EduFund Blogs

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

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

What are Debt Funds? Debt Mutual funds invest in fixed-income securities such as corporate bonds, government securities, money market instruments, etc. These funds are also known as income funds or bond funds. The difference between the purchase price and the selling price of the securities adds to the NAV of the fund. If the fund bought security for Rs 1000 and had to sell it in extreme market conditions at Rs 900 by making a loss, it would result in the depreciation of the NAV. How do debt funds make money? Debt funds earn through capital appreciation and interest income from fixed-income securities. Consider that a debt fund receives 10% interest per annum; this is divided by 365 and is added to the NAV every day. A debt fund’s NAV hence depends upon the interest rate and the credit rating of its portfolio. If the credit rating of one of the securities that a fund is invested into goes down (due to default), the NAV of the fund also depreciates. The interest rate regime also has an effect on the NAV of the fund. For example, if a fund ABC holds security that offers 8% interest. If the RBI announces a decrease in the interest rates, then any new security would adhere to these new regulations and offer a lower interest rate. This would drive up the demand for pre-existing securities which were offering a higher rate (similar to our security which offered a rate of 8%). Consequently, the price of these bonds/securities would increase, leading to an increase in the NAV of the fund. Types of Debt Funds In the following paragraphs, we aim to provide 2 top-performing funds in each of the debt fund categories and also aim to provide insights on which category would be ideal for you. 1. Liquid & Money Market Funds These funds invest in money market securities with a maturity lower than 91 days. They are considered to be a good alternative to savings accounts and fixed deposits as they offer higher returns and are tax-friendly (when compared to traditional instruments). They have a reasonable level of safety of the invested principal, coupled with liquidity. They typically do not have exit loads. Investor If you have surplus cash or a sudden influx of money – sale of real estate property, bonus, or something similar, instead of parking it in a savings account and earning a meager 4% return, you could consider Liquid funds as an alternative. These are also suitable for risk-averse investors and for investors looking for stable returns and liquidity. Scheme Name1-year ReturnAUMProsConsQuant Liquid Fund4.85%Rs 174.84 CrHave higher 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year returns than the category average.The age of the fund is greater than 3 years.A high expense ratio of 0.62% (could potentially dent your earnings). AUM is less than Rs 1000 Cr, where investors need to keep an eye on the expense ratio as the fees for the operation of the fund are collected from a small base of investors.IDBI Liquid Fund Rs 1114.21 CrHave higher 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year returns than the category average.The age of the fund is greater than 3 years.The expense ratio is on the lower end – 0.13%.AUM is slightly higher than Rs 1000 Cr, where investors need to keep an eye on the expense ratio as the fees for the operation of the fund are collected from a small base of investors. 2. Gilt Funds Gilt funds invest in Government securities of State and Central governments with different bond tenures (or varying maturities) such as 1-year, 3-year, 10-year, etc. Government bonds are considered to be risk-free and have a zero probability of default (Credit risk is zero). However, these funds are subject to interest rate risk i.e., the portfolio’s worth appreciates or depreciates depending on the interest rate regime in the economy. Investor These are suitable for a risk-averse investor. They are beneficial in a falling interest rate environment as these funds would have underlying securities which would carry a high coupon. Scheme Name1-year ReturnAUMProsConsICICI Prudential Gilt FundExpense Ratio: 0.61%Min SIP Amount:Rs 100011.12%Rs 4,086.85CrHave higher 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year returns than the category averageExit Load is ZeroNoneDSP Government Securities FundExpense Ratio: 0.54%Min SIP Amount: Rs 50010.36%Rs 444.52 CrHave higher 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year returns than the category averageExit Load is ZeroNoneEdelweiss Government Securities FundExpense Ratio: 0.41%Min SIP Amount: Rs 50012.07%Rs 88.68 CrHave higher 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year returns than the category averageExit Load is ZeroAUM is slightly higher than Rs 100 Cr, where investors need to keep an eye on the expense ratio as the fees for the operation of the fund is collected from a small base of investors. 