Investing for Studies: How Should I Diversify My Portfolio?

Ans: You have made a good start by investing in a technology-focused fund. The return of 47% on your investment of Rs. 52,000 is impressive. However, sectoral funds like technology carry higher risk due to their concentrated exposure. They perform well during sector growth but may underperform during downturns. Since you are looking for a 3-4 year investment horizon for a goal like education, it’s crucial to diversify your portfolio.

By diversifying into different types of mutual funds, you can spread your risk and aim for more consistent returns. Given that you want to increase your SIP by Rs. 500 and your current SIP is Rs. 1,500, I will provide you with a broader strategy for meeting your goal of accumulating Rs. 3-4 lakhs within the next 3-4 years.

Investment Horizon and Risk Profile

Your goal is time-bound, and the horizon is relatively short (3-4 years). This places emphasis on stability while balancing growth. Since your current fund is technology-focused, it has the potential for high volatility. Thus, adding funds with a mix of growth and stability would be an ideal strategy.

For a goal within this time frame, I recommend diversifying into both equity and debt mutual funds, especially as equity funds may face short-term volatility. Below is a breakdown of what you can consider.

Diversification Strategy

Hybrid Funds
Hybrid funds invest in both equity and debt instruments. They provide growth potential through equity and cushion volatility with debt allocation. For your 3-4 year horizon, this category offers balanced risk and reward. A hybrid fund with a higher allocation towards debt will protect your investment in case of market downturns.

By allocating a part of your SIP to a hybrid fund, you can achieve a good balance between growth and stability. This will ensure that your portfolio is not overly exposed to market fluctuations while still benefiting from equity growth.

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Short-Term Debt Funds
Debt funds, especially short-term or ultra-short-term, are low-risk and can be a good addition when the goal is near-term. These funds invest in government bonds, corporate bonds, and other fixed-income securities with shorter maturity periods. They aim to offer better returns than fixed deposits while keeping risk minimal.

As your goal is education, which cannot be compromised, debt funds can provide the needed security for your capital. By having a portion in debt, you ensure that you can rely on these funds even if the equity market underperforms in the short term. A suggested allocation to short-term debt funds can reduce overall risk.

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Multi-Cap or Flexi-Cap Funds
For the equity portion, investing in a multi-cap or flexi-cap fund can provide a more diversified exposure across large, mid, and small-cap stocks. Unlike sectoral funds, multi-cap funds invest across different sectors, helping to minimize sector-specific risk.

Adding this type of fund ensures that you still participate in equity growth while maintaining a broader exposure. Given that your current investment is in a technology sectoral fund, a multi-cap fund can bring diversification, balancing the overall equity exposure. For the next 3-4 years, this could generate reasonable growth without too much concentration risk.

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Large-Cap Funds
To maintain some growth while minimizing risk, adding a large-cap equity fund can be beneficial. These funds invest in established companies with strong fundamentals. They tend to be more stable than mid or small-cap funds and are less volatile in the short term.

By adding a large-cap fund, you’ll ensure that a portion of your portfolio is invested in blue-chip companies. They provide steady growth and better downside protection, which is essential when the goal is close.

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Advantages of Actively Managed Funds over Index Funds

Although index funds might appear as an easy option for passive investment, actively managed funds are better for your goal. Actively managed funds have professional fund managers who can navigate the market, making adjustments based on performance and trends. They aim to outperform the market by investing in high-potential stocks and adjusting allocations when needed.

In contrast, index funds merely track a set index, limiting potential upside and not providing risk management during downturns. Your 3-4 year investment horizon demands active management to ensure optimized returns and balanced risks.

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Disadvantages of Direct Funds

Though you are currently investing in direct mutual funds, there are a few limitations you might face. Direct plans require constant monitoring and decision-making. This can be time-consuming and may lead to sub-optimal decisions if you’re not closely tracking the market or are unaware of when to switch or rebalance your portfolio.

Investing through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) via regular funds gives you access to professional advice and helps you focus on your goals without getting lost in the daily volatility or changes in fund performance. The advisor can help monitor your portfolio, recommend rebalancing, and ensure that you remain aligned with your goal, which is essential for meeting your target corpus.

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Adjusting Your SIP Allocation

Given that you wish to increase your SIP by Rs. 500 and your goal is Rs. 3-4 lakhs within 3-4 years, I suggest allocating your SIP as follows:

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Hybrid Fund (30-40% of the SIP)
Allocating Rs. 500-700 from your increased SIP towards a hybrid fund can provide a balance of equity and debt. This will add stability to your portfolio while still allowing some growth. It’s essential to mitigate risk, especially for such a near-term goal.

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Multi-Cap or Flexi-Cap Fund (20-30% of the SIP)
Rs. 400-600 should be directed to a multi-cap fund. This will diversify your equity exposure and provide a safer route to growth. Given the unpredictable nature of sectoral funds, this fund can smoothen the returns and provide stability.

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Debt Fund (20-25% of the SIP)
Rs. 300-400 can go into a short-term debt fund. This will ensure that part of your investment is secure and accessible when needed. With the timeline for your goal being short, capital protection becomes essential.

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Large-Cap Fund (15-20% of the SIP)
Rs. 200-300 can be invested in a large-cap fund for stable equity exposure. This will offer participation in the equity market but with lower risk compared to mid or small-cap stocks.

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Taxation Consideration

It’s important to be aware of the taxation on mutual fund returns when you redeem your investments.

For equity mutual funds, long-term capital gains (LTCG) above Rs. 1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%. If you redeem your investments within three years, short-term capital gains (STCG) are taxed at 20%. Debt mutual funds are taxed according to your income tax slab, both for short-term and long-term gains.

Keeping track of these rules ensures that you can optimise your withdrawals to minimize tax impact.

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Final Insights

Your current SIP investment in a technology-focused fund has performed well, but to meet your 3-4 year goal, diversification is essential. A mix of hybrid, multi-cap, large-cap, and debt funds will offer a balanced approach. This way, you can mitigate risk while still aiming for growth.

The decision to increase your SIP is the right move, but diversification will help protect your investment against market volatility. By focusing on stability through hybrid and debt funds while keeping some equity exposure, you’ll be well on track to achieve your Rs. 3-4 lakh target within the next few years.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP

Chief Financial Planner

www.holisticinvestment.in

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