MF GURU: 'Need help in selecting MFs'

'I need a corpus of Rs 50-60 lakh at the age of 55.'

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Omkeshwar Singh, head, Rank MF, (external link) a mutual fund investment platform, answers your queries:

Arun Wellington: Currently, I'm investing Rs 16,000 per month in the below funds:

Mutual Funds	Amount
1. ICICI Equity & Debt Fund	Rs 6,000
2. Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund	Rs 5,000
3. Axis Long Term Equity Fund	Rs 1,000
4. Parak Parikh Flexi Cap Fund	Rs 3,000
5. Nippon Small Cap Fund	Rs 1,000

I'm planning to invest for next 10 years and am a moderate risk taker.

Is this portfolio good to continue for this tenure?

What is your suggestion if I increase my monthly contribution in the future?

I'm open to any suggestions.

Omkeshwar Singh: You may consider:

Mutual Funds	Plan
DSP Top 100	Growth
Axis ESG Equity Fund	Growth

Ashley Rosario Fernandes: Below is my portfolio. I would highly appreciate if you can suggest if it is good or any changes are required.

The total current investment in SIP is Rs 12,000 (which now I want to make Rs 15,000). Kindly advise a good additional SIP for investing Rs 3,000 monthly.

Also let me know if lumpsum investment in MFs is good or any changes are required.

I am now 45 years of age and my total savings as of date is Rs 13 lakhs only.

Kindly advise how much more investment I would have to make to collect a good amount for my sons' education and retirement. I have two sons aged 12 and eight.

My current salary is Rs 1.5 lakhs and my wife is also working with a salary of Rs 30,000.

Also I keep breaking my SIP and lumpsum investment in between for emergency use. Please do let me know if that will affect my long term plan of collecting funds.

My SIPs are:

Mutual Funds	Plan	Amt invested per month (long term)
Axis Focused 25	Growth	Rs 2,000
ICICI Prudential Focused Equity	Growth	Rs 2,000
Canara Robeco Emerging Equities	Regular Growth	Rs 3,000
Kotak Standard Multicap Fund	Growth	Rs 2,000
L&T Midcap	Growth	Rs 2,000
Motilal Oswal Multicap 35	Growth	Rs 2,000

I have lumpsum investment in:

Mutual Funds	Plan	Amt Invested (long term)
DSP Focus	Growth	Rs 1 lakh (invested in April 2016)
ICICI Pru Long Term Equity Fund (Tax Saver)	Growth	Rs 1 lakh (invested in April 2016)
Kotak Bluechip Fund	Growth	Rs 1 lakh (invested in April 2016)
Nippon India Dynamic Bond Fund	Growth	Rs 1 lakh (invested in April 2016)
Mirae Asset Focused Fund	Growth	Rs 50,000 (invested in April 2019)
Mirae Asset Midcap Fund	Growth	Rs 25,000 (invested in April 2019)

Omkeshwar Singh: These are good funds, please continue.

Prabin Mahanty: I hope you are doing well.

I need your help in selecting MFs.

I am 35 years old and looking for an investment duration of 20 years.

Currently, I have only a SIP of Rs 4,000 monthly for SBI Small Cap.

I need a corpus of Rs 50-60 lakh at the age of 55.

Could you please advise some funds and SIP amounts to invest?

My risk portfolio is moderate.

Omkeshwar Singh: You may consider

Mutual Funds	Plan
DSP Top 100	Growth
Axis ESG Equity Fund	Growth

Kumar Gaurav: Hello Sir, below are my current investments.

Mutual Funds	Amount
Mirae Asset Tax saver	Rs 3,000
Canara Robeco Equity Tax saver	Rs 3,000
Axis Long Term Equity	Rs 2,000
Parag Parikh Flexi Cap	Rs 2,000
Axis Bluechip Fund	Rs 2,000
Axis Mid-Cap	Rs 3,000
SBI Small Cap	Rs 2,000

Kindly advise if they look okay or need any switching.

Additionally, I have Rs 10 lakhs spare, want to invest for next 10 years.

Please suggest how to utilise this amount.

Omkeshwar Singh: Existing portfolio is fine. For Rs 10 lakhs, you may consider through STP route in the following funds.

Mutual Funds	Plan
DSP Top 100	Growth
Axis ESG Equity Fund	Growth

Md Adil Siddiqui: I am 47; I have just invested (lump sum) one month back in Quant Quantamental Fund (Growth, direct). Please advise about this fund. Thank you

Omkeshwar Singh: Please continue. Give it some time, it's too early to review.

