Share Market Investment – Can I Invest all my Money in Stocks

Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 14 Nov 2019
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Share Market Investment – Can I Invest all my Money in Stocks

Very often, you hear people making a fortune by making investments in the share markets and get lured to invest all our savings in it. Without a doubt, share market investments have helped investors grow their wealth and achieve financial goals. Investing in the stock market is essential for long-term wealth creation, as the returns generated by equities in the long-run have consistently outperformed the returns generated by any other asset classes, but investing all your money in share market is neither wise nor advisable. Shares are extremely volatile and carry a high degree of risk.

If you are a beginner in the share market and the success stories of others have made you consider shares as an investment option, it is important to understand that there is no quick and easy way to make money in the share market overnight. Investing in the share market wisely requires you to have patience and also an understanding of how the stock market works.


Why should you invest in the share market?

1. Potentially higher returns which help beat inflation

Equity investments have the potential to generate higher returns as compared to other investments in the long-run. One of the biggest challenges in the investment world today is finding investments where returns beat inflation.

2. Dividend Income

At the end of each financial year, a company declares dividends to be distributed to shareholders in proportion to their holdings, from the profits earned in that year. Thus, apart from long-term capital appreciation, investing in shares entitles you to the dividend income.

3. Liquidity

The shares are listed on the stock exchange and can be bought and sold through the exchange platform seamlessly.



Share market tips for beginners

If you are a beginner in the share market, here are few important stock market investment tips for you to help you guide with your investments


1. Define your investment objectives

Before considering investing in shares, or for that matter any instrument, it is important that you clearly define your investment objective along with the time frame for it.

Investments in the stock market have the potential of higher growth in the long-term but are the extreme volatility in the short-run. If you are looking at investing your money for a fairly long time, you will benefit tremendously by investing in shares as compared to other less volatile assets. As stock markets are volatile in nature, investing for short-term investment needs is not advisable. 

2. Assess your risk tolerance

When it comes to investment decisions, assessing your tolerance to risk is extremely important as it is individual for each investor. Share markets are volatile and your ability to withstand the fluctuations in the market is crucial.  If your tolerance to risk is low, you are likely to get anxious about your investments; you are more likely to make emotional decisions about investments rather than logical decisions.

However, once you start gaining more knowledge about stock market investments and also understand volatility, your perception will evolve considerably and allow you to take more analytical decisions.

3. Understand the basics of Share Market

Before you start investing in the stock market, it is important for you to have basic understanding of the stock market and the individual securities in the stock market. Getting familiar with financial terms such as P/E ratio, EPS, CAGR, etc. stock selection strategies and stock order type will help in the research and selection process of stocks.

4. Pick the right stocks

Investing the shares is easy, but being successful with your investments requires effort. Whether you are seasoned investors or a beginner, stock selection plays an important role in determining the success of your investments. You should do proper research and analysis of the stocks that you are looking to invest in. Various aspects such as financial soundness, quality of management, competitor’s performance, the competitive advantage of the company will help you understand the strength of the company. You should invest in fundamentally strong companies for potentially higher returns.

 5. Do not let emotions drive your decision

The performance of stocks to some extent is driven by market sentiments. If the market sentiment is bearish, it tends to influence the stock price negatively even if the fundamentals of the company are strong. In such situations, long-term investors should not sell their investments just because the market sentiment is negative.

Once you invest in the stock market you should not get influenced by short-term price changes of the securities on the account of speculation, rumours and in general the market sentiments.

 6. Keep your expectations real

All of us want to achieve the best possible returns from our investments. But at the same time, it is equally important to be realistic about the return potential. Even though some stocks have generated over 100% returns for investors in the past, it does not mean that every investment in stocks will fetch you similar returns. The idea of investing in the stock market is to have positive returns on your savings which can beat inflation in the long-run and help you achieve your financial goals with ease.

 7. Diversify your portfolio

Diversification is extremely important to optimise the returns on your investments. The basic tenet of financial planning is to have a diversified portfolio in different asset classes to achieve your investment objective by not relying on the performance of a single asset class. Even in the case of shares, you should diversify your portfolio in shares of different companies, sectors, and industries to avoid relying on the performance of one sector. 

8. Invest only your surplus

Your investments in the stock markets can fetch you high returns in the future. However, unlike fixed-income investments such as bonds and FDs, returns from the stock market are not guaranteed. The higher the chances of returns, the higher are the risk involved.

