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One of India's leading asset management companies, ABSL offers clients a wide range of investment solutions and has had a strong presence in retail and institutional segments for over 28 years. ABSL AMC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited, which Aditya Birla Group, a large conglomerate with a diverse portfolio of businesses, backs.  The Aditya Birla Group is one of India's leading business houses, with a strong presence across various sectors in India and around the world. ABSL AMC benefits from the financial strength and stability of Aditya Birla Capital Limited and the Aditya Birla Group. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdwqQH0xkFw Aditya Birla Sun Life Focused Equity Fund Investment Objective The scheme's investment objective is to achieve long-term capital appreciation by investing in up to 30 companies with a long-term sustainable competitive advantage and growth potential.  Investment Process   The scheme would adopt top-down and bottom-up investing approaches and aim to diversify across various industries.  The scheme's investment emphasis would be investing in a maximum of 30 companies with sound corporate management and prospects of good future growth.   The fund's focus shall be biased toward large-cap companies driven by long-term fundamentals though not limited to it.   Portfolio Composition  The portfolio holds roughly 96% equity, of which the significant sectoral exposure is to Financials, which account for roughly 36%. The top five sectors hold more than 70% of the portfolio. Note: Data as of 30th April 2023. Source: ABSL MF Aditya Birla Scholarship Read More Top 5 Sector Holdings for ABSL Focused Equity Fund Name Weightage % ICICI Bank 9.79 HDFC 9.07 Infosys 7.05 Reliance 6.13 L&T 5.64 Note: Data as of 30th April 2023. Source: ABSL MF  Performance for ABSL Focused Equity Fund  Given below is the return over time.  CAGR of this fund CAGR of S&P BSE 100 TRI 1 Year 14.90 17.69 3 Years 25.01 28.05 5 Years 11.27 12.46 7 Years 13.25 14.50 10 Years 14.66 13.30 Note: Data as of 12th May 2023. Source: Valueresearch  Fund Manager  Kunal Sangoi is a Fund Manager and Senior Analyst with Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited. Kunal comes with an experience of 16 years in capital markets in the areas of equity research and portfolio management. He specializes in the Technology, Internet, Media, and Telecom sectors and has been with ABSLAMC since 2012, and was previously associated with Edelweiss Financial Services Ltd. in its Institutional Equity Research team as Senior Analyst. Kunal is a Chartered Accountant by qualification.   Dhaval Joshi has an overall experience of 15 years in equity research and investments. Before joining Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited, he was associated with Sundaram Mutual Fund (India) Ltd. for around five years. He has also worked as a research analyst with Emkay Global Financial Services and Asit C Mehta Investment Intermediates Ltd.  Who should invest in this Fund?  Investors looking to generate wealth over the long term can consider this fund. Investors who seek exposure to a broader large market capitalization stock and want to invest in equity and equity-related securities to form a concentrated portfolio.  Why invest in this Fund?  This high-risk, high-return strategy can earn significant returns.  It can help investors beat rising prices over the long term.  Time Horizon  One should look at investing for at least three years or even more.  Investment through Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) may help in tackling the volatility of the broader equity market.  INVEST IN FUND Conclusion  Aditya Birla Sun Life Focused Equity Fund focuses its investment in up to 30 stocks of the top 100 companies in terms of market capitalization. These large, well-established companies have the potential to provide stability in times of market volatility and have proven business models that have the potential for significant growth in the long run. Thus, it is a suitable investment option for investors with a long-term investment horizon, a moderate to high-risk appetite, and looking to potentially invest in large-cap stocks to generate capital appreciation.  Disclaimer:This is not recommendation advice. All information in this blog is for educational purposes only. 

HDFC Asset Management Company Ltd. (HDFC AMC) is one of India's largest mutual fund companies. It is among one of the most profitable asset management companies (AMC) in the country. The company manages assets worth Rs. 4,49,766.281 Crores (excluding domestic fund of funds) as of 31st March 2023.  HDFC Largecap and Midcap fund Investment objective To generate long-term capital appreciation/income from a portfolio of equity and equity-related securities of predominantly large-cap and mid-cap companies.  Investment process   The Scheme would predominantly invest in companies spanning the entire market capitalization, which:  Are likely to achieve above-average growth  Enjoy distinct competitive advantages  Have superior financial strength  Are trading at relatively attractive valuations  Have value-unlocking potential.  Portfolio Composition  The HDFC Large and Mid-cap Fund had invested more than 98% of the funds in equity, and the remaining amount was held in the form of cash and cash equivalents as on 31st March 2023. It holds significant exposure in large-cap equity at 57%, and the significant sectoral exposure is to banks which account for over 16% of the portfolio. The top five sectors hold up to 44% of the portfolio.  Note: Data as of 31st March 2023. Source: HDFC MF, Value Research Top 5 Holdings for HDFC Largecap and Mid-cap Fund  Name Weightage % HDFC Bank Ltd. 5.39 ICICI Bank Ltd 3.99 Infosys Limited 3.14 State Bank of India 2.74 Reliance Industries Ltd. 2.64 Note: Data as of 31st March 2023. Source: HDFC MF   Performance  Fund name 1Y 3Y 5Y Since Inception HDFC Large Mid-cap Fund Direct-Growth (%) 4.55 34.31 13.18 11.18 NIFTY Large Mid-cap 250 Index 0.62 31.98 12.13 14.46 Data as of 31st March 2023                     Date of Inception of Direct Plan: 01st January 2013 Note: Returns over one year are annualized Source: HDFC MF HDFC Top 100 Fund Read More Fund Managers Mr. Priya Rajan (Since 01st May 2022) – Senior Equity Analyst and Fund Manager for overseas Investments - Collectively over 15 years of experience.  Mr. Gopal Agrawal (Since 16th July 2020) – Collectively, over 17 years of experience in Fund Management and two years in Equity Research   Who should invest in HDFC Large and Mid-cap Funds?  Investors looking to invest in an equity portfolio with very high risk and seeking better returns than the debt instruments can consider this fund. However, investors should remain invested long-term to witness wealth creation.  Why invest in this Fund?  Large-cap funds offer an excellent opportunity to generate high long-term returns, while Small & Mid-cap stocks allow one to go beyond the usual large blue-chip stocks and present possible higher capital appreciation.  This fund has consistently generated good returns and outperformed the NIFTY Large Mid-cap 250 Index benchmark.    Time Horizon  One should look at investing for a minimum of three years or more.  Investment through Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) may help in tackling the volatility of the broader equity market.  INVEST NOW Conclusion  The HDFC Large and Mid-cap Fund is a good option for investors willing to take exposure to large and mid-cap equities with some additional risk for good returns over the long term. However, investors should remain invested long-term to witness wealth creation. 

