Screenshots of the new MF Utility online transaction portal

MF Utility is a mutual fund transaction portal jointly run by 25 AMCs. From today, 1st Jan 2016, investors can use its online transaction portal to invest in direct mutual funds. Instructions for how to go about this can be found here: MF Utility Online Platform is operational! Here some screenshots of the transaction portal taken…

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MF Utility Operational: Online Platform for Direct Mutual Funds!

MF Utility, online transaction portal for investing in direct mutual fund plans from 25 AMCs (as of now), is operational!  Here are instructions to access the portal. Steps necessary to use the online facility of MF Utility Obtain a Common Account Number (CAN) following the instructions in the investor page of MFU The CAN form…

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Mutual fund portfolio construction using a investment style box

Here is a simple way to construct a diversified mutual fund portfolio, or to declutter and reconstruct an existing portfolio using the investment style box available at mutual fund star rating portals. The following are the attributes of a ‘good’ portfolio. Diversification across assets classes (equity and fixed income should do) Diversification within each asset class….

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Risk Ladder for Equity Mutual Funds: Watch your step!

The standard deviation is the simplest way of measuring volatility of an instrument. For investors, it is, the most important risk measure they should be aware of while choosing product categories.  It is in my opinion, the key to successful mutual fund investing  and can help you select mutual fund categories suitable for your financial goals When…

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CAGR vs XIRR: Understanding Annualized Return

Here is a 7-minute video that discusses the differences and similarities between the two types of annualized returns: the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) and the extended internal rate of return (XIRR). An annualized return treats an investment in a volatile instrument (gold, stocks, debt funds) as one that compounds and calculates an average year-upon-year return….

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How to use a retirement calculator

This is a 15 minute user manual for using a retirement calculator. It describes the nature of inputs found in typical retirement calculators highlighting the importance of reasonable inputs and erring on the side of caution. Although freefincal retirement planner app now available at Google Play is used for the illustration, the video is applicable for…

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What Return Can I Expect From Equity Over the Long term? Part 1

How much can I expect from equity as an asset class for long-term goals?. This is a question one often hears from first-time investors, especially those who are migrating from the comfort of fixed deposits or real estate. Unfortunately, answers from experienced equity investors are steeped in hindsight bias. They often extrapolate their own good…

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