Hence, you should only invest the surplus funds you have into the stock market without compromising on the other investments such as your life insurance, health insurance, emergency funds etc.

 

The final word

Shares should be a part of your investments, as they offer huge growth potential, but they can’t be your only form of investment. You need to diversify your portfolio in various asset classes to get maximise your returns and minimise risk for your investments. Your investment objective, risk profile, time horizon all play an important role in ascertaining how much can you and should you invest shares. If you are wondering where to start, then just get in touch with our financial experts from IndiaNivesh to guide you with your investments.






Disclaimer: Investment in securities market / Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.


PREVIOUS STORY

Debt vs Equity – Striking Balance between Debt and Equity

Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 11 Nov 2019

With a wide variety of investment vehicles available in the market, it can be challenging to select the right one to invest your hard-earned money. From company stocks, gold, real estate, bank FDs, debentures and bonds, to mutual funds and more, there are numerous avenues for investment.  But even before you decide the right investment scheme, the first task is to determine if you are looking to invest in equity or invest in debt. Most investments are typically categorised between debt investments and equity investments. For instance, if you invest in an equity-based investment, it means you are directly or indirectly purchasing company stocks, and your returns will be related to how that companies perform. Say, you purchase 100 shares of a leading tech company; here, your returns will be based on the stock dividend which the tech company will pay and the rise or fall of the value of the company shares. Equity-based investments can be risky. And because of its high-risk factor, they typically offer a higher return rate in the long run. On the other hand, when you invest in debt, you lend money to an individual, a company or a government establishment. With debt investments, your returns may not be directly related to how the borrower performs. For instance, if you purchase corporate bonds worth Rs. 10,000 and the company makes a profit, the returns will be the same as if the company had earned no profit at all. Debt-based investments are considered stable. And hence, they earn a low rate of return.As an investor, you aim at profiting from your investments. However, to gain optimum profit, you need to analyse your risk profile. Once you know that you can choose between the two avenues once you know which option offers what benefits. Hence, it is essential to know the difference between debt and equity capital to get the best out of your investment. Most people assume that all mutual funds are alike. On the contrary, there are various types of mutual funds, and primary among these are equity funds and debt funds. The chief difference between equity fund vs debt fund lies in the way the money is invested. When you invest in debt funds, you are investing in fixed income securities. On the other hand, equity funds primarily invest in equity shares and related securities. Equity funds and debt funds have sharply contrasting features that decide how the respective schemes invest and behave, determining their outcome.To ensure you receive the best out of your investment, look into asset allocation. It can mitigate risks and help you enjoy the benefit of diversification, while at the same time offering you control over your assets and investments. Asset allocation is a strategy an investor uses to structure their portfolio. Depending on your financial goals and risk tolerance, you can spread your investments between equity and debt. For instance, two friends may have the same financial goal but different asset allocations. While one may have a greater risk tolerance and thus be inclined towards assigning higher resources to equity capital, the other with a lower risk tolerance would look towards debt investments after evaluating the risk and capital needed towards the goal.Wealth creation requires continual and planned investments to determine your financial goals. It is wise not to place all your eggs in one basket; financial experts advise allocating investments among various asset classes. As a critical strategy that can lower your risk and potentially enhance your returns, it is vital to understand debt-vs-equity and how it can work for you.Striking a balance between equity and debt is a powerful concept that is mostly ignored. Regardless, it is easy to execute. Depending on the time frame of your investments and the amount of risk you can bear, you may want to maintain a specific portion of your financial investments in equities and the rest in debt and fixed income. This means that if the proportion of a particular asset class veers away from the desired ratio, you can move your investments from that asset class to another one to balance your portfolio. Accurate asset allocation is critical to financial empowerment. Prudent asset allocation requires you to answer• Where you should invest?• How much do you need to invest?• How can you invest?When answering these questions, you identify asset classes and the amount you wish to hold in your investment portfolio. Here, one’s age becomes a critical factor in asset allocation as it changes according to the investor's life stages. For instance, a young investor may have a different financial goal as compared to a middle-aged investor. With regards to long-term financial goals, asset allocations must be adjusted periodically based on market conditions and the investor's age.Typically, equity-based investments are pegged to provide higher yields than debt-based investment. If you are considering equity in the form of stock investment, it requires careful financial analysis to gauge the health of the company. Typically, it can prove beneficial to examine the balance sheet and cash flow statement of the company, and its profit and loss account. Analysing a company's financial health can be crucial in making smart equity investment decisions. Doing so can help you to know the company's performance and compare it with its contemporaries in the same industry.On the other hand, while debt-based investments may offer lower returns, they are critical and serve useful purposes. For instance, they are often used to maintain one's money temporarily while waiting for a suitable equity-based investment. The goal of allocating your assets is to get a return on your investment while managing and controlling the risk at the same time. That being said, there will always be market risk, and it can be impossible to eliminate risks altogether. However, with intelligent asset allocation, you can cut down investment risks, particularly, risks that come with just one specific investment. For example, if you invest entirely in the shares of one company, it could make you vulnerable to the risks that the particular investment could reduce in value. By diversifying your finances, you eliminate this risk while giving your investment the opportunity of making money with one asset class even if the other is declining.TakeawayIt is always an excellent time to look into your asset allocation and understand if your investment portfolio is where you would like it to be. For example, if you observe that your current portfolio is heavily dependent on equities, you may want to consider adding debt investments. You can merely purchase more of debt investments such as debt mutual funds or exchange one asset for another until you have accomplished your expected allocation. Disclaimer: Investment in securities market / Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