Investment advisors say this all the time - Save smartly, Save for your child's college. Saving for your child’s college education is a financial project in its own right. It requires planning, research, investing, and consistency. There are several things you need to do to ensure you have the necessary funds when you need them. Let’s understand why you need to save before understanding where, how, and how much! Why saving for your child’s college is important? The reason why you need to save is education inflation. Just to give you a heads up on the costs, as of 2022, a four-year undergrad course in the US can cost you anywhere from Rs. 70 lakhs to Rs. 1 crore, while a 2 year's master will cost you Rs. 60-70 lakhs. Other countries are comparatively cheaper. So, if you start working with the US figures, you are fairly well taken care of for the other countries. Yes, the amount may seem huge and it will keep going up over the years, but if you start well in advance, you will have the power of compounding working for you. And with the right investment strategies, putting together the corpus you need is quite achievable. Source: Pixabay How to start saving? 1. Collect information · Start Early: Your kid is bound to go to college, whether in India or abroad so start early! · Select the country: Pick a country that you know you will be comfortable sending your child to when the time comes. · Identify the universities: Get a handle on the kind of universities you would like to send your child to, and work out ballpark numbers in terms of fees, years of study, etc. · Talk to your friends: Even if your child is really young yet, start speaking to parents who have recently sent their children overseas. There are several insights that you will get when you speak to someone who has actually walked the path you wish to traverse. 2. Chat with a financial planner · Talk to experts: Once you have a fix on the funds you need to accumulate to send your child overseas, have a serious chat with your financial planner. · Set your goals: Define your goals, and strategies that will help you put together the corpus you will need and exceed it by a bit as well. · Plan your funds: Take inflation, currency exchange rate, and rising education, and travel costs into consideration. 3. Choose your investment instruments carefully 1. Long-Term Investments: (12 – 15-year horizon) You can consider investing in equities, and stocks. These instruments can give you high returns as the stock market grows over the decade. But these are also high-risk investments. You must have the patience to stay invested even when the market indices fall, for ultimately, they do go up. That is why you need a longer horizon to invest in these instruments: so, you can wait for the markets to correct and get the best return on investment. You can also balance the risk with investment in a provident fund, which gives one of the highest rates of return in the fixed-return market. 2. Mid-Term Investments: (7–11-year horizon) If this is your investment horizon, Mutual funds are your best bet. You can choose a basket of mutual fund schemes that are best suited for your kind of risk appetite: there are funds that invest in equities, small-cap, mid-cap, and blue-chip companies, and also debt funds. The last two are quite safe and give you better returns than the standard savings or Fixed deposit options. You must note that mutual fund investments are dependent on the market movement and will be impacted by the rise and drop in the indices. But compared to Equities, they are less volatile and the good ones are known to outperform the market index over a long period of time. 3. Short-Term Investments: (4 – 7 years) If you will be requiring the funds within the next few years, you must invest carefully ensuring your capital is protected at all times and the investment can earn you some additional benefits beyond the Fixed deposit rates. You can invest in debt instruments and bonds directly or invest in debt mutual fund schemes. These are quite safe and can earn you better interest than your regular savings options. But do keep in mind, that most of these also come with a lock-in period, so check that out before you commit your money. Apart from the capital market instruments, families also look at the traditional avenues of investment to block their monies. Real estate, gold purchases, gold bonds, and real estate mutual fund schemes are some of the other options that can be considered for long-term investments. Financial planning can be tricky if you are just starting out. With so many saving and investment opportunities, it's important to understand which ones will help you get to your goals faster. So, don’t shy away from seeking help and building a strong saving plan! FAQs Why saving for your child’s college is important? The reason why you need to save is education inflation. Just to give you a heads up on the costs, as of 2022, a four-year undergrad course in the US can cost you anywhere from Rs. 70 lakhs to Rs. 1 crore, while a 2 year's masters will cost you Rs. 60-70 lakhs. The cost of education is rapidly increasing in India - it takes roughly Rs. 30 lakhs to raise a child in India till the age of 18 years. This cost is likely to increase and investments can help you keep up with the fees and other expenses. What is the best way to invest for your child's college? The best way is to invest via equity based mutual funds if you have a long-time horizon like 12 to 15 years. Based on your investment period, you can choose an investment plan that can get you closer to your financial goal and send your child to a college of their choice. How to start saving for your child's college? · Start Early: Your kid is bound to go to college, whether in India or abroad so start early! · Select the country: Pick a country that you know you will be comfortable sending your child to when the time comes. · Identify the universities: Get a handle on the kind of universities you would like to send your child to, and work out ballpark numbers in terms of fees, years of study, etc. · Talk to your friends: Even if your child is really young yet, start speaking to parents who have recently sent their children overseas. There are several insights that you will get when you speak to someone who has actually walked the path you wish to traverse. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you TALK TO AN EXPERT

In the previous article, we discussed what is a better asset to invest in a child's future. It is common knowledge that parents should start investing in a child's education. But when should you start? How do you start? In this article, we will talk about when to start investing in a child's education. Saving up for children's education is a daunting task for parents. The question "When should you start to save for your child/children's education has a universal answer. The answer is "as early as possible".   Every parent aspires to provide their child with the most extraordinary life possible. Parents, particularly when it comes to their children's education, are always looking for methods to stay one step ahead.   Parents who take a proactive approach and invest methodically from an early age can protect their children's futures. As a result, financial planning is critical for achieving a goal as important as supporting a child's education.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUiUws6L2aY Time is the most critical component. The powerful notion of compound interest benefits you more the longer you invest.   Education costs are rising faster than inflation. As a result, the expense of sending your child to a university or college will almost certainly double every six to seven years.  Tax Benefits of Investing in Child's Education Read More An undergraduate course at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) costs around 2 Lac per year. The IIM charges roughly 20 lakhs for a two-year diploma program.   Starting investing early is the only way to protect your wealth against inflation and save enough money to send your child to a prestigious college.   While the annual rate of return and the original investments are essential, the length of time you invest the money is the most crucial element. So, if you want to put money aside for your child's education, get started immediately.  