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How to invest in mutual funds: Praveen, 36, from Bangalore, seeks advice for building a portfolio with a 20-year Rs.1 crore target, investing Rs.10,000 monthly?

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6995 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 20, 2024

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
Praveen Question by Praveen on Aug 02, 2024Hindi
Money

Dear Sir, I am Praveen, a 36-year-old from Bangalore. I wish to invest in mutual funds for 20 years at ?10,000 per month, targeting ?1 crore. Could you please suggest how to create my portfolio?

Ans: Praveen, your decision to invest Rs 10,000 per month for 20 years is wise. This long-term horizon allows you to benefit from the power of compounding. Targeting Rs 1 crore is achievable with a well-structured portfolio. Let’s break down how you can reach this goal effectively.

Analysing Your Investment Horizon

A 20-year investment period provides a great advantage. You can afford to take on more risk initially, which may lead to higher returns. Over such a long period, market fluctuations tend to smooth out, making equity funds an ideal choice for wealth creation.

Importance of Diversification

Diversification is key to managing risk while aiming for high returns. It’s essential to spread your investments across different types of funds. This way, you protect your portfolio from market volatility and maximize growth potential.

Large-Cap Equity Funds: Stability with Growth

Large-cap funds invest in well-established companies. These funds provide stability and consistent growth, especially over a long period like 20 years. They are less volatile compared to mid-cap and small-cap funds.

Mid-Cap Funds: Capturing Growth Potential

Mid-cap funds invest in companies with medium market capitalisation. These companies have the potential for high growth, although they come with higher risk compared to large-cap funds. Including mid-cap funds in your portfolio can boost returns during bull markets.

Small-Cap Funds: High-Risk, High-Reward

Small-cap funds invest in smaller companies that are often in the early stages of growth. These funds are the riskiest among equity funds but can offer significant returns if the companies perform well. Given your long-term horizon, a small allocation to small-cap funds can be beneficial.

Flexi-Cap Funds: Flexibility and Balance

Flexi-cap funds invest across large, mid, and small-cap stocks. They provide flexibility to fund managers to allocate investments based on market conditions. This flexibility helps in capturing opportunities across different market segments and can add balance to your portfolio.

Balanced Advantage Funds: Managing Market Fluctuations

Balanced advantage funds dynamically allocate between equity and debt based on market conditions. These funds offer equity growth potential while managing downside risk through debt investments. They are ideal for reducing overall portfolio risk, especially as you near your goal.

Avoiding Index Funds

While index funds are popular for their low cost, they simply mirror the performance of an index. This means they cannot outperform the market, limiting your return potential. In an actively managed fund, the fund manager can make strategic decisions to outperform the index, especially in a volatile market.

The Pitfalls of Direct Funds

Direct funds might seem attractive due to lower expense ratios. However, they lack the professional guidance that regular funds offer through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Investing in regular funds through a CFP ensures that you receive personalized advice, regular monitoring, and expert insights. These benefits far outweigh the slightly higher cost of regular funds.

Building Your Mutual Fund Portfolio

Now, let’s structure your portfolio with a Rs 10,000 monthly SIP.

Large-Cap Fund: Allocate Rs 3,000 to a large-cap equity fund. This provides stability and consistent returns over the long term.

Mid-Cap Fund: Allocate Rs 2,500 to a mid-cap fund. This captures growth opportunities in medium-sized companies.

Small-Cap Fund: Allocate Rs 1,500 to a small-cap fund. This adds high-growth potential to your portfolio, albeit with higher risk.

Flexi-Cap Fund: Allocate Rs 2,000 to a flexi-cap fund. This adds flexibility and balance to your portfolio by investing across different market segments.

Balanced Advantage Fund: Allocate Rs 1,000 to a balanced advantage fund. This helps in managing market fluctuations, especially as you get closer to your investment goal.

Regular Monitoring and Rebalancing

Investing is not a one-time activity. Regularly monitoring your portfolio and rebalancing it is crucial. As you approach your goal, you might want to shift more of your investments to safer funds, such as large-cap or balanced advantage funds, to protect your accumulated wealth.

Leveraging the Expertise of a Certified Financial Planner

Investing through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) ensures that your portfolio is aligned with your financial goals. A CFP provides personalized advice, taking into account your risk tolerance, investment horizon, and financial objectives. They also offer regular reviews and adjustments to keep your portfolio on track.

