Beyond the Basics: What is a Mutual Fund? A beginner’s guide

What is a Mutual Fund?

A mutual fund is an investment structure that pools money from many people to invest in securities like stocks, bonds or other assets. A professional fund manager working for an asset management company (AMC) decides how to invest that money based on the mutual fund’s goals. When you invest in a mutual fund, you own shares of the fund and earn returns based on how the fund’s investments perform.

Let’s understand the key characteristics of mutual funds that you should consider before making investment decisions.

Key characteristics:

1. Simplicity: Investing in mutual funds is like shopping online – easy, quick, and hassle-free. With just a few clicks, you can start investing without needing to be a financial whiz because a professional fund manager does all the hard work for you.

2. Variety & Choice: Mutual funds offer a wide range of options to suit your short-term and long-term investment objectives, making it easier to plan and invest based on your life’s priorities. There are different mutual funds based on your risk appetite and holding period.

• Equity mutual funds invest your money in the stock market and take a higher level of risk, with a potential for higher returns.
• Debt mutual funds invest in government bonds or corporate bonds and are suited to more risk averse investors.
• Hybrid mutual funds invest in both equity and debt, aiming to balance risk and return.
• Liquid funds invest in low-risk, high-liquidity debt instruments and can be used for short-term parking.

3. Natural diversification:
Instead of betting on a single stock or bond, mutual funds spread your investment across a wide range of assets and securities.

4. The Magic of Compounding: Time and consistency are your best friends when investing. Reinvested earnings grow over time, creating a compounding effect that can turn small investments into a significant corpus.

5. Expert Management at Your Service
Navigating the world of investments can be daunting. Fortunately, mutual funds are managed by professional fund managers who research, analyse, and make informed decisions on your behalf. You benefit from their expertise without lifting a finger.

6. Quick Access to Your Money:
Unlike investments like real estate, mutual funds offer liquidity. Need cash in an emergency? Most funds allow you to redeem your units quickly, thus helping you to convert your investment into cash with relative ease.

Start Small, Dream Big:

You don’t need to be a millionaire to invest in mutual funds. Through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs), you can invest with minimum investment amounts as low as ₹500 making mutual fund sit easy for anyone to start their financial journey.

Breaking Down the Complexities

1. Costs That Chip Away Returns: Mutual funds come with fees and expenses, such as management fees, distributor commissions, or exit loads (i.e. fees you pay when you sell your investment during the specific period). Across different AMCs and distributors there can be a wide variation in fees charged for very similar products. For example, when you buy a fund directly from an AMC you do not pay any distributor commission. Be aware of what you’re paying and why.

2. Market Volatility: Mutual funds aren’t immune to market fluctuations. Stock market corrections, interest rate changes, or economic downturns can affect returns, making them a riskier option for conservative investors. The value of your investment can rise or fall based on the performance of the underlying assets. Mutual funds are bucketed into risk categories to help you navigate the options and allow you to buy in line with your risk tolerance.

3. Redemption Restrictions: Not all funds allow you to sell any time. Some mutual funds have lock-in periods or restrict withdrawals for a specific duration. One such example is ELSS (Equity Linked Savings Scheme), which is a type of mutual fund that primarily invests in equities and offers tax-saving benefits but has a mandatory 3-year lock in period.

4. Consistency Isn’t Guaranteed: A fund performing exceptionally well today might not maintain the same momentum tomorrow. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results, adding an element of uncertainty.

Bottom Line

Mutual funds may help you achieve your financial aspirations through diversification, compounding, and professional management. With just a small amount of research, mutual funds are easy to understand. Doing so will allow you to embrace the opportunities that mutual funds offer and move confidently towards financial prosperity.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully

Disclaimer: The information contained in this document is for general purposes only and not investment advice. Investors may seek professional advice before taking any investment-related decisions.'

SIP does not assure a profit or guarantee protection against loss in a declining market. The information herein is meant only for general reading purposes and the views being expressed only constitute opinions and therefore cannot be considered as guidelines, recommendations or as a professional guide for the readers. The document has been prepared on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other sources believed to be reliable. The sponsor, the Investment Manager, the Trustee or any of their directors, employees, affiliates or representatives (“entities & their affiliates”) do not assume any responsibility for, or warrant the accuracy, completeness, adequacy and reliability of such information. Recipients of this information are advised to rely on their own analysis, interpretations & investigations. Investors are also advised to seek independent professional advice in order to arrive at an informed investment decision. Entities & their affiliates including persons involved in the preparation or issuance of this material shall not be liable in any way for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, punitive or exemplary damages, including on account of lost profits arising from the information contained in this material. Recipient alone shall be fully responsible for any decision taken on the basis of this document.