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Ramalingam Kalirajan |10881 Answers |Ask -Follow

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Oct 24, 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

Asked by Anonymous - Oct 23, 2024Hindi

Which is the best MF in NIFTY 500 momentum 50 FROM : P.SRINIVASA RAO

Ans: Momentum investing focuses on buying stocks that have shown strong performance in the recent past. It assumes that these stocks will continue to perform well. In India, the NIFTY 500 Momentum 50 Index tracks the top 50 companies in the NIFTY 500 based on their momentum.

Before recommending any mutual funds or suggesting strategies, it’s crucial to understand a few aspects:

Momentum strategies are excellent for short-term gains but can experience sharp declines in volatile markets. The performance is driven by market trends, which can change quickly.

Momentum funds rely heavily on market timing. As a result, these funds can be more volatile than other types of funds.

Why Actively Managed Funds May Be Better

While you may have your eyes set on index funds that track the NIFTY 500 Momentum 50 Index, there are reasons why actively managed funds might be more suitable.

Flexibility: Actively managed funds allow fund managers to respond to changing market conditions. Index funds, on the other hand, are tied to their benchmark index and cannot shift to more profitable opportunities during market downturns.

Outperformance potential: A skilled fund manager can outperform the index by selecting high-potential stocks or avoiding risky sectors.

Disadvantages of Index Funds: One of the biggest drawbacks of index funds is their lack of flexibility. When the market falls, index funds go down with it. They can’t avoid weak-performing stocks in the index, leading to losses during bear markets.

For long-term growth, a balanced approach that includes actively managed funds can help reduce volatility while capturing gains. You should seek funds that are actively managed by professionals who can make decisions based on changing market conditions.

Regular Plans Over Direct Plans

While direct plans may seem attractive due to their lower expense ratios, regular plans come with several benefits when you invest through a certified financial planner (CFP):

Ongoing Support: Regular plans come with expert guidance and advice from a CFP. Direct plans require you to make investment decisions independently, which can be challenging without professional insight.

Professional Monitoring: A CFP will review your portfolio regularly to ensure it aligns with your goals and market conditions.

Direct plans may look cheaper, but the expertise and monitoring offered by a regular plan can provide greater long-term benefits.

Tax Implications to Consider

When investing in equity mutual funds, it’s important to be aware of the tax implications:

LTCG (Long-Term Capital Gains): Gains above Rs 1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%. This applies if you hold your investment for more than one year.

STCG (Short-Term Capital Gains): Gains from investments held for less than a year are taxed at 20%.

Be mindful of these tax rules when planning your investment strategy.

Broader Investment Strategy

Momentum investing can be a part of your portfolio, but it’s essential to have a balanced approach to reduce risk. Here are a few suggestions:

Diversify: Spread your investments across different asset classes such as large-cap, mid-cap, and debt funds. This reduces overall risk and provides more stable returns.

Review regularly: Momentum funds require constant monitoring due to their market sensitivity. Regular reviews ensure that you stay on track with your financial goals.

Align with your goals: Make sure that any investment you make aligns with your long-term financial objectives.

Final Insights

Momentum investing in NIFTY 500 Momentum 50 Index can offer high returns, but it also comes with increased risk. Actively managed funds, combined with regular monitoring, can help provide better performance and reduce risk. Diversifying your portfolio with funds from different categories will give you a more balanced and stable investment strategy.

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.