3. Short-Term Funds Funds that invest in securities that have a maturity of 1-3 years with high liquidity. The fund invests in corporate bonds, certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and government securities with medium and long-term maturities. They are prone to a lower interest rate risk when compared to medium and long-term funds. This aids the funds to sail through adverse market conditions. Investor They are ideal for risk-averse investors who aim to receive higher post-tax interest or returns (when compared to FDs). When the investment horizon is greater than 1 year. Scheme Name1-year ReturnAUMProsConsAditya Birla Sun Life Short-Term FundExpense Ratio: 0.39%Min SIP Amount: Rs 10012.00%Rs 7,001.71 CrHave higher 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year returns than the category average.Exit Load is ZeroThe expense ratio is on the lower endNoneICICI Prudential Short-Term Fund Expense Ratio: 0.44% Min SIP Amount: Rs 10010.92%Rs 22,254.84 CrHave higher 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year returns than the category averageExit Load is ZeroThe expense ratio is on the lower endThe AUM of the fund is greater than Rs 20,000 Cr. After crossing this benchmark, the returns of the fund tend to be stagnated or experience a downturn 4. Medium-Term Funds Funds that invest in securities that have a medium-term maturity of 3-4 years. SEBI mandates that these funds invest in securities that have a Macaulay duration of 3-4 years. They earn higher post-tax returns when compared to a 5-year bank FD. One can also choose to opt for monthly income plans if one wishes to receive a periodic income from their investments. Investor They are ideal for risk-averse investors who aim to receive higher post-tax interest or returns (when compared to FDs). They are also ideal for the diversification of risk. They are less volatile when compared to equity funds and are also less prone to interest rate risk when compared to long-term funds.  Scheme Name1-year ReturnAUMProsConsSBI Magnum Medium Duration FundExpense Ratio: 0.68%Min SIP Amount: Rs 50010.88%Rs 8,505.15 CrHave higher 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year returns than the category averageNoneICICI Prudential Medium Term Bond FundExpense Ratio: 0.73%Min SIP Amount: Rs 100011.12% Rs 6,437.31 CrHave higher 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year returns than the category averageNone 5. Dynamic Bond Funds Funds are actively managed or employ a dynamic investment/asset allocation strategy by reducing the average portfolio duration (or maturity) in increasing interest rate environments and increasing the duration in a falling interest rate regime. These funds hence provide an option to the investor to earn from the interest rate fluctuations. Investor They are suitable for investors who would like to stay invested for the long term without worrying about the interest rate movements affecting their wealth creation.   Scheme Name1-year ReturnAUMProsConsAxis Dynamic BondExpense Ratio: 0.25%Min SIP Amount: Rs 100010.88%Rs 8,505.15 CrHave higher 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year returns than the category averageExit Load is zeroThe expense ratio is on the lower endNoneKotak Dynamic Bond FundExpense Ratio: 0.47%Min SIP Amount: Rs 100011.12% Rs 6,437.31 CrHave higher 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year return than the category averageExit Load is zeroThe expense ratio is on the lower endNone 6. Credit risk funds These funds allocate 65% of their total assets for the purchase of lower-rated securities (lower than AA- credit rating) and offer higher returns to their investors. The credit risk is higher for these funds. The interest rate risk is comparatively lower as these funds invest in securities with low maturities. The funds also gain from capital appreciation if the underlying security is upgraded to a higher credit rating. Investors These are only suitable for investors who are willing to take a higher risk. This is due to the lower credit securities as a part of the portfolio which have a higher probability of default. Scheme Name1-year ReturnAUMProsConsICICI Prudential Credit Risk FundExpense Ratio: 0.90%Min SIP Amount: Rs 100010.01%Rs 7,209.19 CrHave higher 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year returns than the category averageNoneHDFC Credit Risk Debt FundExpense Ratio: 1.06%Min SIP Amount: Rs 50011.25% Rs 7,315.34CrHave higher 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year returns than the category averageThe expense ratio is on the higher end FAQs What are debt funds? A debt fund is a mutual fund that invests in fixed-income instruments such as treasury bills, commercial paper, government bonds, corporate bonds/debentures, money market instruments, etc. What are the benefits of debt funds? High Liquidity Investment Horizon Higher Returns Tax Efficiency Flexibility Who should invest in debt funds? Debt funds are for investors looking for a passive and regular income. These are ideal for risk-averse investors who prefer Is it good to invest in debt funds? Yes, debt funds are a great investment option for investors. These offer higher returns over a long investment horizon and are tax-efficient as well. Which are the best debt funds to invest in now? Here are the best debt funds to invest in:Aditya Birla Sun Life Low Duration FundNippon India Money Market FundICICI Prudential Ultra Short-Term FundAxis Ultra Short-Term Fund How Do Debt Funds Make Money? Debt funds earn through capital appreciation and interest income from fixed-income securities. Consider that a debt fund receives 10% interest per annum; this is divided by 365 and is added to the NAV every day. A debt fund’s NAV hence depends upon the interest rate and the credit rating of its portfolio. If the credit rating of one of the securities that a fund is invested into goes down (due to default), the NAV of the fund also depreciates. You can start your research as well as investments on the EduFund app!

