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As a student in India, investing may not be the first thing that comes to your mind, but it can be a great way to build long-term wealth and financial security. Investing early in life gives you an edge over those who start later, as it provides more time for your investments to grow. By investing regularly and wisely, you can set yourself up for a bright financial future. Here are some reasons why investing as a student is important: Time is on your side: As a student, you have a longer investment horizon compared to someone who starts investing later in life. Starting early gives you more time to let your investments grow and compound. Even small investments made early can grow into significant amounts over time. Develop good financial habits: Investing as a student can help you develop good financial habits that will serve you well throughout your life. It encourages you to budget, save, and plan for your future. Investing also teaches you the importance of patience, discipline, and long-term thinking. Beat inflation: Inflation erodes the value of your money over time. Investing can help you beat inflation and preserve the purchasing power of your money. By investing in assets that appreciate in value over time, you can grow your wealth and stay ahead of inflation. Tips on how to invest as a student in India 1. Start small As a student, you may not have a large amount of disposable income to invest. That's perfectly fine. You can start by investing in small investment plans for students, like investing small amounts of money in mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that allow you to invest in a diversified portfolio. Investing regularly in small amounts can compound over time and grow into a significant sum. 2. Learn about investing Before you start investing, it's important to learn about the different investment options available to you. You can take online courses, attend workshops, or read books on investing to gain knowledge and confidence in investing. Understanding the basics of investing can help you make informed decisions about your money and find the best investment for students in India. What is Student Credit Card? Read More 3. Consider long-term investments As a student, you have a long investment horizon. This means that you can invest in long-term investments like equity mutual funds or stocks that have the potential to grow over time. Long-term investments offer a higher potential for growth and can help you build substantial wealth over time. However, keep in mind that past performance does not guarantee future results. Always do your research before making any investment decision. 4. Create a budget Before you start investing, it's important to create a budget considering your income and expenses. This will help you understand how much money you can afford to invest each month. By creating a budget, you will have a clear understanding of your financial situation and make smarter investment decisions. This will always help you in looking for the best options for small investment plans for students in India.  5. Take advantage of tax benefits The Indian government provides tax benefits on certain types of investments, like equity-linked savings schemes (ELSS). These schemes not only offer tax benefits but also provide a higher potential for returns compared to traditional investment options like fixed deposits. Consider investing in such schemes to save tax and grow your wealth. 6. Avoid taking unnecessary risks Investing always involves risk, but as a student, it's important to avoid taking unnecessary risks with your investments. Avoid investing in high-risk options like derivatives or futures and instead focus on building a diversified portfolio. Diversification means investing in a mix of different asset classes that are not closely correlated. This helps to reduce your overall risk exposure. 7. Consult a financial advisor If you're unsure about where to invest or how to start investing, consider consulting a financial advisor. They can provide personalised guidance based on your financial situation and investment goals. A financial advisor can also help you create a comprehensive financial plan that takes into account your short-term and long-term goals. Our team at EduFund has efficient financial advisors constantly available for your help and advice, whether it is about finding the best investment plans for students in India or any other financial concerns you may have. Conclusion  In conclusion, investing as a student in India can be a great way to build long-term wealth and financial security. Start small, learn about investing, consider long-term investments, create a budget, take advantage of tax benefits, avoid taking unnecessary risks, and consult a financial advisor. With these tips, you can make smart investment decisions and set yourself up for a bright financial future. And for any issue regarding these investments, our team of financial advisors is just a call away. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

Earlier, we read about the top 3 ETFs in the small-cap category and the top 3 in the mid-cap category. Here, we will have a look at the top three ETFs in the micro-cap category.  Before finding out what the top 3 ETFs in the micro-cap category are, we must first understand what micro-cap is. What is a micro-cap?  A micro-cap is a publicly listed corporation in the United States with a market capitalization of less than $300 million.   Micro-cap firms have a more significant market cap than nano-cap businesses, but they have a lower market capitalization than any other type of company. For firms with larger market capitalizations, stock prices are not always higher than those with lower market capitalizations.   Nano and micro-cap corporations are notorious for their fluctuation, and as a result, they are viewed as risky than companies with more significant market capitalization.   Micro-caps are also high-risk because many of them have unproven goods and no firm history, resources, sales, or operations.   They are also susceptible to higher price shocks due to a lack of liquidity and a minuscule shareholder base.  As micro-cap equities have a market capitalization of $50 million to $300 million, investors can expect higher volatility and risk than equities in the S&P 500.   On the other hand, micro-caps tend to do better than their larger counterparts in periods of bullish strength.  The top 3 recommendations in the micro-cap category ETFs  Rank ETF 1 SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF2 iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF3 WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Fund 1. SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF  SLYV is a small-cap value fund that follows the S&P SmallCap 600 Value Index. It has a lesser tilt than its index and provides good small-cap value exposure.   Its constituents are selected from the S&P SmallCap 600 companies with the best value characteristics, as measured by the following ratios  book value-to-price ratio   earnings-to-price ratio  sales-to-price ratio  The fundamental benchmark’s weight is the respective market capitalization and is rebalanced once a year. The fund uses a sampling technique, which implies this might not possess all of the underlying assets in the same proportions, but it does hold exposure with a similar investment profile.   The MSCI ESG Fund Rating for the SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF is BBB, reflecting a score of 5.16 out of 10.  Performance  Performance [as of 16/03/22]1 year3 years5 years10 yearsSLYV-4.94%12.16%10.27%10.95%S&P Small Cap 600 Value-0.98%13.00%9.91%11.96% The fund invests entirely in the United States.  SLYV Top 10 holdings  Source: etf.com SLYV details  BrandSPDRExpense Ratio0.15%YTD Return-3.84%AUM$4.12BNumber of Holdings459Avg. Spread ($)$0.09Average Daily $ Volume$19.87M 2. iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF   IJS invests in potentially undervalued small-cap firms in the United States.   The S&P SmallCap 600 Underlying Index identifies value stocks with the most vital fundamental qualities, Price book value, and price to earnings ratio, and sales-to-price ratio, from the S&P SmallCap 600.   Once a year, in December, the underlying index is rebalanced. The MSCI ESG Fund Rating for the iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF is BBB, based on 5.16 out of 10.  Performance  Performance [as of 16/03/22]1 year3 years5 years10 yearsIJS-5.09%12.01%9.30%11.51%S&P Small Cap 600 Value-0.98%13.00%9.91%11.96% The fund invests entirely in the United States.  IJS Top 10 holdings  Source: etf.com IJS details  BrandiSharesExpense Ratio0.18%YTD Return-4.02%AUM$8.71BNumber of Holdings458Avg. Spread ($)$0.07Average Daily $ Volume$51.83M 3. WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Fund  As it is a yield-focused fund, DES stands out among the slew of US small-cap ETFs. By overweighting dividend-heavy industries, DES' strategy provides a greater dividend yield than the market. DES favors the micro-cap end of the small-cap spectrum.   After the 300 largest corporations are excluded, the residual market capitalization of the WisdomTree US Dividend Index the dividend-paying world of businesses in the US stock market is used to determine index components.   Companies that make up the lowest 25% of the residual market capitalization are taken into account. Every year, the Underlying Benchmark is rebalanced.   The fund's index was previously known as the WisdomTree Small Cap Dividend Index until June 30, 2017.  Performance  Performance [as of 16/03/22]1 year3 years5 years10 yearsDES-0.46%7.38%6.27%9.97%WisdomTree U.S. Small Cap Dividend Index2.77%8.39%6.96%10.41% The fund invests entirely in the United States. DES top 10 holdings  Source: etf.com DES details  BrandWisdomTreeExpense Ratio0.38%YTD Return-4.05%AUM$1.85BNumber of Holdings677Avg. Spread ($)$0.03Average Daily $ Volume$5.45M One should look at these ETFs before investing in the micro-cap category in the USA.  FAQs What is a micro-cap?  A micro-cap is a publicly listed corporation in the United States with a market capitalization of less than $300 million.  Micro-cap firms have a more significant market cap than nano-cap businesses, but they have a lower market capitalization than any other type of company. For firms with larger market capitalizations, stock prices are not always higher than those with lower market capitalizations. What are the 3 best ETFs for micro-cap category investing? SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Dividend Fund Is Micro-cap investing risky? Micro-caps are also high-risk because many of them have unproven goods and no firm history, resources, sales, or operations.   Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you TALK TO AN EXPERT

