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Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund is a joint venture between two well-known brands- Aditya Birla Group from India and Sun Life Financial from Canada. The strategic joint venture blends the rich experience of Aditya Birla Group in the Indian market and the vast global experience of Sun Life to bring some of the best mutual funds and wealth creation opportunities for customers. The fund was set up in 1994 and has played an important role in expanding the penetration of mutual funds in India. Apart from offering mutual funds, it also offers pension funds, real estate investments, wealth management, and portfolio management services. Based on the domestic average AUM, Aditya Birla Sun Life is considered one of the largest fund houses in the country. As of March 31st, 2020, the total fund size of the AMC has reached a whopping ₹247521 crore. Known for its impressive and diversified product suite, strong performance, well-defined investment strategies, and simplified processes, the fund has grown its investor portfolio count to almost 7 million. The Aditya Birla fund house deals in 4 main fund classes- Equity Funds Debt Funds Income Funds  ELSS Funds Having completed more than 20 years in its journey, all these funds have a good credit rating and offer excellent wealth creation solutions to their customers. Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund Name of the AMCAditya Birla Sun Life Mutual FundFund Setup DateDec-23-1994Date of IncorporationSep-05-1994SponsorAditya Birla Capital Ltd. / Sun Life (India) AMC Investments Inc.TrusteeAditya Birla Sun Life Trustee Private LimitedChairmanMr Kumar Mangalam BirlaCEO / MDMr. A. BalasubramanianCompliance OfficerMs. Hemanti WadhwaInvestor Service OfficerMs. Keerti GuptaAssets ManagedRs. 214591.96 crores (as of Jun-30-2020) AuditorsMessrs Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP - For Asset Management Company / S. R. Batliboi & Company - For Mutual FundRegistrarsComputer Age Management Services Pvt. LtdAddressOne India Bulls Centre, Tower 1, 17th Flr, Jupiter Mill, 841, S.B. Marg, Elphinstone Rd. Mum - 400 013Fax Nos.022-43568110/8111E-mailcare.mutualfunds@adityabirlacapital.comSource - AMFI 10 top-performing Aditya Birla SunLife Mutual Fund Schemes Leveraging the extensive knowledge and deep understanding of Aditya Birla Group along with the global experience of Sun Life, Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund has displayed consistent performance and become a credible name in the industry.  With over 140 MF schemes across categories, the fund caters to all kinds of investors, regardless of their financial goals, risk appetite, and investment time horizon. Here we are listing ten top-performing Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Funds across various fund categories. 1. Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (Category-Equity: sectoral) It is an open-ended growth scheme launched on 15 Jan 2099 with the key objective of long-term growth of capital. The fund has a portfolio with a target allocation of 100% equity, with a focus on investing mainly in technology and technology-dependent companies, software, telecom, media, hardware, peripherals and components, and other technology-enabled companies. The fund has a NAV of  ₹98.8 (as of 28 Apr 21). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum Additional InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load1% for 0-365 Days (1%) and above(NIL). Return Since InceptionCAGR/Annualized return of 11.4% since its launch. Absolute return for 2020, 2019, and 2018 was 59%,  9.6%, and  15.6% respectively. Assets ₹ 1,148 crores (As of 31 Mar 21) Expense Ratio2.6.% (as of 31st March 2021) 2. Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold Fund (category- Gold) An Open-ended fund of-funds scheme, with a NAV of ₹14.5162 (as of 28 Apr 21), it has an investment objective to offer returns that track returns provided by Birla Sun Life Gold ETF (BSL Gold ETF).  This Gold fund by ABSL mutual fund was launched on 20 Mar 12 and comes under the moderately high-risk category.  Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum Additional InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load1% for 0-365 Days (1%) and above(NIL)Return Since InceptionCAGR/Annualized return of 4.2% since its launch. Return for 2020, 2019, and 2018 was 26, 21.3 and 6.8% respectivelyAssets₹212 crores (as of 31 Mar 21)Expense Ratio0.48% (as of 31st March 2021) 3. Aditya Birla Sun Life Index Fund (Category-Index fund) An open-ended index-linked growth scheme, the fund has a NAV of ₹146.259 (as of 21 Apr 21). The objective of the fund is to generate returns that are aligned with the performance of Nifty subject to tracking errors. The fund was launched on 18 Sep 02 and cones under the moderately high-risk category  Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum Additional InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load1% for 0-365 Days and NIL for above Return Since Inception CAGR/Annualized return of 15.5% since its launch. Return for 2020, 2019  and 2018 was 15.2, 12.4 and 3.2% respectivelyAssets₹239 crores (as of 31 Mar 21) Expense Ratio0.64% (as of 31st March 2021) 4. Aditya Birla Sun Life Focused Equity Fund (Category-Equity-Focused) It is an open-ended growth scheme with a NAV of ₹76.7779 (as of 28 Apr 21). Launched on 24 Oct 05, the fund has the objective to offer medium to long-term capital appreciation, by investing mainly in a diversified portfolio of equity and equity-related securities of top 100 companies (based on market cap). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum Additional InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum SIP Investment1000Minimum Withdrawal1000Exit Load1% for 0-365 Days and NIL for above Return Since Inception CAGR/Annualized return of 14% since its launch. Return for 2020, 2019 and 2018 was 16%, 11.3% and -4.1% respectivelyAssets₹4610 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio2.04% (as of 31st Mach, 2021) 5. Aditya Birla Sun Life Equity Fund (Category-Equity - Multi-Cap) An Open-ended growth scheme with a NAV of ₹964.83 (as of 28 Apr 21), the fund has an objective of long-term capital growth through a portfolio with a target allocation of 90% equity and 10% debt and money market securities. It was launched on 27 Aug 98 and is placed under the moderately high-risk category Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum Additional InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 1,00Minimum Withdrawal-Exit Load1% for 0-365 Days and NIL for above Return Since Inception CAGR/Annualized return of 22.3% since its launch. Return for 2020, 2019, and 2018 was 16.5, 8.1 and-4.1% respectively, Assets₹13,026 Crores (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio1.89% (as of 31st March 2021) 6. Aditya Birla Sun Life International Equity Fund - Plan A(Category-Equity-Global) Open-ended diversified equity with a NAV of ₹30.002 (as of 28 Apr 21), the fund has an objective to generate long-term capital growth, by investing mainly in a diversified portfolio of equity and equity-related securities in the international markets. The fund was launched on 31 Oct 07 and is placed under the high-risk category. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum Additional InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load1% for 0-365 Days and NIL for above Return Since Inception CAGR/Annualized return of 8.5%  Return for 2020, 2019 and 2018 was 13.2, 24.7 and 4.1% respectivelyAssets₹110 Crores (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio2.53% (as of 31st March 2021) 7. Aditya Birla Sun Life India GenNext Fund (Category-Equity-Sectoral) With a NAV of ₹111.99 (as of 28 Apr 21), this one-ended growth scheme has the objective to focus on capital growth by investing in equity/equity-related instruments of companies that are likely to benefit from the rising consumption patterns in India (fuelled by disposable incomes of Generation Next). The fund was launched on 5 Aug 05 and is placed under the high-risk category. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum Additional InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 1000Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load1% for 0-365 Days and NIL for aboveReturn Since Inception CAGR/Annualized return of 16.6% since its launch. Return for 2020, 2019, and 2018 was 14.6, 14.6 -1.6% respectivelyAssets₹1,937 Crores (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio2.49% (as of 31st March 2021) 8. Aditya Birla Sun Life Balanced Advantage Fund (Category-Hybrid - Dynamic Allocation) The key objective of the scheme with a NAV of ₹66.46 (as of 28 Apr 21) is to generate long-term capital growth and income distribution relatively lower. The fund invests primarily in a dynamically balanced portfolio of equity & equity-linked investments and fixed-income securities. It was launched on 25 Apr 00 and is placed under the moderately high-risk category. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum Additional InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 1,00Minimum Withdrawal-Exit Load1% for 0-365 Days and NIL for aboveReturn Since InceptionReturn for 2020, 2019, and 2018 was 15.4, 8.1 and 0.7% respectivelyAssets₹3,181 Crores (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio2.06% (as of 31st March 2021) 9. Aditya Birla Sun Life Financial Planning FOF Aggressive Plan (Category-Others-Funds of the fund) The Scheme with a NAV of ₹29.5771 (as of 28 Apr 21), primarily aims to generate returns by investing in mutual fund schemes selected as per the BSLAMC process and the risk-return profile of investors. There are 3 plans under the scheme, each of which has a strategic asset allocation based on satisfying the needs of a specific risk-return profile of investors. The fund was launched on 9 May 11 and is placed under the moderately high-risk category. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum Additional InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load1% for 0-365 Days and NIL for aboveReturn Since Inception CAGR/Annualized return of 11.5% since its launch. Return for 2020, 2019, and 2018 was 19.2, 6.9 and-2.6% respectivelyAssets₹146 Crores (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio1.33% (as of 31st March 2021) 10. Aditya Birla Sun Life Government Securities Find (Category-Debt-Government Bond) An open-ended government securities scheme with a NAV of  ₹63.6537 (as of 28 Apr 21) has the objective to generate income and capital appreciation by investing exclusively in Government Securities. It was launched on 12 Oct 99 and is placed under the moderate risk category. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum Additional InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 1,000Minimum WithdrawalINR 1,000Exit Load0.5% for 0-90 Days (0.5%), and NIL above 90 Days Return Since Inception (16th July 2019:CAGR/Annualized return of 9% since its launch. Return for 2020, 2019, and 2018 was 12.1, 11 and 6.9% respectivelyAssets  ₹518 crores (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio1.18% (as of 31st March 2021) How can you invest in Aditya Birla SunLife Mutual via EduFund? Investing in ABSLAMC is quite simple and quick with EduFund, for both seasoned and first-time investors. All you need to do is visit EduFund to pick from a diverse list of chosen funds that are specially designed, keeping in mind the varied risk profile and investment objectives of investors. At EduFund, you can be assured of a quick and hassle-free process of selecting any product from ABSLAMC, The process requires just one KYC formality that will take not more than 5 minutes of your time. Here is the stepwise procedure for investing with EduFund- Step 1: Select the fund(s) of your choice and the amount you want to invest every month. Step 2: Provide all your details. Step 3: Make the payment, and you are done. Other important details - KYC verification through EduFund is a simple process. You can either verify by: i. Using an OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number  Or ii. By uploading photos/scan copies of the required documents ID Proofs You need to submit a Xerox copy of your PAN Card, Aadhaar Card, Passport, Voter ID, Driving License or any other central government-approved documents Residential proofs For residential proof, you need to submit the same ID proof (except PAN) if the address on it is your current residential address. Other documents that you can use include a rental/lease agreement, utility bill, and ration card. In case your permanent address and correspondence address are different, you need to submit proof for both. Leading fund managers at Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund ABSLAMC has a powerful mix of experience and expertise in their fund managers who have the qualification and acumen to identify opportunities and the ability to maneuver investor portfolios and help them achieve optimal returns. Here are the top 5 fund managers at ABSLAMC- 1. Mr. Mahesh Patil - Co-Chief Investment Officer Mr. Patil is the Co-Chief Investment Officer (Equity) at ABSL fund. He holds an Engineering degree from VJTI in Mumbai and an MBA in Finance from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute in Mumbai. Apart from this, he is also a charter holder from ICFAI in Hyderabad.   With an extensive industry experience 27 years, he joined Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund in 2005 and was later promoted to Co-Chief Investment Officer (Equity) in 2008. Heading a team of 20 expert analysts and fund managers, Mr. Patil and his team manage funds to manage a massive amount of 92,000 Crores in the equity market both in the form of Birla Sun Life One Time Investment and  Birla Sun Life SIP. Being an Equity expert, Mr. Patil manages various top-rated equity funds, including Aditya Birla Sun Life Frontline Equity Fund, Aditya Birla Sun Life Focused Equity Fund, and Pure Value Fund. 2. Mr. Maneesh Dangi - Co-Chief Investment Officer Managing various fixed Income-related funds, Mr. Dangi has rich experience and expertise in handling Debt Funds, Corporate Bonds, PSU Debt Funds, and much more.  He heads a big team of more than 20 analysts and fund managers with expertise in handling a portfolio of more than 1.6 lakh Crores both in the form of Birla Sun Life SIP and Birla Sun Life One Time Investment. Among the key funds managed by Mr. Dangi include Aditya Birla Sun Life Short-term Opportunity Fund, Aditya Birla Sun Life Banking, PSU Debt Fund, Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond, and Aditya Birla Sun Life Credit Risk Fund. 3. Mr. Ajay Garg - Sr Fund Manager An electronics engineer from Bangalore University and an MBA in Finance from Mumbai University, Mr. Garg also holds a degree from Hartmann College Class of 1987. Before joining the ABSL fund, he had been working with the American Express bank and other stockbroking firms. Want the extensive experience of more than twenty-five years of managing equity-oriented funds for Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund, Mr. Garg is an expert in equity. 