Categories
Finance

7 Best Tips You Should Consider Before Investing In Mutual Funds

Summary: Mutual Funds are one of the most popular tools of investment in India. A collection of bonds, stocks, assets, and money market instruments come with many benefits.

Warren Buffett once said, “Risk comes from not knowing what you are doing.” And when it comes to investment his words stand true. When you know how the market works, what kind of risk it involves, and know the essential tips and tricks of the same, you can become a good investor.

For beginners, Mutual Funds are the safest option to start investing in the market. Mutual Funds enable an investor with limited capital to make investments in various schemes like SIPs with as little as Rs. 100 or Rs. 500 to generate better earnings.

A mutual fund is an investment scheme made up of a pool of money collected from many investors to invest in various securities. The fund manager then uses these funds by investing them to purchase various securities including gold, stocks, bonds, etc. Each mutual fund will have a certain objective and different returns.

Before you decide to invest in mutual funds, follow these 7 tips that will help you to make a better decision in investing your money:

1. Read About Mutual Funds & Its Benefits

The new age investors believe in making passive income by making their idle money work for them. However, very few understand its true meaning and how to make the most of it. Many individuals are aware of the benefits that come along with investing in the stock market. But very few know that routing such investments through mutual funds would prove to be more effective.

Hence, you need to read as much as it is possible about Mutual Funds and how they work. What are the benefits and how you can reduce the risk that comes along with investments in just one asset category?

You can also take help from a wealth creator. He or she can help you in making investment decisions, just like a business coach helps you in taking critical decisions related to your business.

2. Learn about types of Mutual Funds

Mutual funds are segregated into distinct categories by asset class. They are divided into stocks, bonds, and cash, and then furthermore based on their style, objective, or strategy. There are three types of Mutual Funds in India:

a). Equity: High on both risk and potential returns, these investment schemes are the favorite of seasoned traders. However, beginners and investors with a low appetite for risk are cautioned before investing in any equity-oriented Mutual Funds.

b). Debt Mutual Funds: If you are risk-averse but want great returns on your investment, debt mutual funds are suitable for you. These fund schemes mostly invest in debt instruments like government bonds, corporate bonds, etc.

c). Balanced Mutual Funds: Also known as hybrid funds, this type of investment put money both in stocks and bonds. Its diversified nature provides balance and a perfect blend of both risk and rewards in terms of investments.

3. Find Your Objective

Before you decide to invest in mutual funds, you must know your objective. For instance, you can invest in equity funds, if you have long-term financial goals, but if you have short-term or medium-term financial goals, you can invest in debt funds.

Hence, your first step should be to decide on a goal. The time frame you are looking for and the returns that you are expecting will help you choose a fund that is best suited to your objective.

4. Learn About the Risk Involved

When thinking about investing, it is essential to know that the risk factor remains constant no matter which investment scheme you pick. However, there are numerous options available to help investors find one scheme that matches their risk appetite and return on investments.

5. Check the Expense Ratio

For the proper management of your funds, a commission is charged which is known as the expense ratio. As an investor, you need to figure out how much expense ratio a particular fund is charging, as it is calculated across the investor`s total portfolio and will have a significant impact. Hence, always pick a mutual fund that comes with a lower expense ratio.

6. Check Taxable Income on Your Investment

How much income from a fund will be taxable is something every beginner must consider. The returns from equity mutual funds are taxed based on the holding period and the applicable tax rate. Mutual funds are often efficient in terms of post-tax returns. For instance, long-term capital gains are taxed at 10% over and above the exemption limit of INR 1 lakh while short-term capital gains are taxed at a rate of 15%.

7. Track Past Performance of the Mutual Fund

It is crucial to check the track record of a particular Mutual Fund scheme before investing. From the duration to ‘Assets Under Management (AUM), you must learn everything related to the investment scheme you are planning to put your money in. Also, check the investment style of the fund manager and opt for a fund where the manager shows consistency irrespective of the market cycle.

Mutual funds are subject to market risk, which is why doing a fundamental analysis of a particular investment scheme becomes paramount. But, do know that no matter how good a fund has performed in the past, it won’t guarantee that the mutual fund will do well in the future. Keep these tips in mind before investing your money in a mutual fund.


LFP Plus by Dr Vivek Bindra

Categories
Finance

4 Ways To Reduce Risks & Make Good Financial Investment In The Market

Summary: Making investments in stocks and mutual funds is a great way of achieving your financial goals. But how to reduce risks when you are a beginner? Find it out.

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has impacted the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange. Such volatility of the market may cause beginners to panic and slip away from the equity markets, vowing never to come back again.

Any investment big or small is subject to market risks. The thumb rule is to protect your principal amount. While the stock market involves risks and can`t be entirely predicted or avoided, one can protect the portfolio by being mindful, careful, and observant of market changes to minimize the investment risks. There are many online business courses for entrepreneurs to offer in-depth information on financial investment.

So apart from creating a diversified portfolio with quality stocks, you may also listen to the experts like Meghana V Malkan and Vishal B Malkan from April 1st to April 3rd, 2022 to learn how to make a mindful investment.

Here are four ways that will help you to reduce the risk while investing:

1. Keep Your Portfolio Diversified

What you do to your portfolio matters and when it comes to diversifying it, it can help in more than one way. Investing in more than one asset class will minimize the risk. Diversification means to spread out investments in different types of funds across various sectors and not stick to a particular theme or an idea.

