“Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing.”
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? You must have heard this slogan multiple times on various platforms.
As per the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), the Indian Mutual Fund Industry’s Average Assets Under Management (AAUM) stood at ₹37.37 Lakh Crore as of May 2022. It has seen an unprecedented rise from ₹6.99 trillion as of May 31, 2012, over 5 times increase in the last 10 years.
Amidst the hustle-bustle of life, people find mutual funds investment as the most reliable gateway to creating wealth and securing the future. Let us understand the mutual funds meaning, types, and related aspects:
What is Mutual Fund?
A mutual fund is a collective investment scheme. A professional fund manager is the custodian of the fund portfolio. They collect capital from many investors and carefully invest in market-related financial assets, such as equity, bonds, short-term debt, and other securities to generate returns.
Each mutual fund has a specific investment aim, depending on the distinct needs. After a certain period, cumulative gain or loss on the investment is proportionally shared among the investors.
How Mutual Funds Work?
A mutual fund is an asset repository, collecting money from like-minded investors. Fund managers manage this aggregate pool of money to earn overall capital gains for the investors.
Investors → Fund Managers → Invested Securities → Returns.
Let’s break down this framework in detail:
- Many investors invest their capital, creating a pool of sizable assets.
- The fund managers choose securities to invest in at their discretion, aiming for maximum returns.
- Invested securities generate returns depending on the market conditions.
- Accrued returns are distributed among the investors proportionately.
Mutual Fund Pricing
We know mutual funds are a pool of securities, and each unit represents the pool. A mutual fund unit represents a part of the entire fund’s portfolio value. Following this, we can find the price of mutual funds per unit.
For example, a mutual fund scheme comprises 60% of equity stock, 20% of corporate bonds, and 20% of government bonds. It means all investors are the holders of securities in that fund, based on their investment amount.
The most popular method of calculating a mutual fund’s price is NAV (Net Asset Value). It represents the market value per share or unit of a mutual fund.
NAV = (Total assets of the fund – total liabilities)/ Number of outstanding shares.
Evaluate the NAV of a fund before entering into a mutual scheme. It gives the real-time value of the fund.
Types of Mutual Funds
There are various mutual fund schemes meeting the specific needs of different investors. Based on the structure, assets allocation, and investment goals, here are the major types of mutual funds:
Based on Principal Investments
Asset allocation plays an important role in determining investment strategy. On the basis of asset classes, the schemes are classified as:
Equity Mutual Funds
These mutual funds principally invest in equity shares. As per SEBI, the equity fund scheme must invest 65% or more in equity-related stocks or other equity assets. Equity mutual funds possess high volatility in risk and returns.
Debt Mutual Funds
Debt mutual funds invest in fixed income-generating financial instruments such as government securities, corporate bonds, T-Bills, Commercial Papers, and related money market instruments. It has a fixed maturity period, stable yield, and low risks.
Balanced/Hybrid Mutual Funds
A hybrid fund is a diversified grade of investments in two or more asset classes to strike a perfect balance between risk and return. In essence, it is a blend of both equity and debt-oriented investments.
Based on Market Capitalisation
Market capitalization refers to the total value of a company’s outstanding shares in the equity market. Depending on the market cap, mutual funds are divided into three broad categories:
Large Cap Funds
As per SEBI, large-cap funds invest a minimum of 80% of their assets in the equity of top 100 companies in terms of market capitalization. Such investments are stable, have reliable brand recognition, a sustainable business model, and a sound balance sheet.
Mid-cap Funds
A mid-cap mutual fund predominantly invests its assets in the equities of mid-cap companies. According to SEBI, these companies rank between 101 and 250 according to market capitalization. It must have a minimum of 65% of the total assets in mid-cap stocks. Mid-cap mutual fund returns are usually higher than large cap, but also involve significant risks.
Small-cap Funds
Small-cap schemes invest at least 80% of their assets in small companies with less than ₹5,000 crore market cap and rank 250 or below in terms of market capitalization.
Over 90% of the listed stocks come under this segment. Small-cap companies follow aggressive strategies and offer unexpected returns with huge volatility.
Flexi Cap Funds
Flexi cap mutual fund invests in all companies across different market capitalizations. It allows investors to diversify their investment portfolio and gives them the flexibility to invest in all driving sectors of the economy.
Here, the fund manager has enhanced investment options, allocating the assets across large, mid-cap, and small-cap companies. A flexi cap fund mitigates market risk and volatility by increasing the circuit of investment.
Based on Sectoral Funds
Sectoral funds or thematic funds are equity funds where assets are invested in different sectors of an economy, such as:
Technology
Funds are invested primarily in IT and software companies, allowing investors to reap the benefits of the rising technology market. For example, TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, etc.
FMCG
In this sectoral mutual fund, fund managers invest most of the assets in the FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) equities. It is one of the leading sectors in India with top players like HUL, Dabur, Nestle, Godrej, ITC, etc.
Banking
These funds are invested solely in the banking sector, the backbone of the financial industry. The banking ecosystem comprises public, private, and cooperative banks. Some popular banks are HDFC, SBI, ICICI, AXIS, and PNB.
