Stock Market is a term which evokes a spectrum of emotions in different people. Some strongly feel it is nothing but gambling, some others feel it is a sure fire way to lose money. A few get a high on trading in stocks all day long. Some use it wisely to increase their wealth. The fears associated with the stock market have come down significantly since the early nineties and now a majority of people feel comfortable investing in the stock market. The article is specific for Indian investors though most of the ideas expressed are universal.
Investing in the stock market requires careful study, constant review and quick decisions. Cherry picking a stock and keeping yourselves updated about the company and timing your buying and selling can take up a major part of your time. This is where the Mutual Fund industry can lend you their hand. A Mutual Fund is managed by a Fund Manager and a team of analysts who take their time to study the stock market and invest your money. It saves you from all the hassles of stock market investing and you also have somebody to take care of your money.
The Mutual Fund industry has come a long way since its introduction in India in the early 90s. Mutual Funds provide a variety of options according to your risk profile to get high tax effective returns. Having said that, I would caution readers that investing in mutual funds also needs a bit of effort from your side. Getting into the wrong mutual fund at the wrong time can destroy your wealth. The risks associated with investing in any asset class [Stocks or Gold or commodities or bonds] are applicable to mutual funds also. For the more conservative investor, mutual funds offer exposure to fixed income instruments through fixed maturity plan (FMP)/debt funds wherein your money is invested in debt instruments. FMPs/Debt funds are more tax efficient than direct investment in FDs or bonds/debentures etc. I give below some points that should be kept in mind while investing in mutual funds.
a. If you are looking at investing money for the short term (1-3 years) and want the best tax efficient return then go for Debt funds/FMPs.
b. If you want exposure to stock markets then remember that stock market returns can be achieved only over the long term as markets usually see- saws with an upward bias over the long term. So you may have to stick around for more than 5 years. Do not check your NAV(Net Asset Value) everyday and feel excited or melancholic due to the erratic movement.
c. There are more than 30 fund houses (AMCs) offering more than 700 schemes. Choose the AMCs that have been around for a long time (5-10 years would be a good metric). Do not diversify too much and stick to good fund houses. The details of fund houses can be found in the website of Association of Mutual Funds of India. You can also get the rating of each mutual fund on this website. Always check to see if the AUM (Assets under management) is high; this ensures that the Mutual Fund has the flexibility to take a hit in case one or two companies that they had invested in get into trouble.
d. Always remember that past performance is not a guide for future performance. Go for consistent performers.
e. Go for New Fund Offer [NFO] only during a significant downturn as this enables the fund to get into stocks at lower prices. For Debt funds opt for NFOs when interest rates start peaking. Do not get into an NFO because you are swayed by the smart ad in the media. Usually NFOs focus on the flavor of the season to tempt you [Commodities, Green Energy, Emerging markets etc].Some may play out; some will die a natural death. So exercise abundant caution.
f. The best time to start an SIP is when the market starts showing a downward trend and the worst time to panic and stop an SIP is when the stock market goes into deep decline. In fact this is the time when the real investors rub their hands in glee. So you should try and increase your SIP amount when the market is really down and then once the market bounces back you can go back to your regular amount. Fix a base and set a target - e.g., for every 100 point fall in Nifty index increase SIP by Rs. 1000 and reduce exposure similarly as the market bounces back.
g. Do not expect extraordinary returns. On a long term basis mutual funds give an annual return of 12-15%.
h. Do a review once a year and check out from sectors that you feel have peaked out.
i. It is recommended to have an SIP in an index fund/exchange traded fund (ETF). An index fund invests in companies that form the particular index. For example if the index fund is based on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) Sensex, then it invests its funds in the companies that make up the index and the NAV tracks the BSE Sensex. This fund will always have a return that closely mirrors the return of the stock market. This is a very safe way and protects you from individual gyrations in stock price of a company or sector. The stock exchange will promptly replace a company from the index in case it starts underperforming and your fund does the same. So you are always assured of a return very close to the market return.
j. Do not confuse an insurance product which invests in the stock market with a mutual fund. They are two totally different products. Insurance products have high charges and give far lower returns than a mutual fund.
Mutual funds are ideal for people who do not have the time or patience to take the effort needed for successful stock picking. They offer the investor a wide choice of exposure to different asset classes and sectors according to risk profile and if chosen wisely can provide extremely satisfying returns to increase wealth.
The writer works as the Country Head for AGEM India Branch, the foreign branch office of the Euro 32 Million Spanish company AGEM S.A. He is in charge of the Indian operations and primarily engaged in sourcing of products from India. He is also Consultant, International Business Development for QualiMed Systems, a fast upcoming medical equipment start-up. His interest in investment started when his father introduced him to the stock markets in the early nineties in the pre-Harshad Mehta era. He also writes for the investment column "Money Matters" in the website Yentha.com.
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