A mutual fund is a collection of funds under the expert management of a Fund Manager. It takes money from several investors with similar investment goals and invests it in stocks, bonds, money market instruments, and other securities.
Mutual funds are frequently mistaken for complicated asset classes. They have a straightforward investment philosophy and offer investors several advantages, including diversification, expert money management, economies of scale, transparency, and liquidity.
Consider including a mutual fund in your financial portfolio, whether you are an experienced investor or a novice. You should be conscious of both the investment’s benefits and drawbacks.
Benefits of investing in mutual funds
Here are a few reasons to help you turn to mutual funds instead of traditional investment methods.
1. Investment Diversification
Going for asset diversification is one of the golden rules of investing for both big and small investors. By purchasing various stocks from various industries and different sorts of investments, you can reduce the danger to your assets.
For instance, invest only some of your funds in a single sector- or industry-specific fund. If energy prices decline, your savings will suffer.
Additionally, investing in bonds might shield you from a sharp decline in stock prices.
2. Asset Liquidity
The ability of an asset to be turned into liquid cash is referred to as liquidity. Imagine yourself in a situation where you urgently need money but don’t have enough in your bank. Property cannot be sold, or a loan obtained immediately.
When you require quick access to cash, mutual fund investments are well known for being highly liquid assets. Given that some mutual funds may have a lock-in period, you should ask your fund manager if your mutual fund can be cashed out immediately.
Be conscious of selling-related fees, such as back-end load fees, which are percentages subtracted from your proceeds when selling the fund.
3. Smaller, More Responsible Investments
The most significant benefit of mutual funds, among others, is their flexibility. Investments can be made based on cash flow. Investors can contribute a small sum of money to invest in a mutual fund.
You can start investing in mutual funds with as little as Rs. 500. A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) might assist you in developing the habit of frequently investing if you need more discipline.
This means you can ensure that you are building a practice for investing occasionally and that you are not anxious about investing significant sums of money.
4. Professional Guidance
Professional fund managers specializing in managing mutual funds decide where and when to invest the pooled funds. By continuously monitoring market trends and doing in-depth research, investments are made.
You also pick a qualified money manager when you purchase a mutual fund. After conducting extensive studies and developing a comprehensive financial plan, this manager decides how to invest her funds.
Before you choose the best mutual funds to invest in, you should know how to select suitable mutual funds.
How to choose the right Mutual Funds
Following are some considerations that, if made, will help you choose a solid mutual fund based on your financial objectives, risk tolerance, and asset allocation:
Investment horizon
This will depend on how long it will take you to achieve your financial objectives. If you know how to pick the finest mutual fund, you will realize that equities funds are excellent for long-term goals and debt funds are best for short- to medium-term objectives.
Investing objective
You must be aware of your investment objective before learning how to choose the best mutual fund. Equity funds are better suited for capital appreciation in the long term, whereas debt funds are suitable if you desire regular income. Do you prefer income stability or growth?
Risk profile
If you know your risk tolerance, selecting the ideal mutual fund will be a breeze! To ensure you are assuming the appropriate risk, you should be familiar with the scheme’s risk profile. Bond or debt funds are suitable for investors with low to moderate-risk appetites, while equity funds are excellent for individuals with a moderately high to high-risk appetite.
Taxation
Taxation is one of the most crucial factors to consider when determining how to pick a decent mutual fund since you must first understand the tax implications of your assets.
Why invest in mutual funds with Fi.Money?
Investors can find comprehensive information on top-performing mutual funds from various asset management companies on the Fi.Money app.
The app comes with customised categories of mutual funds you can tap into based on your investment goals and risk appetite. Without imposing late fees, Fi.Money supports your investment in the most outstanding mutual funds.
The process to invest in mutual funds via Fi.Money is super simple too! All you have to do is pick your fund, the duration you want to invest in, and the amount you want to invest.
You can set up a SIP or choose to invest in one shot. You can also automate your investments and link them to your FIT rules to invest efficiently.