Final Insights

Praveen, your goal of Rs 1 crore is achievable with a disciplined approach. A diversified portfolio, regular SIPs, and professional guidance are the key elements to reaching this target. Your long-term horizon allows you to take advantage of equity growth, while a well-structured portfolio helps manage risk.

Stay committed to your plan, review your portfolio regularly, and make adjustments as needed. With the right strategy and discipline, you are well on your way to achieving your financial goals.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
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.
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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6995 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 09, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Mar 01, 2024Hindi
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Hello Sir I am 34yr old. Started investing from July 2023 1.6lacs monthly in 8 funds (20k each) I want to create a portfolio of 50crore in 20yrs My funds include 2 small cap funds, 3 mid cap, 1 flexi cap and 2 large n mid cap funds How can I achieve my target. I am looking for 18-20% xirr on my investment
Ans: Congratulations on taking proactive steps towards securing your financial future. Your commitment to investing is commendable.

Creating a portfolio with the goal of reaching 50 crores in 20 years requires careful planning and strategy.

With a monthly investment of 1.6 lakhs distributed across various funds, you've already laid a solid foundation. However, achieving an XIRR of 18-20% may require a slightly more aggressive approach.

Given your portfolio composition of small-cap, mid-cap, flexi-cap, and large and mid-cap funds, you seem to have a diversified mix with exposure to different segments of the market.

To increase the potential for higher returns, you might consider slightly increasing your allocation to small and mid-cap funds, given their historically higher growth potential over the long term.

As a Certified Financial Planner, I advise against relying solely on direct funds. Opting for regular funds through a Certified Financial Planner can provide you with valuable insights and personalized guidance, ensuring your investments are aligned with your goals.

While index funds have their advantages, such as lower expense ratios, they lack the potential for outperformance that actively managed funds offer, especially in dynamic market conditions.

Regularly reviewing your portfolio's performance and making adjustments as needed is crucial to staying on track towards your goal. Additionally, maintaining a long-term perspective and avoiding reactionary decisions during market fluctuations is key.

Keep up the disciplined approach to investing, and with time and patience, you can certainly achieve your target of 50 crores.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6995 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 20, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Jul 29, 2024Hindi
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I am 33 years old with a monthly salary of 2 lakhs. I have a 6 year old son. I have a home loan of 37 lakhs. Monthly expenses 31500 of home loan emi , house expenses 60000 . I have no emergency fund. I have to start investing in mutual fund and stocks . Please help in guiding me for the same to build the portfolio within next 15 to 20 years
Ans: You are 33 years old, earning Rs. 2 lakhs per month. You have a 6-year-old son. You have a home loan of Rs. 37 lakhs, with an EMI of Rs. 31,500. Your house expenses total Rs. 60,000 per month. You do not have an emergency fund and are looking to start investing in mutual funds. Given your situation, it’s best to focus on mutual funds rather than direct stocks.

Setting Up an Emergency Fund
Before starting your investments, the first priority is to establish an emergency fund. This fund should cover at least six months of your essential expenses. Based on your current expenses, aim to build an emergency fund of Rs. 6-8 lakhs.

Begin by setting aside a portion of your monthly income.

Keep this fund in a liquid instrument like a savings account or a liquid mutual fund.

This will provide a financial cushion in case of unforeseen events.

Balancing Your Debt
Your home loan is a significant commitment. But considering the benefits of owning property and the tax deductions on interest payments, continue with the EMI payments.

Ensure that you are not over-leveraged.

Prioritize paying off the loan as per your comfort, but do not rush into prepayments if it compromises your investment potential.

Investing in Mutual Funds
Given your long-term goal of building a portfolio over the next 15 to 20 years, mutual funds are an excellent option. They offer diversification, professional management, and the potential for higher returns compared to traditional savings instruments.

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP)
A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) is a disciplined way to invest in mutual funds. It allows you to invest a fixed amount every month, which can align with your cash flow and risk tolerance.

Start with a SIP amount that you are comfortable with.

Over time, as your income increases, you can increase your SIP contributions.

Types of Mutual Funds
To build a robust portfolio, consider a mix of different types of mutual funds:

Equity Mutual Funds: These funds invest primarily in stocks and are suitable for long-term growth. They come with higher risk but also have the potential for higher returns. Since you are young and have a long investment horizon, allocate a significant portion of your investment here.

