The S&P BSE Sensex and NSE’s Nifty 50 are once again near all-time highs.

Valuations have reached a tipping point.

Maybe it's time to exercise caution? But how?

Well, in such market environments, investment in mutual funds through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) could be a good route. Through SIPs, you can stagger your investments, and if the market does go through a correction, you will be in a situation to accumulate more units through your regular monthly or quarterly investments.

Even for those who missed the Sensex rally over the past few years, now is another opportunity.

Why do we say this?

Nearly a decade ago, the S&P BSE Sensex hit the milestone of 20,000 points for the first time. Currently, the Sensex is near the 30,000 mark. So, had you invested a lump sum in the market a decade ago, you would be sitting on paltry returns — a CAGR of 4.14%.

Had you invested in the Sensex (total return index) via a SIP on the 1st of every month, from January 2008 to September 2017, your investment would have grown at a compounded rate of 12.07%. This means, if you would have invested Rs 5,000 each month across the 117-month period, your investment of Rs 5.85 lakh would have nearly doubled to Rs 10.72 lakh, as on September 13, 2017.

Let’s remember that SIP is only a mode of investing. It is equally important to pick the right set of funds.

Why so?

Consider this. Out of the 100-odd equity diversified mutual fund schemes that have been in existence for over a decade, the top 15 schemes generated a yield of over 20% in the period of our SIP analysis above. The bottom 15 schemes delivered compounded returns that were below 13%. The difference is a huge 7-percentage point in compounded returns.

The monthly investment of Rs 5,000 over the 117-month period would now be worth Rs 22.54 lakh in the best performing scheme (in hindsight), which generated a yield of 26.55%. Had you picked the worst equity scheme, the investment would be worth a mere Rs 9.20 lakh, an XIRR of 9.13%.

As seen above, picking the right mutual fund scheme is critical. You need to build a solid portfolio of funds that aims to ensure your returns are among the best, while effectively dealing with the whims and fancies of Mr Market.

So... how do you pick the best mutual funds to start a SIP?

Well, no one has a magic crystal ball that can foretell which mutual fund schemes will top the list over the next decade. However, through years of experience, one can define a process that can be used to shortlist potentially the best mutual fund schemes for the future.

Besides, putting all your eggs in one basket can prove perilous. Hence, there is a need to diversify the investment over a set of schemes that have the capability to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns and have dealt with the market conditions tactfully. After all, you require mutual fund schemes that stand by you in good times and in bad – meaning, the schemes need to manage the downside of the market well, apart from generating sound returns in a market rally.

PersonalFN understands that not all investors are equipped with wherewithal to select the best mutual fund schemes for their portfolio. One would have to spend hours analysing mutual fund schemes in order to arrive at the right list for them. Thus, PersonalFN saves you the trouble and does all the dull number-crunching work for you.

Well, the wait is finally over.

PersonalFN has launched the Exclusive Report on SIP-worthy mutual funds— The Super Investment Portfolio – For SIP Investors.

After our rigorous shortlisting process, we go a step ahead when picking funds that are SIP-worthy. Under this, PersonalFN conducts a detailed analysis on how SIPs in the top shortlisted funds have performed, across multiple market conditions and timeframes. Only those funds that successfully pass this evaluation are chosen.

Don’t miss out on early bird discounts. Subscribe to the report here.
 

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jigneshshah760@gmail.com Aug 02, 2018 I have invested in many mutual fund schemes and what I found is that investing into different types of schemes gives maximum benefits due to the varied performance factors that come into place and influence returns. With a diversified mutual funds portfolio, the results gained are manifold as even if one fund is not performing well the other will and you will get returns. Visit: https://assetmanagement.kotak.com/sip

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