Knowledge Centre

Balanced advantage meaning a type of hybrid mutual funds which invest in equity and fixed income asset classes. The asset allocation (i.e. mix of equity and fixed income in the portfolio) of balanced advantage funds changes dynamically according to market conditions.

Emotions and instincts often guide investment decisions, but they can be harmful for your financial interests. For example, age old investing wisdom is buying low and selling high. However, instead of “buying low and selling high” investors usually buy when market is high, thinking it will go higher.

We humans like to believe that we are rational beings. But market swing is a daily reminder, that in groups, we are everything but that.

These funds have a static asset allocation strategy with the flexibility to keep its asset allocation within prescribed ranges mandated by SEBI. SEBI requires these funds to invest 65 – 80% of their assets in equity or equity related securities and rest in money market or debt securities.

Equity savings fund essentially generate returns by investing in equity, debt and arbitrage opportunities. This last component sets them apart from other hybrid funds. Essentially, the fund manager looks to exploit the pricing inefficiencies in the cash and derivatives segments of the equity market.

Fixed maturity plans are closed-ended Debt Mutual Fund schemes that invest in a variety of debt instruments such as commercial papers, certificates of deposit, non-convertible debentures, G-Secs, and SDLs (State Development Loans).

In the last two years, we have deep rate cuts and entire focus was on reviving growth. Pandemic ended with rise of new concerns. Amid weak global signals, rising bond yields, persistent high inflation, uncertainty around the Russia-Ukraine war and rate hikes by the US Fed – market is under pressure.

The latest Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation came at 14.55% for March 2022. This is up from 13.11% measured in February 2022. In the similar period, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation for March 2022 was around 6.95%, which is a 17-month high. The domestic fuel prices were up by 34.5% year on year basis in March. These numbers are increasingly indicating that inflation in international energy prices is beginning to show

What is money market? Money market is part of financial markets which deals with very short-term fixed income instruments. Money market instruments have maturity of less than 1 year.

Low Duration Funds are debt Mutual Fund Schemes which as per the SEBI categorisation circular should invest in Debt & Money Market instruments such that the Macaulay duration of the portfolio is between 6 months- 12 months.

The recent rise in domestic and global bond yields hasspooked investorsof debt funds - anincreasein yields leads to a fall in the value of traded bonds. thereby denting fund returns. However. as with any other asset class. debt instruments have their ups and downs; they closely track the interest rate movement.

Fixed income securities make interest payments at regular intervals and principal payment on maturity.

Ultra short duration funds are fixed income mutual fund schemes which invest debt and money market securities such that the Macaulay Duration of the scheme portfolio is 3 months to 6 months. These funds are suitable for short term investments since they are less volatile and aim to produce more stable income compared to funds with longer duration profiles. Many investors get confused between liquid funds and ultra-short duration funds.

Different investors have different investment needs depending on their financial situations, risk appetites and investment objectives.

Fixed Income or Debt funds offer a greater variety of products across the risk / return spectrum. It is, therefore, important for investors to select the right product according to their specific investment needs, risk appetite and investment tenure.

Debt funds are fixed income mutual fund schemes which invest in debt and money market instruments like CPs, CDs, Corporate Bond, T-Bills, G-Secs etc.

By investing a fixed amount every month (or any other interval) from your regular savings, you can invest over a long period of time and benefit from the power of compounding.

The risk of fixed income instruments is usually lesser than equity because issuer of fixed income instruments is contractually obliged to pay a certain rate of interest and principal on maturity of the instrument.

If you read about fixed income investments in fund factsheets, scheme information documents, fund manager interviews, blogs, etc you will come across some technical terms which you may not understand.

The equity market's stellar performance has beckoned many investors to take huge exposure to the asset class. Though equity is one of the best wealth creators in the long term, it is prudent to include a less risky asset class such as debt to balance the investment portfolio.

Bank fixed deposits and Government small savings schemes have been the traditional investment choice of average Indian households. As per Reserve Bank of India’s Quarterly Estimates of Household Financial Assets and Liabilities, Rs 4,753 billion was invested in bank FDs in FY 2018 (latest year for which data is available from RBI).

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a large bearing on the global as well as domestic financial markets. Even the hitherto steady fixed income space is shaken.

Silver ETF is a financial instrument which tracks the price of pure silver. These instruments invest in physical silver or silver related instruments.

