All About SIP
An investor can invest in mutual funds in a lump sum or through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs). While SIP involves making regular investments into mutual funds, lumpsum investing refers to investing a large amount in a single transaction. Each of the investing modes has its pros and cons. The investors must choose a specific investment mode based on their financial goals, availability of investible funds, and risk appetite.
Investing in mutual funds through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) helps the investors to inculcate financial discipline into their lives by allowing them to invest regularly in the mutual fund scheme of their choice. The investors may choose the mutual fund scheme as per their risk appetite, financial goals, and investment horizon, and register a SIP therein to make periodic investments.
Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) is one of the investment instruments that allows the investors to avail a tax benefit up to Rs. 1.50 lakhs from the total gross income under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act 1961. Owing to its inherent benefits of lowest lock-in period of three years amongst all the eligible investment options and potential of higher returns, ELSS has been gaining immense popularity.
Prudent financial planning involves listing down the financial priorities and then steadily working towards achieving the financial goals in the desired time frame. While you may have already taken your first step towards investing towards a healthy financial future by registering a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP), it is equally important to review the investment periodically. The performance review of the investment portfolio would allow you to align your financial priorities and financial goals.
Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) allows you to invest a fixed amount into mutual fund schemes on a pre-determined periodic frequency. You can instruct the bank to auto-debit the from your account specified dates and invest in the pre-specified mutual fund scheme. This investment cycle happens automatically on a recurring basis irrespective of the market condition. This helps an individual to consistently move towards creating an investment corpus and take a step closer to achieve his/ her financial goals.
Monthly SIP inflows in mutual fund have managed to remain steady even during the recent volatile market condition. However, experts recommend that if such volatility and correction persist longer in the equity markets, it will have a significant impact on the investors. 2019 has been the year where investment in debt funds and Gold have generated better returns for the investors than the equities.
Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) has clearly emerged as preferred investment route for investing in mutual funds especially for investing in equity-oriented funds. This trend is visible from the relatively stable monthly SIP inflows. As per AMFI (Association of Mutual Funds in India) data, monthly SIP flows have continued to stay above Rs. 8,000 crores for the last 11 months and the SIP inflows during November 2019 were Rs. 8,273 crore.
Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) allows an investor to invest regularly in mutual funds on periodic intervals. As such, it enables investors to steer through the market movements effortlessly. Indian retail investors also prefer to invest in the markets through SIPs, as is evident from the monthly SIP inflows, which have sustained above Rs. 8,000 crores for more than a year now (Source: Association of Mutual Funds in India – AMFI, as on 31st December 2019).
Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) allows the investors to invest in a mutual fund scheme of their choice at periodical intervals. It automates the investment process once the investor has completed the registration process, as the investments continue to be regularly made irrespective of market ups and downs.