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Share Buyback – Meaning & Upcoming Buyback of Shares

Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 14 Nov 2019

“XYZ company announces a buyback of its shares”. You must have seen or read this headline multiple times in the last couple of years. Especially by companies from the IT or technology industry. According to reports, in the financial year 2018, buyback offers worth Rs. 50,000 crores were made in the Indian markets. Have you wondered what is share buyback and what are the technicalities involved with it? Or if you should give up your shares during buyback offers? Then read on and get all your queries resolved. What is share buyback? Buyback of Shares – Meaning:       A share buyback is a process through which a listed company uses its money and repurchases its own shares from the market. It is the opposite of an IPO (Initial Public Offer). Stock repurchase is also seen as a way for the company to re-invest in itself. Once        the stock buyback is complete, they are absorbed and cease to exist. There are two ways in which stock buyback can take place: Tender Offer: In this buyback channel, the company offers to buy back a certain number of stock at a quoted price. The buyback is done directly from the shareholders. Open Market: The open market buyback takes place through the secondary market (stock exchange). The resolution (special or board) needs to specify the maximum price for the buyback.       2. Buyback of Shares – Regulations:       SEBI has laid down the following guidelines for buyback of shares: It cannot be more than 25% of the total paid-up capital value and free reserves held by the company. It needs to be approved by the shareholders through a special resolution. If the buyback value does not exceed 10% of the total paid-up capital value and free reserves held by the company, it necessitates only a board resolution. Why do companies offer stock buyback schemes?1. Surplus cash but lack of investible projects This is one of the primary reasons behind stock repurchase by companies. Idle cash reserves come with a cost. Matured businesses do not need to invest exorbitantly in research, development or other such aspects. Also, holding on to unused equity funding results in ownership dilution without any good reason. Hence, companies prefer to buy-back their own shares.2. Tax-efficiencies Buybacks usually happen at a premium as compared to the market price. Companies prefer this route to reward shareholders rather than paying our dividends due to the tax implications. Dividends attract 15% DDT (Dividend Distribution Tax) for the companies as well as 10% tax in the hands of shareholders if the dividend income exceeds Rs. 10 Lakhs. Hence, earnings through buyback become more tax efficient for both the parties, even after considering the taxes applicable.3. Enhanced valuations Buybacks are associated with enhanced share valuations as a result of an improved PE multiple. Stock repurchase leads to a reduction in the number of outstanding shares and hence, capital base. This, in turn, improves the value of EPS (Earning per Share) as the same amount of dividend is now divided between lesser shareholders. The ROE (Return on Equity) also goes up as the cash assets on the Balance Sheets come down.4. Signal to the market Stock buybacks are also used to send indicators to the market. It signals that the company has great confidence in itself. Hence it is ready to repurchase its own shares (mostly at a premium) as it feels that the company is undervalued currently in the market. For instance, when the company management is highly optimistic about the future prospects but the stock price still reflects bearish sentiments based on past performance only.  In some cases, promoters can also use the buyback channel to tighten their hold on the company. This is especially true when the shareholding is highly diluted or is in the hands of individuals or investors who do not have the best interest of the company in mind. How to evaluate stock buyback offers? Now you know what is share buyback and the reasons why companies offer them. But the fundamental question remains – what should be your stance in case of buyback offers? Should you hold your stock or give them up? These pointers can help you take the final decision:1. Offer Price and buyback quantum Buybacks are lucrative only when they are offered at a significant premium amount. The offer price must be substantially above the current market price to make it worthwhile for the investor. Also, the quantum of the share repurchase amount should be substantial.  2. Look at the tax implications Till recently, shareholders had to pay capital gains tax on their buyback earnings. However, with the introduction of buyback tax for listed companies, investors are now exempted from the same. Companies will now have to pay 20% buyback tax. This move has been done as the Government observed that more companies were distributing their profits through the buyback channel rather than dividend as the latter attracted DDT (Dividend Distribution Tax). Note: The buyback tax is not applicable to companies who had announced their buyback schemes prior to 5th July 2019.3. Promoter Participation Promoters cannot participate in the buyback process if it is being done through the open market. However, they are allowed in case of tender offer. In case of participation by the promoter, there is usually a positive movement for the stock price in the long-term.    Final Words Buyback can be rewarding for both parties (company as well as investors). As an investor, it is important for you to understand the implications of each buyback offer and decide wisely. You should keep an eye out for the upcoming buyback of shares in 2019 and corporate news around the same. In case you feel that you are not able to decide on your own, you can always reach out to an expert like IndiaNivesh. Indiaivesh has been providing excellent financial solutions to investors since the last 11 years. It offers a wide range of products – broking, distribution, equities, strategic investments, investment banking as well as wealth management. With its “client-first” approach, skilled and experienced team members and state-of-the-art research and technological capabilities, you can be rest assured that your financial interests are in safe hands.  Disclaimer: Investment in securities market / Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

