Investing Insights

ELSS mutual fund tax saving concept with Indian currency, calculator, and note reading “Save Tax”, representing tax saving through mutual fund investments under Section 80C.

A Guide to Understanding Tax Saving in Mutual Fund Investments

Some individuals invest in financial products only with the aim of saving taxes. They start looking for tax-saving investment products in the last quarter of the financial year. In the last quarter, their HR or Finance Team starts asking them for investment proof(s) to avoid a TDS deduction from salary. It is not the best way to invest. The appropriate approach is to do goal-planning and, within that look for tax-efficient financial products. In this article, we will understand what are tax-saving mutual funds and how to maximise tax savings with them.

Asset allocation chart showing a balanced investment portfolio with stocks, bonds, mutual funds, cash, gold, and REITs for long-term financial planning.

Essential Asset Allocation Strategies for a Balanced Investment Portfolio

In 2024 (as of June 2024), the Nifty 50 Index has given a return of 28.12%. During the same period, gold has gone up by 23.56% and fixed income has given a return of 7.27%. In the calendar year 2022, gold was the top-performing asset class, whereas in 2015, fixed income was the top-performing asset class. So, different asset classes take turns to outperform each other year after year. Hence when it comes to managing existing wealth, most investors follow asset allocation by building a diversified investment portfolio. In this article, we will understand what asset allocation is, asset allocation strategies, and how to use them to build a balanced investment portfolio.

Hand holding a smartphone displaying stacked coins with an upward growth arrow, symbolising smart investing and wealth growth

A Step-by-Step Guide to Personal Financial Planning

Some individuals follow a return-centric approach to investing. They chase returns by selecting mutual funds based on the last one and three-year returns. However, that is not the right approach. The appropriate approach is to identify your financial goals and invest towards fulfilling them. It keeps you focused on your investments for the long term till the goals are achieved. The personal financial planning journey can help you map all your financial goals, invest towards them, and review them till they are achieved. In this article, we will understand what is personal financial planning and how to go about it.

How to Plan For Retirement in Your 30s, 40s, and 50s

Would you like to retire with a sufficient corpus to be financially independent in the golden years of your life. Retirement is that phase of life that most people look forward to. Most individuals would have taken care of their financial liabilities and responsibilities by then. But do you know that if planned properly, you could actually create a corpus that could generate retirement income for the rest of your life and be more fulfilled by having enough time to do things you would enjoy most like time with family and relatives, hobbies, travel, socialise etc. Ideally, you should start planning for your retirement corpus at the earliest stage of your working life. If you have not planned, you can still start now, whether in your 30s, 40s or 50s. In this article, we will understand how to plan for retirement at your age.

Investing with Purpose: Goal-based Investing for Women

At the start of July 2024, Axis Mutual Fund released the "Women Investment Behaviour Report 2024". It has interesting insights on how women invest. It talks about the rising participation of women in mutual funds, how they persist with their investments even during market corrections, their goals like building wealth and securing retirement top the chart, etc. All these insights highlight how women are taking control of their investments. Let us discuss how investing with a purpose or goal-based investing can make women resilient and focused investors and, thus, help them achieve their financial goals.

how to invest in mutual funds for saving and wealth growth

How to Invest in Mutual Funds: Tips for Building a Balanced Portfolio

Mutual funds are one of the most versatile financial products to help you achieve your financial goals. They can help you diversify across various asset classes, such as domestic and international equities, fixed income, gold, etc. Some of them, like hybrid and multi-asset funds can help to build a diversified portfolio by investing in multiple asset classes through a single scheme. They allow you to make lumpsum and regular investments through SIP. Thus, mutual funds can cater to different investors with different schemes based on their requirements. In this article, we will understand how to invest in mutual funds and how to build a balanced portfolio through them.

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.

A hand adjusts percentage blocks on a yellow background under the text “Calculate Mutual Fund Return,” illustrating how mutual fund returns are calculated over time.

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.

Visual comparison of large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap and micro-cap stocks, illustrating how mutual fund categories differ by market capitalization.

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.

Illustration explaining STP in mutual funds, showing transfer from savings account and liquid fund to equity mutual fund for systematic investing.

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.

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.

Thematic funds vs sectoral mutual funds illustration highlighting recent inflows and investment decision factors.

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.