Before finding the top three ETFs in the small-cap category, we must understand what the small cap is. What is the small cap?  A small cap is a publicly-traded firm with a market valuation of $300 million to $2 billion. The exact figures differ. The most numerous corporations in the market are small-cap stocks. Small-cap stocks outnumber large-cap and mid-cap companies combined.  Small-cap stocks offer different risks and benefits for shareholders than their larger competitors due to their size. Small-cap stocks can have higher-than-average volatility, which means they suffer rapid increases and losses.   If investors can tolerate the highs and lows over a lengthy period, they get proportional rewards. However, certain small-cap companies may experience extreme movements and be illiquid in the near term.  The following indices are the benchmarks for the small-cap universe in the United States. Both include companies from a wide range of industries:  The S&P SmallCap 600 Index is a measure of the performance of small-cap companies.   The Russell 2000 index tracks the performance of 600 small-cap firms, whereas the S&P SmallCap 600 Index monitors the behavior of 600 small-cap companies.   The Russell 2000 Index comprises about 2,000 of the smallest firms in the United States.  The S&P's small-cap Index has returned an average of 8.3 percent a year over the last 20 years, compared to 8% and 6.3 percent for its mid-and large competitors, respectively. Top 3 ETFs in the small-cap category Rank ETF 1 SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF 2 Schwab Fundamental US Small Co. Index ETF 3 ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats ETF  1. SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF  By tracking the S&P mid-cap 400 Index, SPMD provides exposure to the mid-cap portion of the US equity market. The S&P Committee selects stocks based on market capitalization, focusing on sector balance, by assessing the share of each GICS (Global Industry Classification Standard) category in the Underlying Index to its weight in the S&P Total Market Index's relevant market capitalization range.   SPMD has experienced multiple names, Index, and ticker changes throughout the years, previously trading under the name RSCO in November 2005 and in August 2016. (Ticker: SMD).   Finally, until January 24, 2020, it was also known as the SPDR Portfolio Mid Cap ETF, which tracked the S&P 1000 Index. The fund uses a sampling approach, and the Index-rebalancing happens every three months.   The MSCI ESG Fund Rating for the SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF is A, with 6.51 out of ten. The MSCI ESG Fund Rating assesses a portfolio's long-term resistance to risks and opportunities posed by environmental, social, and governance variables. Performance Performance [as of 14/03/22]1 year3 years5 years10 yearsSPMD-2.50%11.90%10.17%11.20%S&P Mid Cap 400-2.49%11.95%10.10%11.26% The fund invests completely in the US market. SPMD Top 10 Holdings  Source: etf.com SPMD details  BrandSPDRExpense Ratio0.05%YTD Return-10.13%AUM$5.05BNumber of Holdings400Avg. Spread ($)$0.01Average Daily $ Volume$70.82M 2. Schwab Fundamental US Small Co. Index ETF  Small caps are approached differently by FNDA. FNDA picks and weights stocks depending on 5-year means of maintained operations cash flow, adapted sales, dividends plus buybacks, rather than a standard cap-weighted method.   It determines the bottom 12.5 percent of the qualifying list as a 'small-cap' index. The Index's constituents' weights are decided annually and partially reconstituted quarterly.   The Index is segregated into four segments, each overhauled on a rolling quarterly basis. Despite its non-traditional technique, the fund tracks its cap-weighted benchmark rather well, eliminating primary sector and size distortions.   The MSCI ESG Fund Rating for the Schwab Fundamental U.S. Small Company Index ETF is BBB, based on 5.45 out of 10. The MSCI ESG Fund Rating assesses a portfolio's long-term resistance to risks and opportunities posed by environmental, social, and governance variables.  Performance  Performance [as of 14/03/22]1 year3 years5 years10 yearsSPMD-2.69%12.25%9.93%-MSCI USA Small Cap Index-10.15%11.19%10.53%- The fund invests entirely in the US market  FNDA Top 10 Holdings  Source: etf.com FNDA details  BrandSchwabExpense Ratio0.25%YTD Return-8.09%AUM$4.75BNumber of Holdings902Avg. Spread ($)$0.05Average Daily $ Volume$15.71M 3. ProShares S&P Midcap 400 Dividend Aristocrats ETFs  REGL operates in a competitive market, but it stands out from its mid-cap competition in various ways. To begin with, it's a dividend-focused fund that only invests in firms that have raised their dividends for at least 15 years.   The strict constraints of REGL limit it to a few dozen stocks, resulting in a concentrated portfolio. It targets a minimum of 40 companies, with dividend growth histories being shortened if the minimum count is not met, and each sector is limited to just 30% of the Index weight.   Finally, the fund is equal-weighted, which means it has a lesser tilt than most mid-cap ETFs. The indicator is reweighted quarterly and reconstituted once a year.   The MSCI ESG Fund Rating for ProShares S&P MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats ETF is A, with 5.95 out of 10. The MSCI ESG Fund Rating assesses a portfolio's long-term resistance to risks and opportunities posed by environmental, social, and governance variables.  Performance  Performance [as of 14/03/22]1 year3 years5 years10 yearsREGL1.96%10.33%8.66%-MSCI USA Mid Cap Index0.53%14.52%12.28%- The fund invests entirely in the US market  REGL Top 10 Holdings   Source: etf.com REGL details  BrandProSharesExpense Ratio0.41%YTD Return-4.90%AUM$1.05BNumber of Holdings49Avg. Spread ($)$0.06Average Daily $ Volume$4.41M FAQs What is small-cap? A small cap is a publicly-traded firm with a market valuation of $300 million to $2 billion. The exact figures differ. The most numerous corporations in the market are small-cap stocks. Small-cap stocks outnumber large-cap and mid-cap companies combined.  What is small-cap classified? A small-cap stock is a stock whose market value is anywhere between $300 million to $2 billion. What are examples of small-cap stocks? Examples of small-cap stocks are - 1. Tesla2. Nike 3. Amazon4. Walmart 5. Apple One should look at these ETFs before investing in the small-cap category in the USA. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you TALK TO AN EXPERT

HDFC Mutual Fund, also called HDFC AMC, is one of India's largest and most profitable mutual fund houses. The company is a part of the Housing Development Finance Corporation or HDFC Group, a financial conglomerate with established businesses in housing finance, asset management, life and non-life insurance, education finance, and real estate funds.  As of December 2020, HDFC AMC's Quarterly Asset Under Management or QAAUM of INR 389466.56 crore is the highest among 41 mutual fund houses operating in the country. HDFC AMC became a publicly listed company and has been listed on the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange since August 2018. Presently, the promoters hold a 73.92% stake in the company (HDFC Ltd. - 52.7% and Standard Life Investments Limited - 21.2%), followed by FII (9.11%), DII (5.62%), and public (11.34%). HDFC AMC's Quarter-on-Quarter (QoQ) profit for December 2020 has soared to INR 369.26 crore from 338.06 crores, and its basic Earnings Per Share (EPS) grew to 17.34 in December 2020 as against 15.88 in the previous quarter. Its profit before tax was INR 1,653.05 crore in March 2020, as compared to 1,374.70 crore in March 2019. HDFC AMC's EPS has grown consistently. For example, the basic EPS was 23.64 in 2016, which grew to 27.33 in 2017, 34.52 in 2018, 43.87 in 2018, and 59.37 in 2019. As of 12th April 2021, the AMC had a market capitalization of INR 60,579 crore (Source - moneycontrol.com).  HDFC AMC offers a wide range of investment and savings products and has a considerable retail and institutional investor base. Presently, it has more than 9 million active accounts, and its equity mutual funds are some of the best you can get in India. Data published by the fund house indicates that more than one in four investors choose an HDFC mutual fund for investing. For over 25 years, HDFC mutual fund has been a consistent performer with a demonstrable track record of wealth creation and client management. Its core investment team consists of thirty (30) members who have proven expertise in capital markets, bonds, and commodity markets. Besides retail investor services, HDFC AMC also offers (non)discretionary and advisory services to HNIs or High Net Worth Individuals, Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs), domestic and international corporate houses, trusts, and domestic and international financial institutions. HDFC AMC manages a total of 101 funds across several categories like Arbitrage, Banking, and PSU, etc. Important information about HDFC mutual fund Name of the AMCHDFC Asset Management Company Ltd.Incorporation DateDec-10-1999SponsorsHousing Development Finance Corporation Ltd. and Standard Life Investments Ltd.TrusteeHDFC Trustee Company LimitedTrustees' NameMr Vimal Bhandari, ChairmanMr V. Srinivasa Rangan, DirectorMr Mehernosh Kapadia, Independent DirectorMr Dindayal Jalan, Independent DirectorMD/CEOMr Milind BarveCIOMr Prashant JainCompliance OfficerMr Yezdi KhariwalaInvestor Service OfficerMr John MathewRegistrar and Transfer agentKFin Technologies Private Limited (Formerly known as Karvy Fintech Private Ltd)Unit: HDFC Asset Management Company Limited (ISIN: INE127D01025)Karvy Selenium Tower B, Plot No 31 & 32 Gachibowli, Financial District,Nanakramguda, Serilingampally Hyderabad – 500 032.Contact Person: Mr Ragesh Raghavan/Suman KonijetiTelephone: 040 67162222, Toll-free No.18003454001E-mail: einward.ris@kfintech.comToll-free Number 1800 3010 6767 / 1800 419 7676Email Addresscliser@hdfcfund.comRegistered AddressHDFC Asset Management Company LimitedCIN: L65991MH1999PLC123027Registered Address: “HDFC House”, 2nd Floor,H. T. Parekh Marg, 165-166, Backbay Reclamation,Churchgate, Mumbai – 400020. Ten top-performing HDFC mutual fund schemes  HDFC has mutual funds in almost all categories permitted by the Securities and Exchange Board of India or SEBI. Here is a list of the ten best-performing HDFC mutual fund schemes in India. 1. HDFC Small Cap Fund (Category - Equity: Small Cap) The HDFC Small Cap fund, with a NAV of 52.8330 (Regular Growth) (as on 12th April, 2021), is the top-performing fund in the 'Equity: Small Cap' category. This open-ended fund was launched on 3rd April 2008 and has given trailing returns of 103.22% in one year (as on 9th April 2021). The fund considers the NIFTY Smallcap 100 TRI as its benchmark.  Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum Additional Investment INR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 500Exit Load1% for redemption within 365 days; Nil for redemption after 365 daysReturn Since Inception (3rd April 2008):14.04% (as of 9th April 2021)AssetsINR 10,050 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio1.80% (as of 28th February 2021) 2. HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund (Category - Equity: Mid Cap) The HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund was launched on 25th June 2007 and has given gravity-defying returns year after year.  