Most of our parents and grandparents have invested their hard-earned money into trusted FDs, and PPFs and relied on gold for wealth creation. That was a good option a long time ago, but today, that's a way to lose wealth than make wealth. A bank deposit earns 6% per annum. The interest earned on the principal is taxed according to the tax bracket. If the tax bracket of the individual is 20%, the net interest earned is 6%*(1-20%) = 4.8%. The current inflation ranging from 4% to 6%, erodes the wealth that is created by the bank deposit. Hence, in the current economic scenario, these instruments are not sufficient for beating inflation and creating wealth with reasonable returns over the years. Debt as an investment vehicle has always been trusted as there is a fixed promised return and a guaranteed principal payment, giving a sense of comfort to the investor. The debt market is a platform that enables the purchase and sale of loans in exchange for a rate of interest and periodic payments of the coupon. These markets are lesser risky than their equity counterparts, and hence also have lower returns when compared to equity instruments. In the following article, we explore various facets of this financial instrument.  What is a Debt Mutual Fund? A debt fund is a mutual fund that invests in fixed-income instruments such as treasury bills, commercial paper, government bonds, corporate bonds/debentures, money market instruments, etc. All the instruments that the fund invests in have a maturity and a fixed coupon or interest rate payment that the buyer/investor can rely on – hence have the name - fixed-income instruments. These funds are also known as bond funds or fixed-income funds. As the returns are pre-decided, they are not affected by market fluctuations when the instruments are held until maturity. Hence, these funds are low-risk options for an investor. Every debt security is assigned a credit rating which indicates the risk/probability of default, based on which the fund managers take a decision to either include or exclude them in their portfolios. If a paper or debt security has a high credit rating, it implies a low probability of default i.e., the borrower has a high propensity to pay back the principal and interest. Fund managers sometimes also choose a lower-quality debt to earn higher returns by taking a calculated risk. A debt fund with a higher amount of high-quality debt is more stable and less prone to market fluctuations however, earns a lower return. The fund manager also has the flexibility to choose long-term or short-term debt based on the existing yield curve or interest rate regime in the economy.  Types of Debt Funds Debt funds are classified based on the maturity period as follows - Liquid Fund: This fund invests in money market instruments that have a maturity of fewer than 91 days (3 months). The returns earned by these funds are greater than the savings accounts. These are considered one of the best alternatives for liquid and short-term investing. Gilt Fund: These invest over 80% of the assets into Government securities over a range of maturities (10 years, 5 years, etc). These funds are credit risk-free (as one is lending to the Government of India, which cannot default on its payments), however, are highly vulnerable to interest rate risk. Dynamic Bond Fund: These invest in debt securities with a range of maturities, adjusting for the interest rate regime or yield curve prevailing in the economy. These funds are ideal for investors seeking moderate risk with an investment horizon of 3-5 years. Money Market Fund: The fund invests in debt securities with a maturity of less than 1 year. These are sought after by investors looking for short-term investment options in low-risk vehicles. Corporate Bond Fund: This fund invests over 80% of the assets in corporate bonds with the highest credit rating (implying a low risk of default). These are suitable for investors seeking low risk and provide exposure to corporate bonds which provide higher returns than the G-secs. Banking and PSU Fund: The fund invests over 80% of its assets in Banks and PSU bonds. Credit Risk Fund: These funds are mandated to invest over 65% of their assets in bonds with a credit risk rating below AA+. They aim to generate a return higher than the funds invested in G-secs and other high credit-rating debt securities, by taking on more risk in their portfolios. However, these funds only thrive in a credit conducive environment where the economy is booming. These funds are very volatile and are suitable for investors seeking moderate-high risk. Floater Fund: These funds invest over 65% of their assets in bonds with a floating interest rate. One should consider investing in floater funds when there is a rise in interest rates in the economy to reap the maximum benefits. Short-term floater funds typically invest in Government securities with a tenure of less than one year. Longer-term floater funds invest in corporate bonds, debentures, and government bonds. Flexibility in tenure makes it an attractive investment to all investors in the market. Despite these funds providing higher returns (lower than equity funds), they are heavily reliant on market conditions, implying uncertainty in the prediction of returns that can be expected from these funds. Investors looking to make gains from