Mutual Funds Guide For Beginners
Mutual fund is known to be one of the best investment avenues in India. Learn about what is mutual fund, how it works and benefits of online mutual fund investment.
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Mutual Funds : Types
Mutual funds are divided into various categories based on the asset class and method of investment. SEBI has stated the parameters for multiple categories of mutual funds which are discussed below.
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Benefits Of Mutual Funds Investments
MF have multiple benefits which favour the statement of AMFI 'Mutual Fund Sahi Hai.' Due to several advantages, its popularity is rapidly increasing along with the number of investors.
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Mutual Funds : Objectives
The Mutual Funds are chosen to fulfil various financial goals in a convenient and efficient manner. The objectives for which mutual funds investments are most commonly chosen are described below.
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Direct Vs Regular Funds
MFs are available to everyone in two different plans, namely direct plans and regular plans.
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Methods of Investing in Mutual Funds
SIP and lumpsum are the two methods of mutual funds investments. There are various advantages as well as disadvantages of MF one over the other.
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How to Select MF
An investor can select the best scheme for oneself if he/she reads the various parameters of the mutual fund schemes before investing.
Mutual Funds: Types
Based on asset classes, mutual funds are mainly divided into five categories
Mutual Funds: Objectives
Millions of investors have taken the advantage of investments in mutual funds online to fulfil multiple objectives.
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5yr Return
17%- ELSS mutual funds allow tax-saving
- Tax benefits of up to Rs 50,000
- Least lock-in of 3 years
- Most profitable tool under section 80C
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5yr Return
17%- Best financial assistance for retires
- Strategically planned mutual funds
- Multiple options available
- Specific schemes for post retirement era
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5yr Return
15%- Financial assistance for chid's future
- Unique strategies are available
- Education and other requirements can be secured
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5yr Return
22%- Most convenient method
- Different schemes for varied risk-appetites
- Enormous wealth can be created in long term
Apart from all the goals mentioned above, there are multiple objectives which can be achieved with the help of MF. It is the best savings channel
which can decorate the monthly income by adding handful returns. Efficient savings can be done for marriage, education, buying assets and properties,
traveling and many more reasons.
What Are The Advantages of Mutual Funds Investments?
Let us examine the benefits
and features which are rewarded to the investors.
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Better Returns
Investments in Mutual funds online provide an opportunity to gather maximum capital through variegated portfolio to the investors. Gains are the top priority for the selection of investment channel for a majority of investors. The returns of debt mf schemes are decent but are much better than that of the FDs and RDs. The equity returns are much higher than any other investment method. In the last ten years, on an average, equity schemes have provided 11-16% returns while debt schemes have generated 8-10% annualized returns. Mutual funds offer the best returns in longer tenures.
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No Lock-in Period
Mutual funds have your back in times of emergency financial needs. Unlike most of the investment channels, they have no lock-in period. The investors can withdraw the redeemable units whenever they wish to, and no extra charges will be incurred if the exit load period is completed. ELSS and solution-oriented MF schemes are the only categories which have a lock-in period.
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Professional Management
Mutual funds are managed by the professional fund managers who have expertise in the management of corpus. They are experienced in tracking the movements in the market and are aware of the right time to buy, sell, or accumulate the holdings. With high competition among the AMCs in the market, the fund managers compete against each other to win the trust of the investors and perform better than others. This competition directly benefits the investors who only need to invest, sit back, and relax while watching their money grow through a professionally handled portfolio.
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Convenience
One of the significant advantages of the investments in mutual funds online is the availability of SIP as well as lumpsum mode of investment. It focus on delivering the most convenient services to the investors. The systematic investment allows the investor to create surplus wealth and fulfill their long-term financial goals without imparting financial burden which is not available in other options. The recurring bank deposit is not an option as it doesn't provide enough returns to achieve many financial goals. The withdrawal option is also much comfortable and convenient than any other channel. Similar to SIP, the SWP option allows investors to withdraw a fixed amount periodically. In the Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP), one can redeem the units worth of selected amount periodically from the redeemable units in the portfolio. Investors can choose the most appropriate and suitable mode of investment and withdrawal personally to achieve the set financial goal.
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Choices Available
A large variety of mutual fund is available which serves different goals and follows different strategies out of which the investors can choose the one which suit them the most. Conservative investors can select a less risky debt or hybrid scheme while aggressive investors can go for high return generating equity schemes. Mutual funds provide schemes for all kinds of investors in the most beneficial manner which is why it is considered the most comfortable method of investment.