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  • Stock Charts – Importance of Stock Charts in Share Market
    Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 15 Nov 2019

    Often when people begin their investment journey in the stock market, they are swamped with multiple questions in their mind. The very first basic question that comes to the mind is how to determine which stock to purchase and which to avoid. Well, the answer to this question is - stock charts. The stock charts help you in evaluating and gathering all the important information that you must consider before purchasing a stock. By learning stock pattern analysis you can not only become a successful investor but also a successful trader. In this article, you will be learning the different aspects of stock chart reading. Let us first understand what are stock charts? What are Stock Charts? Stock chart is a sequence of prices plotted on a graph over a different timeframe. The y-axis i.e. the vertical axis of the chart represents the price and the x-axis i.e. horizontal axis of the chart represents the time period. Learning and understanding stock chart reading may look like a tough task initially but with little practice, you can master the art. All you need is the correct understanding of the basics of chart reading. They can help you predict the future price movement correctly. Let us now understand the various aspects of stock charts. What are the aspects of Stock Charts? Price and Volume The charts are generally divided into two parts; the price of the stock and the volume of the stock. For correct stock chart analysis and reading of stock chart patterns, it is important to read both price and volume together. This is because if you look only at the movement of the price you would not know how genuine the buying or selling is. For example, a stock has fallen over 5%. Initially, it may look very bad but if the fall is with lower volumes than the average, you may continue to hold the stock because the selling is not done by large retailers who drive the market. The same is the case when the stock is rising but with lower volumes. This rise in the stock price could be fake because when the big players enter the stock there would be a huge rise in the volumes.  Moving Average Lines Moving average lines are very important to understand the performance of a stock. They represent the movement of the share price over a period of time. With the help of moving average lines, you can understand whether the stock is overbought or oversold by large retail participants. The mutual funds and big institutions follow the stock chart patterns and change their positions in stocks when the price rises or moves below the moving average point on the graph. The key moving average points can be a 50-day line, 15-week line, etc. When the stock falls below the benchmark moving average line, the big players often sell their holding and exit the stock. Similarly, when the price moves above the benchmark moving average line, the big players enter and the stock price can rise sharply. Relative Strength Line Relative strength line helps to identify if the stock is a market leader or laggard. This is done by comparing the performance of a stock with the index i.e. Nifty or Sensex. A sharp line rising upwards on the graph indicates that the stock is outperforming the market while a sharp line downwards is an indication that the stock is a laggard and underperforming the overall market. The stock comes in the leadership territory when the Relative Strength line is rising for a breakout and set for a new high in the market. After learning about the various aspects of stock charts, let us learn about some of the basic stock chart patterns. Stock Chart Patterns Daily Stock Chart A daily stock chart on a graph represents the movement of the stock price on a specific day of trading. The day traders use daily stock chart patterns to take intraday positions. The chart has multiple moving day averages like 50 days, 100 days, etc. which the traders monitor continuously to take positions. When the stock rises sharply it is represented by a sharp line rising upwards and when the stock falls, the graph shows a sharp fall in the line. Weekly Stock Chart Just like a daily stock chart represents the stock price movement on a single day, similarly, the weekly stock chart represents the price summary of stock for a single week. This chart is generally used to forecast the price of stocks for the long-term. The weekly charts can display longer-term data on the screen which makes it easy for the analysts and investors to determine the long term trend of a stock. The new investors often get confused between the weekly and daily charts. The confusion is mainly regarding which charts are suitable for them. This section of the article will try to resolve that dilemma. Daily Vs. Weekly Charts The daily charts are said to be good for the traders who are looking for volume and price action on an intraday basis. The stocks on daily charts are said to be giving a breakout when it breaches the 50-day line on either side. On the other hand, for long term investors, weekly charts are ideal. These charts forecast the long term price of a stock along with its trend. It also keeps the investor's emotions under control as they can take wrong decisions looking at the volatile daily chart movements. The Bottom Line There is no doubt about the importance of stock charts in the share market. You can decode the price movement on charts and take advantage of it by making profits. If you want to learn more about stock chart reading and indulge in trading or investing based on it, you can contact IndiaNivesh Ltd. We are one of the most trusted and value-enhancing financial group with new technologies in India.   Disclaimer: "Investment in securities market and Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing."