In the one-year period ending on 9th April 2021, the fund has given trailing returns of 83.71%. The fund is open-ended and treats the NIFTY Midcap 100 TRI as its benchmark.  As on 12th April 2021, the NAV of this fund is hovering around 71.6680 (Regular Growth). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum Additional Investment INR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 500Exit Load1% for redemption within 365 days; Nil for redemption after 365 daysReturn Since Inception (25th June, 2007):15.72% (as on 9th April, 2021)AssetsINR 26,471 Crore (as on 31st March, 2021)Expense Ratio1.79% (as on 28th February, 2021) 3. HDFC Retirement Savings Fund Equity Plan (Equity: Flexi Cap) HDFC Retirement Savings Fund Equity Plan has been consistently generating decent returns for its investors. This fund was launched on 25th February 2016 and considers the NIFTY 500 TRI as its benchmark. However, this fund has a lock-in period of five (5) years. In the one-year period ending on 9th April 2021, the fund has given trailing returns of 71.12%. As on 12th April 2021, the NAV of this fund is 21.7960 (Regular Growth). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum Additional Investment INR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 500Exit LoadNoneReturn Since Inception (25th February 2016):17.38% (as on 9th April, 2021)AssetsINR 1,392 Crore (as on 31st March, 2021)Expense Ratio2.38% (as on 28th February, 2021) 4. HDFC Growth Opportunities Fund (Category - Equity: Large & Midcap) The HDFC Growth Opportunities fund was launched on 18th February 1994 and has been a popular fund ever since. The fund is open-ended and treats the NIFTY Large Midcap 250 TRI as its benchmark.  In the one-year period ending on 9th April 2021, the fund has given trailing returns of 73.70%. As of 12th April 2021, the NAV of this fund is 141.2650 (Regular Growth). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum Additional Investment INR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 500Exit Load1% for redemption within 365 days; Nil for redemption after 365 daysReturn Since Inception (18th February 1994):11.65% (as of 9th April 2021)AssetsINR 2,014 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio2.54% (as of 28th February 2021) 5. HDFC Top 100 Fund (Category - Equity: Large Cap) The HDFC Top 100 fund was launched on 11th October 1996 and considers the NIFTY 100 TRI its benchmark. The fund invests primarily in large-cap stocks with huge growth potential.  In the one-year period ending on 9th April 2021, the fund has given trailing returns of 58.87%. As of 12th April 2021, the NAV of this fund is 551.9530 (Regular Growth). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum Additional Investment INR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 500Exit Load1% for redemption within 365 days; Nil for redemption after 365 daysReturn Since Inception (11th October 1996):18.99% (as of 9th April 2021)AssetsINR 18,660 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio1.85% (as of 28th February 2021) 6. HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund (Category - Hybrid: Dynamic Asset Allocation) If your investment horizon is five years or more, the HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund can be your best bet. The fund was launched on 1st February 2004, and it treats the NIFTY 50 Hybrid Composite Debt 65:35 as its benchmark.  In the one-year period ending on 9th April 2021, the fund has given trailing returns of 51.83%. As of 12th April 2021, the NAV of this fund is 227.9330 (Regular Growth). Key information Minimum Investment Minimum Additional Investment INR 1,000INR 5,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 500Exit LoadIf the units you wish to redeem are more than 15% of the total investment amount, a 1% exit load will be levied for redemption within 365 days; Nil for redemption after 365 daysReturn Since Inception (1st February 2004):17.87% (as of 9th April 2021)AssetsINR 39,784 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio1.60% (as of 28th February 2021) 7. HDFC Hybrid Equity Fund (Category - Hybrid: Aggressive Hybrid) The HDFC Hybrid Equity Fund is open-ended and considers NIFTY 50 Hybrid Composite Debt 65:35 as its benchmark. It invests up to 65% of your investments in equities, whereas the remaining 35% is invested in bonds. The fund was launched on 11th September 2000. In the one-year period ending on 9th April 2021, the fund has given trailing returns of 54.29%. As of 12th April 2021, the NAV of this fund is 65.3500 (Regular Growth). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum Additional Investment INR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 500Exit LoadIf the units you wish to redeem are more than 15% of the total investment amount, a 1% exit load will be levied for redemption within 365 days; Nil for redemption after 365 daysReturn Since Inception (11th September 2000):15.49% (as of 9th April 2021)AssetsINR 17,309 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio1.79% (as of 28th February, 2021) 8. HDFC Dynamic PE Ratio Fund of Funds (Category - Hybrid: Multi Asset Allocation) The HDFC Dynamic PE Ratio Fund of funds is the best-performing fund in the 'Hybrid: MAA' category. The open-ended fund was launched on 6th February 2012 and considers the NIFTY 50 Hybrid Composite Debt 65:35 as its benchmark.  In the one-year period ending on 9th April 2021, the fund has given trailing returns of 43.35%. As of 12th April 2021, the NAV of this fund is 22.7714 (Regular Growth). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum Additional Investment INR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 500Exit Load1% for redemption within 365 days; Nil for redemption after 365 daysReturn Since Inception (6th February, 2012):9.63% (as on 9th April, 2021)AssetsINR 20 Crore (as on 31st March, 2021)Expense Ratio1.00% (as on 28th February, 2021) 9. HDFC Equity Savings Fund (Category - Hybrid: Equity Savings) If you want to get the best of equity, bonds, and arbitrage opportunities, the HDFC Equity Savings fund is all you need. It is an open-ended scheme that was launched on 17th September 2004. This fund considers the NIFTY 50 Arbitrage TRI, NIFTY 50 TRI, and CRISIL Short-Term Bond TRI as its benchmark.  In the one-year period ending on 9th April 2021, the fund has given trailing returns of 27.88%. As of 12th April 2021, the NAV of this fund is 42.2360 (Regular Growth). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum Additional Investment INR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 500Exit LoadIf the units you wish to redeem is more than 15% of the total investment amount, a 1% exit load will be levied for redemption within 365 days; Nil for redemption after 365 daysReturn Since Inception (17th September 2004):9.20% (as of 9th April 2021)AssetsINR 2,332 Crore (as of 31st March, 2021)Expense Ratio2.11% (as of 28th February 2021) 10. HDFC Hybrid Debt Fund (Category - Hybrid: Conservative Hybrid) The HDFC Hybrid Debt Fund is the top-performing fund in the conservative hybrid category. This fund invests no more than one-third of your investment amount in equities and no more than two-thirds of your investment amount in debt. The fund was launched on 26th December 2003 and considers the NIFTY 50 Hybrid Composite Debt 15:85 as its benchmark. In the one-year period ending on 9th April 2021, the fund has given trailing returns of 22.11%. As of 12th April 2021, the NAV of this fund is 53.6965 (Regular Growth). Key information Minimum InvestmentINR 5,000Minimum Additional Investment INR 1,000Minimum SIP InvestmentINR 500Minimum WithdrawalINR 500Exit LoadIf the units you wish to redeem is more than 15% of the total investment amount, a 1% exit load will be levied for redemption within 365 days; Nil for redemption after 365 daysReturn Since Inception (26th December 2003):10.27% (as of 9th April 2021)AssetsINR 2,434 Crore (as of 31st March 2021)Expense Ratio1.89% (as of 28th February 2021)(As of 02/04/2021) How can you invest in the HDFC mutual fund via EduFund? Investing in HDFC mutual funds via Edufund is a simple, six-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 HDFC 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 HDFC mutual fund NAV, account balance, statement, and other information in the app. Alternatively, you can purchase, redeem, or switch HDFC 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.   Seven best-performing fund managers at HDFC mutual fund The fund manager plays a prominent role in driving value and generating growth. The following are the seven best-performing fund managers in HDFC AMC whose funds have consistently churned out the best returns.  1. Mr. Chirag Setalvad Mr. Chirag Setalvad is a senior fund manager in HDFC mutual fund. He joined the AMC in 2007. He has extensive experience in fund management, equity research, and investment banking. Mr. Setalvad manages top-performing HDFC mutual fund schemes like HDFC Small Cap Fund, HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund, HDFC Hybrid Equity Fund, and HDFC Long Term Advantage Fund.  2. Mr. Prashant Jain Mr. Prashant Jain holds the distinction of managing one fund, namely HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund, for more than 25 years. He joined HDFC AMC in 2003 as the Head of Equities, after gaining experience in SBI mutual fund and Zurich AMC. Besides the Balanced Advantage Fund, he also manages the HDFC Top 100 Fund and HDFC Flexi Cap Fund.  3. Mr. Krishan Kumar Daga A senior fund manager in HDFC AMC, Mr. Krishan Kumar Daga, has 28 years of equity research and fund management experience. He has worked with several financial conglomerates like Reliance Mutual Fund, B&K Securities, Reliance Capital, JP Morgan Securities, Deutsche Securities, and HSBC Securities. Mr. Daga manages HDFC Gold Exchange Traded Fund and HDFC Gold Fund.  4. Mr Shobhit Mehrotra  Mr. Shobhit Mehrotra is an experienced fund manager who manages over fifteen funds with a collective AuM of approximately 37,000 crores. Mr. Mehrotra has extensive experience in fixed-income markets and credit ratings. Before joining HDFC AMC, he was associated with ICRA Ltd. and Templeton Asset Management (India) Pvt. Ltd. Some popular funds managed by him include HDFC Income Fund, HDFC Medium Term Debt Fund, and HDFC Credit Risk Debt Fund.  5. Mr. Amit Ganatra Mr. Amit Ganatra joined HDFC AMC as a Senior Fund Manager in May 2020 after gaining considerable experience in Invesco AMC, DBS Chola AMC, Fidelity Investments, CMIE, and CIPLA. He manages funds like HDFC Capital Builder Value Fund, HDFC Taxsaver, etc.  6. Mr. Anil Bamboli Mr. Anil Bamboli is associated with HDFC AMC since 2003. He is a senior fund manager in the Fixed Income segment. His educational qualifications include B.Com. MMS Finance, CWA, and CFA. He has more than 24 years of experience in the fund management industry. Mr. Bamboli manages funds like HDFC Dynamic Debt Fund, HDFC Short Term Debt Fund, HDFC Gilt Fund, HDFC Overnight Fund, HDFC Banking, PSU Debt Fund, etc. The schemes managed by him have generated average returns between 8% and 12% in the financial year 2020-21.  