Debt Mutual Funds: These funds invest in fixed-income securities and are less risky compared to equity funds. They offer stability to your portfolio.

Hybrid Funds: These funds invest in a mix of equity and debt. They balance growth with stability, making them suitable if you want to reduce risk without compromising on potential returns.

Importance of Professional Guidance
Investing in direct stocks can be tempting, but it requires time, knowledge, and constant monitoring. As a 33-year-old with other responsibilities, it is wise to stick to mutual funds managed by professionals. These funds are overseen by fund managers who have the expertise to navigate market volatility and identify investment opportunities.

Regular Monitoring and Review
Your financial goals and situation may change over time. Regularly review your investments to ensure they align with your goals. Rebalance your portfolio if necessary, but avoid making frequent changes based on short-term market movements.

Tax Planning
Mutual funds also offer tax-efficient options. Equity-linked saving schemes (ELSS) can provide tax benefits under Section 80C. Consider investing in ELSS as part of your overall tax planning strategy.

Building Wealth Over Time
With a systematic approach to investing in mutual funds, you can build a substantial corpus over the next 15 to 20 years. The key is consistency, patience, and sticking to your plan without getting swayed by market noise.

Final Insights
Focus on building a strong financial foundation with an emergency fund and a balanced mutual fund portfolio. Avoid the complexities of direct stock investing, and let your investments grow over time through the power of compounding.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |6995 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 22, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - Aug 20, 2024Hindi
Money
Hi Sir, I want to invest in mutual fund 30k per month, please make a portfolio for what type of mutual fund which I can select? My age is 32. Next 10 year my target is 1cr. Please suggest me
Ans: At age 32, you have set a target of Rs. 1 crore in 10 years, which is a well-thought-out and achievable goal. Investing Rs. 30,000 per month in mutual funds is a solid approach towards building this wealth. Now, let’s break down the best strategy to reach your goal while ensuring that your investments are well-diversified and aligned with your financial objectives.

Risk Tolerance and Time Horizon
Before recommending any mutual fund categories, it’s important to understand your risk tolerance. As you have a 10-year time horizon, you have the advantage of investing in equity funds, which have historically provided higher returns over the long term. Equity funds can be volatile in the short term, but with disciplined investing, they can yield significant returns.

Given your age and target, a higher allocation to equity funds is suitable, but we’ll also consider some debt allocation to manage risk.

Suggested Allocation Strategy
1. Large Cap Equity Funds
Why: Large Cap funds invest in well-established companies with a track record of performance. They are less volatile compared to mid and small-cap funds but still offer good growth potential.

Allocation: You can allocate around 30% of your investment to Large Cap Equity Funds. This will provide stability to your portfolio while participating in the growth of large companies.

2. Mid Cap and Small Cap Equity Funds
Why: Mid Cap and Small Cap funds offer higher growth potential as they invest in companies that are in their growth phase. However, they are more volatile than Large Cap funds.

Allocation: A combined 40% allocation to Mid Cap and Small Cap funds will enhance your portfolio's growth potential. The higher risk is balanced by the long investment horizon of 10 years.

3. Flexi Cap Funds
Why: Flexi Cap funds have the flexibility to invest across market capitalizations (Large, Mid, and Small Cap). They provide a balanced approach, allowing fund managers to shift investments based on market conditions.

Allocation: Allocating 20% to Flexi Cap Funds will give your portfolio the flexibility to adapt to market dynamics. This helps in capturing opportunities across various market caps.

4. Sectoral or Thematic Funds
Why: Sectoral or thematic funds focus on specific sectors like technology, healthcare, or infrastructure. These funds can provide substantial returns if the sector performs well. However, they are riskier due to their focused investment approach.

Allocation: Consider a 10% allocation to a Sectoral or Thematic Fund. Choose a sector that you believe has strong growth prospects over the next decade. This allocation should be monitored regularly as sector performance can be cyclical.

Why Not Index Funds?
Index Funds, which aim to replicate the performance of a market index, are often touted for their low costs and simplicity. However, they have limitations:

No Active Management: Index Funds do not offer active management. In a volatile or uncertain market, this can be a disadvantage as there is no scope for the fund manager to adapt to market conditions.

Limited Growth: Index Funds track the market and therefore only aim to achieve market-average returns. They miss out on the opportunity to outperform the market, which can be crucial in achieving higher returns, especially when your goal is Rs. 1 crore.

