Wondering if you did the right thing with your mutual fund investments?
Omkeshwar Singh, Head, Rank MF, a mutual fund investment platform, answers your queries.
If you want his advice on your mutual fund investments, please mail your questions to getahead@rediff.co.in with the subject line, 'Mutual Fund Query', along with your name, and Omkeshwar will offer his unbiased views.
Here are Omkeshwar Singh's recommendations: As a general rule to investing, you may continue with 4- and 5-star rated funds, while the rest may need a re-look.
Amitava Chakraborty: I am a retired employee of a CPSU. I invested about Rs 30 lakh in SBI Mutual Fund, "L24 SBI Equity Hybrid Fund Regular Dividend" scheme in 2018, March with a provision of quarterly return. The first quarterly return was ok, about Rs 90,000. But subsequent quarterly returns diminished substantially and then stopped altogether. I was thus forced to withdraw part of the investment and re-invested the fund elsewhere. Please, can you tell me the reason for this dismal performance of SBI Mutual Fund? Also please advise me on some other Mutual Funds for investment.
| Name of the Fund | Category | Rank MF Star Rating |
| SBI Equity Hybrid Fund Regular Dividend | ||
| Dividend Payout | Hybrid - Aggressive Hybrid Fund | 3 |
| Dividend Reinvestment | Hybrid - Aggressive Hybrid Fund | 4 |
Omkeshwar Singh: Sir, the returns of the scheme is as under:
1 Y-15.88%
3Y 12.74%
5Y- 9.84%
Since inception 15.46%
Last 1 year’s returns in question have been fair.
MF for investment:
Hybrid - Aggressive Hybrid Fund: Axis Equity Hybrid Fund - Dividend Pay-out is better option presently
Niraj Kalra: Please advise (exit or further invest) for the following mfs. Please let me know which ones to exit and where to invest more. I want to invest around 5-6 lakh.
| Name of the Fund | Category | RankMF Star Rating |
| axis bluechip fund | Equity - Large Cap Fund | 4 |
| mirae asset emrgingbluechip fund | Equity - Large & Mid Cap Fund | 4 |
| mirae asset large cap fund | Equity - Large Cap Fund | 5 |
| icicipru value discovery fund | Equity - Value Fund | 3 |
| icicipru multi asset fund | Hybrid - Multi Asset Allocation | 4 |
| absf equity fund | Equity - Multi Cap Fund | 4 |
| axis long term equity fund | Equity - ELSS | 5 |
| hdfc equity fund | Equity - Multi Cap Fund | 4 |
| icicipru long term equity fund | Equity - ELSS | 3 |
| dsp equity fund | Equity - Multi Cap Fund | 4 |
| dsp tax saver fund | Equity - ELSS | 4 |
| hdfc balanced advantage fund | Hybrid - Balanced Advantage | 4 |
| hdfc hybrid equity fund | Hybrid - Aggressive Hybrid Fund | 5 |
Omkeshwar Singh: You may continue with 4 and 5 star rated funds; for 3 star ones you can consider these.
Top 2 Equity value funds are (4-Star rated)
ELSS:
Siddharth Choudhary: I have been investing for past 5 years and below is the list of investment that I have done so far. Please suggest if I should continue investing in same manner or need to do any changes in the portfolio. Also, I am planning to invest in ICICI Prudential US Bluechip Equity Fund this month. Whether I should do an SIP or lumpsum investment?
| Name of the Fund | Category | RankMF Star Rating |
| Lumpsum | ||
| ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund - Direct Plan - Growth | Equity - Large Cap Fund | 3 |
| ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Fund - Direct Plan - Growth | Hybrid - Balanced Advantage | 5 |
| ICICI Prudential MNC Fund Direct Plan Growth | Equity - Thematic Fund - MNC | 4 |
| Mirae Asset Focused Fund - Direct Plan - Growth - Growth | Equity - Focused Fund | 4 |
| Axis Bluechip Fund - Direct Plan - Growth - Growth | Equity - Large Cap Fund | 4 |
| Sundaram Equity Fund | Equity - Multi Cap Fund | 4 |
| SIP | ||
| ICICI Prudential Bluechip Fund | Equity - Large Cap Fund | 3 |
| ICICI Prudential Balanced Advantage Fund | Hybrid - Balanced Advantage | 5 |
| SBI Bluechip Fund - Direct Plan | Equity - Large Cap Fund | 3 |
| Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund - Direct Plan - Growth | Equity - Large & Mid Cap Fund | 4 |
Omkeshwar Singh: You may continue with 4 and 5 Star rated funds; for 3 star ones you can consider the below ones.
Equity - Large Cap Fund:
Shankar: I am a 50 year old professional with more than 2 decades in 2 large Pharma MNCs that I invested in 3 flats (Mumbai, Thane and Chennai) and left with a corpus of 2 crore. Somehow I never heard or seen any proper advice from anyone with regard to investing lumpsum in MFs. Currently the FDs are earning a decent 8.5 per cent per annum and my risk appetite is low.
What is your advice for me to invest in MFs?