7. Mr. Anupam Joshi Mr Anupam Joshi is an Associate Director of Investments in HDFC AMC. He has worked for over ten years in Portfolio Management & Dealing. He has served prominent institutions like Principal PNB Asset Management Company, ICAP India Private Ltd., and Asit C. Mehta Investment Intermediates Ltd. Mr. Joshi manages funds like HDFC Corporate Bond Fund, HDFC Low Duration Fund, HDFC Liquid Fund, etc.  Why should you invest in HDFC mutual funds?  HDFC AMC is the largest AMC in India. It offers more than one hundred funds to choose from. The AMC has a legacy of over twenty years and manages assets worth over INR 4.1 trillion. It has more than 65,000 impaneled distributors who offer its financial products to investors. The fund house has more than 200 branches in 200 Indian cities, which cater to all categories of investors.   Whatever your investment objective, you can get an HDFC mutual fund scheme to fulfill your financial goals. The experienced fund managers at HDFC mutual fund simplify stock market or secondary market investments easily for you. Select EduFund to invest in HDFC mutual fund EduFund makes the process of investing in HDFC 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-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 are 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 HDFC AMC? HDFC Asset Management Company, also called HDFC AMC, is one of India's largest and most profitable mutual fund houses. The company is a part of the Housing Development Finance Corporation or HDFC Group, a financial conglomerate with established businesses in housing finance, asset management, life and non-life insurance, education finance, and real estate funds. Which mutual fund is best in HDFC? HDFC Small Cap Fund (Category – Equity: Small Cap) HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund (Category – Equity: Mid Cap) HDFC Retirement Savings Fund Equity Plan (Equity: Flexi Cap) HDFC Growth Opportunities Fund (Category – Equity: Large & Midcap) HDFC Top 100 Fund (Category – Equity: Large Cap) Why should you invest in HDFC mutual funds? HDFC AMC is the largest AMC in India. It offers more than one hundred funds to choose from. The AMC has a legacy of over twenty years and manages assets worth over INR 4.1 trillion.

In the earlier article, we talked about the top 3 ETFs in the small-cap category. This article will look into the top three ETFs in mid cap category.  Before getting into the list of the top 3 ETFs in the Mid-cap segment, let's understand what Mid cap is. What exactly is midcap?  Mid-cap companies haven't attained large-cap status, but they have a more substantial track record than small-cap businesses.   Their shares provide a perfect balance between the risks and benefits of their smaller and larger counterparts.  The market capitalization of a mid-cap company typically runs between $2 billion and $10 billion. As the name suggests, a mid-cap corporation sits halfway among large-cap (or big-cap) and small-cap businesses.  These businesses usually have a well-established business model and a strong presence in their respective industries, and they may see significant development as their market share expands.   Large-cap businesses are eager for mergers and acquisitions. However, past large-cap corporations that have shrunk in size and dominance are present in the mid-cap category.  Mid-cap stocks are low at risk, have low volatility, and have a lesser growth trajectory than small-cap stocks, but they are riskier, exhibit more turbulence, and have higher potential gains than large-cap firms.  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wXzIXTWMyBk For mid-cap equities, there are two key benchmarks The Russell Midcap Index is a subset of the broader Russell 1000 Index - it monitors roughly twice as many companies as more than 800.  The S&P Mid-Cap 400 Index measures the performance of 400 mid-sized corporations in the United States with market capitalizations ranging from $2 billion to $8 billion.  The top 3 recommendations in the mid-cap category ETFs  Rank ETF 1 Invesco Russell 1000 Dynamic Multifactor ETF 2 JPMorgan BetaBuilders U.S. Mid Cap Equity ETF 3 iShares Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF  1. Invesco Russell 1000 Dynamic Multifactor ETF  The Russell 1000 Index's component securities’ rankings are given by OMFL based on their value, size, momentum, quality, and low volatility.  Oppenheimer uses a rules-based system based on fundamental economic statistics and global risk appetite to assess the current market cycle's state: growth, downturn, contraction, or recovery.   The fund adjusts its exposure to favor the elements that perform best in the current market. The aggregate factor score, adjusted by market cap, weights holdings.   By applying this dynamic overlay, OMFL takes advantage of the cyclical nature of factor performance. For this added benefit, the fund has a low price.  The MSCI ESG Fund Rating for Invesco Russell 1000 Dynamic Multifactor ETF is AA, with 7.67 out of 10. The MSCI ESG Fund Rating assesses a portfolio's long-term resistance to risks and opportunities posed by environmental, social, and governance variables  Performance  Performance [as of 14/03/22]1 year3 years5 years10 yearsOMFL1.79%17.46%--Russell 1000 Invesco Dynamic Multifactor Index2.08%18.04%-- The fund invests entirely in the USA.  OMFL Top 10 Holdings  Source: etf.com OMFL details  BrandInvescoExpense Ratio0.29%YTD Return-12.76%AUM$1.73BNumber of Holdings171Avg. Spread ($)$0.03Average Daily $ Volume$8.28M 2. JPMorgan BetaBuilders U.S. Mid Cap Equity ETF.  BBMC is a passively managed fund that tracks an index that tracks mid-cap firms across multiple sectors in the US stock market.   Although extensive and small-cap firms may be included, the index generally analyses firms between 85th and 95th percentile rank in market capitalization of the US investible universe.   Common shares, preference shares, and REITs are examples of equity securities. BBMC, part of the 'BetaBuilders' suite, provides plain-vanilla exposure to mid-cap stocks, which can be utilized as a core investment or complement BBUS and BBSC, respectively, covering the whole market and small-cap parts of the US equity market.   The fund will invest up to 20% in the future to track the index more closely. The index’s rebalancing is done every three months. The MSCI ESG Fund Rating of A for JPMorgan BetaBuilders U.S. Mid Cap Equity ETF is a 6.01 out of 10.   The MSCI ESG Fund Rating assesses a portfolio's long-term resistance to risks and opportunities posed by environmental, social, and governance variables.  Performance  Performance [as of 14/03/22]1 month3 monthsYTDBBMC-5.53%-10.14%-13.71%MSCI USA Mid Cap Index-4.96%-9.73%-12.84% The fund invests only in the USA.  BBMC Top 10 Holdings  Source: etf.com BBMC details  BrandJPMorganExpense Ratio0.07%YTD Return-13.71%AUM$1.49BNumber of Holdings638Avg. Spread ($)$0.10Average Daily $ Volume$957.72K 3. iShares Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF  IMCG is a growth-oriented, passively managed fund that invests in US midcap equities. Morningstar's index technique, which incorporates fundamental variables, is used to choose stocks.   This technique defines the selected growth companies as having above-average historical and anticipated income, revenues, equity, and operating cash growth.   The underlying index is recreated twice a year and quarterly rebalanced. Before March 19, 2021, the fund used the JKH ticker to track the Morningstar US Mid Growth Index. The MSCI ESG Fund Rating for the iShares Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF is AA, with 7.27 out of ten.   MSCI ESG Fund Rating assesses a portfolio's long-term resistance to risks and opportunities posed by environmental, social, and governance variables.  Performance  Performance [as of 14/03/22]1 year3 years5 years10 yearsIMCG-6.11%15.48%15.81%13.25%MSCI USA Mid Cap Growth Index-8.62%14.87%13.46%12.67% The fund invests only in the USA.  IMCG Top 10 Holdings  Source: etf.com IMCG details  BrandiSharesExpense Ratio0.06%YTD Return-19.47%AUM$1.13BNumber of Holdings359Avg. Spread ($)$0.08Average Daily $ Volume$10.40M One should look out at these ETFs before investing in the mid-cap category in the USA. FAQs What is a mid-cap company? Mid-cap companies are those companies that have a market capitalization between $2 billion and $10 billion. What are the top 3 ETFs in mid-cap categories? Invesco Russell 1000 Dynamic Multifactor ETF JPMorgan BetaBuilders U.S. Mid Cap Equity ETF. iShares Morningstar Mid-Cap Growth ETF Are mid-cap stocks risky investments? Mid-cap stocks are low at risk, have low volatility, and have a lesser growth trajectory than small-cap stocks, but they are riskier, exhibit more turbulence, and have higher potential gains than large-cap firms.  Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you TALK TO AN EXPERT

HDFC Asset Management Company Ltd. (HDFC AMC) is one of the largest mutual fund companies in India. It is among one of the most profitable asset management companies (AMC) in the country. The company manages assets worth Rs. 4,32,084.97 crores as of Mar 31, 2022. Let us talk about the consumer product – HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund. About the HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund Investment objective To provide long-term capital appreciation/income from a dynamic mix of equity and debt investments. Investment process The fund follows the following investment strategy 1. Equity Portfolio Construction Active management of equity portfolio focusing on stock selection. The process is based on the troika of quality assessment, earnings outlook, and valuations, with equal importance to each criterion. Additionally, positioning across sectors/market capitalization is given due importance and risk mitigation is achieved through appropriate sizing of exposure 2. Debt Portfolio Construction Active management of debt portfolio focusing on managing credit risk. The fixed-income investment philosophy emphasizes Safety, Liquidity, and Returns (SLR) in that order. Portfolio Composition The portfolio holds the major exposure in equity at 60% and the sectoral major exposure is Financials which accounts for roughly one-fifth of the portfolio. The top five sectors hold nearly 43% of the portfolio. Note: Data as of 31st Jan 2023.Source: Value Research Online Top 5 Holdings for HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund NameWeightage %HDFC Bank4.87State Bank of India4.57Coal India4.31ICICI Bank4.31NTPC3.46Note: Data as of 31st Jan 2023.Source: Value Research Online Performance