Summary of this article
Mutual funds fall under various categories such as large-cap funds, mid-cap funds, small-cap funds, balanced funds, sector-specific funds, among others.
Each fund category has different asset classes which have different risks and returns.
Choose your mutual funds wisely after researching well. Select mutual funds keeping in mind your risk appetite and investment goals.
Disciplined investing has become the need of the hour if one wants to accumulate wealth over the long term. With market uncertainty on the rise, systematic investment plans (SIPs) allow you to stay invested through market ups and downs, and invest regularly in a mutual fund scheme. While investing through SIPs is relatively easy, there are a few things you should know before starting your SIP journey.
Here are seven points you should keep in mind while investing through SIPs:
Select Mutual Funds: Choose your mutual funds wisely after researching well. Select them keeping in mind your risk appetite and investment goals. Factors like fund category, asset allocation, fund manager, fund tenure and expense ratio should be considered before choosing a mutual fund. Choose mutual funds from different fund categories.
Financial planners say SIPs enforce financial discipline. The ideal SIP should be programmed into your Netbanking. It will automatically deduct the fixed amount every month to be diverted into your chosen mutual fund. This ensures that money is being systematically invested every month. Each month, it helps you get closer to fulfilling your aspirations.
Fund Categories: Mutual funds fall under various categories, such as large-cap funds, mid-cap funds, small-cap funds, balanced funds, sector-specific funds, among others. Each fund category has different asset classes which have different risks and returns. Having a healthy portfolio containing funds from different categories can reap you good rewards.
Fund Performance: Select mutual funds which have consistent performance history and have reported healthy returns in different market conditions. There is no guarantee that your fund will perform the way it has in the past, but checking its performance history can give you clarity about its potentials.
Expense Ratio: Try selecting funds which have lower expense ratios than other funds. The expense ratio is the percentage of your investment that the fund house charges you for managing your funds. Every fund house charges a certain percentage of fees as expense ratio. The higher the expense ratio, the lesser the returns.
SIP Investment Amount And Frequency: Decide how much you want to invest every month in a mutual fund, and accordingly choose your frequency of investment. While most people prefer monthly SIPs, you could also choose quarterly or weekly SIPs. The amount of SIP should be manageable and in accordance with your commitments and recurring cash flows.
Have A Long-Term Investment Horizon: You should always invest with a long-term goal in mind. And SIPs being a long-term investment method can really help you create wealth when kept invested for the long-term. Stay invested and do not get influenced by short-term market volatility.
Review Your Portfolio: Since SIPs are a passive way to invest in the market, it is important to keep reviewing your investments at regular intervals. Review how your selected mutual funds are performing and take help from a financial advisor, if needed. Make changes to your portfolio according to your changing financial goals and market scenarios.
These are some of the key things you must know before starting your SIP journey. Remember, if you wish to create wealth through SIPs, you need to be patient and stay disciplined about your investments. Stay invested and keep monitoring your investments to meet your changing financial requirements.
