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When Should You Invest in Mutual Funds?

by Sneha Shukla

Introduction

When it relates to putting money into mutual funds, there is no such thing as a perfect moment. There are many options available when it comes to mutual funds. One should always remember that each investor has different financial goals and individual situations which may or may not fit the scheme of a particular scheme that the investor is using at any point in time. Investing in an equities mutual fund involves investment primarily in shares, whereas mutual funds that invest majorly in debt securities are called Debt Funds. The best thing about mutual funds is that you do not need to time the market, all you need to do is choose your ‘ideal’ fund to invest into.

This article will go into this in detail.

What exactly is a mutual fund?

A mutual fund can be defined as a professionally managed investment vehicle which puts together funds from multiple institutional and individual investors with the same financial objectives. This pooled investment amount is invested in capital assets. These processes are done by financial professionals who are named – ‘fund managers’.

Investors benefit from this as they receive a scaling advantage as well as decent returns, at a much low cost. Apart from this, these funds invest the pooled money in multiple asset classes and therefore, the investors also receive the diversification benefit from these funds. 

Investing via mutual funds is on the rise lately as people are becoming more aware of its features and benefits. India is shifting away from traditional investing alternatives and toward mutual funds in order to achieve its financial objectives. Nevertheless, some individuals are still unsure when it is appropriate to put money into mutual funds. This is something that we are addressing today. 

 Best time for mutual fund investment

One of the main reasons why the mutual fund is as popular as it is today is due to its highly flexible nature. Given the availability of numerous fund categories that fit investors of any and all risk levels, there has arisen an increasing acceptability of investing in mutual funds. Investors nowadays are interested not only in selecting the ideal fund to engage in but also in the best timing to engage in mutual fund investments. There are no restrictions that require investors in mutual funds to be working people. Mutual funds are available to students as well.

Also, there’s no such thing as the best time to invest in mutual funds. People can put money into mutual funds whenever they choose. However, it is always preferable to purchase these funds at a low NAV instead of a higher cost. This will not only increase your earnings but also your accumulation of wealth. 

The following are three instances in which investments in mutual funds are appropriate:

  1. Markets have reached rock bottom.
  2. Yields from bonds are at an all-time high.
  3. Real estate development has plummeted.

All or any of these scenarios represent the perfect time to invest in mutual funds. However, although these scenarios are possible in theory, they never come in reality. It is impossible to predict or define such timelines and even if you predict, you cannot confirm if the ongoing condition matches the scenarios mentioned above. 

Due to this, you must not wait and start investing your hard-earning money via mutual funds whenever you have the budget and opportunity to do so. 

Factors determining the best mutual fund scheme

We now understand that rather than waiting for the right time to invest in mutual funds, it is best to start early and follow the fundamentals to generate high returns. Nevertheless, there’s a second phase in this procedure – determining the correct mutual fund to invest in, which is dependent on various aspects, including your own objectives. They are as follows:

  • Investor’s risk profile

The primary factor is the investor’s risk appetite. In general, mutual funds carry low to moderate risk elements. However, you can also invest in schemes like equity mutual funds which carry higher risk factors. You can compare different plans according to their risks and returns in online mutual fund calculator.

  • Investment return

If an investor has a high-risk profile, he or she can invest in equity mutual funds to get higher returns. On the contradictory, investors with low-risk profiles can invest in debt funds which are usually less risky. It is advisable to check return rates in online mutual fund calculators before purchasing. 

The bottom line

Mutual funds are a good option for investing in equities as well as debt instruments in India. In view of the maturity of the mutual fund industry in India, one can choose from a range of schemes with varying investment styles and risk profiles, so that one can select the most suitable investment option over another at any given time. It is a good idea to check the return rates on online mutual fund calculators and purchase your ideal fund whenever your budget allows you to do so. The key ingredient to selecting an appropriate mutual fund scheme is properly allocating your savings by keeping in mind your goals and risk-return profile. 

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