4. Mr. Anil Shah - Sr Fund  Manager As a senior fund manager with Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited, Mr. Shah brings with him more than three decades of rich professional experience in Indian equity markets. Before joining ABSLAMC in 2012, he was a part of RBS Equities (India) Limited for around 15 years. Mr. Shah is a qualified CA and cost accountant by qualification and executes and regularly reviews various investment strategies for equity portfolios. 5. Mr. Kaustabh Gupta - Sr Fund Manager A senior fund manager with Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited (ABSLAMC), Mr. Gupta brings with him 15+ years of extensive investment experience. He has previously worked in areas such as treasury finance and liquidity management in various capacities. Me. Gupta is a chartered accountant and CFA (Level 2) by qualification. Before joining ABSLAMC in 2009, he worked with ICICI Bank for 5 years in the Asset Liability Management team. Why should you invest in Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund? Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund works with the mission of maximizing investors’ wealth and becoming a leader in the integrated financial services business. The AMC follows a long-term, fundamental approach to investments to identify companies with strong fundamentals and excellent growth prospects to be able to offer profitable and sophisticated investment schemes to the investors. The key focus of ABSL fund's financial planning department is to prioritize clients’ requirements and create niche solutions leading to desired results. With expertise in screening, while dealing with clients, the team at ABSL fund connects with clients directly and evaluates their financial status, investment goals, tenure, and source of income to build up a tailored financial plan using the deliberated process of financial planning. ABSLAMC consistently review the performance of the schemes to analyze their returns’ potential 8n various market scenarios regularly. Further, the team at ABSL continuously measures the risk factors of the schemes to bring out the plans that best suit the investors' risk appetite. Apart from this, the key benefits of ABSL funds schemes include- ABSL saving solutions benefits Helps you save money Offer available liquidity Much better & tax-efficient return  compared to FD and saving accounts  The key commitment of ABSLAMC is to enhance mutual fund penetration in India. As of May 2019, there are more than 83.2 million mutual fund folios in India, aggregating over 25.43 trillion and Aditya Birla Sun Life mutual fund has played a key role in it.  Select EduFund for investing in Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund EduFund makes the process of investing in Aditya Birla mutual funds convenient. EduFund's experienced consultants give you customized solutions for all your financial goals. You can start investing from a lowly INR 5,000 and grow your capital comfortably. With EduFund, you get the following benefits: Customized Research -  EduFund's scientific fund tracker screens over 1 lakh data points and 400 financial scenarios to recommend you the best mutual funds.  Invest Less, Earn More - EduFund also offers you the option to invest in US Dollar ETFs and international mutual funds. Customer-Friendly Counsellors -EduFund has professionally trained counselors to handle all your queries and resolve issues to help you create a robust financial plan. No Technical Expertise Required - With EduFund, you do not need to finance experience to understand which mutual fund is the best for you. EduFund does it for you. Secure Transactions - EduFund is RIA-registered and es the best 128-SSL security to enable safe and secure transactions. Use Free Tools - EduFund offers multiple free tools for its customers, including College Savings Calculator, SIP calculator, and more Value-Added Benefits - offer value-added benefits like no commission, free advisory, and nil hidden charges. FAQs Which is the best mutual fund in Aditya Birla Sun Life? Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund (Category-Equity: sectoral)   Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold Fund (category- Gold)   Aditya Birla Sun Life Index Fund (Category-Index fund)   Aditya Birla Sun Life Focused Equity Fund (Category-Equity-Focused)   Aditya Birla Sun Life Equity Fund (Category-Equity – Multi-Cap)   Is Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund good? Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund is a joint venture between two well-known brands- Aditya Birla Group from India and Sun Life Financial from Canada. Based on the domestic average AUM, Aditya Birla Sun Life is considered one of the largest fund houses in the country. The Aditya Birla fund house deals in 4 main fund classes-   Equity Funds   Debt Funds   Income Funds    ELSS Funds   Having completed more than 20 years in its journey, all these funds have a good credit rating and offer excellent wealth creation solutions to their customers. Please get in touch with a financial expert before you consider investing in the fund.   Is Aditya Birla good for SIP?   Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund works to maximize investors' wealth and become a leader in the integrated financial services business. With expertise in screening, while dealing with clients, the team at ABSL fund connects with clients directly and evaluates their financial status, investment goals, tenure, and source of income to build up a tailored financial plan using the deliberated process of financial planning.   ABSLAMC consistently reviews the schemes' performance to analyze their returns' potential 8n various market scenarios regularly. Further, the team at ABSL continuously measures the risk factors of the schemes to bring out the plans that best suit the investors' risk appetite.   Apart from this, the key benefits of ABSL funds schemes include -   ABSL saving solutions benefits   Helps you save money   Offer available liquidity   Much better & tax-efficient returns compared to FD and saving accounts    Please get in touch with a financial expert before you consider investing in the fund Can I close SIP after 1 year? It is not advisable to withdraw your investment prematurely when you have a financial goal that you are working towards. If you are still sure about withdrawing the SIP amount, you can do it with the help of the agent if you have invested via a mutual fund distributor.   

ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Ltd is a leading asset management company (AMC) in India focused on bridging the gap between savings & investments and creating long-term wealth for investors through a range of simple and relevant investment solutions. The AMC is a joint venture between ICICI Bank, a well-known and trusted name in financial services in India, and Prudential Pie, one of the UK's largest players in the financial services sectors. Throughout these years of the joint venture, the company has forged a position of pre-eminence in the Indian Mutual Fund industry. The AMC manages significant Assets under Management (AUM) in the mutual fund segment. The AMC also caters to Portfolio Management Services for investors, spread across the country, along with International Advisory Mandates for clients across international markets in asset classes like Debt, Equity, and Real Estate. The AMC has witnessed substantial growth from two locations and six employees at the inception of the joint venture in 1998 to a current strength of 1926 employees with a reach across over 300 locations reaching out to an investor base of 6.2 million investors (as of September 30, 2020). The company's growth momentum has been exponential, and it has always focused on increasing accessibility for its investors. Driven by an entirely investor-centric approach, the organization today is a suitable mix of investment expertise, resource bandwidth, and process orientation. The AMC endeavors to simplify its investor's journey to meet their financial goals and give a good investor experience through innovation, consistency, and sustained risk-adjusted performance. The AMC has two decades of rich experience in fund management and still going strong. Over 62 lakh investors have trusted their finances with them. The Asset Under Management is INR 4,05,220.91  Cr as of March 31, 2021, and it has over 68 mutual fund schemes offering an array of investment opportunities. Some of the well-known equity schemes from its stable are ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund, ICICI Prudential Multicap Fund, ICICI Prudential Midcap Fund, etc., and ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund also offers some good debt funds. Some of the prominent debt schemes are ICICI Prudential All Seasons Bond Fund, ICICI Prudential Debt Management Fund, ICICI Prudential Credit Risk Fund, etc., ICICI Prudential Equity & Debt Fund, ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Fund, ICICI Prudential Regular Savings Fund are prominent names in hybrid schemes category. The percentage of schemes beating the benchmark across its various categories for a one-year time period collectively is approx. 72% as of February 28, 2021. ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has a large team of good fund managers. The fund house’s growth momentum has been exponential and is driven by an entirely investor-centric approach. The AMC endeavors to simplify its investors’ journey to accomplish their financial goals and provide a high-quality investor experience through innovation, consistency, and sustained risk-adjusted performance. Important information about ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund Name of the AMCICICI Prudential Asset Management Company LtdIncorporation Date22 June 1993SponsorsPrudential Plc and ICICI Bank Ltd.TrusteeICICI Prudential Trust Ltd.Trustees' Name1. Mr. P.H.Ravikumar, 2. Mr. Jyotin Mehta, 3. Mr. R. Ranganakulu Jagarlamudi, 4. Mr. Pramod Rao, 5. Mr. Lakshmi Kumar Mylavarapu  MD/CEOMr. Nimesh ShahCIOMr. Sankaran NarenCompliance OfficerMr. Rakesh ShettyChief Investment OfficerMr. Sankaran NarenRegistrar and Transfer agentComputer Age Management Services (P) Limited (CAMS) Unit: ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund, Spencer Plaza, Phase II,S49A, 172, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.India   Contact Person: S V Karthick Babu Contact Number: 1800-419-2267 (Toll-free anywhere in India)044 66073600 (Chargeable)   Email: ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund @ CAMSToll-free Number 1800-200-6666 1800-222-999Email Addressenquiry@icicipruamc.comRegistered AddressICICI Prudential Mutual Fund 1201-1212, Narian Manzil, 23, Barakhamba Road, Connaught Place, New Delhi, Delhi NCR - 110001 10 top-performing ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund Schemes ICICI Prudential Technology Fund (Category- Equity: Thematic/Sectoral) ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund (Category- Equity: Large Cap) ICICI Prudential Focused Equity Fund (Category- Equity: Growth) ICICI Prudential Long Term Equity Fund (Tax Saving) (Category- Equity: ELSS) ICICI Prudential Sensex Index Fund (Category- Equity: Growth) ICICI Prudential Value Discovery Fund (Category- Equity: Growth) ICICI Prudential Multicap Fund (Category- Equity: Multi-Cap) ICICI Prudential Banking And Financial Services Fund (Category- Equity:Direct Growth) ICICI Prudential Large & Mid Cap Fund (Category- Equity: Long Duration) ICICI Prudential MidCap Fund (Category- Equity: Multi-Cap) 1. ICICI Prudential Technology Fund (Category- Equity: Thematic/Sectoral) This is ideal to generate capital appreciation by creating a portfolio that is invested in equity and equity-related securities of technology and technology-dependent companies.  Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000      Minimum Additional Investment INR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 1000Entry LoadNil Exit LoadIf units purchased or switched in from another scheme of the fund are redeemed or switched out within 15 days from the date of allotment 1% of the applicable NAV.Return Since Inception11.96 (Growth) (Date of Inception: March 3, 2000).NAVINR 109.04 (April 20, 2021) (Growth)AUMINR 1817.80 Cr (As on March 31, 2021) 2. ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund (Category- Equity: Large Cap) ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund, an open-ended equity scheme, invests predominantly in large-cap stocks. The scheme provides growth and stability to your portfolio as it invests in blue chip stocks, which are market leaders in their industry. The stocks are well-diversified across sectors. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 100      Minimum Additional Investment INR 100Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 100Entry LoadNil Exit Load1% of NAV for 365 Days. After one year NilReturn Since Inception13.64 % (Growth) (Date of Inception: May 23, 2008).NAVINR 52.15 (April 20, 2021) (Direct-Growth)AUMINR 26467.80Cr (As on March 31, 2021) 3. ICICI Prudential Focused Equity Fund (Category- Equity: Growth) This is an open-ended equity scheme, investing in a maximum of 30 stocks.  across market capitalization. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5000    Minimum Additional Investment INR 5000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 100Entry LoadNil Exit Load1% of NAV for 365 Days. After one year NilReturn Since Inception12.04% (Growth) (Date of Inception: May 28, 2009).NAVINR 38.92 (April 20, 2021) (Direct-Growth)AUMINR 1216.87 Cr (As on March 31, 2021) 4. ICICI Prudential Long Term Equity Fund (Tax Saving) (Category- Equity: ELSS) This is an equity-linked saving scheme (ELSS), that comes with tax benefits as per section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The fund aims at generating long-term capital growth and invests primarily in equity & equity-related securities of companies. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 500    Minimum Additional Investment INR 500Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 100Entry LoadNil Exit LoadNilReturn Since Inception19.43% (Growth) (Date of Inception: August 19, 1999).NAVINR  471.58 (April 20, 2021) (Direct-Growth)AUMINR 8310.40 Cr (As on March 31, 2021) 5. ICICI Prudential Sensex Index Fund (Direct: Growth) The important benefit of investing in this fund is that you gain exposure to equities of top-performing stocks across all sectors. Investing in this fund is a better way of diversifying your portfolio. However, as this fund invests only in stocks, the fund may have a direct impact on the market conditions. