Helpful Tips for Mutual Fund Investors

Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Please read the offer document carefully before investing." You must have heard this statement quite often on radio and TV, read it in newspapers, and seen it on any other media. This statement is in relation to mutual funds in India. What mutual fund companies are trying to say here is that there are several different types of mutual funds to suit the need of various people, which is why one must read through the investment statements carefully before investing their money. The definition of a mutual fund can be derived from its name. It is a collection of money pooled together by a large number of investors (sources) who in turn hand it over to a fund manager to invest in a large portfolio of stocks or bonds. While fund managers take care of your investments, you need to pay them a small fee in return. There are several different types of mutual funds in India such as Equity, Debt, Money Market, Sector Specific, and Index. There is also something known as a Mutual Fund SIP which is commonly used by people these days. SIPs or Systematic Investment Plans- are actually the manner or method of saving or investing. For example, if Karan wants to invest Rs 1, 00,000 in mutual funds he can invest it all at one go, or do it with SIPs and invest 10,000 a month for 10 months. There are several factors that one needs to consider while investing in mutual funds. • Find a mutual fund to match your financial profile While there may be several companies aggressively selling their mutual funds, make a wise decision and go for a plan that suits your income levels. While it is important to save, remember not to opt for a plan that makes you save more than is possible for you. • Be aware of your fund manager’s track record It is important for you to pick a reliable and trustworthy fund manager. It is best to pick based on the amount of time the manager has been in charge of a particular fund, and whether he has delivered increasing and reliable returns over that period of time. • Beware of short-term performances Funds that display spectacular short-term performances are often short-lived. Thus, opt for long-term investments, usually five years or more. In order to judge the credibility of the mutual fund, one would need to observe its past record, how it has fared in relation to similar funds and its overall performance.