Example   Let us take an example to understand why you should not delay the investments for your child's future education:   Two mothers, Anita and Archana, want to save for their respective daughter's education. Both intend to save money and invest a lump sum of Rs 2,00,000 in equity-focused mutual funds (offering 12% per annum yearly returns).   However, the difference is that Archana made the lumpsum investment when her daughter turned ten years old, while Anita invested as soon as her daughter was born.   So, the time horizon for Archana is eight years and the time horizon for Anita is 18 years. Let us see the difference between the accumulated amount at the end for both mothers.    Anita will have Rs 15.3 lakhs for her daughter's college by the time she is 18, while Archana will have only approx. Of Rs 4.9 lakhs. In other words, by investing ten years sooner, Anita could save over three times as much as Archana.  The visual below gives a good representation of the example:  In the above example, Archana and Anita put money into the same mutual fund. The amount they invested and the rate of return were identical.   The only variation was the investment period. Anita continued to save for another ten years, but her final corpus was three times that of Archan.    For savers hoping to build money through compounding, time is everything. FAQs When to start investing in a child's education? Ideally, parents should start investing in their child's education before they are born. This can help them keep up with the rising costs of education which is growing at a faster rate of inflation than income. Planning, investing, and saving for a long duration allows one to take advantage of compounding. Why parents should invest early in their child's education? Parents should invest early in their child's education because education is costly. The cost is increasing every year due to high competition and education inflation. Saving and investing early on can help them take advantage of investment assets like mutual funds, ETFs, and stocks that can beat inflation and help them preserve the value of their money. What age is too late to start investing in your child's education? It's never too late to start investing. You can start with low-risk investments that can help you save up more in a short duration. You can consult a financial advisor to figure out your options based on your risk appetite. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you TALK TO AN EXPERT

In the previous article, we discussed what are mutual funds. & Taxation in mutual funds. In this article, we will discuss how to track mutual funds. Making mutual fund investments is just the first step. Once the investment has been made, periodically tracking it becomes equally crucial.   Most of us seek advice and do our due diligence before choosing our mutual fund investments. However, once things are done, we typically forget about them until a need arises.  Nearly everything, including your car and health, requires routine maintenance; the same is true for your mutual fund investments.   While you might not need to regularly monitor your portfolio, it is always a good idea to keep yourself informed of its growth and changes.   A fund fact sheet will help you to monitor your mutual fund investment easily. It is a progress report for your investments, similar to a report card.   What is a Fund fact sheet?   A fund fact sheet is a document that lists every scheme that the AMC or mutual fund managers. It is presented in an easy-to-read manner and is issued monthly by the fund house. It contains the following information:   Performance of the schemes: It gives the performance information in terms of beta, Sharpe ratio, standard deviation, and the compound annual growth rate or CAGR of the fund.   The fund factsheet also outlines how your investments have been distributed among different securities.  Size and investment information for each scheme that the mutual fund managers.   Reviewing the fact sheet, which is easily accessible on the mutual fund website, is a great way to keep track of your mutual fund holdings.  What are mutual funds? Read More How to track mutual funds' performance?   The mutual fund websites list their net asset value (NAV). The mutual fund company's chosen index, which is a benchmark for its performance, is available for comparison.   To know how your fund performs, you should also compare it with other funds in the same category. The performance of a mutual fund scheme cannot be assessed in isolation.   Some specialized websites track the performance of mutual funds in addition to the fund fact sheets of the schemes. Over a monthly, quarterly, or half-yearly time frame, you can monitor how your scheme is doing compared to its counterpart in the same category.   It is always good to keep an eye out for the main characteristics and adjustments listed below that could impact the funds' performance.   It is advisable to monitor the portfolio's turnover and changes in management.  While it is typical for management to change over time, a frequent change in the fund manager may be a red flag. A change in fund manager frequently results in a shift in investment style.   To ensure the investment goal is intact in such a situation, it becomes equally necessary to monitor the changes in your portfolio.    Also, the concern should be raised if your mutual fund portfolio consistently experiences high churn or turnover. High returns do not always equate to increased churn.   On the contrary, it can cause more significant damage as rising transaction costs eat into your returns. In other circumstances, more churn may also indicate a short-term concentration.   A short-term emphasis may produce more enormous profits in the near term, but in the long run, it may leave your portfolio weak and exposed to unnecessary risks.   When looking for the warning signs mentioned above, it is advisable to give any mutual fund scheme at least six months. It might be too soon to assess the scheme's performance following any adjustment after a month or a quarter.   Don't let your fund's short-term performance outriggers affect you; give it time to establish itself and achieve the investment goal.   It is good practice to keep track of your mutual fund investments on a timely basis, though not very frequently.  FAQs How to track mutual funds' performance? One way to track your investment is through the mutual fund websites list their net asset value (NAV). The mutual fund company's chosen index, which is a benchmark for its performance, is available for comparison.   To know how your fund performs, you should also compare it with other funds in the same category. The performance of a mutual fund scheme cannot be assessed in isolation. What is a fund fact sheet? A fund fact sheet is a document that lists every scheme that the AMC or mutual fund managers. It is presented in an easy-to-read manner and is issued monthly by the fund house. Who can track your mutual fund investments? It is possible to track your mutual fund investment by yourself. You can also have a financial advisor, or mutual fund portfolio tracker track your investment growth. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you TALK TO AN EXPERT

Saving for your child's education is a long-term goal. A perfect balance between risk and return is important. Why mutual funds are ideal to fund your child's education because they satisfy both these requirements. A mutual fund managed by specialists and experts is a fantastic choice. Parents can either invest in the children's plans provided by fund houses or build a mutual fund portfolio, especially to pay for their children's education. Inflation in education-related expenses is bound to increase faster than average inflation.   Parents must look at investing options that will produce respectable returns over time and help them achieve their financial objectives because the expense of education is increasing by more than 20% annually.   In this regard, mutual funds rank among the most practical ways to build wealth for this purpose over the long term.   Choosing an investment product for your child's education can be challenging to fund your schooling. Your parents might have used bank fixed deposits, PPF, and actual gold.   To overcome inflation and generate the anticipated profits, you must make student decisions given the escalating cost of schooling. Long-term wealth creation is, usually, best accomplished with equity investments. They demand, nonetheless, particular knowledge.   