the interest rate fluctuations, dilute the interest rate risk factor in their portfolio, or have their wealth unaffected by the volatile market fluctuations prefer to invest in these funds. Overnight Fund: These invest in securities with a maturity of 1 day. Due to the extremely small-time horizon, the interest rate and credit risk are almost negligible (SEBI also mandates these funds to invest in low-risk debt securities). The returns earned from these funds are also lower ranging from 3-5%. These funds do not charge exit loads even when the units are redeemed in a day, which was the primary reason for their popularity among investors. What is Macaulay's duration? This financial jargon indicates how many years it would effectively take for the bond to repay back to the investor with its periodic cash flows. It can also be considered as the time at which the investor’s investment reached a breakeven. It is also used as an indicator for the interest rate sensitivity of the bond, the higher the duration, the higher the sensitivity. The following table indicates the type of bonds that the funds would invest in depending on their fund type. FUND TYPEMacaulay DurationUltra-Short Duration Funds3-6 monthsLow Duration Fund6-12 monthsShort Duration Fund1-3 yearsMedium Duration Fund3-4 yearsMedium – Long Duration Fund4-7 yearsLong Duration Fund>7 years What type of Investor should invest in Debt Funds? Debt funds are considered ideal for risk-averse investors who aim to generate a regular income out of their investments. The funds diversify across various securities and ensure a stable return to their investors. If an investor has been saving in bank deposits for their stability, then he/she could prefer debt mutual funds and earn similar or higher returns in a tax-efficient manner. The funds are available for short-term (3-12 months) and medium-term investors (3-5 years). As an investor, if you are looking for a more liquid investment, you could prefer a short-term fund over a savings account and earn 7-9%. Monthly Income Plans (MIPs) also provide an option for the investor to receive a monthly payout, similar to FDs. Risks in debt funds We are not suggesting that debt funds are risk-free. That tag only belongs to the Government of India (Sovereign Debt). The underlying risks that one must consider while investing in debt funds are as follows - Liquidity Risk: In an economic downturn, the fund house could receive an umpteen number of redemption requests from the pool of investors. There is a possibility that the fund may not have enough cash and cannot sell/reverse their positions due to the economic conditions to oblige to all the requests. This risk is known as liquidity risk. Interest Rate Risk: When the interest rates increase, the NAV of the fund falls. In case of the interest rate decline, the value of bonds in the portfolio increases, due to their higher pre-decided coupon rates. This also pushes the NAV of the debt funds in an upward direction. Hence, the NAV of the fund is prone to interest-rate fluctuations in the economy. Credit Risk: The probability of default, i.e., the event when the borrower does not pay the principal and interest.  Expense Ratio: It is the fees paid to the fund house for managing your money. One should also consider this expense while investing in a debt fund. These funds earn lower returns than their equity counterparts. If the expense ratio is high, it could dent future returns/earnings. Hence, it is always advisable to stay invested for a longer duration and to choose funds with a lower expense ratio. Benefits of debt funds High Liquidity: Debt funds are typically considered alternatives to fixed deposits. Along with providing recurring returns, debt funds (especially liquid funds and overnight funds) have high liquidity where investors can redeem their investments in the shortest time frame. Investment Horizon: There are umpteen options available for any type of investment horizon that is preferred by the investor – a large number of options to choose from and hence make a portfolio customized for yourself. Higher Returns: The debt funds provide a higher return than the typical FDs, and savings accounts. Tax Efficiency: The interest rate earnings are taxed every year in the case of FDs. However, in the case of debt mutual funds, the investor reaps the benefits of indexation after a holding period of 3 years. Flexibility: The funds also provide an option to transfer the units to equity schemes if the investor is ready to take on additional risk for higher returns. Such options or alternatives are absent in the traditional route of FDs and bank deposits. FAQs What are debt funds? A debt fund is a mutual fund that invests in fixed-income instruments such as treasury bills, commercial paper, government bonds, corporate bonds/debentures, money market instruments, etc. What are the benefits of debt funds? High Liquidity Investment Horizon Higher Returns Tax Efficiency Flexibility Is it good to invest in debt funds? Yes, debt funds are a great investment option for investors. These offer higher returns over a long investment horizon and are tax-efficient as well. Is a debt fund better than an FD? Both are great investment options. FDs are more secure and offer fixed stable returns. A debt mutual fund offers high returns and has a risk factor involved.