Omkeshwar Singh: We can look at only debt funds:
Therefore you may consider banking and PSU debt funds
Rahul R: I am 40 years and investing Rs 10K each monthly MF SIPs in following 2 funds since last 3 years. Need your advice, shall I continue the same or redeem/switch?
| Name of the Fund | Category | RankMF Star Rating |
| 1. ICICI Pru Focus Bluechip | Equity - Large Cap Fund | 3 |
| 2. Franklin India Equity Fund - Growth | Equity - Multi Cap Fund | 3 |
| 1. SBI Focused Equity Fund | Equity - Focused Fund | 5 |
| 2. Axis Focused 25 Fund | Equity - Focused Fund | 5 |
| 3. Canara Robeco Emerging Equities Fund | Equity - Large & Mid Cap Fund | 4 |
| 4. Sundaram Select Focus Fund | Equity - Focused Fund | 4 |
| 5. Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund | Equity - Large & Mid Cap Fund | 4 |
| 6. Axis Midcap Fund | Equity - Mid Cap Fund | 4 |
| 7. Sundaram Services Fund | Equity - Sectoral Fund - Service Industry | 4 |
Omkeshwar Singh: 3 rated schemes need to be reconsidered from the ones below.
Equity - Large Cap Fund:
Multicap: Suitable options considering quality and value for money at present levels are:
Debasish Majumder: I am 56 years, presently investing in following ELSS MFs as SIP. I want to know which one should I continue, any other should be introduced or not? For some personal reason, I can't invest in equity MFs at present.
| Name of the Fund | Category | RankMF Star Rating |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Tax Relief 96 Direct Growth | Equity - ELSS | 4 |
| Axis Long Term Direct Growth | Equity - ELSS | 5 |
| DSP Tax Savings Direct Growth | Equity - ELSS | 4 |
| Mirae Asset Tax Saver Direct Growth | Equity - ELSS | 4 |
Omkeshwar Singh: All funds seem to be decent and can be continued.
Shailesh Sawant: I am 39 years old. I am investing in following mutual funds:
| Name of the Fund | Category | RankMF Star Rating |
| 1) HDFC Small Cap Fund | Equity - Small cap Fund | 2 |
| 2) Axis Bluechip Fund. | Equity - Large Cap Fund | 4 |
| 1) Tata Digital India Fund | Equity - Thematic Fund - Other | 5 |
| 2) Axis Bluechip Fund | Equity - Large Cap Fund | 4 |
Omkeshwar Singh: 4 and 5 star funds can be continued; better small cap options are as under:
Small Cap:
I would like to have your opinion whether I can still continue in these schemes or shift to some other schemes? Also, would like to know the reason for the same. We are investing in the above-mentioned schemes from last one and half year.
Omkeshwar Singh: 4 and 5 star funds can be continued, better small cap options are as under.
Small Cap:
Moreover, I am thinking about investing in Gold ETF funds. Is it advisable to invest in gold ETF? If yes then please suggest the best fund in the market.
Omkeshwar Singh: Gold is pretty volatile and presently it is not advisable for investment purpose.
Venkat Sundaram: I am holding following MFs since launch:
| Name of the Fund | Category | RankMF Star Rating |
| 1. Tata Equity Mutual Fund (TEMF) | Equity - Value Fund | 5 |
| 2. SBI Infra MF | Equity - Sectoral Fund - Infrastructure | 2 |
Omkeshwar Singh: 5 star fund can be continued and Equity - Sectoral Fund – Infrastructure to be avoided presently.
HARANATH BABU: I HAVE ICICI LONG TERM EQUITY FUND ELSS, SHALL I KEEP IT OR EXIT? KINDLY ADVISE.
| Name of the Fund | Category | RankMF Star Rating |
| ICICI LONG TERM EQUITY FUND | Equity - ELSS | 3 |
Omkeshwar Singh: Better ELSS schemes are available for consideration as under
ELSS:
Vishal Thakar: I am an SIP investor in Mutual Funds from past 3 years and below are my SIP investments per month:
| Name of the Fund | Category | RankMF Star Rating |
| 1) NIPPON INDIA TAX SAVER (ELSS) FUND - GROWTH PLAN | Equity - ELSS | 2 |
| 2) IDBI Equity Advantage Fund - Regular Plan - Growth | Equity - ELSS | 4 |
| 3) ADITYA BIRLA SUN LIFE TAX RELIEF 96 FUND - GROWTH | Equity - ELSS | 4 |
| 4) MOTILAL OSWAL LONG TERM EQUITY FUND - GROWTH | Equity - ELSS | 5 |
| 5) Mirae Asset Emerging Blue chip Fund - Regular Plan Growth Option | Equity - Large & Mid Cap Fund | 4 |
| 6) AXIS BLUECHIP FUND - GROWTH | Equity - Large Cap Fund | 4 |
| 7) SBI BLUECHIP FUND -REGULAR PLAN - GROWTH | Equity - Large Cap Fund | 3 |
| 8) LNT Emerging Business Fund - Regular Plan - Growth Option | Equity - Small cap Fund | 2 |
| 9) SBI SMALL CAP FUND REGULAR GROWTH | Equity - Small cap Fund | 3 |
| 10) MOTILAL OSWAL NASDAQ100 FUND OF FUND - REGULAR GROWTH | FoFs (Overseas) | 4 |
Omkeshwar Singh: 4 and 5 star funds can be continued, rest to be reconsidered
ELSS:
Equity - Large Cap Fund:
Small Cap:
Omkeshwar Singh, Head, Rank MF, can be reached at omkeshwar@samco.in
Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com
Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purpose only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this QnA or an attempt to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients.
Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
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