Methods to Invest in Mutual Funds
There are three ways to invest in mutual funds, which are explained below:
Investing via New Fund Offers (NFO): When an AMC launches a new scheme for people to invest in, it is called an NFO. It is like a company issuing an initial public offering (IPO) to raise capital from people. Typically, mutual fund houses keep the unit price low at ₹ 10 so that the fund is accessible to most investors. However, as an NFO is for a new scheme, it can be risky because investors cannot check the past performance of a scheme before investing in it.
One-Time Lump-Sum Investment: A lump-sum investment is a one-time investment in an MF scheme. At times, investors have capital that they want to invest on a particular day, which results in a lump-sum investment. While it can offer you high returns over a period, there is a risk here. If you end up buying units at the wrong time (when the price of units is very high), then it may become difficult to generate a return.
Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs): In this method, you invest a fixed amount in a scheme at a certain frequency. For example, you invest the same amount in an MF once in a month or once in a week. It has two benefits. First, you do not have to invest a lot in one go because you invest small amounts at a pre-decided frequency. Second, as you invest the same amount at fixed intervals, you end up averaging the cost at which you acquire MF units. Hence, you do not have to worry about timing the market.
Comparing NFOs, Lump-Sum, and SIPs: Which Is Better?
Let us compare the three modes of making mutual fund investments to discuss their pros and cons:
NFOs: A new fund offer typically allows you to invest in a unit at ₹ 10. Hence, it is accessible to a lot of investors. But, investors take a huge risk by investing in an NFO because the scheme is yet to be launched and they cannot analyse the past data to review its performance.
Lump-sum investment: A lump-sum investment can provide good returns. However, it comes with a huge timing risk. If the price of units at the time of purchase is very high, it may limit your chances of generating a sizeable return.
SIPs: SIPs allow you to invest a fixed amount once every week or every month or any other duration, which makes you a disciplined investor. Besides, SIPs help you average the price at which you buy the units of an MF. For most people, SIPs are an ideal way to make an MF investment. They can start an SIP with a minimum investment of just ₹ 100.
Minimum Amount Needed to Invest in Mutual Funds
It is extremely important for first-time investors to know the minimum amount they need to invest in an MF. Specifically in a country like India, where per capita income is still quite low, many investors have only a few thousand rupees as savings per month. Hence, they are extremely keen to know how they can start their MF journey by investing the lowest possible amount.
The minimum investment amount can vary from one MF scheme to another scheme. That said, in India, the minimum amount you need to start investing in an MF scheme can be from ₹ 100 to even a few thousand rupees. The exact minimum amount to invest in a mutual fund depends upon many factors, like its investment objective, management charges, etc.
There are two popular ways to make a mutual fund investment – Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) and Lump-sum Investments. The minimum amount can also vary based on whether you choose to take the SIP or lump-sum route to make your investment.
Typically, you can start making an SIP investment in an MF with either ₹ 100 or ₹ 500. Usually, you can start your lump-sum MF investment from ₹ 1,000. Often, mutual funds keep the minimum investment amount low so that they can encourage a lot of people to invest.
That said, some of them may require a higher minimum amount because they target high-net-worth individuals or institutional investors.
Can the Minimum Amount for Mutual Fund Investments Be Reduced in the Future?
There is a possibility that the minimum amount required to be invested in a mutual fund could be reduced in the future. As of now, there are MF schemes that allow you to have a minimum investment of just ₹ 100 in daily or weekly SIPs.
Many mutual fund houses are trying to make it easier for rural investors to invest in MF schemes. Hence, they may lower the minimum amount required to be invested so that it becomes easier for rural investors to start investing in mutual funds.
For example, the LIC Mutual Fund AMC has reduced the minimum amount required to make a daily SIP to ₹ 100 and in multiples of ₹ 1 thereafter for its certain schemes.
Essential Factors to Consider Before Investing
If you are keen to invest in mutual funds, here are the factors you must consider:
Know your investment goals: If you do not know your investment goals, how will you achieve them? You may have goals like creating a fund for your children’s education or buying a house. Your objective determines the kind of MF schemes you should invest in. Hence, it is vital to know your investment goal.
Identify how much risk you can take: You need to know your risk tolerance level. This is because if a risky investment can make you a lot of money, it can also make you lose a lot of money. Hence, you need to know how much money you can lose without losing your sleep.
Know the mutual fund charges: There are several charges associated with MF investments, like management fees and exit loads. Hence, before investing in an MF, you should know how much return you are likely to earn after paying these charges.
Final Takeaway
Mutual fund investments can help you achieve your long-term financial goals, whether you are a new investor or a seasoned investor. If you are a beginner, you should know the minimum amount needed to invest in an MF scheme. Even if you invest small amounts in MFs, they can accumulate to a sizeable fund over a long period of time. That said, before investing, you should do thorough research to ensure that a certain MF aligns with your investment objective.