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 100    Minimum Additional Investment INR 100Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 100Entry LoadNil Exit LoadNilReturn Since Inception11.99% (Growth) (Date of Inception: Sep 21, 2017).NAVINR  15.11 (April 20, 2021) (Direct-Growth)AUMINR 248.40 Cr (As on March 31, 2021) 6. ICICI Prudential Value Discovery Fund (Category- Equity: Growth) This is an equity mutual fund that invests in value stocks. It is an open-ended scheme, it invests in stocks that are undervalued and are expected to perform well in the coming days. As this scheme invests in value stocks, you may get a high sale price, and the gains can be big when the market is doing well. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 1000    Minimum Additional Investment INR 500Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Entry LoadNil Exit Load1% of NAV for 365 Days. After one year NilReturn Since Inception19.39% (Growth) (Date of Inception: August 16, 2004).NAVINR  192.77 (April 20, 2021) (Direct-Growth)AUMINR 17798.55 Cr (As on March 31, 2021) 7. ICICI Prudential Multicap Fund (Category- Equity: Multi-Cap) This is a scheme that aims at capital appreciation by investing assets in equity and equity-related instruments across large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks from a wide range of industries. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5000    Minimum Additional Investment INR 1000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Entry LoadNil Exit Load1% of NAV for 365 Days. After one year NilReturn Since Inception14.28 % (Growth) (Date of Inception: Oct1, 1994).NAVINR  349.72 (April 20, 2021) (Direct-Growth)AUMINR 5890.42 Cr (As on March 31, 2021) 8. ICICI Prudential Banking And Financial Services Fund (Category- Equity: Growth) This is an open-ended equity mutual fund that invests predominantly in the stocks of companies operating in the financial sector. The returns from this mutual fund scheme are comparatively stabler than other mutual fund plans. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5000    Minimum Additional Investment INR 1000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Entry LoadNil Exit Load1% for 15 DaysReturn Since Inception16.33% (Growth) (Date of Inception: Aug 22, 2008).NAVINR  69.24 (April 20, 2021) (Direct-Growth)AUMINR 3865.10 Cr (As on March 31, 2021) 9. ICICI Prudential Large & Mid Cap Fund (Category- Equity: Long Duration) This is an open-ended equity scheme, that aims to generate a long-term capital growth scheme that predominantly invests in equity and equity-related securities of large-cap and mid-cap companies. This is suitable for conservative investors expecting high returns with medium-term goals, such as wealth creation through SIPs. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5000    Minimum Additional Investment INR 1000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 1000Entry LoadNil Exit Load1% for 15 DaysReturn Since Inception17.59% (Growth) (Date of Inception: July 9, 1998).NAVINR  403.08 (April 20, 2021) (Direct-Growth)AUMINR 3752.71 Cr (As on March 31, 2021) 10. ICICI Prudential MidCap Fund (Category- Equity: Direct Plan-Growth):   This fund provides investors with returns in the form of capital appreciation. This mutual fund scheme invests majorly in midcap stocks. The portfolio is a diversified one, as it invests in stocks across all sectors. Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5000    Minimum Additional Investment INR 1000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 1000Entry LoadNil Exit Load1% for 365 DaysReturn Since Inception15.49 % (Growth) (Date of Inception: Oct 28, 2004).NAVINR  124.18 (April 20, 2021) (Direct-Growth)AUMINR 2338.33 Cr (As on March 31, 2021) How can you invest in ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund Via EduFund? Investing in ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund via Edufund is a simple, four-step process.  Step 1: Download the EduFund App from Google Play Store or Apple App Store and create an online account. Step 2:  Select a Scheme - Browse a wide range of ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund schemes and choose the right scheme suiting your financial goals. You may invest in a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) or a lump sum. The inbuilt recommendation engine suggests the best scheme for your financial objectives. Step 3: View and Track Your Transaction(s) - The amount you have invested will reflect in your EduFund account within four working days. You can track the ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund NAV, account balance, statement, and other information in the app. Alternatively, you can purchase, redeem, or switch ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund units. Step 4: Speak With a Mutual Fund Counsellor - You can connect with a mutual fund consultant to share your goals and get personalized advice.  EduFund uses top-class authentication and encryption technologies to ensure bank-like secured transactions and safeguard your investments.   9 best-performing fund managers at ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund Fund managers play a significant role in driving value and generating growth. The following are some of the best-performing fund managers in ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company whose funds have consistently churned out the best returns.  1. Mr. Sankaran Naren S Naren joined ICICI Prudential AMC in October 2004. As ED & CIO, Naren oversees the entire investment function across the mutual fund and International advisor business. He is instrumental in the overall investment strategy development and execution. He has a rich experience of around 31 years in almost all spectrum of the financial services industry ranging from investment banking, fund management, equity research, and stockbroking operations. His qualifications include a B Tech degree from IIT Chennai and MBA (Finance) from IIM Kolkata. 2. Mr. Rahul Goswami Rahul has re-joined ICICI Prudential AMC now as CIO of Fixed Income. He has been earlier associated with the AMC for the period July 2004 to October 2009 as Co-Head-Fixed Income. In his earlier stint, he was responsible for managing 8 debt funds with prime responsibility on Govt. Bonds and Corporate Bonds trading involved monitoring factors like key economic developments, market liquidity, and Forex movement. He has an overall experience of over 24 years. In his previous role with Standard Chartered bank, he was a Senior Rates Trader & Head of the Primary Dealership Desk. Rahul currently manages 8 funds at ICICI Prudential, i.e. ICICI Prudential Liquid Plan, ICICI Prudential Flexible Income Plan, ICICI Prudential Floating Rate Fund, ICICI Prudential Banking & PSU Debt Fund, ICICI Prudential Medium Term Plan, ICICI Prudential Gilt Fund(All Options). ICICI Prudential Multiple Yield Fund and ICICI Prudential Capital Protection Oriented Fund. Rahul holds a bachelor's degree in Science and an MBA from Bhopal University. Besides Standard Chartered Bank, he has worked with various other organizations like Franklin Templeton, UTI Bank, SMIFS Securities, Khandwala Finance Ltd, and RR Financial Consultants. With over 20 years of experience, he handles an AUM of INR 1,64,265 Cr and 73 schemes (Feb 28, 2021). 3. Mr. Rohan Maru Rohan joined ICICI Prudential AMC in November 2012. As a fund manager, he handles ICICI Prudential Corporate Bond Fund and ICICI Prudential Liquid ETF, along with co-managing ICICI Prudential Liquid Fund, ICICI Prudential Savings Fund, ICICI Prudential Overnight Fund, and ICICI Prudential Global Stable Equity Fund. He also manages the Indian debt portion in ICICI Prudential US Bluechip Equity Fund. Previously, he was a Dealer – Corporate Bonds of the fund house. With an experience of over 10 years, he was associated with Kotak Mutual Funds and Integreon Managed Solutions. He holds a Master of Commerce from Mumbai University and a PGDBA from MET Mumbai. With over 8 years of experience, he manages an AUM of INR 1,09,378 Cr and 34 schemes (Feb 28, 2021). 4. Mr. Rajat Chandak He manages/co-manages several flagship funds, including ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund, ICICI Prudential Value Fund (Series 4 & 11), ICICI Prudential Bharat Consumption Fund (Series 4), ICICI Prudential Long-Term Wealth Enhancement Fund, ICICI Prudential R.I.G.H.T. Fund, ICICI Prudential Regular Savings Fund, and ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Fund. He started his career with ICICI Prudential AMC and has been with the AMC ever since. He carries an overall work experience of more than 10 years. He completed B.Com from Sydenham College of Commerce and Economics in 2005 and an MBA in Finance from the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR) in 2008. With over eight years of experience, he has an AUM of  INR 63,689 Cr under his management and 17 schemes (Feb 28, 2021). 5. Mr. Kayzad Eghlim Mr. Eghlim has over 29 years of experience and is a B.Com (H) and M-Com. Prior to joining ICICI Prudential AMC, he worked with IDFC Investment Advisors Ltd., Prime Securities, and Canara Robeco Mutual Fund. He manages an AUM of INR 13,439 Cr and 20 schemes. 6. Mr. Vaibhav Dusad Mr. Dusad has done B. Tech, M.Tech, and MBA. Prior to joining ICICI Prudential AMC Ltd, he worked with Morgan Stanley, HSBC Global Banking and Markets, CRISIL, Zinnov Management Consulting, and Citibank Singapore. He manages an AUM of INR 27,445 Cr and 7 schemes (Feb 28, 2021). 7. Mr. Mittul Kalawadia As a fund manager, Mittal currently manages multiple funds at ICICI Prudential AMC. Prior to being a fund manager, he was a research analyst for multiple key sectors. He started his career with ICICI Prudential AMC and has garnered an overall work experience of 11 years. His core competency lies in portfolio management and security analysis. By qualification, he is a Chartered Accountant. With over 10 years of experience, he manages an AUM of INR 17,546 Cr and 11 schemes (Feb 28, 2021). 8. Mr. Prakash Gaurav Goel Mr. Goel is a Chartered Accountant & a Bachelor of Commerce Prior to joining ICICI Prudential Mutual fund, he worked with IREVNA Research & Hindustan Unilever. He manages an AUM of INR 6,624 Cr and 9 schemes (Feb 28, 2021). 9. Ms. Priyanka Khandelwal Ms. Khandelwal is a Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary. She has been working with ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund Since October 2014. She manages an AUM of INR 1,074 Cr and 100 schemes (Feb 28, 2021). Why should you invest in ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund?  ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Ltd. is one of India’s premier fund houses, boasting over 30 lakhs of clientele. The fund house handles considerable Assets under Management (AUM) across diverse asset classes like equities, debt instruments, and sectorial funds, to name a few. Following a totally customer-centric tactic, they flaunt a blend of expertise and resourcefulness, giving investors innovative, consistent, and optimum returns against market risks. This way, it gives customers a way to strike a balance between investments and savings. Their sponsors include ICICI Bank, Prudential Plc, Prudential Corporation Asia, Eastspring Investments, and Jackson National Life Insurance Company, among others. Select Edufund for investing in ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund EduFund makes the process of investing in ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund convenient. EduFund's experienced consultants give you customized solutions for all your financial goals. You can start investing from as low as INR 5,000 and grow your capital comfortably. With EduFund, you get the following benefits: Customized Research-Based Financial Plan - EduFund's scientific fund tracker screens over 1 lakh data points and 400 financial scenarios to recommend you the best mutual funds.  Customer-Friendly Counsellors Help You Create a Financial Plan - EduFund's counselors are trained to handle all kinds of queries from customers. They spend as much time with you as you need and resolve all your issues to help you create a robust financial plan. Invest Less, Earn More - Not only the best Indian mutual funds, but EduFund also offers you the facility to invest in US Dollar ETFs and international mutual funds. Use Free Tools - EduFund offers various free tools for its customers, including College Savings Calculator, SIP calculator, etc.  No Technical Expertise Required - You do not need to be an expert in finance to understand which mutual fund is the best for you. EduFund does it for you. Value-Added Benefits - You may get value-added benefits like no commission, free advisory, and nil-hidden charges. Secure Transactions - EduFund is RIA-registered and uses top-class 128-SSL security to enable safe transactions. Special Support for Children's Education - EduFund has a dedicated team of experts who help you fulfill your children's educational goals.  FAQs What is the best ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund?   Top-rated ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund:   ICICI Prudential Technology Fund (Category- Equity: Thematic/Sectoral)   ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund (Category- Equity: Large Cap)   ICICI Prudential Focused Equity Fund (Category- Equity: Growth)   ICICI Prudential Long Term Equity Fund (Tax Saving) (Category- Equity: ELSS)   ICICI Prudential Sensex Index Fund (Category- Equity: Growth)   Which is better SIP or Lumpsum? SIPs usually perform better during volatile markets, while lumpsum investments are best suited in ELSS, where they draw higher returns when the market is steady. Which MF is better than FD? Mutual funds usually generate greater returns than FDs since they invest in equities. Though the risk is greater while investing in mutual funds, it can give you inflation-beating returns, which may not be the case with FD returns. Is it good to buy ICICI Prudential mutual fund?   ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company Ltd is a leading asset management company (AMC) in India focused on bridging the gap between savings & investments and creating long-term wealth for investors through a range of simple and relevant investment solutions. The AMC manages significant Assets under Management (AUM) in the mutual fund segment. The company’s growth momentum has been exponential, and it has always focused on increasing accessibility for its investors. The fund house’s growth momentum has been exponential and is driven by an entirely investor-centric approach. Please get in touch with a financial expert before considering investing in the fund.   TALK TO AN EXPERT