Additionally, due to their volatility, you would prefer to invest in shares through mutual funds. Investing in mutual funds is the underlying stocks and securities that are professionally overseen by fund managers who have experience choosing them and are well-diversified.  The advantages listed below make mutual funds an excellent choice for saving your child's educational needs.   Source: pixabay 1. Diversification A mutual fund invests a pool of funds in a portfolio of numerous stocks and securities from different industries. Mutual funds can also invest in several assets, including bonds, cash, and commodities like gold.   By providing greater exposure to other equities and asset classes, this diversification lowers the risk of investing in a single stock or industry and enables better potential rewards.  2. Professionally managed The fact that mutual funds have a professional watch over them is a significant benefit. Professional managers use their extensive knowledge and experience to distribute assets wisely to minimize risk and maximize rewards for your money.   How to track mutual funds investment? Read More 3. Transparent Another critical advantage of mutual funds is the level of information provided to you. As an investor, you can track every investment and where the money goes.   The whole portfolio and investment strategy are disclosed, and a daily online update of the mutual fund's net asset value is given,  4. Allow small investments You can use mutual fund systematic investment plans to make frequent small investments to help you reach your long-term objective of funding your child's education.   With a SIP, you can invest a small sum, such as Rs 500 each month, and let the long-term growth of your money be fueled by the power of compounding and rupee cost averaging.  FAQs Is mutual fund good for child education? Yes, mutual funds are the best way to fund your child's education. They help you grow your child's education fund enough to beat inflation and keep up with the rising cost of education as well. Mutual funds are the best tool out there to help parents grow their child's savings steadily. Which type of mutual fund is best for child education? There are many mutual funds designed for a child's education that you can explore. The best way to start is to consult an expert, calculate the future cost of education for your child, build a financial goal, and then start investing based on the amount you need to save. You can do this for FREE using the EduFund App. Why you should invest in your child's future? By investing in your child's future, you can secure it for life. Education is the key to success, education fund helps beat inflation because it invests in equity-based funds that can potentially beat inflation, and provide good returns that help you keep up with the rising cost of education. Quality education is pricy and to compete with these costs you require more than simple savings, you require diversified investments. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you. TALK TO AN EXPERT

So, why do we need to know the difference between exchange-traded funds and mutual funds in the very first place? ETFs are very similar to Mutual Funds, but they are not mutual funds. It's just a matter of grasping the differences between the two.   We at EduFund believe that understanding where each of the instruments makes the most sense, and the investor just doesn't blindly follow the crowd and the trend.  At the very outset, let's know why they are so similar before diving into their differences. Exchange-traded funds and Mutual Funds represent a basket of professionally managed securities, such as stocks, bonds, currencies, commodities, real estate, etc.   These securities can either be thematic or also depend upon the type of mutual fund or the ETF you choose. Both offer various investment options and are managed by professional portfolio managers.   Thus, saving our time and energy in research.  The ETFs and Mutual funds are highly diversified because of the basket of securities. Thus, they are less risky than investing in individual securities like stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies, etc.   How does this help reduce risk? Imagine if you are holding stock that is performing poorly, and thus your return will also be poor; perhaps you may lose money too.   However, suppose you have an ETF or a mutual fund. In that case, this poor performance of that stock may be overdone by the good or average performance of other stocks and assets, which will give you a better return than holding a single asset otherwise.  The most important difference between ETFs and Mutual funds is that an ETF is tradeable on the stock exchange, i.e., its trading is just like a simple stock on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) or the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) if it's traded in Indian markets or it will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq if it's to be tradeable in the United States of America.   On the other hand, Mutual Funds’ listings are not done on the stock markets; they must be purchased manually from the fund either through your financial advisor or through online brokers.  The ETFs are easily translatable, i.e., they can be sold or purchased at any point in the day, just like a stock. However, for mutual funds, this happens only once during the day after the market has closed.   This buying or selling of mutual funds is through the mutual fund company based upon the investor's instructions - this delay can be very costly if the market fluctuations are very dynamic.   While easy and anytime trading of ETFs sounds cool, not all ETFs are as tradable. This leads to illiquidity concerns.  Source: Pixabay Generally, an investor purchases the mutual fund at the price of its NAV, but on the other hand, ETFs are bought at the prevailing market price, which is typically near the NAV but not the same.   Hence, most mutual funds allow automated transactions but ETFs do not because of price volatility.  Generally, ETFs have a lower expense ratio as compared the mutual funds. The expense ratio is the fee you pay the manager for managing your securities.   The reason is quite simple when a mutual fund is traded, it leaves a long paper trail, and thus the exchange of hands for this paperwork is more - translating to higher costs for the fund manager, which are imposed upon the investor.   On the contrary, ETFs are traded directly by the investor and thus naturally explain the lower charges.  Based on management, most ETFs are passively managed, whereas there are quite a few mutual funds that are actively managed, but some are passively managed.  What is better?  Well, neither of the two is perfect! You can achieve diversity using any of the two options based on your goals. Naturally, a portfolio balanced by combining both offers greater variety and lower risk.   Notably, there is no reason this must be a tightrope walk situation. Both Mutual Funds and ETFs can live together in a portfolio happily. FAQs Which is better - Mutual Funds or ETFs? Well, neither of the two is perfect! You can achieve diversity using any of the two options based on your goals. Naturally, a portfolio balanced by combining both offers greater variety and lower risk.   What is an ETF? An ETF stands for exchange-traded fund (ETF). One single ETF is a basket of securities that can be bought and sold like mutual funds through a brokerage firm. ETFs track a specific index such as S&P, sector, commodity, or other assets. Much like stocks, ETFs can be traded on the market. What is a Mutual Fund? A mutual fund is a financial trust that collects funds from investors and invests them into different instruments like stocks, bonds, and other money market instruments. How to invest in a Mutual Fund via the EduFund App? Step 1: Log in to the EduFund website or the EduFund app.   Step 2: Complete your KYC and move ahead to create your investment account.   Step 3: Choose the option of mutual fund investments.   Step 4: Analyse your risk profile on the app by answering your household income and expense, the number of dependents you have, the highest level of maturity you have in terms of investments, your period of investment, and similar questions.  Step 5: After answering the above questions, you will know what type of investor you are and the degree of risk you might be willing to take.   The EduFund website or the EduFund app will suggest some mutual funds you might want to invest in, with a recommended SIP value.  Step 6: Choose the fund and start investing. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you TALK TO AN EXPERT