Gold ETF in India were launched for the first time around 15 years back. Since then, the popularity of Gold ETF fund have steadily increased even though most retail investors still prefer to invest in physical gold.

Gold and Silver ETF Fund of Funds is a fund of funds (FOFs) mutual fund scheme, which invests in Gold and Silver Exchange Traded Funds.

Gold ETF is much safer and cost efficient way of investing in Gold. In this article we will discuss about investing in Gold ETF or Gold exchange traded fund.

While awareness about Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) is quite low in India, these funds are gaining traction amongst investors over the last few years. In the last 5 years, the mutual fund industry assets under management (AUM) in ETFs have grown at a CAGR of more than 100%. In the developed markets, ETFs and index funds are hugely popular with investors.

Fund of Funds (FoF) is a mutual fund which invests in the units of other mutual funds including but not limited to index funds and ETFs.

Despite a traditionally higher risk profile, Emerging Market (EM) equities have proven resilient and shown relative strength following 2020’s 1st quarter volatility.

Equity, as an asset class, is an attractive investment avenue for investors with high-risk appetite and a long-term investment horizon. Within the equity universe, the safety quotient draws investors to large cap companies and often away from higher returns promised by small and mid-caps.

As the sound of "Ganpati Bappa Morya" fills our homes once again, Ganesh Chaturthi reminds us of something far more meaningful than a festival. It is a celebration of faith, hope, new beginnings, and the belief that every obstacle can be overcome with wisdom and patience. Lord Ganesha is known as the remover of obstacles, but perhaps one of His greatest teachings is that not every path becomes clear overnight. Much like building a meaningful life, building wealth is rarely about quick victories. It is about making thoughtful choices, staying patient during uncertain times, and trusting the power of consistency.

This week  Mfinbyte  Teachers' Day IAP article beautifully reminds us that the lessons we learn from great teachers extend far beyond the classroom. Much like investing, success comes not from following answers blindly, but from developing the wisdom to think independently, remain disciplined, and make decisions with conviction.

While ₹1 crore has long been viewed as a significant financial milestone, the article highlights why it may be better seen as a starting point rather than the finish line. Rising living expenses, inflation, healthcare needs and a potentially long retirement can significantly change the amount required to maintain one’s desired lifestyle.

Neil still remembers the day he set up his first SIP. It felt responsible, almost ceremonial. The amount matched his salary then, his rent then, his lifestyle then. Years passed. His designation changed, his income improved, his expenses expanded, and his retirement goal became more real. But one thing stayed frozen in time: the SIP amount.

Neeta had never considered that hardship could find its way into her carefully built world. She was a department head at one of the country’s leading soap brands. Her husband, Vinod, was the CFO of an NBFC. Together, they had built a life that looked reassuring from every angle - an elegant home, generous comforts, regular holidays, disciplined savings, and investments that suggested they were doing everything right.

Retirement Goals Depend on The Life You Actually Want. For years, retirement planning has come down to one question. How much is enough?It sounds like the right question. But on its own, it misses something important. Two people can retire with the same corpus. Same amount, same age, same city. One feels fine. The other is constantly worried. And the gap between them usually has nothing to do with their investments or which fund they picked

For a few months, Aman had been paying closer attention to money. He had started SIPs, read about index funds, and added a small equity allocation. Some days, he felt confident. On others, he wondered whether he was only learning the language of finance without fully understanding what it meant in real life

Your salary may rise every year. But if your lifestyle rises faster, your retirement can quietly move further away.

One of the strangest financial myths people inherit is that enjoying your twenties and planning retirement sit at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Every morning at 5:30, before the city stirred and before anyone needed her, Janaki stood on her balcony with a cup of chai. The sky at that hour was a soft grey – the kind that holds both silence and promise. People who met her later in the day only saw the confident woman she had become. They didn’t see the storms she had walked through, the nights she lay awake wondering how she would rebuild her life, or the moment she decided she would never again let uncertainty control her future.

Their story offers one of the most uplifting examples of how thoughtful risk-taking can lead to extraordinary outcomes. And it mirrors the journey investors take more closely than most realize.

Media Led IAP-We are partnering with leading media brands to conduct high-impact, media-led Investor Awareness events. Such as Chennai and Indore

If you’re in your twenties today, retirement probably feels like a distant planet. You’re still figuring out your career, your city, your relationships, and your identity. You’re navigating a world where job roles evolve faster than college courses can keep up, where rent eats half your salary, and where “stability” feels like a vintage concept. So why would anyone in this phase think about retirement?