Fund name1Y3Y5Y7Y10YHDFC Balanced Advantage Direct-Growth (%)17.7720.6412.5615.4715.33VR Balanced TRI* (%)7.4415.2511.3613.0712.13Hybrid: Dynamic Asset Allocation* (%)6.9611.688.6510.4711.69Data as on 03-Mar-2023; *As on 05-Mar-2023Note: Returns over 1 year are annualizedSource: Value Research Online Fund managers Mr. Srinivasan Ramamurthy (Since July 29, 2022) - Fund Manager – Equity - Collectively over 15 years of experience in equity research and fund management. Mr. Gopal Agrawal (Since July 29, 2022) - Collectively over 17 years of experience in Fund Management and 2 years in Equity Research Mr. Anil Bamboli (Since July 29, 2022) - Senior Fund Manager - Fixed Income - Collectively over 27 years of experience in Fund Management and Research, Fixed Income Dealing. Mr. Priya Ranjan (Since May 01, 2022) - Collectively over 15 years of experience. Senior Equity Analyst and Fund Manager for Overseas Investments Mr. Arun Agarwal (Since October 06, 2022) - Senior Fund Manager - Collectively over 23 years of experience in equity, debt, and derivative dealing, fund management, internal audit, and treasury operations. Mr. Nirman S. Morakhia (Since February 15, 2023) - Fund Manager and Dealer – Equities Who should invest in HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund? Investors looking to invest in an equity portfolio without the very high risk and with a differentiated portfolio strategy that is well diversified in terms of asset class, and can take bets depending on the overall macro-economic environment. Why invest in this Fund? BAFs are multi-dimensional in nature. When a market is overvalued, it inherits the qualities of a hybrid mutual fund scheme, with the ability to minimize equity exposure to up to 30%. Whereas, when a market is undervalued, BAFs can raise equity exposure to up to 80 percent. In stock, picking funds emphasizes earnings growth prospects, management, valuation, macro trends, etc., and is agnostic to market capitalization and does not have sectoral bias. Lastly, investors experience the optimum advantages of both asset classes ─ equity and debt. 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 IN THE FUND Conclusion The HDFC Balanced Advantage Fund is one of the oldest funds with a track record of nearly three decades and has delivered over 15% CAGR since its launch. Thus, it is best for investors who are willing to take some additional risk for good returns over a long-term spectrum. DisclaimerThis is not recommendation advice. All information in this blog is for educational purposes only.

You all know the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 or the Dow Jones Industrial Average. There are many more indices that represent the US financial markets. One such index is the Russell 1000 index.   What is the Russell 1000 index?  The Russell 1000 is a stock market index that tracks the performance of the top 1,000 publicly traded businesses in the United States based on market capitalization or the cumulative value of all of their outstanding shares.   It accounts for 1/3rd of the Russell 3000, comprising the 3,000 largest publicly traded corporations in the United States by market capitalization. The index is the equivalent of 98 percent of all publicly traded corporations in the United States.  Since the company's market capitalization changes over time, the FTSE Russell Group re-examines the rankings of companies in its indices every May to assure accuracy.   New firms that go public, such as through initial public offerings (IPOs), are added to the index quarterly if their market cap exceeds a certain threshold. Hence the index might have more than 1000 companies.   Digging deeper  The Russell 1000's holdings are determined by ranking all of the Russell 3000's stocks by market capitalization and determining the market cap threshold of the 1,000th stock ranking.   The significant market capitalization utilized to establish index eligibility is this breakpoint. Many stocks get exchanged at the annual reconstitution between the Russell 1000 and Russell 2000, but the market capitalization barrier is the deciding factor.  The top 10 Russell 1000 companies by market capitalization are  CompanyTickerAppleAAPLMicrosoftMSFTAmazonAMZNTesla Inc.TSLAAlphabet Inc Cl A (Google)GOOGLAlphabet Inc Cl C (Google)GOOGNvidia CorpNVDAMeta Platforms IncFBBerkshire Hathaway IncBRK.BJPMorgan Chase & Co.JPM The list mentions Google twice because of the two categories of shares.  FTSE Russell publishes the Russell 1000 Index's performance and attributes every month. The Russell 1000 had 1,013 holdings as of February 28, 2021, with an average market worth of $421.75 billion.   The median market capitalization was $13.5 billion, with Apple (AAPL) having the highest market capitalization at $2.07 trillion. The FTSE Russell Group maintains specialist indices that track the performance of Russell 1000 subsets, such as:   Russell 1000 Value   Russell 1000 Value Dynamic   Russell 1000 Value Defensive   Russell 1000 Growth   Russell 1000 Growth & Value   Russell 1000 Growth Dynamic   Russell 1000 Growth Defensive   Russell 1000 Global Exposure   Russell 1000 Pure Domestic Exposure   Other Indexes vs. Russell 1000 index The Russell 1000 and the S&P 500 are indexes that measure the top large-cap stocks in the United States. On the other hand, the S&P 500 only accounts for around 80% of the US stock market.   Russell 1000 index, on the other hand, follows twice as many companies as the S&P 500, accounting for around 92 percent of the US share market, including many mid-cap corporations.  The Russell 1000 may be more volatile than the S&P 500 since mid-cap firms are more volatile than large-cap stocks. Furthermore, because the S&P 500 rebalances quarterly rather than yearly like the Russell 1000, it provides a better picture of what the market is doing over the year.  How to invest in the Russell 1000 index?   Though it is feasible to invest in the Russell 1000 by acquiring each of the individual stocks, this would be time-consuming due to the index's size.   An ETF (Exchange Traded fund) or an index fund of the Russell 1000 is better for most investors.  While FTSE Russell does not offer any ETFs or index funds directly, buyers can find Russell 1000 ETFs or index funds through several funds. Through online brokerage, you can buy Russell 1000 ETFs or index funds. Some ETFs are Vanguard Russell 1000 ETF iShares Russell 1000 SPDR Russell 1000 ETF Is the Russell 1000 a good investment?  Various criteria influence whether or not the Russell 1000 index should be in your investment portfolio.   Most experts advise investing in a broad market stock fund, the Russell 1000. Moreover, the index provides you with more expansive coverage of the US economy. FAQs What happens when a stock goes into Russell 1000 index? Once a stock goes into indexes, it's either subtracted or added based on some factors like trading volumes, share price, market cap, etc. With Russell 1000 being added to a company, the demands for its shares tend to increase resulting in increased volatility in the short term. What does the Russell 1000 index measure? A stock market index, the Russell 1000 measures the performances of the 1,000 largest public companies in the U.S. by market capitalization. Why is the Russell 1000 Index important? The Russell Index serves as the leading benchmark for investors, be it mega-cap or microcap. It allows investors to track historical, as well as current market performance through investment style or specific market segments. Is Russell 1000 Index good? Russell 1000 Index is a good investment option for investors who are looking for large-cap portfolio exposure. It allows you to invest in the 1000 largest public companies in the US economy. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you TALK TO AN EXPERT

The expense ratio is one of the most vital aspects of ETF investing. However, many investors are unaware of the fact that a portion of your portfolio is allocated to a charge termed an expense ratio each year. It's critical to understand the costs you're paying no matter what you're investing in.  And, given the prevalence of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), many of us pay an annual expense ratio out of our portfolios. You'll learn what an expense ratio is, why it's essential, and how to spot a good one when you see one. What is an Expense ratio? An expense ratio is a fee that a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund charges investors (ETF). This charge covers the costs of management, asset allocation, marketing, and other services.   These fees calculation are done as a percentage of an investor's annual cost. ETF expense rates are usually less than 1%. That means you spend less than $10 per year on expenses for every $1,000 you invest.  "In the simplest terms, an expense ratio is a convenience fee for not having to pick and trade individual stocks yourself".  - Leighann Miko, certified financial planner (CFP) and founder of Equal Financial, explains expense ratio The expense ratio is the reward for the fund managers for supervising the fund's holdings and coordinating investment plans in actively managed funds.   Activities of the fund manager include time spent choosing and trading securities, reallocating the portfolio, processing payouts, and other procedures necessary to keep the fund up to meet its objectives.  The expense ratio encompasses license fees paid to significant stock indices for passive funds and ETFs that don't actively select investments and instead try to replicate the underlying index.  Calculation of expense ratio  Expense ratio = Total fund expenses / Total fund assets under management How do they work?  The expense ratio is expressed as a percentage of your fund investment. A fund, for example, might charge 0.30 percent. That implies for every $1,000 you put into the fund; you'll pay $3 per year.   If you own the investment for the entire year, you'll have to pay this. However, don't think you'll be able to sell your funds right before the end of the year and escape paying the fee.   The management company for an ETF will deduct the cost from the fund's net asset value daily, making it essentially undetectable to you.  What does a reasonable expense ratio look like?  According to experts, an expense ratio of < 2% is low and > 2% is considered high. The higher your expense ratio, the lower your returns will be.  As per Morningstar, the weighted mean expense ratio for ETFs in 2019 was 0.45 percent. That's less than 1/2 from what it was in 1999, and the trend is anticipated to continue. It's a matter of opinion on what defines a decent expense ratio for an ETF. Investors aren’t liable to pay hefty prices to invest in ETFs, and they should focus on ETFs with competitive and consistent expense ratios.  What else should you think when it comes to the expense ratio?  Experts advise looking for reduced-cost funds so you don't lose a lot of money in fees throughout your investment duration. It's not only the upfront costs; you're also losing the value of those assets as they compound.  