One of the largest AMCs in India, DSP has been helping investors make sound investment decisions responsibly and unemotionally for over 25 years. DSP is backed by the DSP Group, an almost 160-year-old Indian financial giant.  The family behind DSP has been very influential in the growth and professionalization of capital markets and the money management business in India over the last one-and-a-half centuries.  DSP Regular Savings Fund  Investment objective The primary investment objective of the scheme is to seek to generate income, consistent with prudent risk, from a portfolio substantially constituted of quality debt securities.  Investment Process  For equities, the fund uses a bottom-up approach with a large-cap bias focusing on sectors and industries with double-digit growth.  For debt securities, the fund focuses on short-tenure corporate bonds, with a modified duration between 2.5 to 3.5 years and rated AA or above, to minimize both interest rate and credit risk.   Portfolio Composition  The portfolio had a significant allocation to debt and a relatively lower equity allocation, where 75.08% of the funds were invested in debt securities, and 24.92% were in the form of equity investments.  Note: Data as of 30th Apr. 2023. Source: DSP MF DSP World Mining Fund Read More Top 5 Equity Holdings  Name Weightage % HDFC 3.83 ICICI Bank 2.98 Axis Bank 1.93 ITC 1.16 Cipla 1.11 Note: Data as of 30th Apr. 2023.    Source: DSP MF  Performance  If you had invested 10,000 at the fund's inception, it would now be valued at Rs 22,304.   Note: Data as of 30th Apr. 2023. Source: DSP MF The fund was launched on 1st Jan. 2013, and it has generated a CAGR of 8.08% since inception, which is a good return in the conservative hybrid category as the investors' risk appetite is low.  Fund Manager at DSP Regular Savings Fund Abhishek Singh has been managing this fund since May 2021. Abhishek has a total work experience of 14 years. He joined DSP Mutual Fund in September 2018 as Assistant Vice President of the equity team. His prior experience includes working in Motilal Oswal, Idfc Securities, BNP Paribas, B&K Securities, and Edelweiss Financial Services.  He has an MBA in finance and holds a Bachelor's in Electronics Engineering.  Vikram Chopra has been managing this fund since July 2016. Vikram joined DSP Mutual Funds from L&T Investment Management and brings over 14 years of investment experience with him. He has also worked with Fidelity, IDBI Bank, and Axis Bank Ltd.   Jay Kothari has been managing this fund since December 2020. Jay Kothari, Vice President & Product Strategist -Jay has been with DSP Investment Managers since May 2005 and has been with the Investment function since January 2011. Before joining DSPIM, Jay worked for Standard Chartered Bank for a year in the Priority Banking division. Jay completed his Bachelor of Management Studies (Finance & International Finance) from Mumbai University and an MBA in Finance from Mumbai University.  Who should invest in DSP Small Cap Fund?  Consider this fund if you  Are looking to generate a steady potential income rather than chasing high returns.  Want the smoother investment journey associated with debt investing but with a possibly higher return than debt?  Are conservative and don’t like to take too much risk.  Why invest in this Fund?  Offers the potential to earn a steady income from a primarily debt-oriented portfolio with a little 'boost' of equity.  Earn potentially higher returns than investing in pure debt funds.  Potential capital preservation during falling markets due to the more significant debt allocation.  Suitable for conservative investors.  Investors can use it for doing STP into Equity Funds.  Time Horizon  One should look at investing for at least five years or even more.  Investment through Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) may help in tackling the volatility of the broader equity market.  Conclusion  The DSP Regular Savings Fund is a good option for conservative investors not chasing high returns. It provides a better option over traditional debt investing with higher returns due to little exposure to equities. Investors can consider this fund for parking funds and then do STP to equity fund to average the cost of equity investments DisclaimerThis is not recommendation advice. All information in this blog is for educational purposes only. 

One of the largest AMCs in India, DSP has been helping investors make sound investment decisions responsibly and unemotionally for over 25 years. DSP is backed by the DSP Group, an almost 160-year-old Indian financial giant.  The family behind DSP has been very influential in the growth and professionalization of capital markets and the money management business in India over the last one-and-a-half centuries. DSP Nifty 50 Index Fund  Investment objective The primary investment objective is to invest in companies that are constituents of the NIFTY 50 Index (the underlying index) in the same proportion as in the index and seeks to generate returns that are commensurate (before fees and expenses) with the performance of the underlying index, subject to tracking error.  Investment Process   The fund replicates the Nifty 50 TR Index, i.e., invests in the same stocks and proportion as in the Nifty 50 TRI.    The portfolio is rebalanced semi-annually to adjust for any stock additions or subtractions to the index.  Portfolio Composition  Since the fund replicates Nifty 50 TRI, all the stocks invested are large-cap stocks. Hence, the fund allows investors to invest in India's top 50 companies.  Note: Data as of 30th April 2023. Source: DSP MF Top 5 Holdings  Name Weightage % Reliance Industries Limited 10.29 HDFC Bank Limited 9.25 ICICI Bank Limited 8.05 HDFC Limited 6.32 Infosys Limited 5.62 Note: 30th April 2023. Source: DSP MF Performance over the years   If you had invested 10,000 at the fund's inception, it would now be valued at Rs 17,086. Note: Data as of 28th April 2023. Source: DSP MF Since its inception, the fund has generated a CAGR (Compounded Annual Growth Rate) of 13.66%.  DSP Tax Saver Fund Read More Fund Manager at DSP Nifty 50 Index Fund Anil Ghelani has been managing this fund since July 2019 as a Co-Fund Manager. Anil has been working with DSP Group since 2003 and is Head of Passive Investments & Products. Previously, he was the Business Head & Chief Investment Officer at DSP Pension Fund Managers. Before that, he led the Risk and Quantitative Analysis team at DSP Mutual Fund, responsible for monitoring portfolio risk and buy-side credit research on companies across various sectors.  Diipesh Shah has been managing this fund since November 2020 as a Co-Fund Manager. Diipesh has a total work experience of Over 20 years. He has been working with DSP since September 2019 as a Dealer for ETF and Passive Investments. Now he is also the Fund Manager of various schemes of DSP Mutual Fund. Diipesh has worked with JM Financial Institutional Broking Limited, Centrum Broking Limited, IDFC Securities Limited, and Kotak Securities Limited as Institutional Equity Sales Trading.  Who should invest in DSP Nifty 50 Index Fund?  This fund is suitable for   A first-timer or a relatively new equity market investor.  An investor who values low-cost, passive investing.  Investors have the patience & mental resilience to remain invested for a decade or more.  Investors who do not chase funds that have the highest outperformance.  Why invest in this Fund?  It offers an affordable way to invest in the top 50 Indian companies at a relatively low cost compared to other actively managed large-cap funds.   In an era where large-cap funds are underperforming benchmarks, index funds can be a good option for exposure to large-cap equities.    Time Horizon  One should look at investing for at least ten years or even more.  Investment through Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) may help in tackling the volatility of the broader equity market.  Conclusion  The DSP Nifty 50 Index Fund provides a good option for passive investing in large-cap equities. It is better to consider index funds for large-cap investing since there is a very low probability of alpha generation in the large-cap space. Investors seeking capital appreciation through large-cap exposure can consider this fund with a time horizon of ten years or more.  DisclaimerThis is not a recommendation advice. All information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only.

