Is it good to invest in only 1 mutual fund instead of 2 funds I am saving monthly 1 lakh from my salary please advise

Ans: Hello, you can ideally select 3-4 good funds according to your risk appetite, time horizon and the investment style that you prefer.

Ans: it's commendable that you're considering additional investments at such a young age. Let's delve into your options:

Disadvantages of ULIPs: ULIPs, or Unit Linked Insurance Plans, often come bundled with high charges, including premium allocation charges, policy administration charges, and fund management charges. These charges can significantly reduce the returns on your investment over the long term. Additionally, ULIPs typically offer limited flexibility in terms of fund choices and lock-in periods, restricting your ability to adapt to changing financial goals or market conditions.
Advantages of Mutual Funds: Mutual funds offer several advantages over ULIPs. They provide greater transparency regarding charges, allowing you to understand the costs associated with your investment. Moreover, mutual funds offer a wide range of investment options across asset classes, such as equity, debt, and hybrid funds, catering to various risk appetites and investment objectives. Mutual funds also offer flexibility, enabling you to adjust your investment strategy as needed without incurring significant penalties.
Considering your age and income level, investing an additional 500 rupees per month in mutual funds would be a prudent decision. It allows you to benefit from the power of compounding over the long term and diversify your investment portfolio beyond ULIPs. You can choose mutual fund schemes based on your risk tolerance, investment horizon, and financial goals, ensuring a more customized approach to wealth creation.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner
www.HolisticInvestment.in

Ans: You are 59 years old and have invested Rs. 2 lakhs across 12 mutual funds. These funds are diversified across large-cap, small-cap, large & mid-cap, and thematic funds. While diversification is important, over-diversification can lead to a scattered portfolio that is difficult to manage and may not yield optimal returns.

Evaluating the Number of Funds
Investing in too many funds can dilute the benefits of diversification and make it harder to track performance.

Over-Diversification: Holding 12 mutual funds, especially with a relatively small corpus of Rs. 2 lakhs, might not be the most efficient strategy. Each fund may have overlapping stocks, reducing the overall diversification benefit.

Concentration Risk: By spreading your investment across too many funds, you may be inadvertently increasing your risk if these funds are not carefully selected to complement each other.

Simplifying Your Portfolio
A well-structured portfolio typically has a few carefully chosen funds that cover different segments of the market. Here’s how you can simplify:

Consolidate Funds: Consider reducing the number of funds. A portfolio with 3-5 funds can provide sufficient diversification without being overly complex.

Focus on Core Funds: Choose funds that have a strong track record and align with your risk tolerance and financial goals. Large-cap and large & mid-cap funds can form the core of your portfolio, providing stability and growth.

Thematic Funds: These can be a good addition but should be limited to a small portion of your portfolio due to their higher risk. Ensure they align with your long-term goals.

Rebalancing and Portfolio Review
At 59 years old, your investment strategy should also consider the proximity to retirement. It’s important to balance growth with safety.

Review Asset Allocation: Ensure your portfolio is aligned with your retirement goals. This might mean increasing your allocation to debt or hybrid funds to reduce risk.

Regular Monitoring: Keep an eye on the performance of your remaining funds. Periodic reviews will help you make informed decisions about rebalancing or further consolidation.

Final Insights
While diversification is crucial, over-diversification can lead to a diluted and hard-to-manage portfolio. Simplifying your investment by consolidating into a few well-chosen funds can provide better returns and easier management. As you approach retirement, ensure your portfolio is balanced to provide both growth and safety, aligning with your financial goals.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

Ans: Hello;

Your mutual fund monthly sip of 8 K need to be increased to 10 K ( maybe you can add 2 K additional investment in Kotak ELSS tax saver fund).

PPF and other investment should continue as planned.

This will ensure your MF corpus + PPF will reach 60 L+ in value over 12 years.

LIC policy maturity sum and NPD will be bonus.

Funds are good. No need to change.

Happy Investing;