What if we told you that you could be a crorepati without going to KBC or without winning a lottery? Would you want to follow that mantra and build a huge corpus for yourself? The Mantra is called *drum roll* the 15 x 15 x 15 rule of investing! It means that, if one follows a diligent financial discipline of investing Rs 15,000 for 15 years in a mutual fund that offers returns of 15% - one would be building a huge corpus that would be greater than Rs 1 Cr. Upon investing Rs 27 lakhs, one creates a wealth of over Rs 73 lakhs! SIP - 15 x 15 x 15Amount15000Expected Return15%Number of years15At the end of the time period – Maturity Invested Amount          27,00,000 Wealth Created          73,27,601 Final Amount        1,00,27,601  If one continues this financial discipline and continues to invest for another 10 years the corpus would build to Rs 4.86 Cr i.e., 4X times in another 10 years. If you want to maintain this for another 15 years i.e., the entire period of investing would be 30 years – the corpus would be over Rs 10.38 Cr which is 10X times what one would have obtained for being invested for 15 years. Compounding has a magical effect on our investments by growing our small contributions into a large sum. Hence, it is always advisable to start the magic early – because “Kal kare so aaj kar aur Aaj kare so ab” applies even to your portfolio of investments. Consider that you would like your child to study in a reputed Ivy league school or a grand college in the States (US). The current tuition and fee for a Public 4-year program are $10,560, which is Rs 7.65 lakhs after the $/Rs conversion rate (1 $ = Rs 72.59). However, this is for a resident of the state. For Indian students or out-of-state students, the fees would be $23,890/year – for 4 years it would be $95,560 which is Rs 69 lakhs. The tuition and fees have increased by 16% over the period of 2011-21 (inflation-adjusted). This implies that after 20 years the fees would rocket to over Rs 1 Cr. Hence, one would have to take this factor of “educational inflation” into consideration when one is saving for their little one’s education. Similar to all investments, it is always better to start as early as possible to reap the benefits of compounding. If your child is to pursue his/her higher education after 15 years, you could follow the 15-cube mantra (15*15*15) to fund the dreams of your little one.  Education Expenses Today          70,00,000 Education Inflation (over 10 years) 16%Number of years20Expected Education expenses (future)          94,19,200 Monthly saving required                                                                    6,697 Expected return rate15%Time Period20 There could be cases where you have a higher time frame for your child. For example: If your child is 2 years old, and would fly off to pursue his or her education after 20 years, the amount that you should be saving to fund his/her education effortlessly would be as shown in the table. Hence as a parent, you would have to save Rs 7000/month to fund your child’s education. The easy way to do this is by downloading the EduFund app and getting started on your investment journey to fulfill your child's dreams. FAQs What is the 15 * 15 * 15 Rule in Mutual Funds? It means that, if one follows a diligent financial discipline of investing Rs 15,000 for 15 years in a mutual fund that offers returns of 15% - one would be building a huge corpus that would be greater than Rs 1 Cr. Upon investing Rs 27 lakhs, one creates a wealth of over Rs 73 lakhs! What is the average return in SIP for 15 years? SIPs in mutual funds can generate an average return of 15 to 18% over the duration of 15 years. However, this return can change according to market changes. Which SIP gives the highest return in 5 years? Axis Bluechip Fund Monthly SIP Plan ICICI Prudential Bluechip FundSBI Bluechip FundMirae Asset Large Cap FundSBI Multicap Fund Is mutual funds taxable after 10 years? Yes, you need to pay the applicable taxes only when you redeem the units or sell the scheme. However, your total income for the financial year in question includes your dividend income from mutual fund schemes.

What can you do with Rs 500 today? Get an amazing lunch or dinner for two at a decent restaurant in town? Or get a Pizza for two? Or get a cool T-shirt from an online store? Alternatively, with Rs 500, you could have a large pot of money to send your child to their dream college and fulfill their aspirations. One can choose the route of saving Rs 500/ month through SIP plans with mutual funds and have a considerable sum of money by the end. What is a SIP? A Systematic Investment Plan or SIP is a way in which you can choose to invest a fixed amount with the mutual fund at regular intervals (say a month or a quarter). SIPs aid in creating financial discipline and saving towards a goal. They reduce the burden on the investor by allowing them to invest small sums instead of a large cash outflow or lumpsum amount at once and provide the investor with decent returns. To forgo lifestyle expenditure and to start investing would be difficult for early boomers in the starting stages of their careers. Once the investor opts for an SIP (or more SIPs), the amount as specified by the investor automatically gets debited from the bank account that is linked to the SIP. Hence, you are investing for your future automatically without you making any separate effort towards it. Can I save Rs 500 and have something tangible in the end? SIPs in India allow for investing with a minimum amount of Rs 500. Hence, as an investor, instead of ogling at the stock/trading screens and making desperate attempts to time the market and fanatically buying and selling stocks, you could simply invest in Mutual funds. Mutual funds take care of diversification (putting your eggs into different baskets), invest in the best stocks, and finally earn you a decent return. Let us consider some scenarios - Case 1 As a very young investor, a graduate who has earned his or her first paycheck, you could start saving Rs 500 into a SIP. Even if you maintain this as your amount and invest for 35 years, by the time you are 56, you will have Rs 1.76 Cr in your investment pot. Hence with an investment of Rs 2.1 lakhs, you would be creating a wealth of Rs 1.7 Cr. SIPAmount500Expected Return18%Number of years35At the end of the time periodInvested Amount2,10,000Wealth Created1,70,79,403Final Amount1,72,89,403 Case 2 Even if you do not have 35 years till your child starts to go to college, you can still create a large amount of wealth by having this discipline for 20 or 25 years. The results are as follows. SIPAmount500Expected Return18%Number of years20At the end of the time periodInvested Amount            1,20,000 Wealth Created          10,34,427 Final Amount          11,54,427  SIPAmount500Expected Return18%Number of years25At the end of the time periodInvested Amount            1,50,000 Wealth Created          27,18,627 Final Amount          28,68,627  In both cases, the wealth created is 9x or 18x times the amount invested by you. As one can see in the above charts a small difference of 5 years creates a great compounding effect where Rs 500 amounts to Rs 28.6 lakhs when invested for 25 years and amounts to less than half the amount of Rs 11.54 lakhs when invested for 20 years. Hence, by being an early saver, one can create a tremendous amount of wealth with minimal effort. You can start your investment journey today with a SIP in the top mutual funds in the country with EduFund. FAQs Is SIP really beneficial? Yes, SIP is one of the best ways to start investing in mutual funds, index funds, or ETFs. It allows you to invest in a systematic way over a long period of time. Can I start a SIP of 500 per month? Yes, many mutual funds allow investors to invest a minimum of Rs. 500 every month. It helps in growing your wealth over a period of time. Which mutual fund is best for 500 per month? There are many mutual funds that offer Rs. 500 per month such as Axis Long-Term Equity FundAxis Bluechip FundSBI Equity Hybrid FundParag Parikh Flexi Cap FundSBI Focused Equity Fund

Equity Funds primarily invest in equity (stocks) and equity-related instruments. According to SEBI’s regulations, an equity fund should invest at least 65% of its assets into equity and equity-related instruments. These funds are ideal for most people who aim to invest for a longer time horizon for wealth creation. Investors need not possess any financial knowledge before investing their hard-earned money into these well-managed funds, as sufficient research and analysis are conducted by the fund manager and their army of analysts before investing. The funds are also diversified, hence reducing the blow of volatility (the higher the diversification, the lower the effect of adverse market or underlying security movement) in the market, and also allowing the retail investor to gain returns over smaller investment corpora.  Below is the list of top-performing equity funds, which includes information on their 1-year, and 3-year returns, AUM, the performance of the fund, and their pros, and cons. 1. Axis Long-Term Equity Fund Minimum Investment Amount (Lump Sum)Rs 5000Minimum SIP Investment AmountRs 500Expense Ratio 0.72%AUMRs 28,556.83 Cr Performance The fund has delivered an annualized return of 14.85% over the last 3 years (54.47% over the past 1 year) and has constantly outperformed its benchmark (S&P, BSE 200 Total Return Index).  Pros  The fund has higher 3-year and 5-year returns as compared to the category average. ELSS fund – Tax haven for 80C Cons Assets Under Management (AUM) of the fund are greater than Rs 20,000 Cr. When a fund crosses a certain AUM threshold, the returns from the fund tend to decrease or stagnate. Investors should monitor the performance 2. Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund Minimum Investment Amount (Lump Sum)Rs 1000Minimum SIP Investment AmountRs 1000Expense Ratio 0.96%AUMRs 8,701.65 Cr Performance The fund has delivered an annualized return of 21.11% over the last 3 years (76.57% over the past 1 year) and has constantly outperformed its benchmark (NIFTY 500 Total Return Index). The fund is suitable for investors who are looking to invest for greater than 3-4 years. The fund invests across market capitalizations (Flexi cap – large, mid, and small-cap) to deliver above-category average returns to its investors. Pros Fund has higher 1-year, 3 years and 5-year returns as compared to the category average Low expense ratio Cons None. 3. SBI Equity Hybrid Fund Minimum Investment Amount (Lump Sum)Rs 1000Minimum SIP Investment AmountRs 500Expense Ratio 0.97%AUMRs 38,080.12 Cr Performance The fund has delivered an annualized return of 12.20% over the last 3 years (42.72% over the past 1 year) and has constantly outperformed its benchmark (CRISIL Hybrid 35+65 Aggressive Total Return Index). The fund invests in a mixture of debt and equity (as the name hybrid suggests) - invests in high-growth companies and balances this risk/volatility by investing in fixed-income securities. (At least 65% in equity and 20-35% in debt and money market instruments)   Pros Fund has higher 1-year, 3 years and 5-year returns as compared to the category average Low expense ratio Cons Assets Under Management (AUM) of the fund is greater than Rs 20,000 Cr. When a fund crosses a certain AUM threshold, the returns from the fund tend to decrease or stagnate. The investors should monitor the performance. 4. SBI-Focused Equity Fund Minimum Investment Amount (Lump Sum)Rs 5000Minimum SIP Investment AmountRs 500Expense Ratio 1.77%AUMRs 14,533.37 Cr Performance The fund has delivered an annualized return of 13.08% over the last 3 years (51.60% over the past 1 year) and has constantly outperformed its benchmark (S&P BSE 500 Total Return Index). The fund aims to deliver high returns to its investors by investing in a highly concentrated portfolio containing equity and equity-related instruments. (At least 65% in Equity and 20-35% in debt or fixed income and 0-10% in REIT/InVIT) Pros Fund has higher 3-year 5 year and 10-year returns as compared to the category average. The fund has been in the market for over 10 years. Cons High expense ratio 5. Axis Bluechip Fund Minimum Investment Amount (Lump Sum)Rs 5000Minimum SIP Investment AmountRs 500Expense Ratio 0.55%AUMRs 25,134.85 Cr Performance The fund has delivered an annualized return of 16.55% over the last 3 years (46.32% over the past 1 year). The fund has constantly outperformed its benchmark index (NIFTY 50 Total Return Index). It invests in large-cap companies which have stable balance sheets and are market leaders in their respective sectors. It provides its investors with stable, reliable, and high returns. Suitable for investors seeking long-term investment options (of greater than 5 years).  Pros Fund has higher 1-year 3 years and 5-year returns as compared to the category average. The expense ratio is on the lower end. The fund has no lock-in period. Cons Assets Under Management (AUM) of the fund are greater than Rs 20,000 Cr. When a fund crosses a certain AUM threshold, the returns from the fund tend to decrease or stagnate. Investors should monitor the performance FAQs Which mutual fund is best in the current situation? Here are some of the best mutual funds in the current situation: Axis Long-Term Equity Fund Axis Bluechip Fund SBI Equity Hybrid Fund Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund SBI Focused Equity Fund What are the best 5-star mutual funds? Axis Long-Term Equity Fund Axis Bluechip Fund SBI Equity Hybrid Fund Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund SBI Focused Equity Fund What are the top 3 mutual funds? Some good performing mutual funds in India are:Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund Axis Bluechip FundSBI Focused Equity Fund Is today the right time to invest in mutual funds? There is no fixed right time for investing in mutual funds. You can start investing whenever you wish to enter the market and reap the benefits of compounding. Conclusion In a nutshell, here's why should you invest in equity funds - Highly diversified Can invest in smaller amounts and still reap the benefits of high returns Highly regulated by SEBI (Investor Protection) Tax benefits - Indexation, LTCG and STCG Offer higher returns than traditional instruments (however, have a higher risk than debt funds) You can get started on your investment journey by downloading the EduFund app today! DisclaimerMutual fund investments are subject to market risks. The past performance of a fund is no surety of the future performance of the fund.

