Mutual Funds Based on Investment Goals



1.      Growth Funds
Growth funds usually put a huge portion in shares and growth sectors, suitable for investors  who have a surplus of idle money to be distributed in riskier plans  or are positive about the scheme.

2.      Income Funds
This belongs to the family of debt mutual funds that distribute their money in a mix of bonds, certificate of deposits and securities among others. Helmed by skilled fund managers who keep the portfolio in tandem with the rate fluctuations without compromising on the portfolio’s creditworthiness, Income Funds have historically earned investors better returns than deposits and are best suited for risk-averse individuals from a 2-3 years perspective.

3.      Liquid Funds
Like Income Funds, this too belongs to the debt fund category as they invest in debt instruments and money market with a tenure of up to 91 days. The maximum sum allowed to invest is Rs 10 lakhs. One feature that differentiates Liquid Funds from other debt funds is how the Net Asset Value is calculated – NAV of liquid funds are calculated for 365 days (including Sundays) while for others, only business days are calculated.

4.      Tax-Saving Funds
ELSS or Equity Linked Saving Scheme is gaining popularity as it serves investors the double benefit of building wealth as well as save on taxes – all in the lowest lock-in period of only 3 years. Investing predominantly in equity (and related products), it has been known to earn you non-taxed returns from 14-16%. This is best-suited for long-term and salaried investors.

5.      Aggressive Growth Funds
Slightly on the riskier side when choosing where to invest in, Aggressive Growth Fund is designed to make steep monetary gains. Though susceptible to market volatility, you may choose one as per the beta (the tool to gauge the fund’s movement in comparison with the market). Example, if the market shows a beta of 1, an aggressive growth fund will reflect a higher beta, say, 1.10 or above.

6.      Capital Protection Funds
If protecting your principal is your priority, Capital Protection Funds can serve the purpose while earning relatively smaller returns (12% at best). The fund manager invests a portion of your money in bonds or CDs and the rest in equities. You will not incur any loss. However, you need a least 3 years (closed-ended) to safeguard your money and the returns are taxable.

7.      Fixed Maturity Funds
Investors choose as the FY ends to take advantage of triple indexation, thereby bringing down tax burden. If uncomfortable with the debt market trends and related risks, Fixed Maturity Plans (FMP) – investing in bonds, securities, money market etc. – present a great opportunity. As a close-ended plan, FMP functions on a fixed maturity period, which could range from 1 month to 5 years (like FDs). The Fund Manager makes sure to put the money in an investment with the same tenure, to reap accrual interest at the time of FMP maturity.

8.      Pension Funds
Putting away a portion of your income in a chosen Pension Fund to accrue over a long period to secure you and your family’s financial future after retiring from regular employment – it can take care of most contingencies (like a medical emergency or children’s wedding). Relying solely on savings to get through your golden years is not recommended as savings (no matter how big) get used up. EPF is an example, but there are many lucrative schemes offered by banks, insurance firms etc.

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