Comparison is an integral part of our life. Be it our constant nemesis Sharma Ji ka beta or be it our “friend” who always has everything that we aspire to. We all have parameters and factors with which we compare ourselves – salary, number of cars/bungalows owned, or something else. Similarly, there are factors that one should consider when one is planning to invest in mutual funds. There are n (n tending to infinity) number of options in the market for different goals and risk appetite of the investor. So, how do you evaluate a mutual fund and make the choice? Read on to understand the same! Expense ratio The expense ratio is the management fees that the fund charges – for managing your money and giving you the promised returns. This is generally a % of your investments, hence will impact your earnings from the fund. Always chose the fund with a lower expense ratio, as it forms a smaller dent in your long-term earnings. The expense ratio of a regular plan tends to be more than a direct plan. This is due to the intermediary distributor in the value chain who would also need a piece of the pie. For example, if a regular plan has an expense ratio of 2%, 1% goes to the fund and 1% goes to the distributor. However, in the direct plan, you would be charged only 1% which is attributed to the efforts of the fund. While comparing two funds, ensure that you are comparing direct-direct and regular-regular plans. (Apples to apple comparison) Benchmark SEBI mandates that each fund declare a benchmark, as it promises the investor that it would aim at achieving a return that is higher than the market. For example, ABC fund has declared the Nifty 50 as its benchmark. When the market rallies by 15% and the fund have delivered a return of 12%, it indicates that the fund has underperformed. However, when the market falls by 12% and the fund declines only by 10%, it indicates that the fund has outperformed the benchmark. Hence, a fund should beat the benchmark during market upturns and should decline lesser than the market in case of a downturn. Hunt for funds that have consistently performed better than their benchmarks.  Risk measurement A typical thumb rule or mantra in the financial industry is that - higher risk implies higher returns (Bank FD interest rate < Stock Returns). However, measuring the risk with only the returns becomes complex in the case of mutual funds, as there are factors such as sector allocation and other market conditions which affect the returns of the fund. Alpha and Beta then come to your rescue. These Greek alphabets are your crystal balls which give you a fair idea about the risk involved. Alpha indicates the surplus return generated by the fund when compared to its benchmark. Beta indicates the volatility or risk involved in the fund. For example, Fund ABC generated an alpha of 1 and had a beta of 1.5 whereas Fund XYZ had an alpha of 1 and a beta of 2. Then chose Fund ABC, since the risk is lower and the return generated is the same – in finance parlance, the risk-adjusted returns of Fund ABC > Fund XYZ. Allocation of sectors within the fund Consider a large-cap fund, SEBI mandates it to invest over 65% of its portfolio into large-cap companies. However, there is no restriction on the sector in this case. The fund manager may choose to invest in the pharma sector which has seen a boom post-COVID or could invest in the FMCG industry or the financial sector. Sector exposure also determines the risk of the fund. Depending on your risk appetite, and your preference for the sectors - accordingly do a right swipe on your fund match. Category average One last factor to consider would be a comparison against the Category average. What is the category you ask? Large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap would classify as the category. The category average is the median of all the data of the funds. This gives insights into how our fund has performed when compared to all the other players in the market. There could be cases where your fund has provided returns greater than the benchmark, but all the other funds in the category have also outperformed the benchmark. Comparing with the average in the same class (Category) gives you another realistic indicator of how your fund has performed. For example, if the category average is 33% and your fund has given you returns of 39%, it indicates that your fund has outperformed its peers.  FAQs How can I compare the best mutual funds? There are a few categories to consider when comparing mutual funds such as returns generated over 3 - 5 years, fund managers and their professional history, category average, asset allocation, and portfolio diversification, benchmark, risk management, and expense ratio. Where we can compare mutual funds? You can also compare the mutual fund performance manually, through online investment sites, or ask your financial advisor for help. What is the 15x15x15 rule in a mutual fund? The 15x15x15 rule in mutual funds is a popular rule in investment which says that investing Rs.15, 000 for 15 years at a 15% interest rate can make any investor a crorepati. When there are two mutual funds How will you compare and take investment decisions? By comparing mutual funds' Net Asset Value, you can determine their potential and make the right choice. You can also consult a financial advisor if you are new to the field of investment. Conclusion You can get detailed information on the performance and other aspects covered above on the EduFund app. You can start your investment journey with EduFund and even get advice from wealth experts to invest in the top mutual funds in the country.