While over-diversification means low-risk and low returns, a concentrated portfolio are a high risk-high return concept advisable to only those who are experts in the field. An investor`s job is to find the middle ground between over-diversification and concentration.

2. Buy Value & Buy Cheap

Would you invest in a property which is quite expensive or would you want to invest in a real estate property that is available at a cheaper price and have the chances of gaining momentum in the future?

The best thing about value investing is that it offers maximum margin safety. But the downside is that it offers limited growth, unlike the sectors that offer unlimited growth with high uncertainties. To find themes that are available at cheaper prices and experiencing temporary downturns but are expected to do well in the future. If you are just a beginner, you can take online courses for entrepreneurs to gain basic knowledge related to stock market.

3. Invest in SIPs

Systematic Investment Planning which is also known as SIP is a great investment plan for everyone. Hence, it is advisable to maintain a disciplined approach towards mutual fund SIPs no matter where the world is going as it can help in averaging out the NAVs at various levels.

4. Avoid Adding Stocks With the help of Margins

Avoid taking leverage and adding stocks with the help of margins. Pure cash investing is a slow and steady process to win the race.

Investing in stocks can be overwhelming especially for beginners. However, with the above-mentioned strategies, you can begin on a positive note. These strategies will help you to minimize risk while investing. To ensure that you make some good investments, you can either consult a financial advisor or you can take our problem solving courses that are aimed to offer extensive knowledge.

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Having a compelling marketing idea is great. But you know what is even better? Personal guidance to increase your brand presence consistently to facilitate sales, engage your customers and close leads. You can join our business coaching program to learn from the experts.

Categories
Webinar

How To Create Wealth Using Asset Allocation?

Simran has just landed her first job. She is excited about her new job, but also keen to save and invest in her future. However, just like many others, she is confused about where she should start.

Some of her friends are trading in the stock market while others are thinking about invest in PPF. But, Simran is way too worried and is pondering over her investment options as she does not want to take too much risk with her hard-earned money.

Though bank deposits are a safer option, the fixed return is not appealing to her. When it comes to investing in a mutual fund, she is not sure which mutual fund she should buy and invest in, as there are plenty of choices.

So how should she make her investment choices, so that over a while she can save and build wealth too?

Does Simran`s story sound familiar to your own? Don`t worry! You are not alone!

Only 4% of Indians prefer to invest in stocks, and exchanges along with many scams are to be blamed for keeping them away from equity markets.

“We have a market that is not safe for investors to a large extent”, says Ashish Kumar Chauhan, CEO & Managing Director of Bombay Stock Exchange.

And with thousands of bonds, stocks, and mutual funds to choose from, making the right decision to invest can confuse even the most seasoned investor. However, if you do not take the leverage of it, you will undermine your own ability to build wealth and secure financial life for retirement.

So what is the first step towards building wealth? Instead of selecting stocks, begin by deciding what percentage of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds you want to hold. This process is known as asset allocation.

What Is Asset Allocation?

Asset Allocation is a brilliant investment technique. It involves creating a portfolio that aims to balance risk by dividing assets into major categories like bonds, cash, real estate, stocks, and derivatives.

Each asset class has distinct levels of return and risk. Hence, each will behave differently over time. Where one asset category can increase in value, the other might not give that much return. Though some see this technique to get mediocre returns, it is the best protection plan for people like Simran, who don’t want to take much risk.

However, there is no single or set formula for asset allocation that guarantees good returns. And if there were, it would be difficult for us to explain it here.

We have outlined 3 essential points that you must consider when thinking about asset allocation:

  1. Risk against Return

Asset allocation is all about the risk-return tradeoff. It forms the basis of the entire technique. Everyone wants the highest possible return, but it is more than just choosing high-potential assets.  Moreover, it isn`t always the best answer!

The financial crisis of 1929, 1981, 1987, and 2007 to 2009 are the best examples of how investing only in stocks with the highest potential returns is not the most prudent plan of action. Every year your returns are going to be beaten by another investor, pension plan, and mutual fund, etc.

The ability to weigh the relationship between risk and return is what makes an investor successful.

  1. Timing is Crucial

For every 10 years, you delay saving for your long-term future goals, you have to save three times as much every month to catch up. Starting early like Simran allows you to take advantage of compounding and the time value of money. It also gives you a buffer for making high-risk investments, namely stocks.

  1. Know your Goals!

Whether it is Simran or any one of us who is working, we all have goals! Goals that we want to pursue and fulfill. Be it owing to an apartment, a car, international vacation, or building a startup, you must think about an asset allocation plan with the right mix.

For long-term goals, you do not have to worry about fluctuations in the short market. However, for short-term goals, you may need to tilt your asset allocation to fixed-income investments that have less risk.

Once you determine the right mix of bonds, stocks, and other investments, it is time to implement it. Categorize your stocks or bonds according to their maturity- short, mid, or long term.

On the last note, there is no single solution for allocating assets. Just like Simran and her friends, individual investors require individual solutions. Asset allocation is not a one-time event. You can modify it according to your future goals and requirement. It is a life-long process of progression and fine-tuning.

To join our free Webinar on Asset Allocation,

Click here: www.facebook.com/badabusinesspvtltd.

Date & Time: Sunday 23rd May 2021 | 7 PM-8PM

To gain in-depth knowledge about the stock market, watch https://youtu.be/L_iJCNzDe-s.