPs, there is not much merit in timing the markets. We would suggest you invest in different mutual fund categories.
All funds carry some level of risk. With mutual funds, you may lose some or all of the money you invest because the securities held by a fund can go down in value. Dividends or interest payments may also change as market conditions change.
How many funds are enough? One thing you should always remember is that a lot of funds in your portfolio doesn't mean you have a diversified portfolio. A portfolio with 15 funds that have overlapping is not diversified. You should have no more than 4 funds in your portfolio.
How much should I invest in mutual funds per month?
You must strive to save at least 30% of your gross income or ₹60,000 every month. To calculate how much amount you should invest in SIPs, we will have to use the standard formula, which is 100 minus your age to be invested in equity through mutual funds.
So, what's the ideal number of funds? Well, there is no right or wrong answer. It can depend on a number of factors including the number of funds you're comfortable monitoring in your portfolio, your investment objectives and risk appetite.
High fees and expenses
Mutual funds in Canada are notorious for their layers of fees, such as management fees, administrative costs, and others that can significantly reduce your investment returns over time.
Mutual funds offer several benefits to investors, including professional management, diversification, liquidity, low cost, tax benefits, affordability, safety, and transparency. However, investors need to consider several factors before investing in mutual funds.
Mutual funds let you pool your money with other investors to "mutually" buy stocks, bonds, and other investments. They're run by professional money managers who decide which securities to buy (stocks, bonds, etc.) and when to sell them. You get exposure to all the investments in the fund and any income they generate.
Typically, the ideal holding period for an equity mutual fund is considered anywhere between a minimum of 3-5 years. But data shows that only investments in 3% of the units continued for more than 5 years.
Risk of Portfolio Underperformance
Once you start investing your money through SIP, there is no guarantee that the money will keep growing. The portfolio's underperformance could adversely affect the value of your investment and may result in losses.
Downside risk is a general term for the risk of a loss in an investment, as opposed to the symmetrical likelihood of a loss or gain. Some investments have an infinite amount of downside risk, while others have limited downside risk.
The redemption of mutual funds can be done via online or offline methods. In order to redeem funds through offline mode, investors needs to submit a duly signed redemption request form to the AMC's or the Registrar's designated office.
The concept of the "safest investment" can vary depending on individual perspectives and economic contexts, but generally, cash and government bonds, particularly U.S. Treasury securities, are often considered among the safest investment options available. This is because there is minimal risk of loss.
What is the average return on mutual funds?
As of 2020, the average five-year return for large-cap mutual funds was around 11.9%. In the long-run (10 years or more) most mutual funds underperform the S&P 500. According to Dalbar, for 20 years ending 2019, the S&P 500 Index averaged 6.06%, while the average equity fund investor earned only 4.25% annually.
But it's important to keep investing money even if the market is dropping. Seems backwards, doesn't it? Think of it this way: When the market drops, your mutual fund shares are on sale—you're getting them for a lower price because the market is down. It's the time to buy—not sell.
One of the key benefits of mutual funds is the diversification they offer. Instead of putting all your money into one or two stocks or bonds, mutual funds invest in a broad range of assets. This diversification can help reduce the risk of losing money if a particular sector or company performs poorly.
In India, mutual funds investing in small and mid-cap stocks are generally considered high risk. These funds invest in high potential small and mid-cap stocks, which can be volatile but may generate high returns. They are suitable for aggressive investors with investment horizons of 5-10 years or more.
Minors: In most cases, individuals who are under the age of 18 are not allowed to invest in mutual funds. However, they may be able to invest through a custodial account held by a parent or legal guardian. Individuals, HUFs, corporations, and others can invest in mutual funds if they are Indians and live in India.