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Transparency
The investor is free to track the mutual funds investments at any time while they are growing or depreciating and take the required actions. They can trace the wealth gain on the invested amount anytime online as well as offline. Apart from that, all the mf companies are under the control of SEBI, which ensure the welfare and transparency of the corpus. The investors can forget about the worries and lead a comfortable lifestyle with the aid of mutual funds.
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Financial Discipline
Apart from the benefits in the returns and affordability, mutual funds also embark financial discipline in the lives of investors. The regular investment through SIP for long-term maintains disciplined financial lifestyle while securing the future financially.
There are many more benefits of mutual funds investments which are easy to grab by anyone. Millions of successful investors have already adapted this lucrative platform and seized multiple benefits, and the numbers are increasing like a wildfire.
How to Select Mutual Funds
An investor can choose a better mutual fund scheme for oneself if he/she can read various parameters of the schemes. New investors should always take the assistance of the experts until they get familiar with these features and aspects. There are various other criteria to choose the mutual fund scheme, including:
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Returns: The parameter which is mostly focused by the laymen investor is the returns in the past which admittedly is one of the most important factors but analysing the performance of trailing and rolling returns under the different market conditions can provide a better idea of the prospect.
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Fund Management: It is very essential to have an idea of the skill-set of management staff before placing a bet on the mutual fund as the experience and strategies followed by the manager can immensely affect the outcomes.
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Risk/Reward Ratio: The risk suitability is one of the most critical factors to be checked before choosing the right mutual fund. The standard deviation represents volatility of the scheme directly while the beta can give the ratio of risk taken by the fund to that of the benchmark. The returns generated by the mf schemes at the cost of risk influenced can be considered through parameters like Sharpe and Sortino ratios.
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Investment Strategy: The investor should consider the suitability of the investment strategy followed by the fund according to his/her comfort. The portfolio which is generally chosen by the mutual fund can be analysed for better investment experience.
Many other parameters are required to be considered before mutual fund investments and achieving the financial goal with prosperity. To invest without a setting, a specific goal is not recommended in MF. Those investors who don't have the time or skills to read about the online mutual funds investments should take the assistance of the experts rather than choosing a random scheme and creating financial hardship.
Why you Need Mutual Funds?
The awareness campaign which is getting popularized in the recent months by the name 'Mutual Fund Sahi Hai' by Association of Mutual Funds of India (AMFI) has successfully created awareness of the most beneficial investment medium due to which the number of investors has dramatically increased in India. Mutual Funds own a total corpus of more than Rs 23,30,000 crore under management, and the figure is snowballing along with its popularity. MF is not only a platform to invest in a most convenient manner but also an opportunity to grab the most beneficial returns by a laymen. It allows an investor to take advantage of the professionally managed investments without the fundamental knowledge or financial background. It can secure your financial future in a disciplined manner without incurring financial imbalances. It is an advanced strategy which has revolutionized the savings and investment strategy which in turn is assisting the economic growth of the country.
Mutual Fund: How does it Works?
Each mutual funds investment allots specific units to the investor, which represent holdings in a particular fund. The price of the unit depends upon the 'Net Asset Value' or NAV. The profits generated through investments is dispersed proportionally to every unit of the mutual fund. The gain or loss of the investment in mutual funds depends entirely on the rise and fall of the NAV. Let's take an example of a mutual fund, say X fund whose NAV is Rs 10. An investor buys 100 units of that fund which will cost him Rs 1000. Now, if the NAV of X fund becomes 12 after a year, his investment will be worth of Rs 1200 with a gain of 20%. After knowing the working procedure of the mutual funds investments, you might be wondering how the NAV grows? The answer is simple to understand. The corpus of mutual funds is invested in multiple securities, and the average of fluctuations in all the investments is taken out. If the average is positive, then the NAV will grow, and if the average is negative, it will fall, and the fund will provide loss.
Who Can Invest in MF?
Online Mutual funds investment in India provide an opportunity to every resident and non-resident Indian to invest. Though there are some restrictions on investing for the NRIs belonging to the USA and Canada by some of the asset management companies, for the residents, the only things required for investment are PAN card and a linked AADHAR card of an adult.
The minor cannot invest on their own, but on their behalf, an adult guardian can use the details of the minor to invest.
