Should I invest in more than one scheme for one category of mutual funds? (2024)

FAQs

Should I invest in more than one scheme for one category of mutual funds? ›

One should invest across various categories of companies/mutual fund schemes. This diversification should also be implemented across various mutual fund houses/sectors. The broad categories for equity investing are Large Cap, Mid Cap, and Small cap. One should invest in all these categories.

Investors should consider diversifying their portfolio across different asset classes and also within the same asset class. Additionally, it's important to consistently review and adjust their investments through rebalancing.

Financial planners say it is difficult to put a cap on the number of schemes in an investor's portfolio, as investors increasingly use mutual funds to meet both long-term and short-term goals. However, they feel investors should restrict themselves to 10 schemes, as a higher number is difficult to monitor and manage.

The aim of diversification is to spread risk. If you invest too much in one company's stock, you are at great risk. If something happens to that company, a significant portion of your money could get wiped away. So to mitigate that risk, you buy shares of many companies.

While there is no precise answer for the number of funds one should hold in a portfolio, 8 funds (+/-2) across asset classes may be considered optimal depending on the financial objectives and goals of the investor. Further, higher allocation of portfolio to the right fund is of crucial importance.

Next, use the following rule of thumb: Subtract your age from 100 and put the resulting percentage in stocks; the rest in bonds. In other words, if you're 20 years old, put 80% of your assets in stocks; 20% in bonds.

Investing in multiple mutual funds can be a smart move for investors who want to diversify their portfolios and gain access to professional asset management. However, it's important to be aware of the possible drawbacks, such as the potential for over-diversification and higher transaction costs.

If you are a moderate-risk investor, it's best to start with a 60-30-10 or 70-20-10 allocation. Those of you who have a 60-40 allocation can also add a touch of gold to their portfolios for better diversification. If you are conservative, then 50-40-10 or 50-30-20 is a good way to start off on your investment journey.

What is the 15x15x15 rule in mutual funds? The mutual fund 15x15x15 rule simply put means invest INR 15000 every month for 15 years in a stock that can offer an interest rate of 15% on an annual basis, then your investment will amount to INR 1,00,26,601/- after 15 years.

In the context of investing, it may also refer to the practice of not allocating more than 5% of a portfolio to any single security—in other words, of not letting any one mutual fund, company stock, or even industrial sector to accumulate to comprise more than 5% of the investor's overall holdings.

Why not to invest in multiple mutual funds? ›

The Downside of Diversification

While mutual funds are popular and attractive investments because they provide exposure to a number of stocks in a single investment vehicle, too much of a good thing can be a bad idea. The addition of too many funds simply creates an expensive index fund.

Having multiple cooks in the kitchen, so to speak, could also be problematic if your advisors take different approaches to tax management. A single advisor may be better positioned to review your entire financial picture and come up with strategies for minimizing your tax liability.

The greater a portfolio's exposure to the S&P 500 index, the more the ups and downs of that index will affect its balance. That is why experts generally recommend a 60/40 split between stocks and bonds. That may be extended to 70/30 or even 80/20 if an investor's time horizon allows for more risk.

The 4% rule says people should withdraw 4% of their retirement funds in the first year after retiring and take that dollar amount, adjusted for inflation, every year after. The rule seeks to establish a steady and safe income stream that will meet a retiree's current and future financial needs.

There is no one right answer to questions like how many funds should I invest in. But just adding new funds to the portfolio to 'diversify' or reduce risks doesn't work. So, in general, having 1-2 schemes in the chosen fund category would be sufficient.

"Access to different investment options is useful because different brokerage firms may offer access to unique investment opportunities, such as initial public offerings, private placements or alternative investments." Some investors choose to work with multiple brokerages to mitigate risk and protect their assets.

While there's no fixed rule, a lower overlap is better for diversification. Aim to keep it below 33% for a balanced portfolio. To reduce overlap: Diversify across fund categories systematically: Investing in funds from different categories won't guarantee low overlap unless chosen strategically.

One of the primary advantages of multi-asset funds is their ability to mitigate risk through diversification. By investing in a mix of asset classes such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities, these funds spread risk across different market segments.

Investors should look for sectors that provide essential services or products that remain in demand regardless of economic conditions. For instance, healthcare, utilities and consumer staples often exhibit this recession-resistant characteristic.