We sometimes mimic the best strategies or life plans of our role models. Similarly, the index funds track or mimic the market indices such as Nifty 50, Sensex, etc. These funds use a passive investment strategy, where the responsibility of the fund manager is to only mimic the composition of the Index. This is the opposite of the active investment strategy used by mutual funds which promise to beat the benchmark or market returns, where the fund manager carefully analyses the market for opportunities and picks the perfect stocks for the portfolio by constantly buying and selling stocks and other assets to deliver the best return.  Whereas, the Index fund merely mirrors the companies or securities present in a particular index. For example, if ABC stock makes up 5% of the value of the Index, then the fund manager of XYZ fund with a Net Asset Value (NAV) of 10,000 will allocate 5% which is 500 to buy ABC stock. The idea of this investment strategy is “If you can’t beat them, then join them” – where one receives the average market return. Hence the responsibility of the manager is limited to only following the composition of the index and including the same in the fund, with an objective to deliver similar returns (with the same risk exposure) as the index. Index funds deliver a return smaller than the benchmark that they are tracking. Since there is no such thing as a free lunch, this is the expense ratio which is the fees charged by the fund to manage your money. An Index fund tracking Sensex (India’s benchmark stock index. Its composition is 30 of the largest and large-cap stocks), would invest in the same 30 stocks in the same proportion. Index funds can track different assets such as – stocks, bonds, commodities (Such as Oil, Gold, etc.), and currencies.  Cons of Index funds 1. Vulnerability to market crashes and market risks These funds are exposed to the same risk as that of the indices that they mimic. For example, if the Sensex comes down in value (similar to the crash of the Sensex in March 2020, where it fell by 23%), the funds tracking this index would follow the decline and have wealth destruction or decrease in NAV. Index funds which track bonds (This financial instrument are similar to the loan. Here, the investor is the lender, and the party which issues the bond is the borrower. The lender/investor receives a periodic interest payment – also known as a coupon. However, the bonds are tradable on stock exchanges), are prone to changes in interest rates. When the interest rates in the market decrease (regulated by RBI), the demand for bonds increases, and hence the price of the bonds increases. This leads to an increase in the NAV or the Index funds which track these bonds. Whereas, when the interest rates increase, the bonds decline in value and hence put these funds in the danger zone. 2. Less Flexibility & Limited Gains The fund cannot invest in a sector that is performing extremely well if it is not a part of the Index that it tracks. Hence, the gains that could be earned in case of a sector boom become limited. The investor only earns the returns of the market, whereas an investor in an actively managed fund could earn higher. Why should you consider investing in Index Funds? 1. Lower Expense Ratio? Lower cost (Paisa Vasool) As mentioned earlier, due to the passive investment strategy, the expense ratio or the fee charged to the investor is lesser when compared to actively managed funds which frequently buy and sell. charge higher for these transactions and services provided. This could drag down the growth of the portfolio over a longer period of time. This is illustrated by an example as shown below. If an investor had invested Rs.50,000 in 1991 (30 years ago) in Index fund A, he would have received a return of 11.7% and his investment would amount to 12.2 lakhs. Whereas, in Fund B it would amount to 10.1 lakhs (as shown in the figure). This difference of 2.1 lakhs is due to the lower expense ratio of the Index fund. Hence, in the longer term, these funds perform better than the actively managed funds offering similar returns. It is important to check the benchmark of an actively managed fund and decide if it is doing justice for the higher expense ratio that is being charged. Hence by surrendering to war with the market, you actually win.      2. Diversification: Ensuring that you don’t put all your eggs in one basket These funds are an indirect instrument of buying into the entire market, which implies that as an investor you are exposed to the entire market and its risks. If a sector such as Pharma was in the boom during March 2020, but the Financial sector stocks saw a decline – the stocks that are appreciating make up for the ones that are declining to keep the returns constant or increasing – implies a diversified portfolio.  FAQs What are Index Funds? Index funds are investment funds that follow a benchmark index like Nifty 50, Sensex in India and globally, S&P 500 or the NASDAQ 100. Are index funds a good investment? Index funds are a good investment for long-term investors. It passively tracks the benchmark index like S&P 500 or the NASDAQ 100 and invests in companies that have a proven history of profit. What is index funds for beginners? Yes, Index funds are a good investment for long-term investors. It passively tracks the benchmark index like S&P 500 or the NASDAQ 100 and invests in companies that have a proven history of profit. What is an example of an index fund? Here are some examples of index funds in India -IDFC Nifty 50 IndexNippon India Index S&P BSE Sensex Why Should You Consider Investing In Index Funds? Index funds replicate indices such as Nifty 50 and SENSEX which means they are not actively managed and the expense ratio for these funds is low. Another benefit of investing is portfolio diversification as the fund invests in companies across sectors from finance to pharma. Conclusion When you are choosing an Index fund, aim to invest in a fund that tracks a large portion of the market hence giving a wider range of a diversified portfolio. Also, chose a fund with low tracking error – which is the difference between the Index returns and the funds' returns. Hence a fund with a low tracking error indicates that it mirrors or tracks the index closely. Another aspect to consider while choosing the fund is the cost of the fund and past performance.

What is a Mutual fund? Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool money from a large set of investors and invest this net corpus into various asset classes such as government securities, corporate bonds, stocks of companies, money market instruments, etc., to earn the promised returns to its investors. Fund manager who plays the role of the driver to the investment train and channels the pool of investments to align with the investment mandate and objective. Multiple schemes are launched by Asset Management Companies (AMCs) or fund houses to match the investment objectives of various investors. Why are mutual funds better than direct equity? Direct equity or investing in stocks all by yourself requires a detailed study of the company, its business, financials, quarterly earnings, expected growth, and all the recent news updates around the industry and company to make an informed choice. Investing in stocks gives flexibility to the investor to pick and invest in the companies and the sectors. However, the probability of a loss or risk is also very high in these investment vehicles, which is also coupled with a prospect of high return. Investors with a deep knowledge of the markets balance the risk and return of their portfolios, but for the rest of the pool of investors, mutual funds are the most convenient vehicles for investment. These vehicles also provide the diversification required to satiate the risk appetite of the investor by investing in various asset classes, and in various sectors within the asset class in a portfolio. Advantages of Mutual Funds 1. Low ticket size, with good returns Some of the shares of Bluechip companies have high prices, which often tend to be inaccessible to the investor. For example Hindustan Unilever Ltd, the leading FMCG company has a stock price of around Rs 2400. An investor who has a lower ticket size of investment of Rs 500 or Rs 1000, would find this lucrative stock to be out of his/her investment orbit. However, with mutual funds, one can buy units of the fund starting from Rs 500, which invests into these companies with the pool of money collected from the investors, hence providing every penny with diversified returns. 2. Professional management Mutual funds offer the expertise and an army of research analysts who perform a detailed study of the market conditions, industry outlook, company’s business, and financials and make an informed decision of investing the pool of money to earn the best returns. Everyone does not have the time and the knowledge to perform research and identify the right stocks and mutual funds to provide these services on a platter! 4. Liquidity Liquidity indicates the ease of entry or exit into any instrument. For example, Company A, a renowned company with strong financials is traded more frequently than Company B, a stock of an underperforming company, implying that the stocks of Company A are more liquid and easier to trade than Company B. Similarly, mutual funds are also liquid instruments, where an investor can buy units of the fund, and in an open-ended fund, he/she can sell the shares at NAV (Subject to exit load conditions of the fund). This ensures that the investor gets fair value for the units/shares of the fund. 5. Management of risk As individual investors, we often lack the expertise to assess the risk of our portfolio. We could also put all the eggs in one basket and lose our hard-earned money overnight. However, AMCs have risk management guidelines that limit or restrict the fund manager’s investments in some sectors and stocks. This ensures that the risk in the portfolio is well calculated and within the limits as promised to the pool of investors. The fund could also invest in various asset classes – bonds, commodities, stocks, gold, etc, which not only aids in diversification but also in gaining from the high potential returns from the asset classes. The fund manager’s decisions are also backed by strong research and analysis of each sector, asset class, and the conditions of the economy. 6. Choice or variety of funds Each of us has a different personality. Some of us are aggressive with our investments and can withstand a certain percentage of volatility, whereas some of us are risk-averse investors who cannot stand the thought of losing our money. Mutual funds are available that are approximately tailored to our risk profiles. For example, an aggressive investor can choose a diversified equity fund, whereas a risk-averse investor could choose to invest in a balanced fund. 7. Taxation Mutual funds offer indexation benefits for being invested in the fund for more than a year, which finally results in tax-free gains.  7. Transparency As an investor, you can see where your money is being invested. The strategy for investing is publicly declared by the fund. The NAV also updates daily, giving a lucid picture of the investment value to its investors How can mutual funds help in saving for education? Saving for your child’s education can be a daunting task, given the rising cost of education. In our previous generation, our parents depended on FDs, gold, and PPFs to fund our education, but the returns from these asset classes would not be sufficient to beat the current educational inflation. Investment in equity would be the best route for grabbing the maximum returns over every penny. However, investing in direct equity requires detailed analysis and research coupled with the volatility of the asset class. Mutual funds would be the one-stop solution for all your long-term goals providing you with financial discipline (through SIP) and also providing the required returns to beat inflation. If the child wants to pursue his/her higher education in a reputed college for costing around INR 25- 28 lakhs today, it will multiply to a much higher amount of over INR 1-1.5 cr in the next 15 years, given the educational inflation around the globe. To save for this scenario one would have to invest approximately Rs 15,000 – Rs 22,500 per month to accumulate the final corpus. One could also rely on an educational loan in the future but could accumulate 60% of the required corpus by investing Rs 9000 per month as a SIP into the fund.    1 Cr1.5 Cr0.6 CrMonthly saving required 14,959 22,438 8,975 Expected return rate15%15%15%Time Period  15 15 15 Maturity amount      1,00,00,000 1500000060,00,000  Types of Mutual Funds A plethora of options of mutual funds is available in the market, which allows the investor to choose based on the investment horizon, risk appetite, amount for investing, etc. The funds are categorized into the following types based on the - Principal Investments Maturity Period a) Maturity Period Classification 1. Open-ended funds The majority of the funds (approximately 59%) are open-ended. These provide the flexibility to buy and sell units of the fund at any point in time. There is no maturity period. It is like buying a stock, where you transact at the Current Market price – in mutual funds you buy and sell units at NAV. There is no exit load (subject to lock-in conditions). The key feature of these types of funds would be liquidity. 2. Close-ended funds These funds have a maturity period (of 3-5 years). Investors can have an entry into the fund only at the time of the New Fund Offer (NFO). However, the exit has two routes -  Sale of units through the stock exchange: In the case when the investor needs to withdraw the amount, he/she can sell it on the exchange. However, this route could be illiquid, as one may not find enough buyers for the sale of the unit and could also result in a potential loss (by selling the units at a lower price) The second exit route is at maturity. Some mutual funds give the option to sell and exit the fund through the periodic repurchase of units at NAV 3. Interval Funds These funds have the characteristics of both open and closed-ended funds, where the fund allows the purchase/sale of units at pre-defined intervals. b) Principal Investments Classification 1. Equity funds These funds invest in Equity and equity-related instruments. The fund manager aims to beat the market/benchmark by spreading across various sectors or by picking companies across different market capitalizations. They earn more returns than the Debt and Hybrid schemes. SEBI has defined 11 categories of these funds. It has also defined the variation between the categories as follows: Large-Cap: First/Top 100 companies in terms of Market Capitalisation Mid-Cap: 101-250 companies ranked according to Market Capitalisation Small–Cap: Companies ranking above 250 with respect to Market Capitalisation 2. Debt Schemes These funds invest in fixed-income securities such as Government Bonds, Corporate bonds, commercial papers, and other money market instruments. The maturities of these are fixed, implying that the returns are unaffected by the fluctuations in the market if held until maturity. These schemes are hence considered less risky when compared to the Equity Schemes. SEBI has defined 16 categories in these funds. 3. Hybrid Schemes These schemes invest in a combination of debt and equity to create a specific investment objective. Each hybrid fund has a different % of the allocation to debt and equity. Equity Oriented These invest >65% in equity and equity-related instruments. The remaining 35% is invested into debt and other money market instruments.  