That’s the idea behind what many call “soft retirement.” It isn’t quitting at forty or giving up ambition. It’s building financial strength early so you can dial down intensity later, by choice, not by compulsion.

Retirement planning is no different. When you know where you’re headed, every step becomes purposeful, every decision becomes clearer, and every investment becomes a building block toward a life you truly look forward to.

The night before Holi, the entire neighbourhood gathered around a rising bonfire. Children carried twigs, elders murmured prayers and the flames curled upward like they were swallowing the past.

Think of life as a story. It starts with hope, moves through choices and ends in a place shaped by those choices. Money works the same way.

It’s a thought that encourages you to save and invest aggressively which eventually helps you achieve financial independence and the option to Retire Early

Diversification often becomes a theoretical concept – spreading investments across sectors, asset classes, or geographies, while investors chase “best performing” labels.

India’s top-order batsmen didn’t merely survive the pressure, they shaped the innings. One opener threaded the ball through gaps with precision, another unleashed clean strokes when the opportunity arose and the wicketkeeper-batsman anchored with calm authority. It was controlled aggression, smart shot selection and momentum built brick by brick.

Whether you're planning for retirement, managing investments, or simply trying to understand your financial standing, having the right tools at your disposal is crucial. In this blog, we introduce you to a range of calculators that may help you navigate your financial journey with confidence and precision.

Sinking Fund is a fund set aside to potentially meet future obligations like large expenses, loan repayments etc. Regular deposits are made to the sinking fund, so that sufficient funds are available when said obligations arise and the company or individual do not have to take loans to meet such obligations.

Over the last few years,the investment options for HNI (High-Net-Worth Individual) and Ultra HNI investors have evolved a lot. HNIs / UHNIs (Ultra High-Net-Worth Individual)are generally on the lookout for new investment avenues beyond asset classes like fixed income, real estate, equities, mutual funds and commodities etc. for relatively higher returns. Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), offersuch investors a variety of options tailored for specific needs, investment tenures and risk appetites.

Mutual Funds are relatively popular among investors for investments aligned to financial goals. The requirement might be long term capital appreciation or regular income from those investments. Different options offered by mutual funds are Growth option, Payout of IDCW (Income Distribution Cum Capital Withdrawal) option, Re-investment option of IDCW option, Transfer of IDCW option etc. There can be multiple IDCW options e.g. monthly IDCW, quarterly IDCW, yearly IDCW etc. The IDCW option(s) will be scheme specific i.e. different schemes may offer different IDCW options. Investors should understand the difference between growth and IDCW options so that they can make informed investment decisions based on their financial goals and needs.

The Time Value of Money refers to the idea that a sum of money today holds more value than the same amount in the future. Why? Because money has the potential to grow over time through investments. In other words, a ₹1 in hand today is worth more than a ₹1 promised at a later date.

Long-Term Capital Gains Tax (LTCG) is a tax levied on the profits earned from selling capital assets that have been held for more than one year. These gains fall under the broader category of “Capital Gains” and are subject to specific tax provisions.

Mutual funds in an investment vehicle which invest in a portfolio of securities. These securities may be stocks, bonds, money market instruments, gold, silver and real estate investment trusts (REITs) etc.

Passive funds are rapidly gained popularity all over the world in the last 2 decades, especially in developed markets like the US. Passive equity fund assets under management (AUM) has already overtaken active equity fund AUM in the US.

A new fund offer or NFO of mutual funds is a first-time subscription offer for a new scheme launched by an asset management company

Liquid funds meaning debt mutual fund schemes which invest in debt or money market instruments that mature within 91 days.

AUM meaning assets under management, which implies the cumulative sum of the market value of total securities held in a mutual fund scheme.

ETF mutual fund or ETF schemes track a benchmark index, example – Sensex or Nifty, etc. ETFs do not aim to beat benchmark index returns; rather they aim to replicate the performance of the benchmark index.

AMCs are SEBI registered entities which manages the assets of mutual funds. In order to understand the working of an AMC, let us first discuss how mutual funds work.

The Government of India constituted the National Savings Organization (now the National Savings Institute) in 1948. This started the history of investment in India. The Post Office Savings Bank is listed in the Constitution of India.

Target maturity funds are passive debt mutual fund schemes, tracking an underlying bond index.

Mutual funds are financial instruments which pool money from a large number of investors and invest them in different securities