QUANT Funds Performing Poorly - Should I Switch from ELSS and Large Cap?

Ans: SBI Blue chip fund invests in large-cap (top 100 companies) stocks and it is known for investing in well-established companies with stable growth potential. The performance of the fund is at par and the fundamentals of the fund are also good. Consider continuing with the fund

SBI Large & Midcap fund invests in both large-cap and mid-cap stocks. Mid-cap stocks generally have higher growth potential but may also be subject to increased volatility. If you have a higher risk tolerance and believe in the growth prospects of mid-cap companies, you might consider continuing with this investment. However, please be aware that mid-cap funds can be more volatile than large-cap funds.

Invesco Infrastructure fund works on a specific theme which focuses on investing in infrastructure-related companies and it is suitable for investors with a higher risk appetite and a long-term investment horizon. If you have a high-risk tolerance and a positive outlook on the infrastructure sector, you may consider continuing with this investment.

Coming to your query regarding an equity-oriented fund for two year time horizon. We do not recommend to investment in pure equity funds if your investment horizon is of less than 3 years. As the equity markets are volatile, every fund requires at least a 3 years’ horizon to stabilize in the portfolio. However, if you still wish to invest you can go for a hybrid fund or index fund.

Disclaimer:
• I have just no idea about your age, future financial goals, your risk profile, other investments and whether you would have the nerves to not get unduly perturbed if stock markets go temporarily down.
• Hence, please note that I am answering your question in absolute isolation to other parameters which should definitely be considered when answering a question of this type.
• I recommend you to also consult a good financial advisor who would look at your complete profile in totality before you act on this advice given by me.

Ans: Hello Bharathi. Your portfolio report sounds good and well chosen. No modification is required.

Ans: First of all, commendations on your dedication to investing and planning for your financial future. Your efforts in consistently investing through SIPs are commendable. I understand your concern regarding the recent SEBI news about Quant Mutual Funds. Let’s address your queries and develop a comprehensive approach to your investment strategy.

Current SIP Investments
Your commitment to Rs 60,000 in SIPs over the last year is a strong start. SIPs offer the advantage of rupee cost averaging and can help in building a substantial corpus over time.

Evaluating Recent Investments
Given your recent start with Quant Mid Cap and Quant Large & Mid Cap funds, and the news about SEBI’s stance on Quant MF, your concerns are valid. Here’s a detailed analysis:

Market and Regulatory Sentiments: Regulatory actions can sometimes create uncertainty. However, it’s important to understand the specifics of SEBI's concerns and how they might impact the fund's performance and management.

Fund Performance: Before making any decisions, evaluate the historical performance of these funds. Look at their consistency, returns, and how they have managed risks.

Fund Management: Assess the expertise and track record of the fund managers. Effective management can often navigate through regulatory and market challenges.

Deciding on Continuation or Stopping SIPs
Continue Monitoring
Your decision to continue with the two existing funds while monitoring the situation is prudent. Here’s why:

Long-Term Perspective: Equity investments, especially in mutual funds, are meant for the long term. Short-term fluctuations or news should not drastically impact long-term strategies.

Performance Review: Regularly review the performance of these funds over the next 6-12 months. Evaluate them against their benchmarks and peer funds.

Adjust if Needed: If you notice consistent underperformance or if regulatory issues significantly impact the fund, consider reallocating to more stable funds.

New SIP in Quant ELSS
Considering the SEBI news, it’s understandable to be cautious about starting a new SIP in Quant ELSS. Here’s an alternative approach:

Diversification: Instead of putting all your SIPs in Quant funds, consider diversifying across different fund houses. This spreads your risk and can provide stability.

Evaluate Other ELSS Funds: Look for other ELSS funds with strong track records, good management, and consistent performance. ELSS not only offers tax benefits but also has the potential for good long-term returns.

Advantages of Actively Managed Funds
Actively managed funds are beneficial for several reasons:

Expertise: Fund managers actively make decisions to maximize returns and minimize risks.

Flexibility: These funds can adapt to changing market conditions, unlike index funds which replicate market performance.

Disadvantages of Direct Funds
While direct funds have lower expense ratios, there are notable disadvantages:

Lack of Professional Guidance: Without a Certified Financial Planner, managing direct funds can be challenging.