Debt Oriented These invest >60% of assets in fixed-income instruments or debt instruments such as G-secs, bonds, debentures, etc. The remaining 40% is invested in equity. 4. Balanced Funds These funds invest a minimum of 65% in equity and equity-related instruments. The remaining is invested in cash and debt securities. For taxation purposes, these are considered equity-oriented funds where a tax exemption of Rs 1 lakh can be obtained on the long-term gains from the fund. Conclusion Having a financial discipline aids in having a corpus for all your long-term goals. Mutual funds act as a convenient vehicle for driving you to your financial destinations (goals). As an investor one must consider their risk profile, investment horizon, goals, and investment amount before jumping into any fund. FAQs What is a Mutual Fund? Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool money from a large set of investors and invest this net corpus into various asset classes such as government securities, corporate bonds, stocks of companies, money market instruments, etc., to earn the promised returns to its investors. Why Are Mutual Funds Better Than Direct Equity? Both mutual funds and direct equities have their merits and demerits. If you understand the market and have a well-researched strategy then direct equity can be beneficial. If you are a newbie, then mutual funds can be helpful. These are managed by experts who monitor the market regularly to ensure the best returns for their investors. Another difference is that direct equity gives you exposure to a single stock while mutual funds can offer exposure to multiple stocks and industries at once. What are the advantages of Mutual Funds? Low Ticket Size, With Good Returns Professional Management Liquidity Taxation Transparency Reduced management risk How Can Mutual Funds Help In Saving For Education? Saving for your child’s education can be a daunting task, given the rising cost of education. In our previous generation, our parents depended on FDs, gold, and PPFs to fund our education, but the returns from these asset classes would not be sufficient to beat the current educational inflation. Investment in equity would be the best route for grabbing the maximum returns over every penny. However, investing in direct equity requires detailed analysis and research coupled with the volatility of the asset class. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

A benchmark in mutual funds measures the overall performance of the fund against a set standard in the market. Let us explain! We all have a “Sharma Ji Ka Beta” in our lives, who has always been 'our benchmark' for the best academic performance, best campus placement, or the one who possesses the best car, etc. He is used as the SI unit for Success by our Indian parents. Similarly, the Mutual Funds are also compared with their respective Benchmarks, to assess their performance.  What is a benchmark? Benchmark in mutual fund or finance parlance is an index or a group of unmanaged stocks which are used to assess the fund’s performance, which is directly linked to the efficiency of its fund manager. Market indices like Sensex, Nifty, and others, serve as benchmarks with which the annualized returns generated by the funds are compared against. For example, ABC fund generates an annualized return of 12.3%, whereas its benchmark generates 15% annualized returns, then the fund has clearly underperformed.  SEBI mandates the declaration of benchmarks to the fund houses (Asset management companies that manage mutual funds such as HDFC, ICICI Prudential, etc.). This aids the investor in making an informed choice about investing or exiting from the fund. The current return assessment of the benchmark returns incorporates the dividends to provide accurate information to the investor. Fund houses select the benchmark that they would like to beat, by considering various factors such as - 1. Market Capitalisation If the investment strategy of the fund is to majorly invest in large-cap securities, then it would compare itself with the Nifty 50; if it is a Small-cap fund – S&P Small Cap Index, etc. (Link to refer to the information on mutual funds, their benchmarks, and annualized returns)  2. Sector/Thematic Focus where a mutual fund invests only in a specific sector of the economy such as energy, infra, real estate, etc. One can use the benchmark to have a common yardstick for the funds that are in the same category (Large-cap, Small-cap, Mid-cap, etc). For example, Mutual fund A outperforms the index or benchmark by 6% whereas Mutual Fund B beats it by 2%; hence providing a vivid picture to the investor.  How is this a report card of the fund manager? Mutual funds promise to deliver a higher return than the market on your invested amount (also called “beating the market”) and even charge a management fee known as expense ratio for the same. The fund manager actively sells, buys, hunts for opportunities to pounce, and takes informed choices on the behalf of thousands of investors invested in the fund. If a mutual fund is delivering lower returns when compared to its benchmark – an index, it indicates that one would have earned more by investing in an Index fund (passive fund) which mirrors the stock allocation in the indices. Hence, the performance against the respective benchmark becomes the report card of the efficiency of the fund manager. Benchmarks should be used to assess the performance of the fund only after a reasonable duration of 1 year. This also provides a larger window to measure the risk associated with the fund. One also needs to assess the consistency in performance. For example, due to market downturns, the index has declined by 20%, but if the fund has declined by 15%, and also outperformed the benchmark in previous years, it can be considered for investing.  FAQs What is a benchmark? Benchmark in mutual fund or finance parlance is an index or a group of unmanaged stocks which are used to assess the fund’s performance, which is directly linked to the efficiency of its fund manager. Who sets the benchmark of mutual funds? In India, SEBI mandates the declaration of benchmarks to the fund houses (Asset management companies that manage mutual funds such as HDFC, ICICI Prudential, etc.). Conclusion There could be a Benchmark error, where the mutual fund compares itself against a wrong yardstick. This could lead to an incorrect evaluation of the performance due to the large difference in the returns. However, as an investor, I could compare the returns of the fund with the category average which abides by the same rules of asset allocation (E.g., large-cap funds are required to invest 60% of the total portfolio into large-cap/ blue-chip companies). For example, I would like to invest in a Small Cap fund, hence taking an average of the returns of the Small Cap funds, I arrive at an average that shows if my fund has outperformed or underperformed with respect to its peers). One can also compare the annualized returns with benchmarks provided by research institutions such as Morningstar. They conduct detailed research into the investment portfolio, assess the asset allocation, and declare the appropriate benchmark. (Link to an example of Morningstar tool to assess fund performance) DisclaimerThe above article is only for educational purposes. It is not an endorsement or recommendation to the investment strategies. Hence, no information in this article constitutes investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Investments are subject to market risk.

When you plan to start investing via mutual funds, you would encounter direct mutual funds and regular plans offered by the fund houses. Which one would you choose and why? What do these plans entail, and how are they different? The following article gives a brief overview of these questions and also provides information on how to invest in direct mutual funds. What is a direct mutual fund or direct plan? A direct plan, as the name suggests means to invest directly into the mutual fund without any intermediaries – distributors, agents, brokers, etc. The direct and regular plans only differ in terms of the expense ratio, which is the management fees paid from your portfolio. The plans have a portfolio and are also managed by the same fund manager. Direct plans can be analogous to buying a pair of shoes from the brand’s factory outlet whereas regular plans would be buying it at the retail store. In the former case, you are purchasing directly from the manufacturer and hence would have a lower purchasing price. Similarly, in regular plans, the higher expense ratio is attributed to the distribution or commission charges by the intermediary. Why should invest in direct mutual funds? Direct plans have a higher NAV as a result of a lower expense ratio than their regular plan counterparts. These returns or differences get compounded over the years and could lead to a significant difference in the value of the investment at the end of the time period.  As shown in the figure, the initial investment in both plans is Rs 50,000. However, the plan with a lower expense ratio amounts to a larger corpus of Rs 12 lakhs after 30 years, whereas the plan with a higher expense ratio amounts to a corpus that is Rs 1.5 lakhs lesser than the former plan. However, direct plans are targeted at those investors who have a fine acumen on the nuances of the market and hence can make an informed decision on the choice of the fund – these investors can be called do-it-yourself investors. In the case of market downturns and sudden volatility, it is always advisable to have an experienced player such as a mutual fund distributor to guide you through your investments – for a fee. How to invest in a direct mutual fund or direct plan? Once you have decided which fund to invest in, the investment into the Direct Plan of the mutual funds can be made using any of the following routes: 1. Asset management company or AMC One can invest through this offline/traditional route by visiting the fund house for the first time to complete the KYC formalities if you are not KYC (Know your customer) compliant. An account will be thus opened which will hereafter contain your investments. The fund house will provide an online option for the next investments and hence you would not be required to visit the fund house in an offline mode again. To find the nearest office of your preferred fund, you can visit the AMFI website, where you can obtain the location and contact numbers of these centers.  2. Registered investment advisors They are individuals who provide financial advice that is tailored to your investment objectives, risk appetite, the affordability of schemes, etc. These professional advisors smoothen the process of investing by helping you fill in the application form and submit the same to AMC. They charge a management fee in exchange for the services provided. However, it is always advisable to screen the track record of these individuals before approaching them with your hard-earned money. 3. Mutual fund agents & distributors These organizations are intermediaries in the value chain of investments, analogous to the Kirana stores (where AMCs are your FMCG companies that produce the product, and these Kirana stores provide you with the convenience to buy them at your doorstep). The distributors are typically banks, small financial advisory companies, stockbrokers, and individuals – and they are registered with the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI). Similar to the RIAs, the distributors bring in the application to the investors and submit them back to the respective fund houses. These agencies charge a flat fee for their services.  4. Registrar and transfer agents (RTA) These institutions maintain detailed records of the investments and the investor’s transactions on behalf of the AMCs or the fund houses. Transactions include buying and selling units, updating the personal information of the clients, redeeming funds, switching funds, etc. These backend tasks are tracked and recorded by the RTAs and are typically outsourced by the fund houses. They provide services and required information to the investors on behalf of the AMCs. One can invest in direct mutual funds through these agencies. 5. CAMS CAMS is a leading RTA that provides the investor with a web portal and mobile application through which he/she can independently transact without the help of any agency or service center. It is a mutual fund agency with trusted shareholders – Acsys, NSE, and HDFC Bank Group. 6. Karvy One of the largest Registrar and Transfer agents. It provides a single window to transact and assist its customers in the investment process. The agency has over 70 billion accounts and offers multiple other services. One can also visit the locations of these agencies to complete the registration process. Click on the links to find the nearest Karvy office and CAMS office. 5. Mutual fund utilities (MFU) This is a shared and innovative platform by the Mutual Fund industry, which is used by all the Indian AMCs. The platform enables easier and more convenient tracking of investments for the investor. It gives the option to create a common account through which transactions can be made to multiple schemes in various funds (Which are the participants of MFU). With your PAN and other KYC details, the platform will map all the details of the Accounts linked to your PAN, hence consolidating all your investments in one place and making it your single point of reference. A Common Account Number (CAN) is a unique id created for an investor (similar to your bank account number). To obtain this, the investor must complete the KYC process. One can invest in Direct mutual funds through this platform. Conclusion While selecting any of the routes for your investments ensure that you weigh the pros and cons of each of the options. Direct plans are preferred and considered economical for their low expense ratios, which have a noticeable effect in the long term and amount to a high magnitude as high as denominated in lakhs. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT FAQs What is a direct mutual fund? A direct plan, as the name suggests means to invest directly into the mutual fund without any intermediaries – distributors, agents, brokers, etc. The direct and regular plans only differ in terms of the expense ratio, which is the management fees paid from your portfolio. Why Should One Invest In Direct Mutual Funds? Direct plans have a higher NAV as a result of a lower expense ratio than their regular plan counterparts. These returns or differences get compounded over the years and could lead to a significant difference in the value of the investment at the end of the time period. What is the difference between direct mutual funds and regular mutual funds? Direct Plan allows the investor to invest directly with the AMC without any broker or distributor involvement. In a regular mutual fund plan, the investor invests via an intermediary such as a distributor, broker, or banker who is paid a distribution fee by the AMC. Is it safe to buy direct mutual funds? Yes, it is the safest way to invest in the stock market. Direct mutual funds are managed by SEBI-registered AMCs that allow investors to enter the market in a relatively safe manner. What are the disadvantages of direct mutual funds? The biggest disadvantage of direct mutual funds is the lack of financial help while selecting mutual funds. There are many AMCs in India and thousands of mutual funds offered by these establishments. Any new investor is likely to suffer choice fatigue.

