Different types of mutual funds
There are many different types of mutual funds available in India. Some of the most popular types include:
- Equity funds: These funds invest primarily in stocks of companies, aiming for long-term capital appreciation. They can be categorised based on market capitalisation (large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap), sector focus, or thematic investments. Read more about, What are equity funds.
- Debt funds: Debt funds invest in fixed-income securities like government bonds, corporate bonds, and other debt instruments. They offer regular income and are relatively lower in risk compared to equity funds. Read more about, What is a debt fund.
- Hybrid funds: Also known as balanced funds, these invest in a mix of equity and debt instruments to achieve a balance between growth and income. Read more about, What are hybrid mutual funds.
- Index funds: These funds aim to replicate the performance of a specific stock market index, like the Nifty 50 or Sensex. They offer a passive investment approach. Read more about, What are Index Funds.
- Sector funds: Sector funds concentrate on specific sectors of the economy, such as technology, healthcare, banking, etc. These can be riskier due to their concentrated focus.
- Tax-saving funds(ELSS): Equity-Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) offer tax benefits under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. They have a lock-in period of three years.
- Liquid funds: These funds invest in short-term money market instruments, providing high liquidity and safety for short-term parking of funds. Read more about, What are liquid mutual funds.
- Gilt funds: Gilt funds invest in government securities, which are considered to be among the safest investments. They are suitable for conservative investors. Read more about, What are gilt mutual funds.
- Gold funds: These funds invest in gold-related instruments, offering investors exposure to the price movement of gold without owning physical gold. Read more about, What is a gold fund.
- Thematic funds: Thematic funds invest in a specific theme or idea, such as infrastructure, consumption, or sustainability. Read more about, What are thematic funds.
- Multi-asset allocation funds: These funds invest in a mix of equity, debt, and other assets to provide diversification across various asset classes.
- Retirement funds: Also called pension funds, these are designed to help investors save for their retirement and offer tax benefits. Read more about, What is a retirement fund.
- Dividend yield funds: These funds focus on investing in stocks that offer high dividend yields, aiming to provide regular income to investors. Read more about, What are dividend yield funds.
- Aggressive growth funds: These funds aim for high capital appreciation by investing in high-growth potential stocks. Read more about, What are aggressive hybrid mutual funds.
- International funds: Also known as overseas funds, these invest in international markets and provide Indian investors exposure to global stocks and bonds. Read more about, What are International Mutual Funds.
- Overnight funds: These funds invest in one-day maturity securities, overnight positions expose the traders to risk from adverse movements that occur after normal trading closes often used by corporates for fund parking. Read more about What are overnight funds.
- Money market funds: MMFs focus on short-term government securities and similar instruments (less than a year maturity), considered to be ideal for stable, non-volatile investments with minimal interest risk.
Read more about, What are money market funds.
- Banking and PSU funds: A minimum of 80% of their investments are into debt securities issued by banks, public sector undertakings (PSUs), municipal bonds, and public financial institutions, among others. These are suitable for short to medium-term investment needs. Read more about, What are thematic PSU mutual funds.
Modes of investing in mutual funds
There are two modes of investing in mutual funds:
- Lumpsum investment: When you possess a substantial amount for investment, the lumpsum mode allows you to invest the entire sum at once. For instance, if you have Rs. 10 lakh to invest, you can opt for a lumpsum investment, allocating the entire amount in a chosen mutual fund. The units you receive depend on the Net Asset Value (NAV) of the fund on that particular day. If the NAV is Rs. 100, your investment of Rs 10 lakh would secure you 10,000 units of the mutual fund. Lumpsum investment offers a quick entry into the market, capturing the fund's current value in one go. You can also take help of lumpsum calculator to predict the future value of your investments.
- Systematic Investment Plan (SIP): For those looking to invest smaller amounts periodically, the Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) is a flexible and convenient option. In contrast to lumpsum, SIP allows investors to commit to regular investments over time. Suppose you can invest Rs. 1,000 per month for 12 months. SIP aligns with your cash flows, promoting consistent and disciplined investing. Whether monthly, or quarterly, SIP adapts to your financial rhythm. This approach not only accommodates budget constraints but also leverages the benefit of rupee cost averaging over time, mitigating the impact of market volatility.
Pros of mutual fund investing
- Liquidity: Mutual funds offer easy liquidity, allowing investors to buy or sell units at the current Net Asset Value (NAV), providing quick access to their invested money.
- Diversification: Diversified portfolios spread across various assets minimise risk, ensuring that the impact of poor performance in one investment is balanced by others, fostering stability.
- Minimal investment requirements: With mutual funds, even investors with limited funds can participate, as they often have low entry requirements, making investing accessible to a broader audience.
- Professional management: Expert fund managers handle mutual fund investments, leveraging their knowledge and skills to make informed decisions, optimising returns for investors.
- Variety of offerings: Mutual funds provide a diverse range of investment options, catering to different risk appetites and financial goals, ensuring there's a suitable choice for every investor.
