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Ramalingam Kalirajan |5367 Answers |Ask -Follow

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 11, 2024

Ramalingam Kalirajan has over 23 years of experience in mutual funds and financial planning.
He has an MBA in finance from the University of Madras and is a certified financial planner.
He is the director and chief financial planner at Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based firm that offers financial planning and wealth management advice.... more

Question by Vishal on Apr 10, 2024Hindi

Hi , I am 26 year old and contemplating to acquire a personal loan of 15 Lakhs at 10.45% interest with a tenure 5 years. And invest lumpsum it in Equity Mutual Funds giving a Return of about 25-30% on average Example: Quant Mutual Funds ( Midcap, Smallcap, Flexicap ) , Nippon India ( Midcap, smallcap) and Momentum Type Mutual Funds. I am intending to keep this Money invested for a Minimum of 5 years. Please suggest if I should go for it. Also I'm open to hear some better ways to go about investing aggressively using Loan. And also making the most out of my loan eligibility for acquiring gains.

Ans: Taking a personal loan to invest in equity mutual funds is a high-risk strategy and not advisable for several reasons:

Leverage: You'll be borrowing money to invest, which magnifies both gains and losses. If the market performs poorly, you could end up with significant losses and still have to repay the loan.

Interest Costs: The interest rate on personal loans is typically higher than the returns you can expect from mutual funds. Even with an average return of 25-30%, there's no guarantee you'll earn enough to cover the interest costs.

Market Volatility: Equity markets can be volatile over short periods. While they tend to provide good returns over the long term, there's no guarantee of positive returns in any given year.

Financial Security: Taking on debt to invest adds financial risk. If you face unexpected expenses or a loss of income, you could struggle to repay the loan, leading to financial stress.

Instead of borrowing to invest, consider the following alternatives:

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP): Invest a portion of your monthly income in mutual funds through SIPs. This approach allows you to invest regularly without taking on debt.

Emergency Fund: Build an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses. This will provide financial security and prevent you from having to rely on loans in case of emergencies.

Financial Planning: Consult with a financial advisor to create a long-term investment plan based on your goals, risk tolerance, and financial situation.

Gradual Increase: Start with a smaller investment amount and gradually increase it over time as you become more comfortable with investing.

Remember, investing should be done prudently, considering your financial goals, risk tolerance, and current financial situation. Avoid taking on unnecessary debt to invest in the market, as it can lead to financial instability and stress.

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