In the previous article, we discussed how to finance your child's education post-pandemic. In this article, we will discuss why you need to look beyond traditional investment options for your child’s education. Investment is an age-old concept. People have been investing for many years in various asset classes. Traditional investments like Fixed Deposits, government bonds, gold, silver, etc. continue to be cherished areas of investment. However, the world of finance is evolving rapidly.  People are becoming adaptable to diversity in their portfolios.  Today, personal finance is a valued concept amongst people of all age groups. The awareness about investing is increasing. The youth especially is very enthusiastic about the diversification in the world of finances. People are switching to Modern Investment options like Debt Funds, Equity Funds, Hedge Funds, etc.  But, the concept of personal finance changes dramatically if you are a parent. As a parent, your portfolio demands a strategic redesign, to accommodate your child’s requirements. To ensure that your child receives the best academic exposure, you need to plan your investment journey in advance. Both traditional and modern investments come with their own set of merits and demerits. The catch is to attain an ideal mix of both, that minimizes the risk and maximizes the return.  6 reasons to go beyond the traditional investments Wealth Generation When you are planning for your child’s education, you can not ignore education inflation. Traditional investments like fixed deposits offer a very low rate of return. They might keep your money safe, but they make little to no contribution to your wealth generation.  To meet your child’s education needs, you need to look beyond these investments. There is no dearth of investment opportunities in the market today. Based on your risk appetite, you can consider investing in equity funds, debt funds, bonds, etc. These investment options will allow you to grow your money substantially. Moreover,  playing long-term reaps the most out of compounding. Just remember, making money will not help you generate wealth, managing your money will. Diversifying your portfolio helps! Risk Mitigation Going beyond traditional investment can help you mitigate the risk of uncertainty. You can not anticipate what will happen with the economy tomorrow. Neither can you foresee its impact on your assets,  Can you?  But, you can always plan for the uncertainties and make room for damage control. Distributing your money into various asset classes instead of one would help mitigate the risk of uncertainty.  Inflation adjustment Inflation is a real threat to your investments, especially the traditional ones like fixed deposits. If you are someone hoping to see your money double over the period through fixed deposits, it is time for a reality check! Fixed deposits offer a very low rate of return somewhere between 7-8%. Whereas, the Inflation rate in India is recorded at 4-6% in recent years. Hence, the true inflation-adjusted return that you receive by the end can go as low as 1-2%. Now, just imagine the implications when inflation goes higher than the rate of return.  This is why it is important to have investments that can beat inflation. Modern investments like debt funds, equity funds, and hedge funds are potent to beat inflation.  Source: Pexels Diversification  If you stash all your money into one asset class, you are missing out on some wonderful opportunities. Investments come with a low-risk low-return rule. Investing only in risk-free traditional investments, unfortunately, can not suffice to fund your child’s education. Therefore, for a  higher return, you need to make room for some risk. Modern investments like Mutual Funds allow you earn good returns as per your risk appetite. Strategic diversification enables you to maximize the return of your portfolio. Professional Portfolio Management Equity is a risky but rewarding asset in the long run.  But, if you are a beginner not yet friendly with equity stocks, Mutual funds are the best way to begin. Here, you have a professional portfolio manager, who invests your money into stocks. They are skilled people well-versed with the knowledge of the stock market, taking care of your risk appetite throughout. This way, you avail the benefits of equity without risking your money in the dark spots.  Liquidity Traditional investment options like Fixed Deposits have a lock-in period. Also, the investments in these options call out a lump sum amount. So, when you put your money in an FD, you cannot withdraw your money except at a cost.  As far as your child’s education is concerned, you can not predict when and how the fund requirement arises. So, it is wiser to have some relatively liquid assets like Mutual funds in your portfolio.  Traditional Investments have been favored by Indian households for a reason. These investments offer security and assured returns With the soaring inflation, these assets are likely to fall short and force you to rely on education loans to fund your child’s education dreams. To ensure your savings are enough, looking beyond traditional investments and storing your wealth in different asset classes can help in the long run FAQs What are traditional investments in the Indian scenario? Traditional Investments are investments that offer security and assured returns. Some examples of this are land, property, fixed deposits, recurring deposits, gold, and other precious stones. What are some investment options to grow your wealth? In order to grow your wealth, you should explore equity-based investments like Mutual Funds, Stocks, and ETFs. These have the potential to beat inflation and preserve the value of your money in the long run. Why should Indians look beyond traditional investments? While traditional investments have worked in the past and are secure investments, they don't offer returns big enough to help you achieve goals like wealth creation or help you with financial goals like buying a house, sending your child abroad, and more. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you TALK TO AN EXPERT

Why invest early? - is a question that plagues most young adults. Many research and polls demonstrate that the sooner you invest, the better off you are. The best time to invest is during or after college when you are in your early 20s.   Investing early in life teaches you financial independence and discipline. Early investment explains the proper distinction between investing and saving.   Never consider your age to be a barrier to investing. You are never too young to do so. You will have more money in your pocket in the future if you invest a tiny bit of money from today onwards.   Investing early is advantageous because you can plan your investments and give them enough time to grow into a corpus that can meet your financial goals.   If you are a young investor looking for inspiration or wondering if it is a good idea to start investing early, here are some of the best reasons.   Reasons to start investing early 1. Save more Starting early, you will acquire the habit of saving more when you start investing at a young age. The more you invest now, the more you will receive in the future.   As a result of that cognitive process, you tend to save more by reducing unnecessary expenses on your part and investing the money you save.   2. More recovery time If you invest early, even if you lose money, you will have more time to recover your losses.   An investor who begins investing later in life, on the other hand, has less time to recuperate for his losses. As a result, if you invest earlier, money has more time to rise in value.   3. Time value of money Compounding gains arise from early investments. Money has a temporal value that increases with time. Regular savings started at a young age can pay off handsomely when it comes time to retire.   Furthermore, early investing allows you to enter the world of finance sooner. With time, your money will increase in value. You can buy items that others may not be able to afford at that age because of early investments - putting you ahead of those who would instead invest later in life.   Source: Pexels 4. Polished risk-taking ability Young investors are more capable of taking risks than older investors. Adult investors, on the whole, are conservative and desire stability.   