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

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

What are blue-chip companies? The blue-chip companies with a large market capitalization (i.e., how much a company is worth. For example, ABC Corporation has 10 lakhs of outstanding shares the shares held by the shareholders which include retail investors like you and me, institutional investors like large companies, and owners of the companies themselves. Assume that the price of each share in the market is Rs 1000. Then the market capitalization would be = Price of the share * Number of outstanding shares = 100* 10 lakhs = Rs 10 Cr). The Market Cap of these companies runs in lakhs of crores and these companies have been in the market since your grandfather had his first tooth. So, these companies are ancient and have been in the market for a very long time. Most of them are market leaders in their respective sectors and have been showing consistent performance despite the ups and downturns of the volatile market. Why are these considered safe bets? These stocks belong to large companies which are established and are financially sound where they have large amounts of cash or their profits fund their growth or they can honor their debt obligations without any nasty case of default or bankruptcy. They have stable cash flows (Unilever, P&G, ITC, TCS, etc.) as they sell widely accepted, recognized, and high-quality products. As they have stable earnings, they also provide dividends to their shareholders (dividends are a share of profit that the company has earned in a quarter or in that financial year). Investors also categorize them as safe havens and rely on them to bounce back faster than the market owing to the experience and stability (less volatile) in stormy and rough market conditions. Wait, why are dividends important? Smaller companies borrow from financial institutions and invest their profits earned to fuel their growth. These companies do not have the ability to share the profit pie with their investors until they grow to a sufficient size. Bluechip companies, on the other hand, provide you with a regular income in the form of a dividend (apart from the price fluctuations – usually upwards in the market). This becomes important to an investor like you and me because these dividends are our other income or earnings which typically increase with inflation – hence we receive a higher dividend than the previous year to match that standard of living. They also indicate the stability and resilience of the company to economic downturns (a positive side effect indeed). These stocks and the funds which invest in these stocks are ideal for risk-averse or conservative investor who wants to grow their wealth with minimum exposure to volatility and risk of the market. As an investor, if you are looking to invest over a longer period (say for your 4-year-old’s education or your 10-year-old daughter’s wedding etc.) – i.e., a time frame greater than 5 or 7 years, bluechip stocks provide you with a safe and stable return. How do you invest in these stocks? You can either invest directly by choosing a sector, studying the company, performing your analysis, and adding your stock to your beloved portfolio or you can pay someone to do the above for you as you sit back and relax and see your money grow into a large corpus this is the idea of a Mutual Fund. Most mutual fund advisors/companies use Blue Chip funds synonymously with large-cap funds. Some of these funds also contain the name Blue Chip in them – for example, SBI Bluechip fund, ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund, etc. SEBI mandates that > 80% of the fund’s portfolio should be invested in the top 100 companies sorted by market cap – which would be the blue chip companies. These funds also have the minimum SIP requirement of Rs 500, (or less) which makes it affordable to start building your retirement pot or the corpus for your future generation. FAQs What are blue-chip companies? The companies with a large market capitalization (i.e., how much a company is worth. For example, ABC Corporation has 10 lakhs of outstanding shares the shares held by the shareholders which include retail investors like you and me, institutional investors like large companies, and owners of the companies themselves. Why are companies called blue chip? Companies that have a large market capitalisation are called blue chip companies. These companies are very large and well-recognised companies with a long history of sound financial performance. For example, Unilever, P&G, ITC, TCS, etc. What are 10 bluechip stocks in India? 10 bluechip stocks in India are State bank of India, Bharti Airtel, Tata consultancy services, Reliance Industries, Coal India, HDFC, ITC, Infosys, ICICI Bank, ONGC, GAIL, and Sun pharma. Conclusion In short, Bluechip funds have consistent returns, are highly reliable companies (financially), and have a lower risk (as they are stable and less volatile) partly describing the qualities of a life partner. These funds also offer diversification into multiple sectors, hence giving you a balanced and low-risk portfolio suitable for your risk appetite. Consult an expert advisor to get the right plan TALK TO AN EXPERT