Lack of Diversification: An Index Fund is concentrated on the stocks in the index, leading to a lack of diversification. Actively managed funds, in contrast, have the flexibility to diversify across various sectors, geographies, and market caps.

Therefore, I suggest focusing on actively managed funds that offer the potential to outperform the market, ensuring better returns over your investment horizon.

Regular vs. Direct Funds
Direct Funds might seem attractive due to lower expense ratios. However, they may not be the best option for you:

No Guidance: Direct Funds do not offer the benefit of professional advice. Managing and rebalancing a portfolio on your own can be challenging, especially if you lack the time or expertise.

Market Timing and Selection: A Certified Financial Planner can help you with the timing and selection of funds, something you would miss out on with Direct Funds. Regular Funds, despite their higher expense ratio, offer the benefit of ongoing advice, which is crucial for long-term success.

Performance Monitoring: Direct Funds require you to regularly monitor performance and make necessary adjustments. With Regular Funds, your CFP will assist in this, ensuring your portfolio remains on track to meet your goals.

For these reasons, I recommend opting for Regular Funds through a CFP to ensure your portfolio is well-managed and aligned with your financial goals.

Additional Investment Considerations
1. Systematic Transfer Plan (STP)
Why: If you have a lump sum amount to invest, consider using a Systematic Transfer Plan. This allows you to invest the lump sum in a liquid fund and systematically transfer a fixed amount to equity funds. It reduces the risk of market volatility by spreading the investment over time.

How it Helps: An STP ensures that you don’t invest all your money at once, which could be risky if the market is at a peak. It helps in averaging out the purchase price and reduces the impact of market fluctuations.

2. Regular Review and Rebalancing
Why: It’s important to regularly review and rebalance your portfolio. This ensures that your investments are aligned with your goals and risk tolerance as they evolve over time.

How Often: I suggest reviewing your portfolio at least once a year with your CFP. This will help in making any necessary adjustments, such as increasing or decreasing exposure to certain funds based on market conditions and your personal financial situation.

3. Emergency Fund
Why: Before fully committing to your SIPs, ensure that you have an emergency fund in place. This should be equivalent to 6-12 months of your expenses. It will provide a safety net in case of unexpected events, preventing you from having to withdraw your investments prematurely.

Where to Keep: Your emergency fund should be kept in a liquid fund or a high-interest savings account for easy access.

4. Insurance Coverage
Why: Adequate life and health insurance coverage is essential. It protects your family’s financial future in case of unforeseen events. This ensures that your investment goals remain intact.

Review Needs: Review your current insurance coverage with your CFP to ensure it’s sufficient. If you have any investment-cum-insurance policies like ULIPs, consider surrendering them and reinvesting the proceeds in mutual funds for better returns.

Tax Efficiency
Equity-Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS): If you are looking for tax-saving options, consider allocating a part of your investment to ELSS funds. They come with a lock-in period of 3 years and provide tax benefits under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act.

Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG): Keep in mind that equity investments held for more than a year are subject to LTCG tax if the gains exceed Rs. 1 lakh. However, this is still favorable compared to short-term capital gains tax.

SIP Step-Up Strategy
Why: To reach your Rs. 1 crore goal, consider increasing your SIP amount annually. This is known as a SIP Step-Up. It allows you to take advantage of increased income or bonuses, accelerating your wealth creation.

How Much: An annual step-up of 10-15% in your SIP can significantly increase your final corpus. This strategy is especially useful as your salary grows over time.

Monitoring and Adjustments
Why: Over the next 10 years, your financial situation and market conditions will change. It’s crucial to monitor your investments and make necessary adjustments to stay on track.

Action Plan: Work closely with your CFP to ensure that your portfolio is adjusted as needed. This could include rebalancing, shifting to less risky funds as you approach your goal, or increasing/decreasing your SIPs based on performance.

Final Insights
Investing Rs. 30,000 per month in mutual funds with the right allocation strategy can help you achieve your Rs. 1 crore target in 10 years. Focus on a mix of large cap, mid cap, small cap, and flexi cap funds for a balanced portfolio. Avoid Index and Direct Funds in favor of actively managed and Regular Funds. Regular reviews, a SIP Step-Up, and proper insurance coverage are also crucial in reaching your goal. Stay committed to your investment plan and make adjustments as necessary with the help of a CFP.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

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DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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