Cons of mutual fund investing
- High fees and commissions: Some mutual funds may come with fees and commissions that can eat into returns, impacting the overall profitability of investments.
- Market risks: Investments in mutual funds are subject to market fluctuations, and the value of the fund can go up or down based on economic conditions and market movements.
- Evaluating funds: Selecting the right mutual fund can be challenging, requiring investors to navigate through numerous options, assess performance history, and understand fund strategies.
- No guarantees: Mutual funds carry no guarantees of returns, and investors may experience losses, especially in volatile market conditions, emphasizing the importance of thorough research and risk awareness.
Ideal investors for mutual funds: Are you one of them
Mutual funds are ideal investment instruments because a long-term investment can multiply significantly because of the compounding effect, where the interest is compounded and increases with every cycle. Although there are no restrictions on who can invest in a mutual fund, they are particularly well-suited for the following types of investors:
- Beginner investor: Mutual funds are managed by expert portfolio managers, making them ideal for those new to investing who may not have the knowledge or time to pick individual stocks or bonds.
- Risk-averse investors: Mutual funds have lower associated risk when compared to other investment instruments. They offer effective diversification, which spreads risk across a variety of assets, making them ideal for investors with a lower risk tolerance.
- Investors with a low capital amount: Investors can start investing in mutual funds through SIPs with an amount as low as Rs. 100. Hence, they are ideal for investors who want to start investing with a relatively small amount of money.
- Retirement savers: Mutual funds allow wealth to be built over time due to compounding. Many mutual funds are designed for long-term growth, making them a good option for individuals saving for retirement or any other big future expense.
- Income seekers: Certain types of mutual funds, like bond or dividend-focused funds, are designed to provide regular income, making them ideal for investors who need a steady cash flow.
Understanding mutual fund fees
Mutual funds pool money from various investors and employ a portfolio manager, who uses the pooled money to invest in a host of securities such as equities, bonds, etc. Each investor owns units or shares of the mutual fund, representing a portion of its holdings. However, the mutual fund house levies a few fees on the investor for managing the mutual fund and earning from the buying and selling of the mutual fund units. It is important to understand all the attached fees in a mutual fund scheme in detail, as they can lower your investment value over time.
Here are the fees associated with investing in mutual funds:
Expense ratio
The expense ratio is the annual fee the mutual fund house charges for a specific scheme, payable by the investors. The fund house levies this fee for its work to manage the overall mutual fund scheme. The expense ratio is represented as a percentage of the fund’s average asset under management (AUM). The expense ratio includes numerous costs, such as management, administrative, marketing, and distribution costs. For example, if the expense ratio of a mutual fund house is 1.5% and you’ve invested Rs. 10,000, you will pay Rs. 150 per year as a fee.
Entry load
An entry load is a charge levied by a mutual fund house on investors when they buy mutual fund units in a specific mutual fund scheme. It is a one-time charge and covers the distribution costs and initial expenses of the fund. However, in 2009, the Securities and Exchange Board of India abolished entry loads for most mutual funds . This means that most mutual funds do not charge entry loads.
Exit load
An exit load is a fee the mutual fund house charges from investors when they sell or redeem their existing mutual fund units within a specific timeframe. The main aim of levying the exit load on investors is to discourage them from selling their mutual fund units in the short term and ensure that they remain invested for the long term. For example, the mutual fund house may charge an exit load of 1% if you redeem your units within one year of purchase. After this period, the exit load usually drops to zero.
Management fee
The management fee is included in a mutual fund scheme's expense ratio and compensates the fund manager for their expertise and work managing the fund’s portfolio. The management fee varies depending on the fund’s strategy and the level of active management involved. Actively managed funds usually have higher management fees compared to passively managed funds (like index funds) because they require more research and active decision-making.
Classes of mutual fund shares
Mutual funds offer different classes of shares, which significantly vary in their fee structure and benefits. Class A shares have a front-end load, which requires the investors to pay a sales charge or a commission at the time of purchasing the units. These shares generally have a lower annual expense ratio compared to other mutual fund classes.
Class B shares require investors to pay a fee when selling the units. The fee, called contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC), is a reducing fee that becomes zero after several years. Class B shares generally have higher annual fees than Class A shares and often convert to Class A shares after a predetermined period.
Class C shares come with no front or end load but have a small back-end load if they are sold within a year. They also come with a higher expense ratio but do not convert to Class A shares like Class B shares.
Understand mutual fund taxation
When you sell your mutual fund units, you earn capital gains and are liable to pay a tax on them based on the period after which you have sold the units. The mutual fund taxation laws were changed by the Finance Ministry in the new Union Budget of 2024. Now, for equity funds, short-term capital gains (STCG) are taxed at 20%, while long-term capital gains (LTCG) above Rs. 1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%. For debt funds, STCG is taxed as per the investor’s income slab, and LTCG is taxed at 12.5% without indexation.