In this article, we analyze the performance of multi-asset mutual funds and discuss when and how to choose them. This is a new MF category introduced when the SEBI mutual fund categorization rules came into force. Thus the existing funds in this category are about three years old or less, barring exceptions like Axis Triple…
Continue reading →Avijit asks, ” I am in my early forties now (completed 42 this July) and have some ad-hoc investments in MF and stocks so far. I took your goal-based planning course last year. However, since then, I have been only reading one article after the other without making up my mind. I call this analysis…
Continue reading →Aakash, who is 24, asks, “My goal is Financial Independence in 20-25yrs from now. I am rooting for lazy investing and rebalancing. Monthly expenses will be 40k/p.m. and I will be able to invest 40-45k p.m. My request is to take my case and please explain whether it is too late to retire early at…
Continue reading →The freefincal Equity Mutual Fund Performance Screener (November 2021) is now available. Use it to screen for consistently performing equity mutual funds. You can screen based on fund category & benchmark and spot mutual funds with a higher return than a benchmark at a lower risk. Inside, you get discounted links to our two courses:…
Continue reading →We discuss three changes that can make the NPS an attractive retirement solution. Let us face a simple fact: The only reason many investors use the NPS is because of the “extra Rs. 50,000” tax saving or reduction in taxable income to be exact. The biggest drawback of the NPS is its rigid exit rule….
Continue reading →Swaroop asks, “I am 30 years old and have recently started investing in NPS. Can you please explain how to calculate the pension that we would receive from NPS?”. The short answer is, it is not possible to accurately calculate NPS pension. Yes, we can make an estimate, but the result is likely to be…
Continue reading →Only nine out of 87 thematic or sectoral mutual funds have consistently beaten the Nifty 100 Total Returns Index. Nifty 100 was used because, if these funds cannot consistently beat a simple large cap index (equivalent to Nifty 50 or Sensex), it makes the entire category unsuitable for retail investors who might make the mistake…
Continue reading →In this article, let us determine what percentage of mutual fund AUM is in passive funds (index funds and ETFs). We shall consider four dates to consider the AUM growth. 1: Sep 2021 (latest at the time of writing); 2: March 2020, when the mark fell due to the pandemic/lockdown. 3: Jan 2018 – Before…
Continue reading →Here is a list of stocks with low volatility and momentum for November 2021 from the Nifty 100. You can also get the historical data from March 2019 to November 2021. We filter Nifty 100 for (1) positive 1-year return, (2) positive six-month return, (3) price > 200-day moving average, (4) 50% of daily positive…
Continue reading →This article discusses why SEBI needs to categorize investment advisors like mutual funds as there is considerable confusion among investors. It has been almost nine years since the SEBI investment advisor regulations came into force. In essence, the rules mean that a person or entity has to be registered with SEBI to provide investment advice…
Continue reading →A viewer on our YouTube channel asks, “Sir, Kindly do video…how to redeem only profit from mutual funds without reducing unit’s (if we book profits our capital amount also reducing because units get reduced)”. Experienced investors and regular readers of freefincal would immediately know that the answer to this is: No, it is not possible to…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we meet Suresh Murugan. In Dec 2019, Suresh had shared his first financial audit with us: I met with an accident the day I got married and learned key money lessons. Since then, Suresh’s life has changed for the better significantly. About this series: I am grateful to…
Continue reading →Sudip asks, “Dear Pattu Sir, Thanks to your advice we now have an office-study-group with 12 people discussing money management. One member claimed that over 15 years, a lump sum investment will always beat a SIP. Is this line of thinking correct? Can you please shed some light on this?” I am delighted to hear…
Continue reading →In this edition of the reader story, we meet Mr Sailor (real name withheld on request) who, despite several mistakes (judged in the comfort of hindsight, to be fair), is on course to achieve financial independence by age 45. His journey teaches us to not wallow in regret, move forward and be consistent. About this…
Continue reading →Over the last couple of weeks, three readers have asked me why their Sovereign Gold Bonds decrease in value and how they can lose their principal in a bond with a sovereign guarantee. So, what is sovereign about these bonds? First, consider a simple bond issued by either RBI or the central or state governments….
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