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  • Mutual Fund Performance - Five ways to measure Mutual Fund Performance
    Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 18 Sep 2019

    Mutual fund investment plans have emerged as a preferred investment choice for a large number of investors in the last few years. Earlier, most of the households invested their savings in traditional investments like FDs, PPFs, and gold. However, the need for better returns from their savings and growing awareness of other investment options, have led investors to move away from traditional investments and explore other options such as mutual funds.What are mutual funds? In simple words, mutual funds are pooled investments from a large number of investors. They collect money from various individuals and entities that have a common investment objective and subsequently invest this pool of money in various stocks, bonds, and other securities. Thus, mutual fund investment plans allow you to distribute your invested money in a large number of securities than you could put in your portfolio. As a mutual fund investor, you hold units that represent a portion of your holdings in the scheme. Why is it advantageous to invest in mutual funds? Mutual fund investment no doubt is one of the smartest investments for almost any investor. Here are a few of its advantages:1. Simple A mutual fund is the simplest way to invest in capital markets for higher returns. If you are a novice but wish to invest in the capital markets, then mutual funds provide you with the simplest platform to invest in a healthy mix of stocks, bonds, and other securities.2. Easily accessible Mutual funds’ investments are easily accessible for all investors and as an investor, you can start investing in mutual funds for an amount as low as Rs. 500. 3. Diverse Mutual funds allow you to diversify your portfolio as you can gain access to different segments of the market through various mutual fund investment plans. Thus, you can invest in a variety of assets, sectors, securities, etc. 4. Professionally managed Mutual fund schemes are professionally managed by fund managers who have the expertise, time and resources and make sound investment decisions based upon the objective of the scheme.As the number of mutual fund schemes available in the markets has increased dramatically, evaluating the performance of mutual funds is of utmost importance to make wise investment choices. If you are wondering which is the best mutual fund to invest right now and how to evaluate the performance of mutual funds, then here is a simple guide for you. Top 5 measures to evaluate the performance of a mutual fund1. Compare performance with an appropriate benchmarkFor every mutual fund, there is a benchmark index to which you can compare the mutual fund performance. If your mutual fund investment is consistently generating higher than the benchmark, then it reflects the ability of the fund manager to manage the portfolio better. The important aspect here is to compare the mutual fund performance with an appropriate benchmark.Even when you are comparing it with different mutual fund schemes always look at the returns of other funds from the same category with a similar investment objective. Comparing the performance of a midcap fund with that of a large-cap fund would be like comparing apples to oranges. Hence, be careful and make relevant comparisons to see the performance of mutual funds. 2. Alpha Alpha of the fund helps measure the performance of the mutual fund on a risk-adjusted basis. Alpha takes into account the volatility of the mutual fund and compares the risk-adjusted performance of the fund to the benchmark. A positive alpha indicates that the fund manager has managed to outperform your mutual fund investments as compared to the benchmark. Similarly, a lower alpha indicates an underperformance of the fund as compared to the benchmark. Thus, the more positive the alpha of a fund, the better it is. 3. BetaApart from the risk associated with the security due to the nature of the asset class, every investment is exposed to a systematic risk which is due to the state of the economy or market in general and is unavoidable.The beta ratio captures this market risk of your investment. A higher beta indicates that the fund will be more volatile than the market. So, if a fund has a beta of 1.15 then it is 15% more volatile than the market. Note: Alpha & Beta both are risk ratios and are crucial means to find out the performance of mutual funds. The two ratios help you to determine the returns generated as compared to the risks undertaken. As an investor, you should look at funds that have a higher alpha and lower beta. 4. Portfolio diversification The advantage of investing through mutual funds is that they help you diversify your portfolio. A well-diversified portfolio helps you to mitigate the risks associated with investing in funds focussed on too few stocks or sectors or asset classes. So, to ensure that you achieve the desired results, you should review the holdings in your mutual fund. You can check the portfolio of your mutual fund by looking at the fund fact sheet. 5. Expense RatioOne of the biggest challenges for mutual funds is the high fees associated with it. Running any mutual fund involves costs that need to be borne by the investor. The expense ratio is the percentage of money spent to pay the salary of the fund manager, his team and other expenses. So, if the expense ratio of a mutual fund is high then it will reduce the overall returns generated by your mutual fund investments. So, while choosing a fund you should also see that the expense ratio is not very high. Here is a list of best mutual funds for 2019 across popular categories you may consider for investing now: The Bottom LineChoosing to invest in mutual fund investment plans is just the start of your journey as an investor. The important aspect of any investment decision is that it helps you achieve your goals within the desired time frame and considers your tolerance to risk. Mutual fund portfolios are tailor-made to meet your unique goals and are one of the best ways to achieve your investment objectives.So, if you want help with your mutual fund investment portfolio or you want to find the best mutual funds to invest now or simply want guidance, you can always seek assistance from a platform like IndiaNivesh. Their experts will help you build a portfolio that’s best suited for you.Disclaimer: Investment in securities market / Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