Larger funds can frequently carry a lesser expense ratio because some expenditures, such as fund management, can spread over a more extensive asset base.  The smaller fund may need to charge more to break even, but as it expands, it may be able to lower its expense ratio to a comparable price.  Mutual funds may levy a sales load, which can be pretty high (up to a few per cent) but is taken into account for the expense ratio. That's a different type of cost, and you must do everything you can to avoid funds that charge them. Major brokers provide many mutual funds with no sales load and low expense ratios. FAQs What is a good ETF expense ratio? According to experts, an expense ratio of < 2% is low, and > 2% is considered high. The higher your expense ratio, the lower your returns will be. Are ETFs expense ratios high? According to experts, an expense ratio of < 2% is low, and > 2% is considered high. The higher your expense ratio, the lower your returns will be. It’s a matter of opinion on what defines a decent expense ratio for an ETF. Investors aren’t liable to pay hefty prices to invest in ETFs, and they should focus on ETFs with competitive and consistent expense ratios. Is the expense ratio charged every day? If you own the investment for the entire year, you’ll have to pay this. However, don’t think you’ll be able to sell your funds right before the end of the year and escape paying the fee. The management company for an ETF will deduct the cost from the fund’s net asset value daily, making it essentially undetectable to you. Is expense ratio important in ETF? An expense ratio is a fee that a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund charges investors (ETF). This charge covers the costs of management, asset allocation, marketing, and other services. These fees calculation are done as a percentage of an investor’s annual cost. ETF expense rates are usually less than 1%. That means you spend less than $10 per year on expenses for every $1,000 you invest. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you  TALK TO AN EXPERT

A stock exchange is used to sell and buy ETF shares. When you purchase or sell ETF shares, you are dealing with another investor rather than the Fund Provider (e.g., Blackrock, ProShares) via a stock market.  A stock exchange is a platform where several investors can buy and sell shares simultaneously for a set price. Orders are instructions to buy or sell stocks.   It is the responsibility of the exchange to organize all these bids because each investor receives the best possible price that meets their requirements.  When trading ETFs, an investor can employ a variety of orders To purchase and sell ETFs, some investors use market orders. A market order instructs you to instantly buy or sell ETF shares at the prevailing market price.   A market order does not describe the price you wish to trade; instead, it specifies the number of shares you would like to swap. These orders are straightforward to comprehend and carry out. "You want to buy 25 units of the Vanguard Total Stock Market (VTI) at the best accessible price," a market order says. Source: pexels Market orders should not be made because? 1. You have no control over the pricing The price displayed on your broker's website is not always the price upon which the transaction is completed. The purchase can be made at a more excellent or lower price than what you planned.  2. The broker may request more outstanding account balances than required If you wish to buy ten shares at market price, you see a cost of $100, and you have $1000 in your account, your broker may want more significant balances in your account than you need.   Even if your cash amount appears to be sufficient to fulfill a market order for ten shares, your broker may need a more extraordinary account because it does not know when your market order will be fulfilled.  Limit orders do not have these flaws. They give you price control and, as a result, don't force you to keep a more significant amount in your account than is required.  A limit order instructs you to purchase or sell a precise amount of ETF units at a specific price. Only if someone else is willing to transact with you at that price will the limit order be honored.   A limit order is similar to saying, "You want to buy 25 shares of the Vanguard Total Stock Market (VTI) ETF and am ready to pay up to $50 per share" or "You want to sell 25 shares of the Vanguard Total Stock Market (VTI) ETF, and the lowest you will go is $50 per share."  The bid and ask are terms used to describe the price at which market players are willing to swap ETFs. The highest price at which an ETF share can be purchased is the bid.  The lowest price at which an ETF share can be sold is the ask. You can also glance through the order book to get a complete list of current buy/sell orders.  The likelihood of your limited order being executed and the time required for it differ based on your specific price. You can generate orders with prices identical to or better than the bid and ask if you want to fill your limit orders quickly.   A purchase limit order with a price a cent higher than the bid or a sell limit order with a price a penny lower than the ask is what we mean by slightly better.  Just because ETFs can be traded the same way as regular stocks don't imply, they should. Investors should understand the distinction between a market order and a limit order and why one trading approach may make more sense in some situations but not in other contexts. Viewpoints may sometimes turn prospective losses into gains. FAQs What is a limit order for ETFs? A limit order is a range you set when you are about to buy or sell a stock or ETF. It can be easy to make a decision when the stock or ETF is in between the range.   Why use limit order for ETFs?    The bid and ask are terms used to describe the price at which market players are willing to swap ETFs. The highest price at which an ETF share can be purchased is the bid. The lowest price at which an ETF share can be sold is the ask. You can also glance through the order book to get a complete list of current buy/sell orders.    The likelihood of your limited order being executed and the time required for it differ based on your specific price. You can generate orders with prices identical to or better than the bid and ask if you want to fill your limit orders quickly.    How do you set a price limit on an ETF? If you wish to buy ten shares at market price, you see a cost of $100, and you have $1000 in your account, your broker may want more significant balances in your account than you need.    Even if your cash amount appears to be sufficient to fulfill a market order for ten shares, your broker may need a more extraordinary account because it does not know when your market order will be fulfilled. Limit orders do not have these flaws. They give you price control and, as a result, don’t force you to keep a more significant amount in your account than is required. A limit order instructs you to purchase or sell a precise amount of ETF units at a specific price. Only if someone else is willing to transact with you at that price will the limit order be honored.   What is the risk of a limit order? The risk of the limit order is that the investors can never execute their order if the stock or ETF doesn’t fall under the range. There is also the possibility of a lack of liquidity in the stock to fill the order when the stock reaches the range.    Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you TALK TO AN EXPERT

A systematic investment plan or SIP is the best plan that helps you invest in mutual funds on a regular basis.  You can choose to invest weekly, monthly or even quarterly – the most popular choice being monthly. There are multiple reasons why SIPs are the best way to grow your money especially when you have a goal to plan – e.g. your child’s education. SIPs can be bought easily and you can start with a very low amount - Rs. 500 per month. In this blog, we will talk about the ‘Big 5 advantages’ that SIPs offer to you as a parent. But before that, let's understand what a SIP is What is SIP? A SIP or systematic investment plan is an investment mode through which an investor can create a regular mechanism of investment for themselves. Let's take the example of investor X. Investor X wishes to invest Rs. 10,000 every month in a mutual fund. In this case, investor X can create a SIP for a fund they want to invest in and the money will be deducted every month automatically (the deduction can be weekly, monthly, or even quarterly, depending on the investor's choice). Think of it as a recurring deposit, with better returns. Now that we know what a SIP is, let's get to know why investing via SIP is the best choice you can make to enlarge your corpus. CALCULATE MONTHLY SIP 5 Reasons SIP is the best These are the 5 main reasons why you should invest via a systematic investment plan to reach your financial goals 1. Suitable for Long-Term Investment Any financial advisor will tell you that if you want to invest long-term, SIP is the way to go. The reason is simple, regular investing and automatic deductions keep investors motivated to stay invested and reach their investment goals quicker. During the 2008 financial recession, many people withdrew money from mutual funds. However, the ones that remained invested via SIP, attained a huge profit once the markets rose. Long-term investing makes sure that even if the market is down at the moment, once the markets rise, the investor will make profits. 