We often hear the word 'volatility in our day-to-day lives. What does volatility mean? A constant change or a rapid change, and can also mean unpredictability. Well, we live in a VUCA world (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) where Volatility is a part and parcel of our life. We try to reduce financial uncertainty by constantly saving in our piggy banks (aka our investment portfolio). We also minimize the uncertainty of life using life insurance products. Funds and securities are also volatile in this VUCA world. However, we can measure the volatility and make informed choices about our investments. When we go to some of the websites to make our choice for investing in one of the funds, we often come across indecipherable Greek alphabets such as alpha, beta, etc. This article is to decode the jargon around volatility, and we assure you that the next time you visit a website or read a report on a fund, it will surely make more sense. What is volatility in mutual funds? It means a simple up-and-down, market movement in the value (prices or Net asset value).  Consider the two cases as shown in the following figures. If the expected price of the stock based on the analysis of historical data is Rs 58. In Case A, in a short span of time, as an investor or a market participant, I see that the stock has sudden upward movements ranging to Rs 80 and also has a downward movement reaching Rs 40. Hence, the stock is deviating from the expected price (or the mean price) – this case is considered to be highly volatile or highly unpredictable. In Case B, we observe that the price is stable or is hovering around the expected price. This stock or fund is considered to be less volatile. Higher volatility indicates unpredictability – and is perceived as a risk. As an investor, I hence command a higher return as a “price” for my sleepless nights. If I am willing to take a risk, I invest in Case A, where I could be earning a profit of Rs 22 (higher than Case B) or losing Rs 18 (based on the example) – a double-edged sword indeed. Volatility is hence a measure that one must consider before investing. As investors, each of us has a different risk appetite. Some of us can sleep even when our portfolio suffers a downward swing of 15%, whereas some of us have nail-biting moments when our portfolio sinks by a mere value of 5%. Determining your risk aversion becomes a paramount factor in building a tailored portfolio – It is up to you to determine if you want to jump onto the roller-coaster or to take on an easy slide. How to measure volatility in mutual funds? Going back to 10th-grade Mathematics - Standard Deviation The standard deviation essentially indicates the fall and rise of the returns of a fund or the prices of a stock/security. Does it indicate the variation from the mean return? higher the variation, the higher the standard deviation implying higher volatility. Consider Case B or a fund with a constant return of 9% over a 3-year horizon. Here, the standard deviation is said to be zero (as the mean is 9% and the return every year is 9%) and the fund is less volatile. However, consider Case B or a fund with returns of 9%, -18%, and 15% in each of the 3 years considered. The mean return of the fund is 6% (average of the returns), and the standard return would be a very high value (here, 17.58%) as the returns of the fund vary from the mean. However, volatility is one of the indicators of risk, and should not be the only variable that is considered by the investor. Stable past performance does not indicate the same for the future, but it could serve as a good way to project the future. Hence, as an investor what should you be looking at when you are choosing a fund? Try to minimize risk (volatility) and maximize returns – look for funds that give you similar returns and compare the standard deviations. Add the one with a lower standard deviation into the portfolio. The Greek letter - Beta (β) This Greek letter compares the returns of the fund with its benchmark. The beta of the market (here, the benchmark) is 1. If the fund has a β>1, say 1.5 then it indicates that the fund is more volatile when compared to its benchmark, and a fund with a β<1, is considered to be lesser volatile than the benchmark. When the β is closer to 1 it indicates that the volatility of the fund is closer to that of its benchmark.  Example: Consider β =1.5 for a fund. When the market rises by 10%, the fund’s Net Asset Value would rise by 10%* β = 15%. Similarly, if the market falls by 5%, the fund would decline by 5%* β= 7.5%. Hence, while choosing a fund consider the one which offers maximum returns with a lower β. FAQs How do you calculate the volatility of a fund? The volatility of a fund is calculated as the standard deviation multiplied by the square root of the number of periods of time, How do you explain volatility? Volatility refers to the movement of stock prices. When the price of a stock increases or decreases over a particular period, it indicates its volatility. How do you explain the volatility of a portfolio? Portfolio volatility means portfolio risk. It talks about the fund or portfolio's deviation from the set standard. What is good volatility? Volatility within a range of 10-20% is average and therefore, indicates minimal risk and deviation from the standard. DisclaimerMutual funds are subject to market risk. Please read all documents carefully before investing

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

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

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

