Should I Start SIP in These Mutual Funds?

Ans: Your approach to starting a SIP in a combination of large-cap, balanced, and multi-cap mutual funds shows a thoughtful effort toward diversification. This is a great starting point, and I appreciate the time you've taken to create a mix of equity-focused funds. However, before you proceed, there are several points to consider. I will break down the analysis by fund type to help you understand whether this portfolio suits your financial goals, risk profile, and investment horizon.

Large-Cap Mutual Funds
You have selected four large-cap funds with an investment of Rs. 500 per month each, totaling Rs. 2,000.

Diversification Issue: Large-cap funds generally invest in the same set of top companies in India. While large-cap funds are stable, having multiple large-cap funds may lead to portfolio overlap. That means different funds might invest in the same companies, limiting diversification benefits.

Recommendation: You might consider reducing the number of large-cap funds. You could keep one or two large-cap funds and allocate the remaining amount to another fund category for better diversification. This will help balance your portfolio and reduce duplication of holdings.

Balanced Funds (Equity & Debt Mix)
Balanced funds aim to reduce volatility by investing in both equity and debt. This adds stability, especially during market downturns.

Suitability: The two balanced funds you've chosen offer a mix of aggressive equity exposure and debt, which helps cushion your portfolio in volatile market conditions.

Investment Horizon: Since you are looking at a long-term horizon, this allocation is beneficial as these funds provide moderate risk and can help you during market corrections.

Recommendation: Continue with these balanced funds as they serve the purpose of balancing risk with potential returns. Keep monitoring their performance and ensure that they stay aligned with your financial goals.

Multi-Cap Funds
Multi-cap funds are a great addition to your portfolio as they invest in large, mid, and small-cap companies. This provides you with diversified exposure across the market spectrum.

Suitability: The two funds you've selected offer you a balanced growth opportunity by investing in companies of various market capitalizations. Multi-cap funds tend to be more volatile than large-cap funds but have the potential for higher returns over the long term.

Recommendation: Multi-cap funds are a good option for investors with a long investment horizon, such as yourself. They will allow you to participate in the growth of companies across sectors and sizes. You can continue with this allocation, but monitor the portfolio periodically to ensure its performance aligns with your risk tolerance.

Overall Portfolio Assessment
Diversification: Your portfolio is moderately diversified across large-cap, balanced, and multi-cap categories. However, due to the multiple large-cap funds, you might see overlap, as discussed earlier. For a more optimized portfolio, you can consider adding a mid-cap or small-cap fund instead of having too many large-cap funds. These categories can provide higher growth potential over the long term, but they come with higher risk.

Risk and Return Balance: Your current portfolio is balanced between high-stability funds (large-cap and balanced funds) and higher growth potential funds (multi-cap). This combination works well for investors who seek steady growth with limited risk.

General Suggestions on Mutual Fund Selection
Avoid Overlapping: As mentioned earlier, holding multiple funds from the same category, especially in large-cap funds, can lead to overlapping holdings. Try to consolidate and focus on fewer but stronger funds within each category to avoid unnecessary duplication.

Regular vs. Direct Plans: You may want to consider investing through regular plans with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) or Mutual Fund Distributor (MFD). Direct plans seem attractive because they come with lower expense ratios. However, regular plans offer the benefit of professional advice, which is essential for long-term portfolio maintenance. A CFP or MFD can help you rebalance your portfolio, monitor fund performance, and provide tax-efficient strategies.

Active Funds Over Index Funds: Active funds, which you have chosen, can outperform index funds in the long run. Unlike index funds, which merely track the market, active funds are managed by experienced fund managers. They have the flexibility to pick and choose stocks that have the potential for higher returns, which could be beneficial for you given your long-term goals.

Taxation of Mutual Funds
Equity Funds: Long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax on equity mutual funds is 12.5% for gains above Rs. 1.25 lakh. This means that after holding equity funds for more than one year, your returns will be taxed at this rate.

Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG): Equity funds held for less than one year are taxed at 20%. Ensure you have a long-term approach to minimize this taxation.

Balanced Funds: Balanced funds are taxed based on their equity exposure. If they hold more than 65% in equity, the taxation is similar to equity funds. Otherwise, they will be taxed like debt funds.

Debt Funds: Long-term capital gains on debt funds are taxed based on your income tax slab. Given this, holding debt funds for over three years helps in availing indexation benefits, reducing tax liabilities.

Retirement Planning and Financial Goals
Given your age and your desire to build a retirement corpus in 10 years, your portfolio should focus on growth. Based on the mix of funds you’ve selected, here’s an evaluation:

Retirement Corpus: You will need a solid growth strategy to accumulate the desired retirement corpus in the next decade. Given your current portfolio allocation, it is important to keep your equity exposure high, as it offers the best growth potential over the long term.

Children's Education and Marriage: With two young children, education and marriage expenses will be significant. Keep in mind that education costs rise faster than inflation. To manage these future needs, consider segregating your investments: one portfolio for retirement and another for education.

Emergency Fund: Ensure you also maintain a sufficient emergency fund in liquid instruments such as fixed deposits or liquid mutual funds. This fund should cover at least 6 to 12 months of expenses.

Final Insights
Consolidate Funds: Instead of multiple large-cap funds, consider focusing on 1 or 2 strong performers. This will reduce duplication and enhance your returns.

Monitor and Review: Regularly review the performance of your funds with a Certified Financial Planner. This will ensure your portfolio stays aligned with your goals and risk tolerance over time.

Tax Planning: As your investments grow, it’s important to remain mindful of the tax implications of your gains. Keeping a long-term approach will help minimize taxes.

Long-Term Vision: Focus on maintaining an equity-heavy portfolio for the next 10 years, as equity investments tend to outperform in the long run. Balanced and multi-cap funds can provide a good mix of stability and growth.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment