Mutual Funds 101: Exploring Equity, Debt, and Hybrid Funds
In this module, we will be discussing the various aspects of personal finance and how it relates to mutual funds. Mutual funds are an important investment vehicle that can help individuals grow their wealth over time. However, it is important to understand the different categories of mutual funds and their risk-reward characteristics before investing.
The module starts by introducing the concept of mutual funds and their benefits. It then goes on to explain the different categories of mutual funds, such as equity, debt, hybrid, solution-oriented, and other schemes. Within each category, there are subcategories that focus on specific investment strategies.
The focus of this module is on the equity category of mutual funds, which is the most popular category in terms of retail participation. The module explains the different subcategories within the equity category, such as large-cap funds, mid-cap funds, small-cap funds, and large & midcap funds. It also discusses the risk and return characteristics of each subcategory.
The module emphasizes the importance of having the right expectations and attitude towards equity investing. It cautions against short-term investing and frequent switching of funds, and advises investors to have a long-term approach to mutual fund investing. It also highlights the need to ignore newspaper headlines and focus on the long-term performance of funds.
The module provides examples of top-performing mutual funds in each subcategory and emphasizes the importance of giving investments sufficient time to generate returns. It also mentions the SEBI's October 2017 circular on mutual fund categorization, which aimed to address issues with overlapping investment strategies and lack of proper definitions.
In the next chapter, the module will continue discussing the remaining equity subcategories and then move on to debt funds. The module is a work in progress, and more content will be added in the coming days.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this module is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. It is always recommended to consult with a professional financial advisor before making any investment decisions.