Most of us grapple with the big question – how much % of our salary should we save and how much of it should we invest? However, there is no thumb rule or fixed mantra for this (I really wish that there was). How much of your salary should go into your SIP entirely depends on your goals or the future expenses that you want to plan for. We would like to illustrate this by using some personas. PERSONA 1 (Details in the table) NameHari KrishnanAge25Salary (per month)INR 40,000Family DetailsUnmarried. Plans to get married in the next 2 yearsPlans for future (Expected Expenses)Wedding Expenses – 10 lakhsEducation Expense for kids – 30 lakhs (Above expenses are according to the current level of expenses)Total expected expenses = 40 lakhsInflationInflation = 6% Educational Inflation = 12% Hari has lifestyle expenses which include rent, food, clothing, etc., which would add up to 30% of his salary, which would be Rs 13,500. Also, he has taken a vehicle loan for purchasing a car for his parents and contributes 10% of his income to the EMI/loan repayment, which would be Rs 4500. The expenses that are foreseeable in the future are education and wedding expenses. Assuming the inflation rates as mentioned in the above table, the expenses would be as follows: ExpensesRate and Corpus requiredNumber of yearsWedding Expenses - Economy Inflation 6%Marriage expensesINR 11,91,016 3Educational Inflation11%Education ExpensesINR 2,41,86,935 20                           INR 4,07,56,391  As the wedding expenses are due in a shorter time frame, he can invest in short-term debt funds which offer an average return of 9% per annum, which would beat the inflation of 6% and offer him better returns than the fixed deposits in a financial institution. For education, which is investing for a longer time frame, he can cultivate a discipline of saving every month to keep up with the constantly evolving dreams of a child and to have enough corpus to fulfill the dreams of his child, how much of his salary should he invest into a mutual fund?  Follow the calculations in the following table. A regular Equity Mutual Fund promises a return of 12-15%. Taking an average to be 13.5% - Monthly Saving                                          19,702 Expected Return13.5%Time period20Maturity Amount (As calculated in the above table)                                2,41,86,935  Hence, Hari would have to save Rs 19,700 of his salary into an equity mutual fund to create a corpus of Rs 2.41 Cr for his child’s education. He would be still left with Rs 7000 after excluding his lifestyle expenses and his investments. As a parent, we should start as early as possible to ensure that we do not burden our child with a mountain of interest payments and principal payments from his or her educational loans. It is our responsibility as a parent to provide a stress-free and debt-free life for our children. NameRajat BhattacharyaAge45Salary (per month)INR 70,000 INR 50,000 (Wife’s Income)Net Family Income = INR 1,20,000Family DetailsMarried with two children (Ages 12,15)Plans for future (Expected Expenses)Children's Wedding Expenses – 20 lakhs per childEducation Expense for kids – 30 lakhs per child(Above expenses are according to the current level of expenses)Total expected expenses = 100 lakhsInflationInflation = 6%Educational Inflation = 12% PERSONA 2 (Details in the table) The following could be the monthly inflows and outflows of the family - Salary120000[-] Lifestyle expenses (Food, rent, clothes, celebrations, travel, etc) 40% of Salary48000[-] EMI (Loan payment) (6% of Salary)6000[-] Invest for Future expenses?? The future expenses can be detailed as follows - ExpensesRate and Corpus requiredNumber of yearsWedding Expenses - Economy Inflation 6%Marriage expensesINR 85,31,713 13Educational Inflation11%Education ExpensesINR 1,38,27,227 8Total Corpus RequiredINR 2,23,58,940  Assuming that Rajat invests in an Equity Mutual fund for the long-term expenses of the wedding and education of his children, which earn a return of 12%-15% per annum. How much would his family have to save to ensure that they have a large enough corpus to cushion the future of their children? Monthly SavingINR 62,067 Expected Return13.5%Time period12Maturity Amount (As calculated in the above table)INR 2,23,58,940  In both personas, the estimated returns offer a higher benefit and enable a smooth sailing journey to reach your destinations.  Start early and reap the benefits of compounding. Also, do not shy away from equity markets. Index funds and other mutual funds charge a premium to manage your money to offer you a promised return. They can be considered as one of the best financial products for long-term investing to reach your milestones in life. FAQs Should I invest 20% of my salary? There is no fixed percentage that you should invest in a given year. Based on your needs and aspirations as well as budget, one can determine the available investment percentage from their income. Most investors ideally follow the 20-30-50 rule wherein 20% is for investing, 30% for savings, and 50% for spending. What is the 15x15x15 rule in mutual funds? A popular rule to become a crorepati via investing in just 15 years. If an investor decides to invest 15,000 rupees every month for the next 15 years assuming 15% returns from his/her investments then there is a high chance you will be able to earn a crore. How much of the salary should be invested in equity? Ideally, one should invest 20 to 30% towards equity investment from their salaries. Starting early and taking advantage of compounding interest can