Prajna Capital - An Investment Guide

Mutual funds are a convenient way to invest in the markets. Numerous fund houses offer a wide platter of schemes. The choice before the investor is so wide, that he is often baffled. Some investors who have tasted attractive returns in the past believe that all funds can work the magic for them. When they get mediocre results, they realise that their time and money are wasted. Today, the stock markets are badly beaten. People with low risk appetite are locking away their savings in debt instruments. Some investors consider mutual funds a safer route to remain invested in the markets. How does an investor evaluate the performance of mutual funds? How do you ensure that your money is not locked in a low or no return scheme? Don’t rely on past performance A fund that was yielding consistent returns over the past few years can disappoint the investors next year. Past performance is no guarantee for good future performance. Compare its performance over varying timeframes against the b...

An increasingly common and rather disturbing trend in many investments is the absence of a solid 'core' portfolio. In recent times, we have met several investors (most were new to investing in mutual funds) whose investment portfolios were constituted of only thematic and sectoral funds. To further complicate matters, these investments were made in new fund offers launched at a time when markets were surging northwards. Expectedly, such portfolios are in dire straits at present. What is “The core portfolio” By the core portfolio, we are referring to a mix of investment avenues that is capable of delivering an enduring performance across market cycles. For instance, in the mutual funds segment, well-managed diversified equity funds, balanced funds and monthly income plans with proven track records could form the core portfolio. Of course, the investor's risk profile and investment objectives would play a part in determining the core. Once this core is in place, the investor...