What is the meaning of arbitrage funds? Are these funds a wise investment option for investors? How do arbitrage funds work? Let's find the answers to all these questions in this article. We work our fingers to the bone to save and invest for our future selves or for our future generations. As investors, the biggest nemesis to our portfolio is the unstable market or an extremely volatile, ever-changing market. What if we told you, that there are funds that thrive in such conditions? An arbitrage fund is a kind of mutual fund, where the fund manager hunts for price differences in the spot market (cash market) and future market (derivates market) to perform the arbitrage. This fund ensures profit in volatile markets with minimal risk. These funds are highly suitable for conservative or risk-averse investors. Too much to handle? Read on to navigate through this financial labyrinth. To demystify this financial product, we need to start by understanding the term Arbitrage. What is Arbitrage? Arbitrage in a simple sense is a transaction or a trade where a commodity or security is purchased and sold in the same time frame in order to profit from the price difference. For example, a fruit retailer would purchase Apples from Kashmir for Rs.100/kg and sell them in Mumbai for Rs. 200/kg. Here, the retailer has made an arbitrage by purchasing and selling the commodity in different markets. Similarly, a stock of ABC company is trading at $100 on the stock exchange. A but is trading at $102 on stock exchange B. As a rational investor (provided that it is legally allowed in the country), I would buy from stock exchange A and sell it at B, hence pocketing a profit of $2.  The opportunity of arbitrage also presents itself in the price difference of securities in the spot and futures markets. Spot market refers to the public financial market where securities or commodities are traded to receive an immediate delivery. For example, if the price of stock ABC is INR 2350, one can purchase this stock and secure ownership of the company immediately. Is it advisable to copy the mutual fund portfolio? Read More Whereas, in the futures market the trades are locked for delivery at a specific date in the future, and the price is determined by the market view of the stock. Hence, if you are buying a share in the future market that has a maturity at the end of 1 month, then the share is delivered to you at the end of maturity (whereas in the spot market, it comes into your possession immediately). Pricing of the stock in the future market can be illustrated from this example: The price of stock ABC is INR 2350 in the cash/spot market. However, if the market feels that the company has a great potential for growth or there is an expectation that the stock would see a potential increase in the next two months, then future contract delivering these shares at the end of two months would be highly valued of a price say, INR 2700. Arbitrage funds are equity funds that employ an active strategy - buying and selling during downturns to deliver good returns. They hence turn volatility, your nemesis, into your friend-in-need. How do these funds do that? Volatility causes chaos and uncertainty in the markets and in the minds of investors. This leads to a large price differential in the future and spot market, hence opening up an opportunity for arbitrage. These funds also allocate ~10% or higher of the asset value into debt instruments that are considered stable. In a stable market condition where the opportunity of arbitrage is lesser, this allocation is altered, and the fund invests more in the highly stable debt securities becoming a bond fund or a debt fund would have a large impact on its profitability. This makes it a product that is highly suitable for risk-averse investors and investors who want to benefit from the volatility.  In a typical mutual fund, the securities are purchased with the view that the prices would increase over a period of time. However, in an Arbitrage fund, when the market is bullish or optimistic for the future, (which implies a potential growth in prices), the fund buys the stock in the cash market and sells it in the future market, hence pocketing the profit, Cha-Ching! Similarly, when the market is pessimistic or is taking a downturn, the fund buys the future contracts which would be priced lower, and then sell these shares in the spot market, where it would get a higher price – Cha-Ching again! Conclusion  These funds are suitable for a medium time horizon of 1- 3 years, where you are saving to get that Gaming laptop that you always wanted to buy that beautiful lehenga for your wedding or to fund any expense in the foreseeable time horizon. Reason: Because the volatility over a longer period of time would appear smoother, making other options superior investment alternatives. Arbitrage funds also have a higher expense ratio (management fees paid to the fund) than typical mutual funds. Reason: The profit made from the arbitrages is marginal and hence requires a large number of transactions to be executed to have a sizable gain. Hence, the fund charges you a higher fee than the regular mutual funds. The exposure to risk is very minimal as the purchase and sale trades occur almost simultaneously. As there would be a dearth of arbitrage opportunities as the prices in cash and futures markets converge, one would have to invest in other instruments to augment their overall returns. These funds are treated as equity-related instruments. Hence the funds are taxed at capital gains tax depending on the holding period.  a) If the holding period is >1 year – Returns earned are subject to long-term capital gains tax – 15%. b) If the holding period is <1 year – Returns earned from the fund are liable to a short-term capital gains tax -10%. A little more Financial Gyan To choose one of the many arbitrage funds available in the market, assess them on the following factors - Performance Consistency over the last 3 years 1-year returns How much has it outperformed the benchmark? Expense Ratio Asset Size  FAQs What is Arbitrage? Arbitrage in a simple sense is a transaction or a trade where a commodity or security is purchased and sold in the same time frame in order to profit from the price difference. For example, a fruit retailer would purchase Apples from Kashmir for Rs.100/kg and sell them in Mumbai for Rs. 200/kg. What is an arbitrage fund? Arbitrage funds are equity funds that employ an active strategy - buying and selling during downturns to deliver good returns. They hence turn volatility, your nemesis, into your friend-in-need. Is it good to invest in arbitrage funds? Arbitrage funds are good funds for investors who wish to gain good returns in a volatile market without the added risk. These are relatively less risky with a good margin of returns. Can you lose money in arbitrage funds? Yes, it is possible to incur a loss while investing in arbitrage funds. TALK TO AN EXPERT

Mutual funds have been the buzzword in the investment arena and a large number of budding investors are exploring this vehicle. Despite the awareness around this vehicle, the level of understanding of the nuances that exist in this investment route is very minimal. If you have been boggled by the jargon in the industry and would like to understand “What are mutual funds?” and the various benefits of investing in them, you have clicked on the right link – as this article provides you with a starter kit to navigate the financial jargon labyrinth. What is a Mutual Fund? Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool money from a large set of investors and invest this net corpus into various asset classes such as government securities, corporate bonds, stocks of companies, and other money market instruments to earn the promised returns to its investors. A fund manager is the one who plays the role of the driver to this investment train and channels the pool of investments to align with the investment mandate and objective. Multiple schemes are launched by Asset Management Companies (AMCs) or fund houses to match the investment objectives of various investors. The profits (or losses) earned are apportioned according to the amount invested. For example, as shown in the figure below, 4 investors invest 1 to 4 coins in a mutual fund. After a year, the fund generates profits through these investments (capital gains or dividend earnings from the equity instruments or interest income through debt instruments). These are apportioned accordingly as 1 to 4 stars (representing units of profits) to the respective investors. As an investor, when you invest in mutual funds, you receive units of the fund in return representing your investment – similar to buying stocks of a company (however, one does not get voting rights into any company). These units are easily redeemable in the market. The price of each unit is known as Net Asset Value (NAV) and is obtained after the profits earned from the fund are adjusted for expenses and liabilities of the fund. Net Asset Value NAV = Fund Assets - Fund Liabilities or Expenses / Number of Units For example, XYZ Asset Management Company has launched a new fund and collects Rs 1 lakh from 10 investors. The fund house determines the NAV of the fund to be Rs 10. Hence each of the 10 investors receives Rs 10,000/10 (Units = Investment Amount/NAV) = 1000 units. Over a period of 1 year, the fund invests in multiple securities and earns profits which translates to an increase in NAV to Rs 15. Now, the investment value of each of the investors would have increased to Rs 15 * 1000 = Rs 15000 (New NAV * units held by the investor). Why should you invest in a mutual fund? Diversification, management of your money by financial experts, flexibility, and higher returns than typical bank deposits are some of the reasons which make mutual funds an ideal investment option. 1. Money managed by experts The fund managers who manage the pool of money are financial experts who are well-versed with the market and its patterns and have an excellent track record of managing funds. An enormous amount of research is done by the research analysts on each of the stocks or assets or sectors. This aids in handpicking the best stocks in the market. 2. No lock-in period Mutual funds do not have a lock-in period where an investor cannot withdraw the funds. Some of the instruments in the market do allow a withdrawal but charge a fat penalty for the same. Most of the mutual funds are categorized under the umbrella of open-ended schemes and have different levels of exit loads (small fees charged by the AMC for exiting the fund). ELSS, which is a tax-deductible instrument comes with a lock-in period of 3 years. 3. Flexibility Mutual funds provide the flexibility of entering and exiting the fund which is a highly desired option for most of the investors and is not available in most of the options in the market. This is owing to the high liquidity in the secondary markets (buying and selling over exchanges) for the mutual funds. Investors have also started considering mutual funds as a vehicle to save for their emergency fund.  4. Liquidity With the absence of a lock-in period, an investor can redeem his/her investments in case of a financial emergency. There is also a high level of convenience of completing the process within a few button clicks when compared to the long procedures of other investment counterparts. Post the request, the fund house credits the money into your account within 3-7 business days. 5. Diversification As a retail investor, one cannot mimic the market as our ticket sizes for investments would be very low compared to the level of diversification required to beat the market. Mutual funds invest across various asset classes or various sectors in the case of securities thus providing you with the benefit of diversification. Hence, an investor need not lose his sleep, over market volatility and fluctuations as the fund takes care of such market shocks.  6. Lower cost Due to the economies of scale of managing a large pool of money, the funds charge a very small % of the fees (also known as the expense ratio) from the investors for managing their investments. The fees range from 0.5% - 1.5% and do not exceed 2.5% which is the maximum fee that a fund can charge as per the mandates of SEBI. 7. Fund switch options Mutual funds also provide an option to the investor to switch to another fund under the fund house. It gives a smooth option to enter and exit the fund and to transfer the investments into another fund with another sector/objective of his/her choice based on the risk appetite and other factors. Systematic Transfer Plans are also available in the category which facilitates a smooth transfer of Debt to Equity hence enabling a reallocation of the portfolio of the investor. 8. Tax saving Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) can be used for tax deductions up to Rs 1.5 lakhs under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act of 1961. The instrument comes with the lowest lock-in period of 3 years when compared to other tax-saving instruments. It offers the benefits of wealth accumulation and tax savings. 