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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11000 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 02, 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
San Question by San on Apr 16, 2024Hindi
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What are the indicators of risk in a Mutual Fund Scheme

Ans: Ah, mutual funds! A great way to navigate the market, but like any good adventure, there's always a bit of risk involved. So, how do we gauge this risk? Well, imagine you're setting sail on a ship – wouldn't you want to know if it's built for calm seas or choppy waters?

Here's your captain's checklist for mutual fund risk:

The Portfolio's Compass: What kind of stocks or bonds does the fund invest in? Large, established companies are generally smoother sailing than smaller, high-growth ones.
The Market's Current: Different sectors can be more volatile than others. A fund heavily invested in technology might experience bumpier rides than one focused on consumer staples.
The Historical Charts: How has the fund performed in the past? Just because it's been smooth sailing recently doesn't guarantee calm seas ahead. Past performance isn't always a perfect indicator, but it can be a helpful clue.
These are just a few indicators, and remember, a good map (your investment plan) and a trusty advisor (a Certified Financial Planner) are crucial for a successful voyage!
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  |11000 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 08, 2024

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How do Mutual Funds help manage risk
Ans: Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool money from multiple investors to invest in a diversified portfolio of securities such as stocks, bonds, or other assets. Here's how mutual funds help manage risk:
1. Diversification: Mutual funds invest in a diversified portfolio of securities across different asset classes, sectors, industries, and geographic regions. Diversification helps spread risk and reduces the impact of adverse events affecting a single security or sector on the overall portfolio.
2. Professional Management: Mutual funds are managed by experienced fund managers who conduct thorough research, analysis, and investment selection based on market conditions, economic outlook, and investment objectives. Fund managers make informed decisions to optimize returns while managing risks effectively.
3. Risk Assessment and Management: Fund managers assess various types of risks such as market risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, and interest rate risk associated with the securities in the portfolio. They employ risk management techniques such as asset allocation, security selection, and hedging strategies to mitigate risks and protect investors' capital.
4. Asset Allocation: Mutual funds allocate investments across different asset classes such as equities, fixed income securities, and cash equivalents based on the fund's investment objective and risk profile. Asset allocation helps balance risk and return potential, depending on investors' goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.
5. Regulatory Oversight: Mutual funds are regulated by regulatory authorities such as the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in India. Regulatory oversight ensures that mutual funds adhere to regulatory guidelines, disclose relevant information to investors, and operate in a transparent and accountable manner, enhancing investor protection and confidence.
6. Transparency and Liquidity: Mutual funds provide transparency regarding their portfolio holdings, investment strategy, and performance through regular disclosures and reports. Additionally, mutual funds offer liquidity, allowing investors to buy or sell fund units at prevailing net asset values (NAVs) based on the fund's liquidity terms and redemption process.
By offering diversification, professional management, risk assessment, regulatory oversight, and transparency, mutual funds help investors manage risk effectively while seeking to achieve their financial goals over the long term.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner
www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |11000 Answers  |Ask -

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

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Is it advisable to invest in Midcap and Smallcap ETFs in India compared to Midcap and Smallcap mutual funds? While I understand that Midcap and Smallcap mutual funds may offer higher percentage returns compared to ETFs, the main issue is that no mutual fund consistently remains at the top in terms of returns. The best-performing mutual funds can change over time, making it necessary to monitor and switch from underperforming funds to top-performing ones regularly – a process that can be quite cumbersome and also incurs capital gains tax when exiting a fund. On the other hand, since ETFs track their respective indices, their percentage returns closely mirror those indices, eliminating the need for frequent switching or selling like in the case of mutual funds. However, I am uncertain whether keeping investments in ETFs over the long term (10 years or more) will yield returns comparable to mutual funds once capital gains tax is factored in during fund switches. Could you provide some insight into this?
Ans: I appreciate your thoughtful comparison of ETFs versus mutual funds. You are asking a very practical question and it shows good financial awareness. Let’s look at this carefully so you get clarity without confusion.

» What ETFs and index-linked products really do
– ETFs that track midcap and smallcap indices simply mirror the performance of those market benchmarks.
– There is no active management or stock picking to protect you during weak markets.
– When indices fall sharply, ETFs will fall by almost the same percentage. There is no defensive action.
– Index-linked products may seem low maintenance, but they do not adapt to market changes.

» Why actively managed midcap and smallcap mutual funds are different
– Actively managed funds have professional managers who choose stocks based on research, valuation and risk.
– They can adjust exposure to sectors and companies depending on market conditions.
– This means that in volatile phases, they can protect capital better than index trackers.
– Over long periods, learning to stay invested in well-managed funds often leads to better risk-adjusted outcomes.

» The challenge of “top performing” funds changing over time
– It is true that past performance ranking changes every year. No mutual fund stays number one forever.
– This is why selection should be based on long-term consistency, process, risk management and quality of management. Returns alone should not be the only criterion.
– A Certified Financial Planner helps you choose funds with good fundamentals, not just recent high returns.

» About monitoring and switching funds
– Frequent switching based only on short term performance is not a strong investment habit.
– Every switch can trigger capital gains tax for equity funds if sold within one year at higher short term tax rate, or after one year you still need to consider LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh at 12.5%.
– Good investing means giving time for your chosen strategy to work unless there is a clear reason to change.

» Why ETFs are not always better for long-term goals
– Just because ETFs avoid switching does not mean they give better returns after tax. They still rise and fall strictly with the index.
– In falling markets, index trackers cannot reduce risk, but actively managed funds can.
– Even though ETFs may look simple, they can lead to larger drawdowns when markets are weak since they cannot adapt.
– In the long term, protecting capital during weak phases is as important as chasing returns.

» When actively managed funds make sense in midcap and smallcap space
– If you have a long-term horizon (10 years or more), actively managed funds can add value through stock research and risk calibration.
– They aim for better risk-adjusted returns over full market cycles, not just bull phases.
– With a CFP’s guidance, you can build a diversified portfolio that balances midcap, smallcap and broader equity exposure without frequent tax-triggering switches.

» Practical investor behaviour perspective
– ETFs can make investing easy, but easy does not always mean better outcomes.
– Investors often buy ETFs and then fail to rebalance or adjust when markets change.
– With actively managed funds, the fund manager’s decisions complement your long term holding discipline and take some burden off you.

» Final Insights
– Avoid choosing investments just by how they are labelled (ETF or mutual fund). Look at what they actually do in markets.
– For midcap and smallcap exposure over 10 years, actively managed funds tend to offer better alignment with long-term goals and risk control than index ETFs.
– The idea that ETFs avoid switching costs is true, but it is not a strong enough reason to ignore the flexibility and risk management that active funds provide.
– Tax impact matters, and with wise planning you can manage gains efficiently without frequent switches.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

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

...Read more

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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