Time-Consuming: Monitoring and adjusting investments require significant time and expertise.

Recommended Strategy for Your SIPs
Diversified Portfolio
A well-diversified portfolio across different fund categories can enhance returns and reduce risks. Consider these steps:

Large Cap Funds: These funds invest in well-established companies with a stable growth trajectory.

Mid Cap Funds: They invest in medium-sized companies with potential for high growth.

Small Cap Funds: Suitable for aggressive investors, these funds can offer high returns but come with higher risks.

Balanced or Hybrid Funds: These funds offer a mix of equity and debt, providing stability and growth.

Regular Reviews
Schedule regular reviews with your Certified Financial Planner to ensure your portfolio remains aligned with your financial goals and market conditions. Adjustments may be necessary based on performance and market changes.

Building a Robust Investment Plan
Your goal should be to build a robust investment plan that can withstand market fluctuations and regulatory changes. Here’s how:

Emergency Fund
Maintain your emergency fund of Rs 15 lakhs. This provides a safety net for unexpected expenses and ensures you don’t have to dip into your investments prematurely.

Goal-Based Investments
Children’s Education: Continue investing through SIPs in diversified equity funds for long-term growth. This will help accumulate the required corpus for their education.

Retirement Planning: Invest in aggressive growth funds for your retirement goal. Starting early and maintaining consistency will leverage the power of compounding.

Importance of Staying Informed
Stay informed about market trends and regulatory changes. Knowledge empowers you to make informed decisions and adapt to changes effectively.

Role of a Certified Financial Planner
A Certified Financial Planner can provide invaluable guidance. They can:

Customise Portfolio: Tailor your investments based on your financial goals, risk tolerance, and market conditions.

Regular Monitoring: Continuously monitor your portfolio and make necessary adjustments.

Risk Management: Help you navigate market and regulatory risks effectively.

Final Insights
Your proactive approach to investing is commendable. Continuously monitoring and reviewing your investments is crucial. While the SEBI news about Quant MF is concerning, maintaining a long-term perspective is important. Diversify your portfolio to mitigate risks and ensure you are investing in well-managed funds.

Stay informed, regularly review your portfolio, and seek guidance from a Certified Financial Planner. This comprehensive approach will help you achieve your financial goals and secure your future.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

Ans: You have been investing in ELSS funds for three years, which shows a good level of discipline. Achieving returns between 38% and 58% is quite impressive, especially within such a short duration. ELSS funds have a lock-in period of three years, and now that this is over, you have the flexibility to evaluate and potentially reallocate.

However, before taking any action, it’s essential to assess both your financial goals and the overall market situation. Since ELSS funds are equity-linked, they tend to offer high returns in the long run. But it's important to align your investment choices with your financial needs and risk appetite.

Continue in ELSS or Switch?
Let’s break down the factors to help you decide whether to continue investing in these ELSS funds or shift to other categories such as small-cap or mid-cap funds.

Performance Consistency: The ELSS funds you’ve mentioned have given strong returns, but consistency is key. Look at their long-term track record, not just the last three years. Consider whether they have consistently outperformed their benchmarks over the past 5-10 years.

Tax Benefits of ELSS: One of the primary reasons for choosing ELSS is the tax-saving benefit under Section 80C. Since your ELSS funds are no longer locked in, you are free to withdraw or shift funds. However, if you still need tax-saving instruments, continuing with ELSS might be wise.

Your Risk Appetite: ELSS funds are generally less risky compared to small-cap and mid-cap funds. If your risk tolerance is low, you might want to stay invested in ELSS funds. On the other hand, if you're looking for aggressive growth and are comfortable with more volatility, small-cap or mid-cap funds might suit you.

Investment Horizon: If your investment horizon is long-term (10 years or more), then investing in small-cap or mid-cap funds could yield higher returns. These categories are known for their potential to generate substantial growth, but they also come with higher risk.

Assessing Small-Cap and Mid-Cap Funds
Potential for Higher Returns: Small-cap and mid-cap funds tend to outperform large-cap and diversified funds over the long term. They invest in smaller and growing companies, which have the potential for higher growth.

Increased Volatility: The small-cap and mid-cap segments are also more volatile. They can experience sharp fluctuations based on market conditions, so you need to be prepared for potential short-term losses.

