Beginner

This is a regular question that I get asked at meetings with investors and mutual fund distributors. It is even more common today as markets have moved up to a record high and valuations have pushed significantly higher. This question presupposes that I have the skills to discern the risks in the market. Blessed as I am with a worrying & skeptical nature, I see risks all the time. But, the problem with risk is that the biggest and market disrupting risks are those that I cannot see. Worse they are the unknown unknowns.

As we all know, there are various types of mutual fund schemes catering to different investment needs. And having a right mix of mutual funds may aid in building a corpus over a period of time. Likewise, while investing in value funds it would lead to diversification in investment style and unlock the potential of wealth creation over medium to long run.

Value Investing is dead was the oft repeated conclusion of investors who were being fed by commentaries of the investing community in early 2020. The conclusion was backed by not only short term performance data of 1 to 3 years performance but even looking at performance data of longer period of 10 years of value as style as compared to growth.

With the evolution of the financial markets, investors today have a wide range of investment options to choose from. However, to make an informed investment decision, one must carefully evaluate the different options available out there. This article aims to discuss different broad categories of investments as below:

A father's role in his children's lives cannot be quantified, but it can only be expressed in emotions. A father makes several sacrifices for his children and family but seldom expects anything back. Beneath everyone’s success is a strong foundation of the dreams and aspirations of a father who believes in only taking care of his family and many times not even expressing their feelings and emotions to the family. 

A Father-child relationship is one of the most beautiful relationships in the world. However, it is often felt that a father may not even express their emotions and feelings with their children yet silently work towards fulfilling all the dreams and aspirations of their child. Traditionally, financial matters often flow from top to bottom, with your Father taking care of your savings, etc., during the early stages of your lives. 

Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) are a special category of equity mutual fund schemes that provide tax benefits to the investors and are commonly known as tax-saving mutual funds. As of 30 June 2021, such funds manage around Rs. 1.36 lakh crores of AUM (Assets Under Management). ELSS funds are reasonably popular amongst retail investors, with 1.28 crore investor folios in such schemes as on that date 

Source: AMFI – Association of Mutual Funds in India

Independence Day opens up a flood of emotions in every Indian. While the Indian freedom struggle teaches patriotism, grit and sacrifice, you can also learn valuable investment lessons. Following are some valuable lessons that we Indians can learn from the country's freedom struggle and its leaders.

Determination and Perseverance Pays

"Swaraj is my birth right, and I shall have it."

While the Covid 19 pandemic took the world by storm, one of the lessons of this crisis is the realization that we must all prepare for any such eventuality in the future. It is imperative to properly plan and manage one’s finances for building a financially secured future. Here is a beginner’s guide to financial planning in 2021 and for the future years: 

When investing in mutual funds, one must choose the mutual fund schemes that best suit their financial goals and risk appetite. In addition, selecting the equity investments basis their market capitalisation is one of the selection criteria, as different market cap segments carry different risk-reward trade-offs.