Automobile
India’s auto sector has witnessed massive growth in recent years. Auto mutual funds invest in this industry, including automobile manufacturers and auto ancillaries. Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Hero MotoCorp, and Mahindra & Mahindra are some big players in the auto sector.
Energy
Energy mutual funds invest their assets in stocks engaged in the energy sector and natural resources, such as oil, natural gas, solar, wind, and associated branches. Reliance Industries, Adani Green Energy, Tata Power, JSW Energy, ONGC, and NTPC are some leading giants in the energy industry.
In addition, there are more sectoral mutual funds investments, such as infrastructure, agriculture, aviation, telecommunication, travel & hospitality, etc. People invest in their desired sector depending on its growth and expected returns. Sectoral mutual funds offer complete freedom to diversify investments and maximize gains.
Tax Saving Mutual Funds (ELSS)
Equity Linked Saving Schemes (ELSS) is an open-ended equity investment scheme. Under this, the fund pool is invested in growth-oriented equities and equity-related instruments.
The investors who invest in ELSS funds are eligible for tax deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The investment is subject to a lock-in period of three years. It is a reliable option to save tax and generate wealth in the long term.
Index Mutual Funds
An index fund is a passive investment scheme that focuses on portfolio diversification and provides returns proportionate to a specific index. The fund manager tracks the composition and performance of the underlying market index and allocates assets accordingly. Some popular indexes are Nifty 50, Nasdaq, BSE Sensex, Nifty Bank, S&P 500, and Dow Jones.
How to Invest in Mutual Funds?
A mutual fund offers both safety and diversity. That’s why it is a popular investment option for both amateur and experienced investors.
Nowadays, investing in a mutual fund is simple and hassle-free. You only need the required essential documents during the KYC (Know Your Customer) process as per SEBI directives, including PAN card, bank details, and address proof.
Post KYC completion, you can invest in various funds through stock market brokers, banks, mutual fund distributors, registered investment advisors, or other financial intermediaries.
Here are some important points that will help you choose the best mutual fund as per your need.
Mode of Investment
Mutual funds offer practical investing options to meet individuals’ specific needs. You can either invest a lump sum amount or in a systematic investment plan (SIP). In lump sum, investors deposit the total assets in one go in the mutual fund plan. Whereas in SIP, the investors invest a fixed sum periodically.
Purpose of Investment
Your investment goal will provide clarity and help you select a mutual fund scheme best suited for you. For instance, loan down payment, annual trips, higher education, retirement, etc. So, depending on your goal, you can choose either short, medium, or long-term mutual funds.
Maturity Period
The maturity cycle is dominant in deciding the kind of mutual funds investors want to pick. As per the investment horizon, some investors opt for equity-based funds for the long term, while others go for debt or hybrid funds.
Risk Assessment
There is a popular saying, “successful investing is all about managing risk, not avoiding it.” Each mutual fund is evaluated on the risk parameter and has categories such as high-risk and low or medium-risk. For instance, equity-based mutual funds involve greater risk than debt or hybrid fund schemes. So, risk analysis of mutual funds helps investors to make prudent decisions.
Return on Investment (ROI)
“Smart investment, better returns” is a rule that every investor should follow to allocate their assets sensibly. A comprehensive assessment of mutual fund schemes is necessary before investing, such as evaluating past returns, total asset allocation, and future prospects. The ROI associated with mutual funds is different depending on the type.
Besides, investors need to pay heed to some additional factors before investing, such as the mutual fund NAV, experience of fund managers, tax consideration, expense ratio, size of the allocated assets, etc. So, evaluate every aspect to create a healthy habit of investing.
Pros and Cons of Mutual Funds
Just like every coin has two sides, a mutual fund scheme has advantages as well as disadvantages. Let’s have a look:
Advantages
- Portfolio Diversification: Mutual funds diversify an investment portfolio, as funds are invested in various stocks, which reduces the overall risk and offers significant yield.
- Convenient and Affordable: Investing in a mutual fund scheme is incredibly simple and affordable. You can start investing from ₹500 per month with no upper limit. Small investors can easily invest and don’t have to buy high-value equities.
Professional Fund Management: Allocation of a pool of funds requires professional knowledge and years of experience. Industry experts manage your mutual funds, constantly monitoring your investment and aiming for maximum returns.
Disadvantages
- Fees & Expenses: Mutual funds come with operational costs, i.e., expense ratios. In addition, there is also a provision for exit load. It means investors must pay certain charges if they withdraw their funds before maturity.
- Lock-in Period: Some schemes offer entry and exit as per convenience, while others have lock-in clauses or fixed periods for some years, such as ELSS and other tax-saving mutual funds. It means investors cannot exit or liquidate their invested funds in case of urgency.
- Variable Returns: All the schemes are based on market conditions, so there is no fixed or guaranteed return. Investors should do proper risk analysis before investing and increase the probability of maximum returns.
The Bottom Line
Starting an investment journey is a perfect way to use your hard-earned money to create wealth. A healthy investment habit will help you multiply your assets. The mutual fund industry is witnessing remarkable growth. Over the years, it has become a stable ecosystem, with multiple investor-friendly options.
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