Methods of Mutual Funds Investments
Investments in mf can be made through two different modes:-
1. Systematic Investment Plan (SIP)
In a systematic investment plan, which is also known as SIP in mf, a small amount is invested in the selected mutual fund periodically for the selected tenure. The periodicity of the investment in MF can be monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or yearly. The amount so invested allots specific units to the investor's portfolio according to the NAV of the fund at the time of each investment. SIP mode of investment in mutual funds allows the investors to reduce the risk factor as the total amount invested is added to different prices and the average of all the price is taken out which is generally positive in the longer tenure. This phenomenon is called as rupee cost averaging. The investment through SIP is continuously compounded after every investment which increases the value of the invested amount through the power of compounding.
2. Lumpsum Investment
It is a one-time investment in mutual funds in which the units are allotted to the investors depending on the NAV of the fund at the time of entire investment. Lumpsum speculation incurs the market risk and is generally avoided in high-risk funds. The features like rupee cost averaging, and power of compounding are not available in this mode, but it can reward with greater returns if the investment is made at the right time in the particular MF.
Calculate how much you need to save or
how much you will accumulate
with your SIP
Why Is Mutual Funds Better than Other Investment Methods?
Investment is one of the most crucial aspects for any individual in order to avoid the money to lose its buying power in the future. Various channels of investment like bank
FDs and RDs, PPF, Corporate Bonds, etc. are available which are compared in the table below.
Mutual Funds
15.2 Lakh@15% p.a
Bank
3.65 Lakh@4% p.a
PPF
5.65 Lakh@7.60% p.a
Corporate Bonds
4.55 Lakh@~ 6% p.a
It can be inferred from the above-comparison that investments in mutual funds provide better returns at the expense of moderate risk and have several other
advantages, which are the reasons why it is one of the most appreciated and beneficial investment methods out of all the available options in India.
How to Invest in MF In India?
The investments can be made offline as well as online.
KYC form needs to submitted along with a valid proof of ID & Address to the distributor, MF branches, Authorised banks, or dealer's office which can also provide the KYC form to be filled by the investor.
Based on the goals, needs, tenure, risk, and investment horizon the investor needs to select the best performing mutual fund scheme for investment.
If the KYC form is approved, which generally takes 5-7 working days, the investor has to fill the application of the AMC along with a cheque of the amount that needs to be invested. In the case of SIP, the SIP mandate form also needs to be filled and attached for effortless investment directly from the concerned bank account in the future.
The investor needs to complete his/her profile by providing required personal details on the website of the provider.
KYC form along with valid ID & address proofs need to be sent physically to the address of MySIPonline.
Select the plan, amount, and other details and start investing right away after depositing the amount online.
As we can infer from these steps, the online procedure is much more comfortable and burden free. The investment can be made within a few clicks while sitting
comfortably on your couch.
Direct Vs Regular Funds
Mutual funds are considered as in two different plans, namely direct plans and regular plans. Direct are the ones which are chosen by the investor personally while regular are the ones suggested by the experts. If we get sick, we can either consult a doctor who can prescribe suitable medicines, or take medication on our own. When it comes to building a house, we can either design our house on our own, or take the assistance of a professional architecture who can look out for the things that we might need. Similarly, a financial expert can give better suggestions for the mutual funds investments which are inline with the requirements and desires of the investor. Due to the availability of a large number of options, it can be perplexing to decide the best mf scheme for oneself. A wrong selection might be harmful to the financial welfare of the investor. Hence, the regular MF plans can prove out to be much beneficial than the direct plans if you are not a prudent investor.
| Particulars | Direct Plan | Regular Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Assistance / Recommendations | No | At every point you are are assisted by an Advisor. |
| NAV | Higher | Lower |
| Market analysis Reqiured | Yes | No |
| Research on Funds Required | Deep analysis required as you may miss Buy & Sell Opportunity | Not required as adviser will assist you |
| Convenience | Less | More |
| Time Consumption | More | Less |
Why Choose MySIPonline for Mutual Fund Investment
At MySIPonline, investors are always considered as the top priority. Every need and desire of the individual investors are considered beforehand to suggest the optimum scheme. To allow the investors experience swift investment process, we provide multiple features which have satisfied more than 10,000 investors.
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Best Fund Recommendations
Experts at MySIPonline are highly experienced and professional in analysing the requirements of the investor. They provide the best scheme after doing extensive research on the parameters of the scheme.
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Safe & Secure
The payment gateway is highly secured from both ends. We ensure bank-level security on the investments and data transmission.
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Dedicated Support Desk
Our customer support staff is available 24*7 to provide the best in class services to the investors and solve every investment-related query.
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Free of Cost
No additional charges are incurred from the investors at any point in investment.
Several other features of our website and app have successfully fulfilled the goals and desires of the thousands of investors making MySIPonline one of the fastest growing online platforms to provide mutual funds.
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