How does a debt fund work?
A debt fund is a mutual fund scheme that invests in fixed income instruments, such as Corporate and Government Bonds, corporate debt securities, and money market instruments etc. that offer capital appreciation. Debt funds are also referred to as Income Funds or Bond Funds.
A debt fund is a mutual fund scheme that invests in fixed income instruments, such as Corporate and Government Bonds, corporate debt securities, and money market instruments etc. that offer capital appreciation. Debt funds are also referred to as Income Funds or Bond Funds.
Investing in debt funds is a good option when you want to preserve your capital and at the same time want to earn better post-tax returns than FDs. It is also a good option to fulfill your near-term goals.
A monthly income plan (MIP) is a type of mutual fund that invests primarily in debt and equity securities with a mandate of producing cash flows and preserving capital. The aim of an MIP is to provide a steady stream of income in dividends and interest payments.
This is because Debt funds provide the potential for extra returns when interest rates fall, better compounding as returns are taxed only during withdrawal, flexibility to withdraw anytime without penalties, and better diversification.
While debt funds are generally considered safer than equity funds, they are not entirely risk-free. Factors like interest rate risk, credit risk, and liquidity risk can affect the performance of debt funds.
Fund Name | Category | 1Y Returns |
---|---|---|
UTI Medium to Long Duration Fund | Debt | 7.9% |
Nippon India Strategic Debt Fund | Debt | 8.7% |
Sundaram Low Duration Fund | Debt | 7.5% |
Sundaram Short Duration Fund | Debt | 7.9% |
Investing in debt funds carries various types of risk. These risks include Credit risk, Interest rate risk, Inflation risk, reinvestment risk etc.
Investors start to expect that interest rate will fall more in future which further leads to an increase in current rates. This works best for existing bonds. This same kind of scenario was expected when Corona crisis hit the economy, but surprisingly debt funds gave negative returns.
Debt funds are good for the short-term period however gold investments are good in the long term due to market fluctuations. Every investor should maintain a balance between both of the investments and include gold in their portfolios depending upon the term of investment and market fluctuation risk.”
How to get $10,000 monthly income?
To earn ₹8000 to ₹10000 monthly from dividend income, you would need to invest a significant amount of money in dividend-paying stocks or mutual funds. The exact amount of money you need to invest will depend on the dividend yield of the stocks or mutual funds you choose.
Short-Term Funds
Short-term debt funds may be best suited for those with low to moderate risk appetites. These funds perform best when the interest rates are high. If you have money to invest from 9 to 12 months and have a low-to-moderate risk appetite, short-term funds can be a great investment option.
Millionaires usually avoid the following: High-interest debt: Millionaires typically steer clear of high-interest consumer debt, like credit card debt, that offers no return or tax benefits. Neglect diversification: They don't put all their eggs in one basket but diversify investments to mitigate risks.
Under normal situations, the portfolio duration of a medium-duration fund has to be between 3-4 years, medium-to-long duration funds between 4-7 years, and long-duration funds greater than 7 years. These funds invest in short and long-term debt securities of the Government, public sector, and private sector companies.
Investors should have 1 – 2 year investment tenures for these funds. Short duration funds invest in debt and money market instruments such that the Macaulay Duration of the portfolio is between 1 – 3 years. In simplified terms, Macaulay Duration is the interest rate sensitivity of a fixed income instrument.
Taxation of Capital Gains of Debt Funds
Therefore, the gains from debt funds will now be added to your taxable income and taxed at the slab rate. Earlier, the long-term capital gains from debt funds were taxed at 20% with indexation benefit.
Bad debt is generally considered money you are borrowing to purchase a depreciating asset. Debt that is not healthy for your finances typically carries a high interest rate. Carrying too much debt can negatively affect your credit score.
- X = P x [{((1 + i)^n) - 1} / i] x (1 + i)
- X = The total amount you will receive at the end of the maturity period of the debt mutual fund.
- P = The amount invested in the form of monthly SIPs.
- n = Number of SIPs made.
Debt funds offer stable returns with lower risk, while equity funds have the potential for higher returns but higher risk. Debt funds generate income through interest, while equity funds generate income through dividends and capital gains.
These funds can cater well to customers with low to medium risk appetites. It is suitable for investors wanting to invest for a minimum investment period of a year. However, total duration of investment should not exceed 3 years as investors might be at loss due to minimal capital appreciations.
Are debt funds good for short term investment?
Short term debt funds are an ideal investment only for investors who have short term financial goals stretching up to 2 or 3 years. This is due to the fact that these debt funds are designed to yield returns for short periods.
Yes, it's true that Debt Funds are more suitable for short-term purposes, but some of you are not willing to take the risk. Those investors may consider investing in Debt Funds, as they reduce risk and are relatively stable in nature, as compared to equity funds.
Safe Players. Safe investors are those who are not willing to take any major risks with their money & may look at debt funds as suitable options to achieve their financial goals.
Debt mutual funds invest in various types of debt securities. So, ideally, the best time to invest is when interest rates are falling or are expected to decline. When the interest rates are going down, the bond prices rise, and consequently, the NAV of debt funds also increases.
The main distinguishing factor between equity vs debt funds is risk e.g. equity has a higher risk profile compared to debt. Investors should understand that risk and return are directly related, in other words, you have to take more risk to get higher returns.
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