Rajdeep Basu: I have an ongoing SIP in the following mutual funds:

Mutual Funds	Plan
Axis Focused 25 Fund	Growth
Canara Robeco Flexi Cap Fund	Growth
DSP US Flexible Equity Fund	Growth
Invesco India Contra Fund	Growth
Kotak Flexicap Fund	Growth
Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund	Growth
Prag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund (Regular)	Growth

Please advise if any of the funds needs to be replaced.

Omkeshwar Singh: Please continue. Can be reviewed after six months.

Sudhir Gopal Nair: I am 47 years old. I have a SIP investments since the last four years in the below MFs (horizon 10 years).

The mutual funds I have invested in:

Mutual Funds	Plan	Amount
Kotak Emerging Equity Fund	Regular Fund	Rs 5,000 (started August 2017)
Kotak Flexi Cap Fund	Regular Plan Growth	Rs 2,500 (started August 2017)
SBI Bluechip Fund	Regular Plan Growth	Rs 2,500 (started August 2017)
HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund	Growth	Rs 2,000 (started August 2017)
IDFC Large Cap Fund	Growth	Rs 2,500 (started August 2017)
Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund		Rs 2,000 (started August 2017)
Axis Bluechip Fund	Growth	Rs 2,000 (started August 2017)
Axis Focused 25 Fund	Growth	Rs 2,500 (started August 2017)
HDFC Index Fund	Nifty 50 Plan -- Direct	Rs 2,500 (started August 2017)
Kotak Opportunities Fund	Growth	Rs 2,500 (started December 2017 and ended Nov 2020)
L&T India Value Fund	Growth	Rs 2,500 (started February 2018 and ended July 2020)

My wife's mutual fund details:

Mutual Funds	Plan	Amount
Axis Focused 25 Fund	Growth	Rs 2,500 (started December 2019)
SBI Blue Chip Fund		Rs 2,000 (started June 2019)
Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund		Rs 2,500 (started December 2019, increased the amount to Rs 2,500 from October 2020)
ICICI Prudential Multicap Fund	Growth	Rs 1,500 (started August 2020)

Have invested in these NFOs as well:

Mutual Funds	Plan	Amount
Kotak Global Fund of Fund	Direct	Rs 1,00,000 (July 2021)
Navi Nifty Index Fund	Growth	Rs 15,000 (July 2021)

Kindly advise whether current funds are good or should switch to some other.

Omkeshwar Singh: Funds are good. However, too many funds will lead to over diversification and reduction in portfolio returns.

From an investor: I'm 46 years old and have the following mutual funds and their ongoing SIPs at present; all are regular, direct and growth.

Mutual Funds	Date of Investment
DSP Equity Opportunity Fund	February 2018
Franklin India Prima/Flexi Cap Fund	February 2018
HDFC Equity/Flexicap Fund	2007
HDFC Midcap Opportunities Fund	February 2017
Parag Parikh Flexi Cap Fund	December 2020
Quantum Long Term Equity	2007

Kindly have a look and advise whether to hold, redeem or add new funds.

Omkeshwar Singh: Please continue.

Sanjay Kumar: I wish to invest in SIP for two years in a good fund for substantial return.

To start with Rs 5,000 each in three SIPs is my target. Please suggest an appropriate fund.

Omkeshwar Singh: You may consider:

Mutual Funds	Plan
DSP Top 100	Growth
Axis ESG Equity Fund	Growth

Pius Meir: Your advice is highly appreciated. I have made a few investments in the past year and am thinking of adding a Gold ETF to the list.

My horizon is 14 years and am planning to retire by 50.

Please suggest your valuable feedback. Also, can I add an arbitrage fund and a hybrid fund which is good over this period if required to make a safe corpus?

Mutual Funds	Amount
1. Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund	Rs 2,000
2. PGIM India Midcap Opportunities Fund	Rs 2,000
3. Kotak Emerging Equity Fund	Rs 2,000
4. Franklin India Prima Fund	Rs 2,000
5. Nippon India Small Cap Fund	Rs 2,000
6. Kotak Small Cap Fund	Rs 2,000
7. L&T India Value Fund	Rs 2,000
8. Kotak India EQ Contra Fund	Rs 3,000
9. Quant Focused Fund	Rs 1,000
10. ICICI Prudential Technology Fund	Rs 2,000
11. UTI Flexicap Fund	Rs 1,000
12. Kotak Flexi Cap	Rs 1,000

Omkeshwar Singh: No need to add any further funds, there are already too many funds.

If you want Mr Singh's advice on your mutual fund investments, please mail your questions to getahead@rediff.co.in with the subject line, 'Ask MF Guru', along with your name, and he will offer his unbiased views.

Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes 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.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com

Mirae asset Emerging Bluechip fund