Diversification Benefit: If you are currently heavily invested in large-cap or diversified equity funds, adding small-cap and mid-cap funds can offer diversification. It’s important to have a well-balanced portfolio to spread risk across different segments.

Regular Review of Portfolio: Shifting to small-cap and mid-cap funds will require you to review your portfolio regularly. These funds are more sensitive to market conditions, and you will need to assess their performance more frequently compared to large-cap funds or ELSS.

The Role of Asset Allocation
Before making any changes to your investment, revisit your asset allocation strategy. The key to long-term financial success is ensuring that your portfolio is diversified across different asset classes. Here are some tips:

Equity Exposure: Since equity is known for long-term wealth creation, ensure that your portfolio has sufficient exposure to equity. If your risk tolerance is high, increasing exposure to small-cap and mid-cap funds might make sense.

Debt Exposure: If you have already allocated a significant portion of your portfolio to equity (including ELSS), you might want to balance it with some low-risk debt instruments like PPF, FDs, or bonds. This will reduce the overall risk and provide more stability.

Rebalance Regularly: Regular rebalancing is necessary to maintain your desired asset allocation. If one part of your portfolio grows faster than others, it might lead to overexposure to that asset class. Ensure you review your portfolio at least once a year.

Disadvantages of Direct Funds
If you are currently investing directly in these funds, it's important to understand that direct plans require you to manage everything on your own. Here are some downsides:

Lack of Professional Guidance: Direct funds don’t offer the expert advice and monitoring that come with regular funds through a certified financial planner. This can make it difficult for you to track performance and make timely decisions.

Time-Consuming: Managing direct funds requires significant time and effort. If you’re busy with your profession or other commitments, this might not be ideal for you.

Missed Opportunities: Without professional guidance, you may miss opportunities to rebalance or switch to better-performing funds at the right time.

It’s advisable to invest through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), who can help you make informed decisions based on your risk profile, goals, and current financial situation.

Advantages of Regular Funds with a Certified Financial Planner
Professional Management: A CFP can help you choose the right funds and monitor your portfolio regularly, ensuring that it stays aligned with your financial goals.

Timely Advice: When markets are volatile, having professional advice is invaluable. They can guide you on when to stay invested or when to move your investments to other categories.

Goal-Oriented Approach: A CFP will keep your long-term financial goals in mind while recommending changes to your portfolio, ensuring that your investments remain focused on achieving your desired outcomes.

Evaluating Fund Categories
Since you are considering a switch to small-cap or mid-cap funds, here’s a quick evaluation of different fund categories:

Large-Cap Funds: These funds invest in large, established companies. They offer stability and moderate growth. If you want less volatility, consider large-cap funds.

Mid-Cap Funds: Mid-cap funds invest in medium-sized companies that have high growth potential. They offer higher returns than large-cap funds but are also more volatile.

Small-Cap Funds: These funds invest in smaller companies that are still in the growth phase. They offer the highest potential for returns but are also the most volatile.

Multi-Cap Funds: These funds invest across all categories – large, mid, and small-cap companies. They offer a balanced approach, combining stability with growth potential.

Best Practices for Future Investments
Continue SIPs: SIPs are a disciplined way to invest in equity markets. They allow you to average out your cost of investment and reduce the risk of market timing.

Focus on Long-Term Goals: If you have long-term financial goals such as retirement, education for your child, or wealth creation, keep your focus on building a strong portfolio with a long-term perspective.

Risk Management: Ensure that your portfolio is diversified enough to manage risk effectively. Don’t put all your money into one asset class or fund category.

Seek Professional Guidance: A CFP can help you review your existing portfolio and make any necessary changes based on your financial goals and risk tolerance. Regular reviews with a professional can ensure that you stay on track.

Final Insights
You have already built a strong investment base, which is commendable. Your ELSS funds have performed well, and you’re considering moving into more aggressive categories. However, before making any moves, consider your long-term goals, risk tolerance, and asset allocation strategy.

Shifting into small-cap or mid-cap funds could boost your returns, but they come with higher risk. Consult with a Certified Financial Planner to ensure that your portfolio is well-diversified and aligned with your financial objectives.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in