Mutual Funds - Advantages
Advantages of Investing in Mutual Funds
Professional Money Management & Research
Mutual funds are managed by professional fund managers who regularly monitor market trends and economic trends for taking investment decisions. They also have dedicated research professionals working with them who make an in depth study of the investment option to take an informed decision.
Risk Diversification
Diversification reduces risk contained in a portfolio by spreading it. It is about not putting all your eggs in one basket. As mutual funds have huge corpuses to invest in, one can be part of a large and well-diversified portfolio with very little investment.
Convenience
With features like dematerialized account statements, easy subscription and redemption processes, availability of NAVs and performance details through journals, newspapers and updates and lot more; Mutual Funds are sure a convenient way of investing.
Liquidity
One of the greatest advantages of Mutual Fund investment is liquidity. Open-ended funds provide option to redeem on demand, which is extremely beneficial especially during rising or falling Markets.
Reduction in Costs
Mutual funds have a pool of money that they have to invest. So they are often involved in buying and selling of large amounts of securities that will cost much lower than when you invest on your own
Tax Advantages
Investment in mutual funds also enjoys several tax advantages. Dividends from Mutual Funds are tax-free in the hands of the investor (This however depends upon changes in Finance Act). Also Capital Gain accrued from Mutual Fund investment for a period of over one year is treated as long term capital appreciation and is tax free.
Other Advantages
Indian Mutual fund industry also presents several other benefits to the investor like: transparency - as funds have to make full disclosure of investments on a periodic basis, flexibility in terms of needs based choices, very well regulated by SEBI with very strict compliance requirements to investor friendly norms.