Mutual funds are investment options which consist of pooled money from various investors that are later invested in stocks, securities, money market, bonds, etc. These investments are managed by well-qualified professionals. The funds may be collected through a Lumpsum or SIP (Systematic Investment Plan) mode of investment, as per the strategy and investment objective of the fund.
Mutual funds are generally categorised according to the asset class. Most mutual funds are divided into Equity, Debt, and Hybrid.
There are two ways of investing in mutual funds – Lumpsum and SIP.
Lumpsum is a method of investing a corpus in one go. It is usually used when an investor tries to time the market.
SIP is a method of investing a fixed amount at regular intervals, similar to a recurring deposit. The most important benefit of SIP is averaging the cost of buying and investors don’t have to constantly time the market.
SWP or Systematic Withdrawal Plan is a type of mutual fund plan wherein the investor has the option to withdraw fixed amounts at a periodic frequency, like monthly or quarterly. The investor may choose to withdraw only the gains or sell a few units and get the money. It is perfect for people who need a source of regular income.