2. Goal-planning ‍SIPs are good tools to plan for a future goal – to buy a 4-wheeler or to pay for college tuition fees maybe 10-15 years from now. When you determine the amount required to achieve your goal, you will know how much you should invest and how long it will take to reach your goal. This will help in planning effectively. Having financial goals is very important to creating a financially secure future. One must have a defined idea about what financial goal one wants to reach by the age of 30, 40, 50, and so on. 3. Effect of Compounding Compounding is one of the biggest advantages of a SIP. Over time your investments grow because you start earning returns not on your principal amount, but on the interest that keeps getting added to it. Let's take an example. Suppose you invest Rs.1,000 in a mutual fund that gives you a yearly return of 10% p.a. Your amount becomes 1,100. at the end of the first year. At the end of the second year, the rate of return is 11%, this time the returns will be calculated on Rs. 1,100 and not the principal amount, which is, Rs. 1,000. ‍This ensures the growth of your corpus and is one of the reasons why experts advise you to not withdraw your investments when the market is down. 4. Curated by Experts With the increasing number of fund types like equity, debt, mixed, gold-based, etc. there is a wide variety to choose from based on your risk appetite and preferred investment duration. This has led to customized offerings based on individual needs, supervised by experts in the SIP domain. All you need is to specify your goal and timeline and you are provided with the best possible funds that can meet your future goals. ‍SIPs have become popular over the past few years, because of the ease of investing and the flexibility provided in terms of the amount of money that can be invested. You can stay invested as long as you want, although average returns have been higher when invested in the long term. Research also shows that the returns offered by SIPs are more than recurring deposits in banks, in the long term. 5. Automates Your Investment Experience SIPs automate your investment experience, which makes you a regular investor. It is easy and convenient and because of the online surge, today, it is super easy to invest via SIP. If you choose the lump sum method, you will have to manually invest an amount and there may be times when you can miss an installment. ‍With automated installments and a streamlined process, investing via SIP has now become an extremely popular method, to reach long-term goals like saving up for your child's education. FAQs Why is SIP investment good? By investing through SIPs, you will do away with the burden of timing the market as you could then avail the benefit of Rupee Cost Averaging. By investing through SIP, you will tend to invest in the up and down markets. This helps you shy away from the volatility of the market. Additionally, you will benefit from the power of compounding, which fundamentally generates returns not only on capital but also on returns. Is SIP good for students? Investing in SIP can be a huge benefit for students. It cultivates a healthy investment habit, and they can invest a small amount to start their journey. SIP is best for beginners and a comparatively safe investment vehicle. What are the features of SIP? A SIP offers the following features: It is best for long-term investment, brings financial discipline, allows small investment amounts, benefits from the power of compounding, and is a comparatively safer investment tool. Why do people prefer SIP? A systematic investment plan helps bring discipline to an individual’s investment habits. A SIP will automatically deduct a pre-decided amount periodically. Investors also do not need to worry about timing the market while investing via SIP. It is one of the best investment vehicles for beginners. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

A student loan is likely the first step many students take towards financial independence, and just as with other loan applications, lenders will look into your credit score when considering your application for an education loan. To determine a student's capacity to repay an education loan, lenders investigate their creditworthiness. In this blog, we will discuss the impact of your credit score on your ability to get approved for an abroad education loan and tips for improving your credit score. Importance of credit score for abroad education loan When you apply for an education loan, a lender will check your credit score; this goes for both co-borrowers and students. When applying for an education loan, a student's credit score may be crucial, but if they don't have one, the lender will base their loan conditions on the credit ratings of their co-borrowers. A student's chances of getting financial help might be improved by meeting the lender's other qualifying standards and having a high credit score: a lower interest rate a lender approval that comes more quickly a larger loan sum for schooling an increased credit limit  a lengthier term https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gTQkdePOWM How is the credit score calculated? Every time a person contacts a bank or other financial institution for a loan of any type, the bank or financial institution will request the CIR (Credit Information Report), which is the person's unique credit history from credit. Their credit history determines their credit score, which ranges from 300 (Worst) to 900. (Best). It is unimportant to be concerned if you haven't applied for any loans yet because your credit score will always be negative or zero. The credit score is primarily based on four factors: Repayment history - One's regularity, consistency with prior EMI payments, and other factors. A mix of loans - Several loan kinds (secured and unsecured) they have previously obtained. Credit limit - use of the credit card's or any other credit line's credit limit. Multiple loans at one time - the frequency with which they've requested or applied for loans recently. How to compare education loans? READ MORE How your credit score impacts your student loan? If you're wondering if taking out a student loan would affect your credit score, the answer is yes. Education loans, like other loans, affect your credit score if they are returned on time; if they are paid late, your score may be negatively impacted. The bulk of student loans is repaid in installments over a defined period of time. You begin to establish a history as a result of the lender reporting this to credit reporting companies. When you pay your bills on time, you'll begin establishing a solid track record for handling credit. Nonetheless, the following credit score levels are suggested for students wishing to get an educational loan to study abroad: RangeLoan Probability300-599If your credit rating is at this level, you should carefully review your financial records and concentrate on any pressing problems that could be the root of your low rating. Your chances of being approved for an education loan are decreased since financial institutions frequently see credit scores of less than 600 as being exceptionally bad.600-749Those with credit scores in this range are still qualified for student loans. Yet, the majority of banks and NBFCs are quite picky about loan applicants achieving the minimal credit score standards for education loans. 750 and aboveA credit score of 750 or above is required to be eligible for an education loan. This credit score may be used by lenders to determine the financial dependability of co-applicants and individual applicants. Tips for improving credit score The following are possible causes of your low credit score as well as suggestions for how to raise it: Overuse of credit limit: Using your whole credit limit is a sign that you lack self-control when it comes to spending. Try to keep your balance between 30 and 50 percent of your total credit limit. You'll use credit less as a result, improving your credit score. Late and failed payments: Your credit score declines if you often skip or postpone loans or credit installments. Set up reminders to pay back all borrowed money on time; this will help you build credit and get better loan conditions in the future. Rejected loan requests: Wait before submitting an application for a new loan if your previous one was rejected. When your credit score declines with each loan denial, there will be a higher chance of a fresh loan denial in such situations. Improve your credit score as a top priority to be eligible for loans. You can then file a loan application with better conditions after doing this. Be aware that the procedure can be lengthy, and loan approval can be quite difficult if you have low credit, but you may still be able to receive any other loan because the banks will keep the collateral as security until you have paid the whole loan amount plus interest. Also, it's possible that you'll only be given unfavorable loan terms and circumstances. Some of them might have greater interest rates or longer payback schedules. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

When an ETF's Volatility is taken into account, an investor may find it challenging to determine which fund offers the best risk-reward ratio. Learn about the four most popular volatility metrics and how they're used in different types of risk assessments here. What is Volatility ETF? Volatility is a parameter of how quickly the price of a security fluctuates over time. It expresses the degree of risk linked with a security's price movements.   Investors and traders measure a security's Volatility to assess past price fluctuations and forecast future moves. Types of Volatility 1. Historical Volatility The historical volatility indicator shows how the price of the security has fluctuated. It helps to forecast future price fluctuations based on historical trends.  However, it does not provide insight into the future direction or trajectory of the security's price.  2. Implied Volatility This is the underlying asset's Volatility that will yield the theoretical value of an option equivalent (derivatives) to the option's current market price.  In option pricing, Implied Volatility is a critical factor. It offers a forward-looking perspective on potential price variations in the future.  Most popular volatility metrics Standard Deviation The standard deviation measures an ETF's Volatility or the likelihood for earnings to rise or fall dramatically over a short period. A volatile investment is one that poses a more significant risk since its performance can swing either way dramatically The standard deviation of an Exchange Traded Fund assesses this risk by determining how much the fund varies from its mean return. For example, a fund with a steady four-year return of 7% will have a mean, or average, of 7%. Since the ETF's return in any given year does not depart from its four-year mean of 7%, the standard deviation for such an ETF would be zero.   An ETF that returned -15%, 17%, 12%, and 20% in each of the previous four years, on the other hand, would have an average return of 8.5 percent.  This fund would also have a significant standard deviation because the fund's return departs from the mean return each year.  As a result, this fund is riskier because it swings back and forth between favorable and unfavorable returns in a short period. Beta While standard deviation measures a fund's Volatility based on the spread of its returns over time, beta, another relevant statistical measure, compares a fund's Volatility (or risk) to its index or benchmark.   When a fund's beta is very near to one, it suggests that its behavior closely resembles the underlying index or benchmark. A more extensive beta implies that the market is more volatile than the benchmark, whereas a beta below suggests that the fund is less volatile than the underlying benchmark Let's take a small example about the market; the lower the beta, the less susceptible the underlying instrument is. The QQQE has a beta of 1.04, according to ETF.com, which suggests that if the Nasdaq 100 rises by 1%, the ETF will climb by 1.04 percent. Investors who anticipate a bullish market may buy funds with high betas, increasing their chances of outperforming the market. If investors expect negative demand shortly, funds with a beta of less than one are a suitable pick because they might lose less than the benchmark.  