Investing in mutual funds offers more benefits for investors as compared to direct market investments. Some of the benefits are as follows.
Professional Management
Fund managers manage Mutual funds; they have immense knowledge and experience in portfolio management. Furthermore, the sole purpose of Fund Managers is to ensure your money grows in the best possible manner.
Diversification
Mutual funds allow you to invest in a portfolio consisting of various stocks rather than individual stocks. This enables an investor to diversify their portfolio based on their risk aversion. Even when you put in a small amount, you get the exposure to the entire portfolio, which is not possible if you invest directly in the stock market.
Affordability
The concept of economies of scale suggests that cost reduces with the increase in quantity. Although developed for production costs, it is also applicable in mutual funds. It suggests that while investing in mutual funds, you should invest in diversified stocks and not in an individual stock. Hence, the transaction cost is reduced.
Flexibility
One of the best things about mutual funds is the flexibility it provides the investors. The portfolios managed by the Fund Managers are created based on your needs and wants. Factors which affect the portfolio creation and management are the risk you may be willing to bear, the period of investment and the gains that you may expect from your investment. Fund Managers also keep in account one's priorities and situations changes with time.
As a working professional, if you are looking to save part of your salary, you can choose the systematic investment planning option offered by BOI AXA. This helps you meet your investment goals while generating returns for a better future.
Liquidity
Along with the flexibility of where you want to invest, mutual funds also provide you liquidity which is unavailable in other options, such as Fixed Deposits, Public Provident Fund or Insurance Plans, etc. While some funds liquidate overnight, most others can be liquidated in two or three days.
Transparency
The net asset values, commonly known as NAVs, are disclosed on all business days. These are calculated by dividing the total value of all the assets in the portfolio minus the liabilities with the number of securities in the portfolio. It is calculated at the end of each market day. Although, you should not consider everyday changes in the NAV value as they would fluctuate based on the performance of the stocks. However, the annual values of NAVs are a good indicator of the overall performance of the fund and should be given importance.
Tax Benefits
Every individual looks for tax rebates and exemptions while investing. This is one reason for the increasing popularity of mutual funds over direct stock investments. While some schemes offer tax benefits under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. The 80 C section allows an income tax exemption of up to Rs 1.5 lakhs. Furthermore, some other mutual funds also allow tax-free dividends to their investors if the securities have been held for more than a year.
Safety
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is the regulating and governing body for all the securities in the stock market. It ensures that no fraudulent activities take place and also protects investors. Furthermore, SEBI also takes actions over customer grievances.