Therefore, they reject high-risk investing opportunities. The more the risk, the greater the gain; as the old saying goes, with a tremendous risk-taking attitude, the likelihood of making substantial returns at an early age increases.   5. Not becoming a debtor Investments made young can be pretty beneficial. Whenever you need money, you will have it in surplus. You will never need to borrow money or become someone's debtor if you have enough money invested with you.   When you have money parked in the correct investment channels at the right age, you can lend it to others; that is, you can instead become a creditor.   6. Solid corpus for achieving the big dream Early-age investments enhance the probability of reaching financial stability at a very young age.   If you start your saving and investing journey at the age of 20, you will have a perfect corpus by the age of 40 to 50, and you will also have a better idea of how your investments worked out.   Post that, you will have a corpus big enough that you will be able to take care of that dream house of yours or have a good retirement life. With technology at a younger age, you invest in avenues that can give high returns.   Investment in self-research will give you confidence and help you make many bold decisions in life. So, the earlier you start, the easier it is to build wealth.  The example below shows how beneficial it is to embark on your investing journey early in life.  Example:   Ram invested Rs 2,000 per year in balanced mutual funds between the ages of 24 and 30; he earned a 12 percent after-tax return, and he continued to make 12 percent per year until he retired at age 65.   Shyam also invested Rs 2,000 per year and earned the same return, but he waited until he was 30 to start and continued to invest Rs 2,000 per year until he retired at age 65.   It is difficult to imagine at the end of the age of 65; both would end up having 10 Lakhs. But Ram had to invest only Rs 12,000 (i.e., Rs 2,000 for six years), while Shyam had to invest Rs 72,000 (Rs 2,000 for 36 years) or six times the amount that Ram invested to delay his investment by six years.   If you expect an annualized return of 18% on your investments, it means that after four years, your money will double, your investment will multiply four times in the next four years, and so on.   This shows how compounding has a significant positive impact in the later stages of the investing cycle. As a result, you must keep your money invested for longer so that the force of compounding can help you become wealthy.   There is a significant difference between investing from the age of 18 and starting to invest at the age of 28. The gap of 10 years between these two starting points will have a tremendous impact on the wealth corpus you will have at the end of your investment period.   The more you can compound interest on your investment, the faster investment will accumulate and the better off you will be when you retire and start enjoying your savings. So early investments in your career will help you build a secure future.  FAQs Why is it beneficial to start saving and investing early on in life? Save more More recovery time Time value of money Polished risk-taking ability Not becoming a debtor Solid corpus for achieving the big dream Why is it important to invest early on? It is important to invest early on because it is the best way to meet your financial goals on time. Investing early gives you benefits like the ability to stay invested for a long time, mitigate risk over a period of time, and even expand your investments as you grow old. Is 25 too old to start investing? No, it is not too old to start investing. You can start investing in different equities classes whenever you have the money and financial expertise to start. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you TALK TO AN EXPERT

Let us start from the very basics and understand what mutual funds are. After that, we'll discuss how to invest in them and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of investing in mutual funds.   What is a Mutual Fund?  A mutual fund is a financial trust that collects funds from investors and invests them into different instruments like stocks, bonds, and other money market instruments.   Fund managers manage mutual funds – they make investment decisions on behalf of the people who have trusted them with their money.   Mutual Funds are of different types, like equity mutual funds, debt mutual funds, and hybrid mutual funds depending upon the investment proportion in debt and equity.   These different types of mutual funds vary in their risk and return potential. Mutual Funds are one of the most popular investment options today.   Invest in Mutual Funds Advantages of Investing in Mutual Funds 1. Advanced portfolio management When you purchase a mutual fund, you must pay a small fee as a part of your expense ratio. That fee is used to engage professional portfolio managers to buy and sell stocks, bonds, and other securities on your behalf – it is a tiny fee for professional assistance in managing your investment portfolio, which goes a long way in creating market-beating turns.   2. Liquidity An advantage of investing in mutual funds is the ability to redeem the units when you require them. Mutual funds, unlike fixed deposits, allow for flexible withdrawals.   However, issues such as pre-exit penalty and exit load must be taken into account before deciding to exit your position in a mutual fund.   3. Convenience and fair pricing Mutual funds are simple to purchase and comprehend. They usually have modest minimum investment values and are only traded once a day at the closing net asset value thus removing day-to-day price fluctuations and different arbitrage opportunities used by day traders.   4. Diversification An investment's Maybe. The value may or may not decrease or increase in tandem. When one investment's value rises, another's value may fall. As a result, the risk that the portfolio's overall performance would be erratic is low.  Diversification lowers the risk of putting together a portfolio, lowering the risks for investors. As mutual funds consist of a variety of assets, the interests of investors are protected even if there is a downfall in the value of other securities so purchased.   How to track the performance of mutual funds? Read More 5. Accessibility A big reason for the popularity of mutual funds is the easy accessibility from anywhere in the world.   An Asset Management Company (AMC) offers the funds and distributes them through different channels like brokerage firms, registrars, the AMCs themselves, online mutual fund investment platforms, and agents and banks.   This factor allows mutual funds to be available and easily accessible universally. Also, mutual funds are easy to buy and track performance and one-click investments.   6. Low lock-in period Tax-saving mutual funds have the most down-locking periods of only three years, which is lower when compared to the maximum of five years for other tax-saving options like FDs, ULIPs, and PPFs. Also, you will have the opportunity to stay invested even after completing the lock-in period.   Fits every financial goal: The best aspect of a mutual fund is that you can invest with as little as ₹500, and there is no upper limit for an investor.  Before investing in mutual funds, examining their income, expenses, risk-taking abilities, and specific investment goals is essential.   As a result, anyone from any walk of life is free to invest in mutual funds regardless of income.   7. Good tax-saving options Mutual funds are one of the best ways to save on taxes. Under section 80C of the Income Tax Act, equity-linked saving scheme (ELSS) mutual funds are eligible for a tax exemption of up to 1.5 lacs per year.   In India, all other mutual funds are taxable according to the type of investment and the fund's duration. For example, equity mutual funds and debt mutual funds are taxable at different rates.   Tax-saving mutual funds have the potential to out for performing other tax-saving products such as PPF, NPS, and tax-saving FDs in terms of returns.  Disadvantages of investing in mutual fund Mutual funds do not promise set returns, so you should always be prepared for the unexpected such as a drop in the value of your mutual fund. In other words, mutual funds are subject to a wide range of price changes.   Fund managers oversee all forms of mutual funds. A team of analysts may assist the fund's management in various circumstances. As a result, you have no influence over your money as an investor.   Your fund manager makes all significant decisions regarding your fund on your behalf. However, you can look into certain vital factors, including disclosure requirements, corpus, and overall investment strategy.   Diversification is a significant advantage of mutual funds. However, the problem arises when there is over-diversification.   Over-diversification can raise funds' running costs necessitate increased due diligence, and dilute the relative benefits of diversification.   A mutual fund's value may fluctuate as market conditions change. In addition, there are fees associated with professional mutual fund management which are not present when purchasing stocks or securities directly from the market.   When buying a mutual fund, investors must pay an entry load. When investors wish to exit from a mutual fund, providers charge an exit fee.  The performance of a mutual fund does not give investors enough information about the degree of risk that the fund faces.  As a result, it is just one of the metrics used to assess the company's performance, but it is far from being comprehensive.  How to invest in a Mutual Fund via the Edufund App?  Step 1: Log in to the Edufund website or the Edufund app.   Step 2: Complete your KYC and move ahead to create your investment account.   Step 3: Choose the option of mutual fund investments.   Step 4: Analyse your risk profile on the app by answering your household income and expense, the number of dependents you have, the highest level of maturity you have in terms of investments, your period of investment, and similar questions.  Step 5: After answering the above questions, you will know what type of investor you are and the degree of risk you might be willing to take.   The Edufund website or the Edufund app will suggest some mutual funds you might want to invest in, with a recommended SIP value.  Step 6: Choose the fund and start investing. FAQs What is a Mutual Fund? A mutual fund is a financial trust that collects funds from investors and invests them into different instruments like stocks, bonds, and other money market instruments. How to invest in a Mutual Fund via the Edufund App? Step 1: Log in to the Edufund website or the Edufund app.   Step 2: Complete your KYC and move ahead to create your investment account.   Step 3: Choose the option of mutual fund investments.   Step 4: Analyse your risk profile on the app by answering your household income and expense, the number of dependents you have, the highest level of maturity you have in terms of investments, your period of investment, and similar questions.  Step 5: After answering the above questions, you will know what type of investor you are and the degree of risk you might be willing to take.   The Edufund website or the Edufund app will suggest some mutual funds you might want to invest in, with a recommended SIP value.  Step 6: Choose the fund and start investing. What are the different types of mutual funds? The different types of mutual funds are Debt, Equity, and Hybrid Funds. There are many more divisions within mutual funds that investors should check before investing their money. TALK TO AN EXPERT

Investors frequently struggle with deciding whether to invest directly in stocks or through mutual funds for equity investments. Equity Mutual Funds are institutions that combine investors' money to invest it in publicly listed stocks. On the other hand, buying these equities through the stock market is also possible. Direct equity investments have historically been unpredictable; they have resulted in significant returns as well as massive losses for some investors.   This article will learn the distinction between direct equity investment vs investment in mutual funds.   What is Direct Equity Investment?  Direct stock investments have a significant risk of loss but also have the potential to be very lucrative. Before investing in equities, one must thoroughly understand the underlying business and the sector in which it works.   As a result, as an investor, you will need to research the company's track record, financial performance, managerial expertise, and even external issues like governmental regulations, currency exchange rates, and changes in local and global politics.   You can gain more if you strike the correct balance between risk and return.   What are Mutual Funds?   Companies that offer mutual funds pool money from a variety of investors and save through their offered mutual fund plans. The money gathered is subsequently invested by the fund firms in a variety of financial products to provide significant returns.   Experts administer mutual funds. In essence, you own the units representing the share of the fund you own as an investor. A unit holder is another term for the investment.   The distribution of the investment's increased value and other revenue is proportional to the number of units owned by the unitholders - provided after any necessary deductions.   What are mutual funds? Read More Direct Equity Investment vs. Investment in Mutual Funds While direct equity investment offers substantial returns, it is only practical for individuals who consistently understand how the equity markets operate.   Therefore, the mutual fund option is better for people who lack the time or expertise to track and understand equities markets. With regard to your investment in mutual funds, there are some advantages that you get.   From professional management of your money by mutual fund experts to low ticket sizes where you can start to invest with as low as Rs 500, there are many perks of investment via mutual funds.   Subject to exit loads, open-ended funds permit investors to withdraw their money at the current net asset value (NAV). This also aids in financial planning. When a person invests in shares, he is uncertain as to whether he will be able to sell the shares on the market for a reasonable price or not.   In risk management, an individual may go overboard on a particular share; however, a fund manager will have the risk management guidelines in place there are limits on how much a fund manager can invest in each stock and sector.   When you buy and sell shares before holding them for one year, you end up paying short-term capital gains of 15%. However, the fund manager may keep transacting shares at varying intervals if the investor remains invested for more than one year in an equity fund, his gains are tax-free since STT is already deducted.  Your final decision on whether to invest either in mutual funds or direct equity will depend upon how much you understand the markets and whether you have the time to trade in direct equity or not. If you lack the discipline to operate in the stock market, you should channel your money via the mutual fund route. FAQs What is the difference between investing in equity shares and mutual funds? While direct equity investment offers substantial returns, it is only practical for individuals who consistently understand how the equity markets operate.    Therefore, the mutual fund option is better for people who lack the time or expertise to track and understand equities markets.   Are mutual funds 100% safe? Mutual funds are generally looked at as safe investments, considering the diversity they offer to minimize the risk. However, any investment involves risk. Investors should consult experts and do their research before investing. Are mutual funds safer than equity? Direct stock investments have a significant risk of loss but also have the potential to be very lucrative. Before investing in equities, one must thoroughly understand the underlying business and the sector in which it works.    The mutual fund option is better for people who lack the time or expertise to track and understand equities markets. With regard to your investment in mutual funds, there are some advantages that you get. From professional management of your money by mutual fund experts to low ticket sizes where you can start to invest with as low as Rs 500, there are many perks of investment via mutual funds.   Is mutual fund and equity fund the same? An equity fund is a mutual fund that invests majorly in stocks. It can be actively or passively managed. Equity funds are also called stock mutual funds.  Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you  TALK TO AN EXPERT