R-squared The R-squared of a fund tells investors whether an ETF's beta is adequate compared to a benchmark.  R-squared explains the degree of association between a fund's fluctuation and market risk, or, more particularly, the extent to which a fund's variability results from the general market's day-to-day variations by calculating the relationship of a fund's movements to those of an index. R-squared values vary from 0 to 100, with 0 denoting no correlation and 100 representing complete correlation. If the R-squared value of a fund's beta is near 100, the fund's beta should be trusted.  An R-squared score near zero, on the other hand, shows that the beta isn't very relevant since the ETF is being evaluated to an inadequate benchmark. More than that, the beta will be skewed by an incorrect benchmark. Because alpha is determined using the beta, it's best not to trust the number provided for alpha if the fund's R-squared value is low. Alpha The amount of additional risk that enabled the ETF to outperform its matching benchmark is measured by alpha.  Using beta, alpha evaluates the fund's return to the risk-adjusted returns of the benchmark and determines whether the fund outperforms the market, being consistent in terms of risk. For instance, if a fund's alpha is one, it exceeds the benchmark by one percent. Negative alphas are wrong since they suggest that the ETF underperformed for the fund's investors' additional, fund-specific risk. These are some factors that should help you evaluate the risk associated with ETFs. However, one must also consider their risk appetite before investing. FAQs How do you calculate the volatility of an ETF? The standard deviation measures an ETF’s Volatility or the likelihood for earnings to rise or fall dramatically over a short period. A volatile investment is one that poses a more significant risk since its performance can swing either way dramatically. The standard deviation of an Exchange Traded Fund assesses this risk by determining how much the fund varies from its mean return. What is good volatility ETF? The standard deviation of an Exchange Traded Fund assesses this risk by determining how much the fund varies from its mean return. For example, a fund with a steady four-year return of 7% will have a mean, or average, of 7%. Since the ETF’s return in any given year does not depart from its four-year mean of 7%, the standard deviation for such an ETF would be zero. An ETF that returned –15%, 17%, 12%, and 20% in each of the previous four years, on the other hand, would have an average return of 8.5 percent. This fund would also have a significant standard deviation because the fund’s return departs from the mean return each year. As a result, this fund is riskier because it swings back and forth between favorable and unfavorable returns in a short period. What is a good volatility percentage? The standard deviation of an Exchange Traded Fund assesses this risk by determining how much the fund varies from its mean return. For example, a fund with a steady four-year return of 7% will have a mean, or average, of 7%. Since the ETF’s return in any given year does not depart from its four-year mean of 7%, the standard deviation for such an ETF would be zero. An ETF that returned –15%, 17%, 12%, and 20% in each of the previous four years, on the other hand, would have an average return of 8.5 percent. This fund would also have a significant standard deviation because the fund’s return departs from the mean return each year. How does a volatility ETF work? A volatility ETF will move in the opposite direction to the popular stock market indices. When the stock market index moves up, the volatility ETF will decline. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan for you TALK TO AN EXPERT

The education of their children remains an aspirational goal for every Indian parent. Every parent wants and strives to provide the best quality education and seeks to fulfill the dreams of their children. However, the burgeoning cost of education - both in India and abroad has been a cause of concern for parents looking for higher education for their children. While the cost of education in India has grown significantly over the past decade, the cost abroad is no better - owing to inflation in the local currency and rupee depreciation over the years. Now, since education is getting expensive, it is critical to have a defined savings plan from an early age - something that is affordable for parents to keep aside and gives a runaway to accumulate. For example, if parents start to save for their child's education immediately after the birth of the child, they would get a runway of 18 years for a bachelor's and 21-22 years for a master's. Starting early would help the power of compounding to work in your favor and help you get closer to the goal with a smaller sum too. The amount kept aside for this defined and critical goal balloons with every year's delay (see chart below).   2020 2030 Cost of Tuition Fees (Rs Lakhs) 25 49 Cost of Living (Rs Lakhs) 10 20 Total (Rs Lakhs) 35 69 Note: Inflation considered at 7% for both tuition fees and living costSource: EduFund Research Cost of delaying – SIP amount increases with every year skipped Note: A return of 12% is considered for the SIP computationSource: EduFund Research Let us now see an example of two parents - Abhishek and Sneha. The situation at hand –                                                         Objective – To send a child abroad for engineering education·      Abhishek – Looking for Education Loan @ 8%·      Sneha – Looking to invest systematically and accumulate corpus in 10 years, expecting returns of 12%   Abhishek and Sneha want to send their child abroad for engineering education when she turns 18. While Sneha believes in accumulating the amount by investing in a mutual fund every month, Abhishek feels opting for an education loan makes more sense. Both Abhishek and Sneha have a 10-year horizon where Sneha would save for the period aiming to make 12% returns annually, and Abhishek is looking to repay the loan borrowed at 8%. Let us evaluate which is a better plan - The Results Corpus required -   2020 2030 Cost of Tuition Fees (Rs Lakhs) 25 49 Cost of Living (Rs Lakhs) 10 20 Total (Rs Lakhs) 35 69 Sneha's investment plan: Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) – Rs 30799 per month for 10 years Abhishek's loan plan: Equated Monthly Instalment (EMI) – Rs 83716 per month for a time duration of 10 years What we see is to reach her goal of global Education, Sneha set aside Rs 37K through SIP to accumulate the corpus. Abhishek, meanwhile, gets instant access to the corpus but ends up paying Rs 83716 in monthly installments. Also, by the end of 10 years, he pays Rs 31 as interest making education costs rise 45%. Both Abhishek and Sneha would have to make monthly payments, but Abhishek would pay substantially more every month. Abhishek would also spend much more on the same Education than Sneha. When to use an Education Loan? Despite starting to save early for a future defined and aspirational goal, a parent may still face a shortfall in the corpus. The reasons for the shortfall can be varied. For example, one instance could be because of the change in the nature of the goal. For instance, you might have budgeted for sending your child to Singapore but may end up sending them to the US where the cost is comparatively higher. However, this possible shortfall is not an excuse but is a function of change in the plan. In such circumstances, it makes sense to fulfill the gap with an education loan. Also, it gets to avail of a loan for part cost and not the full cost. Is it possible to reduce your SIP initially and pull it up? Of course, yes, you can always go for milestone planning where you can define a start-point, specific deadline, and final goal. This method ensures you map your SIP to your pocket size, and as time passes by, you tend to increase the outlay towards the goal. Thereby following an exponential roadmap rather than a simple straight line which may not be affordable in the initial years due to multiple other expenses. To sum up, we can say the following - Based on the child's currency age, a parent can start planning for higher education. This helps in being pocket friendly and remains disciplined for a defined liability that is due to come in a few years. Dividing the goal into smaller milestones and targeting each milestone helps the parent have a roadmap to the goal. This ensures a pocket, friendly method of investing. Education loan is available on short notice; however, it should be used to fill the gap instead of dependence on the full corpus. This strategy will allow you to fund your child's education with minimal stress. FAQs How much should we save for a child's education? Education inflation has been rising at a steady rate in the past few years. Parents should be aware of the significance of saving early to be in a position to afford their child's future education costs. The cost of education varies depending on the choice of course, so it's better for parents to start saving early, so they can adjust their portfolio once they have a goal in sight.      What is the best way to save money for a child in India? It goes on without saying that mutual funds have been gaining traction over the past few decades, and the burgeoning size of the assets under management has made people think of the investment vehicle. Also, with declining or unfavorable returns on instruments such as fixed deposits, provident funds, and the like, the most lucrative option remains – mutual funds. However, not all mutual funds would be able to help you achieve your target. Thus, you need to plan as per your risk appetite so that you do not derail from the track of your defined event.  Why should parents invest early in their child's education? While the cost of education in India has grown significantly over the past decade, the cost abroad is no better – owing to inflation in the local currency and rupee depreciation over the years.   Since education is getting expensive, it is critical to have a defined savings plan from an early age – something that is affordable for parents to keep aside and gives a runaway to accumulate. For example, if parents start to save for their child's education immediately after the birth of the child, they would get a runway of 18 years for a bachelor's and 21-22 years for a master's. Starting early would help the power of compounding to work in your favor and help you get closer to the goal with a smaller sum too.   What is the best investment for a child's education?   By investing through SIPs, you will do away with the burden of timing the market as you could then avail the benefit of Rupee Cost Averaging. By investing through SIP, you tend to invest in the up-and-down markets. This helps you shy away from the volatility of the market. Additionally, you will benefit from the power of compounding, which fundamentally generates returns not only on capital but also on returns.