How to choose the best mutual funds for SIP

How to choose the best mutual funds

Choosing the best mutual funds for your SIP is very critical for your investment needs and therefore, you need to know the following 6 things –

What is your investment objective

Before finding best mutual funds for SIP, it is important to know what you are investing for. You need to ask yourself questions like :

1. Are you investing for the short term or the long term ?
2. What is your risk profile ?

Your investment horizon and risk profile as knowing these will help you in determining which type of fund will suit you.

For example - if you are investing for a short term and okay with moderate and consistent returns debt funds might be suitable for you. However, if you are investing for the long term horizon, equity mutual fund schemes can be suitable for you as it has the potential of generating the highest return comparable to other fund categories as well as asset classes.

What are the mutual fund types

As mutual funds are of various types, it is important to know which type is suitable for your risk appetite thus it can become your best mutual fund for SIP. Let’s take a quick look at the various types of mutual funds:

1. Equity Mutual Funds : Equity mutual funds are the most preferred choice for doing long term SIPs. The equity mutual funds are further categorised into various types like, large cap funds, diversified equity funds, mid & small cap funds, Index Funds and sectoral and thematic funds. Equity mutual funds can become your best mutual funds for SIPs if your risk profile is moderately high to high.
2. Debt Funds : Debt mutual funds can be further classified based on the investment tenure and your investment needs. For example – long term debt funds, short term funds, ultra short term funds and liquid funds. Depending upon how long you want to continue your SIP, you should choose an appropriate debt fund. These funds can be suitable for investors with conservative to moderate risk taking ability.
3. Balanced Funds : These are also called hybrid mutual funds as they invest in both equity and debt instruments. While the equity portion provides the return kicker the debt portion provides stability to the portfolio. Balanced funds can be the best mutual funds for SIP if your risk profile is moderately high.
4. ELSS or tax saving mutual Funds : SIP in ELSS funds can be started if you want to save taxes under Section 80C. ELSS Funds are essentially diversified equity funds and can be your best mutual funds for SIP if your risk profile is moderately high to high and the need is to save taxes along with regular investments.

If you plan to start a SIP in ELSS mutual funds do read this blog – three best mutual fund ELSS tax savers to invest in this season

Mutual fund performance & returns

A comparison of historical performance of the scheme you have chosen as best mutual funds for your SIPnot only tells you how strong or weak the fund was but you must also check whether the chosen scheme has a consistent track record of beating the category average returns and benchmark returns and how the scheme fared compared to its peers in the group.

Fund House (AMC)

The fund management practice and the investment process followed by an AMC and the fund manager/sare very important aspects of fund management in the interest of the unit holders. Before investing, you should know more about the AMC, the fund manager’s track record of managing the various schemes along with the scheme that you intend to start your SIP in. You should read the scheme information document (SID) and key information memorandum (KIM) to know about the fund house’s investment approach, the scheme investment objective etc.

Entry and exit load of the chosen scheme

Around 4 year back, The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) stopped fund houses from levying any entry loads on any mutual fund schemes. Now, the only charge you might pay is the exit load if you redeem your SIP units before the exit load period. The information about exit load is available on the application form and on the Key information memorandum or KIM.

Expense ratio of the scheme

You might have chosen the best mutual funds for SIP but have you checked the expense ratio of the scheme? What is the expense ratio? Expense ratio comprises management fee, brokerage charges and administrative costs etc. and is charged to the scheme annually. Mutual fund schemes with higher assets under management (AUM) usually have lower expense ratios as you can see in the following example in case of equity funds –

• On the first Rs. 100 Crores of the daily net assets – 2.50% p.a.
• On the next Rs. 300 Crores of the daily net assets – 2.25% p.a.
• On the next Rs. 300 Crores of the daily net assets – 2.00% p.a.
• On the balance of the daily net assets – 1.75% p.a.

Therefore, if your selected scheme has a higher AUM it will charge you lesser expenses and thus increase the returns.

Therefore, before starting a mutual fund SIP and finding the best mutual funds for your SIP, you should know the above 6 things so that the selection of your best mutual fund for SIP should also be fitting to your risk profile, investment objectives and thus make your SIP investment journey more meaningful and result oriented.

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