9. Rupee cost averaging Investing into mutual funds through SIPs averages the cost of purchase of the units of the fund. In a bull market, where the prices are high, one purchases a lower number of units, whereas, in a bear market, one accumulates the units. Hence over a period of time, the cost of the units gets averaged providing the best price for the investor and eliminating the need to time the market. 10. Regulation SEBI strictly monitors the functioning of the mutual funds and has sacrosanct guidelines to the AMCs, ensuring the safety of the investments of a large number of retail investors. How to invest in mutual funds? There are multiple routes through which one can make investments in Mutual Funds 1. Fund houses Online website: Most fund houses provide the facility for opening an account through the fund house’s official website. The KYC or e-KYC process needs to be completed by filling in the details – PAN and Aadhar number. Post the verification of information, the fund house intimates you, and you can start investing. This hassle-free and the quick route is preferred by most investors. Apps: Fund houses also allow investors to invest, sell and buy through mobile devices. A detailed account of your portfolio can also be viewed on these apps. Offline: By visiting the nearest branch office of the fund house, where an application form is provided to initiate your account. Ensure to carry the following - Passport Size Photograph Identity Proof Canceled check Address Proof 2. Broker Also known as a mutual fund distributor, they will aid you through the end-to-end process of your investment. Information regarding the documents required and other guidelines will be provided to you along with guidance on the funds to invest in. A fee is charged by this intermediary for his/her services and is deducted as a % of your investments. 3. EduFund EduFund is a simple-to-use app that helps you invest in over 4000 mutual funds in India from all the leading fund houses in the country. The process to begin takes very little time and is quite intuitive. You just have to download the app from the app store and fill in some information to get started. FAQs What is a Mutual Fund? Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool money from a large set of investors and invest this net corpus into various asset classes such as government securities, corporate bonds, stocks of companies, and other money market instruments to earn the promised returns to its investors. Why should you invest in a mutual fund? Diversification, management of your money by financial experts, flexibility, and higher returns than typical bank deposits are some of the reasons which make mutual funds an ideal investment option. How to invest in mutual funds? To invest in mutual funds, you can approach a broker, invest directly with the AMC and through financial investment app. Conclusion It is nearly impossible to time the market. However, with mutual funds, you need not hunt for the right time to invest because the right time would be now! Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

Investing is no longer associated with wealth. To protect one's future it has become essential. In this blog, let's compare Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) vs. Public Provident Funds (PPF) vs. Equity Linked Savings (ELSS) funds to see which is a better option for you. What are LIC plans? The insurance and investment firm Life Insurance Corporation of India is owned by the government. It provides individualized policies to meet each person's insurance needs. One of the first life insurance companies and a pioneer in the insurance industry is LIC. Life insurance shields a family from unforeseen events like death. It helps to secure the financial future of a family. In the event that the family's primary provider dies suddenly, life insurance's primary objective is to provide "death benefits" to the dependents. Features of LIC plans Policy Holder: The life insurance policy's premiums are paid by the insured. They also agree to the terms of the company's life insurance policy. Premium: It's the sum that the policyholder pays to the insurance provider to have their life covered. Maturity: It is the period of time following the conclusion of the policy term and the termination of the life insurance contract. What is PPF? A portion of one's annual income is set aside in the Public Provident Fund, also known as PPF, which is a popularly abbreviated savings vehicle. If the money was received on maturity, PPF investors may receive tax-free interest income on their capital. PPF is a government-backed saving method for risk-averse people. Features of PPF  Tenure: A Public Provident Fund account has a 15-year term. The lock-in period is, therefore, 15 years as well. Eligibility: PPF investments are open to all Indian nationals. Additionally, a PPF account can be opened in a minor's name, and the parent or legal guardian can manage it. Risk: The PPF program is supported by the Indian government. As a result, it is one of the most secure investment strategies available to private investors. What are ELSS funds? The only type of mutual fund that qualifies for tax deductions under the terms of Section 80C of the Income Tax Act of 1961 is an ELSS fund, also known as an equity-linked savings plan. You can save up to INR 46,800 in taxes each year and get a tax credit of up to INR 1.5 lakhs by investing in ELSS mutual funds. The majority of the portfolio of ELSS mutual funds is allocated to equities and equity-linked instruments, such as listed shares, making up 65% of the portfolio. They could also be somewhat exposed to fixed-income securities. The shortest lock-in period among all Section 80C investments is three years for these funds. Lowest Lock-in: In the tax-saving category, ELSS investments have a 3-year lock-in period, making them a relatively more liquid option. SIP Option: The Systematic Investment Plan allows you to start investing in ELSS with as little as INR 500 each month (SIP). When it's convenient, you can start and stop the SIP. High Returns: One of the best returns in the group of tax-saving products has been provided by ELSS. PPF vs ELSS Following is the difference between PPF vs ELSS:  CharacteristicsPPFELSSSafetyVery High (Govt Guaranteed)Low-Moderate (Invests in Equity)ReturnsModerate – Fixed by Govt every quarter.High – Equity compounds over the long term.Lock-in15 years3 yearsLiquidityLow High Tax on ReturnsExempt10% of capital gains over the long term. Gains up to 1 lakh are exempted.Tax on MaturityExemptAs indicated above, taxes only apply to gains. PPF vs LIC  Following is the difference between PPF vs LIC:  Basis of DifferencePPFLIC PolicyPurposeSavings and investmentInsurance and risk protectionReturns7.1% p.a., compounded annuallyDepending on the policy, usually 4%-6%Tenure15 yearsFlexible tenure, as chosen by the subscriberPremature closureNot allowedAllowed with penaltiesRegulatory authorityCentral GovernmentInsurance Regulatory and Development AuthorityDeposit amountThe minimum is INR 500 and the maximum is INR 1.5 lakhsFixed Premiums LiquidityPPF enables loans from the third year and permits partial withdrawals from the seventh year.A 3-year lock-in term applies to insurance plans before they may be redeemed.TaxationPPP belongs to the EEE group. As a result, the corpus of the investment, interest, and redemption is entirely tax-free.If the premium is less than 10% of the amount assured, it is tax-free. Additionally tax-free is the death benefit. LIC vs PPF vs ELSS: Which is better? People frequently mix up investments with insurance. Investments are for a secure future, whereas insurance options like LIC are for risk protection. Having sound financial standing is important for any investor. A person needs an emergency fund for unforeseen costs, insurance to protect against unfortunate events, and investments to ensure a secure financial future. While both PPF and ELSS programs save taxes, it's still important to choose one based on your investment time horizon, risk tolerance, and expected returns. PPF is best for those who can afford a 15-year lock-in period and are utterly risk-averse. While ELSS is a good option for investors who are willing to take a moderate risk in exchange for higher returns. The best way to keep ELSS risk to a minimum is to keep your investments for the long run. Each person has a unique style of thinking and attitude while creating investment strategies. Some people desire higher earnings, while others seek financial security. Examining your financial condition is essential before making any form of investment, including those in PPF, LIC, or ELSS plans. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

With the dual advantage of tax-saving & potential for better returns than traditional tax-saving investment products, tax-saving mutual funds are a must-have for every investor. In this blog, we will discuss the best mutual funds to save taxes  What are tax-saving mutual funds? Mutual funds with a tax-saving component are identical to other mutual funds in every way. Because investments made in tax-saving mutual funds are eligible for tax benefits under section 80C of the Indian Income Tax Act, this form of mutual fund has a unique characteristic. Most tax-saving mutual funds participate in the growth-oriented stock market and are ELSS programs. The benefits of tax-saving mutual funds that save taxes provide investors with a variety of advantages. The following are a few of the crucial ones: Tax advantages of up to Rs. 1.5 lakh may be available for investments made in these kinds of funds. Under these plans, long-term capital gains are not taxed. Investments in these plans can be made as a way to set aside money for future expenses like car or home down payments. Through these programs, investors can make monthly investments through SIPs, eliminating the need for lump-sum investments. In order to reduce the danger of significant losses, the assets in the portfolios are not all invested in one location. If you decide against withdrawing your investment, it will keep growing and turn into a respectable sum of savings for an emergency. You may not be able to withdraw the original amount, but even during the lock-in period, you can withdraw the dividends that were received. These mutual funds have a lock-in term of just three years, as opposed to the six to fifteen years offered by other investing alternatives. Investments may be made at any time of the year because these schemes are open-ended in nature. Professional fund managers with extensive market understanding professionally oversee the funds. As a result, individuals who are unfamiliar with the market can also participate in these funds. Best mutual funds to save taxes 2022 The following are the best mutual funds to save taxes in 2022: Funds1-Year Returns (%)3-Year Returns5-Year ReturnsIDFC Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund-Growth23.111.722.3Tata India Tax Savings Fund Growth14.612.3L&T Tax Advantage Fund Growth16.21320.3Aditya Birla Sun Life Tax Relief 96 Fund Growth19.312.123.5Aditya Birla Sun Life Tax Plan-Growth18.911.622.6DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund Growth911.421Axis Long-Term Equity Fund Growth18.19.324Kotak Tax Saver Fund Growth-4.7910.2517.66Invesco India Tax Plan Fund Growth0.611.119.0HDFC TaxSaver Fund-11.18.515.0 Who should invest in the best ELSS mutual funds? Any person or HUF that wants to reduce their annual tax liability by up to Rs 46,800 should think about investing in ELSS. The only people who should invest in ELSS are those who are ready to take some risk and can commit to holding their investment for at least the three-year lock-in period. To benefit from the greatest returns given by mutual funds, investors are urged to hold their investments for at least five years. It is appropriate to provide five years. You'll give your assets the necessary time to experience market cycles and generate great profits over the long term. Young investors who are just beginning their careers in finance can invest for the long term. Young investors are the greatest candidates for ELSS since they have the time to maximize the power of compounding, enjoy excellent returns, and save up to Rs 46,800 in annual taxes. FAQ Do tax-saving mutual funds outperform other tax-saving options like PPF and others in terms of returns? As of March 1, 2022, the category returns for ELSS are, respectively, 18.96%, 18.76%, and 14.38% for the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year time periods. While Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana's current yield is 7.6%, the current return on PPFs, a popular fixed-income tax-saving device, is 7.1%. Financial analysts estimate that a ULIP plan produces an average return of 10–12% over a ten-year investment term. What are the hazards connected to different tax-saving tools? Since they are linked to investments in equity-related products, ELSS & ULIP investments are often high-risk. However, there are still some risks associated with fixed-income instruments. The government frequently assesses the interest rate on these programs (usually every quarter), and it is impossible to ignore the effects of interest-rate variations on them. Does ELSS have a minimum investment requirement? Undoubtedly, ELSS has a minimum investment requirement. Although the mutual fund provider determines the minimum investment amount, it is often approximately Rs. 5,000. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT