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Ramalingam Kalirajan |11056 Answers |Ask -Follow

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jan 30, 2026

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 Siddhartha on Jan 29, 2026Hindi

I have invested Rs. 50000 in Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund and another Rs. 50000 in HDFC Flexicap Fund in July 2025 and while the former is always in red the latter is giving around 4- 5% return. Should I continue to remain invested in them or would you suggest switching to a a different fund.

Ans: First, I appreciate your discipline in investing and reviewing your funds soon after you started. That habit itself is a strong pillar of long-term financial success.

» Understanding your current investment situation
– You invested Rs. 50,000 in an actively managed mid-cap fund (Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund) in July 2025
– You also invested Rs. 50,000 in a flexi-cap equity fund (HDFC Flexicap Fund) at the same time
– The mid-cap fund is currently showing negative returns
– The flexi-cap fund is showing around 4–5 percent return

» Why performance can differ between funds
– Mid-cap funds tend to be more volatile, especially over short periods
– Early investment performance is not a reliable signal of future outcomes in equity funds
– Actively managed funds can differ significantly based on stock picks, sector bets and market cycles
– Equity funds need time (typically 5+ years) to smooth out ups and downs

» What to assess before deciding to continue or switch
– Time horizon: How long can you stay invested? Equity should ideally be for medium to long term (5 years or more)
– Risk appetite: Mid-cap funds swing more than diversified equity funds and need higher risk tolerance
– Fund objectives and style: Does the fund’s approach match your goals and conviction?
– Consistency of performance: Compare returns over multiple periods (1 year, 3 years, 5 years) relative to peers, not just since inception
– Fund manager experience: Long-term funds often benefit from stable and experienced management

» Should you remain invested or switch? (Practical assessment)
– For the mid-cap fund showing negative returns early:

Equity markets can move up and down in the short term. A few months of red should not be the sole reason to exit if your time horizon is 5 years or more.

If your comfort with volatility is low, consider shifting part or all of the amount to a less volatile equity category or balanced equity oriented option.
– For the flexi-cap fund with modest positive return:

Flexi-cap funds dynamically adjust allocation across market caps and help moderate volatility.

If the fund continues to align with your risk and goals, holding it makes sense.
– Do not make decisions based on short-term returns alone. Give equity adequate time to perform.

» Why actively managed funds serve you better in your case
– Market benchmarks (like index funds) simply mirror market movements without risk management choices. In falling phases, index funds have no active decision to protect capital.
– Actively managed funds can take defensive steps when markets weaken, and reallocate to sectors or stocks with better risk-reward prospects.
– For individual investors, this active oversight brings discipline and better behavioral support, especially in turbulent markets.

» How to decide if switching is needed (Step by step)
– Re-evaluate the mid-cap fund’s long-term prospects rather than recent performance
– Compare its performance with similar actively managed mid-cap peers, not the index
– If you find its strategy, risk profile or management lacking, consider a more diversified actively managed equity option suitable for your horizon
– Avoid switching too frequently, as this can erode returns and incur costs

» Final Insights
– Stay invested if your time horizon is 5 years or more and you can accept volatility
– Early red in mid-cap is not a reason by itself to exit, but do assess comfort level
– Actively managed equity funds offer better risk management than passive index approaches
– Periodic review every 12–18 months, not monthly, should guide your decisions

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.