
Hi Financial Experts,
Please let me your suggestions/thoughts on the below queries:
1. Typically when we invest in SIP, the returns for 1 year is pretty lower when compared to 2-5 years horizon. For instance HDFC Flexi Cap Fund: 1 yr: 7.1% vs 3 years (23.0%) vs 5 years (27.25%).
While market conditions will play a big role, is it advisable to stay invested in the SIPs for a longer period of time or is it advisable to exit from one SIP and invest the amount into any other better performing SIPs?
2. Just started with a monthly SIP of 15K in "Motilal Oswal Nifty Midcap 150 Index Fund". Did not do much of research before investing into this SIP, after investing realized that probably it would have been better to invest in "Motilal Oswal Nifty Midcap Fund".
Is it advisable to exit from "Motilal Oswal Nifty Midcap 150 Index Fund" and invest it in "Motilal Oswal Nifty Midcap Fund" or any other funds for better returns for a period of 3 years horizon ? Note: Only 1 month SIP payment has been made.
Ans: Dear Sir,
Thank you for sharing your queries. Let me address them point by point:
1. SIP Returns Across Time Horizons
It is common for 1-year returns to appear lower than 3–5 year returns in equity mutual funds. This is because equity markets are volatile in the short term.
Key insight: Mutual funds, especially equity funds, are designed for long-term wealth creation. Short-term performance (1 year) can fluctuate significantly due to market cycles.
Recommendation:
Stay invested in SIPs for at least 3–5 years (or ideally longer) to allow compounding and rupee-cost averaging to work in your favor.
Avoid switching funds solely based on short-term underperformance, as this can disrupt compounding and may result in tax implications (capital gains).
2. Switching Between Funds
You mentioned investing ?15K/month in Motilal Oswal Nifty Midcap 150 Index Fund and considering moving to Motilal Oswal Nifty Midcap Fund.
Since only 1 month SIP has been invested, the financial impact of switching is minimal, but consider:
Index Fund vs Active Fund:
Index Fund tracks the Nifty Midcap 150 index → lower expense ratio, passively follows index
Active Fund may outperform index in some periods but comes with higher expense ratio and slightly higher risk
Horizon: For 3 years, midcap funds are volatile → may or may not outperform the index.
Recommendation:
If you are comfortable with active fund risk and willing to pay slightly higher expense ratio, switching to Motilal Oswal Nifty Midcap Fund is reasonable.
If you prefer lower cost and lower risk, continuing with the Index Fund is fine.
Ensure you review asset allocation to maintain balance between large, mid, and small-cap exposure.
3. General Guidelines for SIPs
Long-Term Commitment: SIPs are most effective over 3–5+ years. Avoid chasing short-term returns.
Review Periodically: Annual review of portfolio performance and allocation is sufficient.
Diversification: Invest across fund types (large-cap, mid-cap, flexi-cap) to reduce risk.
Step-Up SIPs: Increase SIP amount gradually with income growth to accelerate corpus creation.
4. Next Steps / Discussion with QPFP
To finalize the decision:
Share your full mutual fund portfolio and risk tolerance
Discuss your financial goals, horizon, and liquidity needs
A QPFP professional can help determine whether switching funds or continuing the current SIP is optimal for your goal.
Summary:
Long-term SIPs (3–5+ years) generally outperform short-term returns; staying invested is advisable.
Switching funds after only 1 month is feasible, but consider index vs active strategy, risk, and expense ratio.
Annual review with a QPFP professional ensures portfolio alignment with your goals.
Best regards,
Naveenn Kummar, BE, MBA, QPFP
Chief Financial Planner | AMFI Registered MFD
www.alenova.in
https://www.instagram.com/alenova_wealth