Investing Insights

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ETF vs Actively Managed Mutual Funds: Key Differences Every Investor Should Know

When investing in mutual funds, investors can choose from schemes that can give market returns (benchmark index) or have the potential to outperform the market. Passive schemes, including index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), provide returns that mirror the benchmark. Active schemes have the potential to outperform the benchmark. Many investors wonder whether to choose ETF or mutual fund. In this article, we will understand what are mutual funds and ETFs, their differences, and which is better: ETF or mutual fund.

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How are Mutual Fund Returns Calculated?

We invest in financial products to achieve our financial goals. Based on factors like how much we want to invest, for how long, and the target amount, it is the expected returns that help us understand whether we can achieve our goal. The returns can be measured using different ways like absolute returns, compounded annual growth rate (CAGR), etc. In this article, we will understand what is absolute return, CAGR, how they are calculated, and which one you should use.

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Mutual Funds vs Stocks: Which Investment Is Right for You?

An individual can invest in equities through two primary modes: Direct equity and equity mutual funds. Both options have their pros and cons. Many investors often ask, mutual fund vs stock: Which is better? In this article, we will understand these investment options, the pros and cons of each, the difference between stocks and mutual funds, and which is better to invest in.

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Understanding Debt and Equity Funds: Key Differences and Benefits

Investors can choose from different types of mutual funds depending on factors like investment time horizon, return expectation, lock-in period, taxation, risk involved, etc. You can look at equity funds for growth and debt funds for stability. In this article, we will understand what are equity funds and debt funds, the difference between equity and debt mutual funds, and things to consider before choosing these funds.

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Step-By-Step Guide to Starting a SIP: Everything You Need to Know

Most of us earn a regular monthly income and hence prefer to invest a regular monthly amount towards our financial goals. Also, it will be great if the monthly investment process is automated after a onetime setup. A Systematic Investment Plan or SIP allows you to do that. In this article, we will understand what is an SIP, how to invest in SIP, and where to invest in SIP.

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A Comparison of Small Cap, Mid Cap and Large Cap Funds

The equity mutual fund investing universe is quite vast. Many types of equity mutual funds exist based on the size or market capitalisation of the companies they invest in. These include large, mid, and small cap mutual fund schemes. In this article, we will understand what are large, mid, and small cap funds, their differences, and what you should consider before investing in them.

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Mutual Fund Taxation: Changes After Budget 2024

During Budget 2024, the Finance Minister rationalised and simplified long-term capital gain (LTCG) taxation across asset classes. Two major announcements were made for the same.

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What Is STP in Mutual Funds and Its Types

Have you recently received a lump sum as an annual bonus from the employer, maturity proceeds of a financial product, or won prize money from some competition/lucky draw? You must be wondering how to invest this money in a staggered manner while not worrying about impulsive spending. A systematic transfer plan (STP) can help you do that. In this article, we will understand what is STP in mutual fund, its benefits, how to do it, and things to consider before doing an STP.

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SIP Vs Lumpsum Investments: Which Is Better?

Investing towards financial goals can be done in two ways. The first option is to invest a part of the income every month for the long term. The other option is to invest a lumpsum amount once and stay invested for the long term. Both options have pros and cons, and investors often wonder which option they should choose. In this article, we will discuss SIP vs Lump sum, and which approach an investor should take.

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The Pros & Cons of Robo Advisors

Over the years, the definition of FinTech or “Financial Technology” has expanded from covering companies that supply back-end software systems to Financial Institutions to encompassing a multitude of ventures that leverage technology to disrupt existing ways of executing financial transactions or managing money.

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Portfolio Rebalancing: What Is It and How to Do It

As of August 2024, the stock markets are trading near all-time high levels. In the last one year (as of 31st July 2024), the Nifty 50 Index has risen 26.31%. The Nifty Midcap 150 Index, with 54.60% returns, and the Nifty Smallcap 250 Index, with 58.06% returns, have done even better. During the same period, fixed income has been steady, with most debt instruments giving 7-9% returns. As a result, an investor's asset allocation would get skewed in favour of equities. Hence, the investor needs to do portfolio rebalancing. In this article, we will understand what portfolio rebalancing is, why, when, and how you should do it.

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Sectoral/Thematic Funds Have Seen Inflows of Rs. 55,000 Crores in the Last 6 Months: Should You Invest?

As of July 2024, sectoral and thematic mutual funds have seen more than Rs. 55,000 crore inflows in the last six months. The AMCs are on a NFO launching spree and mutual fund investors are lapping these funds. So, what are these sectoral/thematic funds, why are investors pouring so much money into these, and should you invest? Let us discuss.