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  • Difference Between Portfolio Management Services (PMS) Vs Mutual Funds
    Posted by Mehul Kothari | Published on 05 Aug 2019

    The ultimate goal for all investments is the same – Wealth Creation. But the routes can be different. In this article, we will talk about two popular investment avenues – Portfolio Management Services and Mutual Funds, both of which have the potential to fulfill your financial goals.Mutual FundsMutual Funds pool in money from a group of people and then invest the corpus in various asset categories as per the scheme’s objective. This investment avenue is professionally managed by a team of experts known as “Fund Managers” from Asset Management Companies.How to Invest in Mutual FundsThere are numerous ways to invest in Mutual Funds. Directly through the company’s website Through intermediaries such as brokers or R&T Agents Through online platforms that work as aggregators Portfolio Management ServicePortfolio Management Services (PMS) is a kind of wealth management service. Like mutual funds, they are managed by professionals known as portfolio managers. These experts offer a wide range of curated investment strategies to benefit from the available opportunities in the market.  They can be bifurcated into two categories of services: Discretionary Non- Discretionary If the portfolio manager has complete control over the portfolio and can independently take trade decisions for the customer, it is referred to as Discretionary PMS. In the case of non-discretionary PMS, the portfolio manager does not have the authority to take any portfolio related decisions independently. He/she needs to manage the funds as per the client’s directions. Without the client’s approval, no buy or sell decisions can be taken by the portfolio manager. Portfolio Management Services in IndiaAs per SEBI regulations, only entities who are registered with SEBI for offering Portfolio Management Services in India can provide PMS to customers. Non-Resident Indians can also invest in these products. However, the documentation process is different (and slightly more exhaustive) than resident Indians. They need to open a PIS (Portfolio Investment Scheme) Account for the same.What makes these two investment avenues different?• Regulatory perspectiveMutual Funds are, comparatively, more strictly regulated in comparison to PMS. SEBI closely monitors their activities and investment decisions.• TransparencyBoth Mutual Funds and PMS offer timely disclosures to the clients. In the case of Mutual Funds, clients can get all relevant information such as portfolio disclosures, the commission given to distributors, daily performance data, etc. There are numerous websites through which the performance of each scheme can be tracked. Even in the case of Portfolio Management Services in India, the service provider is required to make periodic disclosures to the clients. The only difference is that it is not available to the general public. This might make it difficult for newbie investors to make an informed decision or identify the best portfolio management services. However, if one reaches out to reputable providers, the credibility of information or quality of services is assured.• FlexibilityIn the case of Mutual Funds, the pooled-in corpus can only be invested in asset categories as per the scheme’s objective. However, in the case of PMS generally there is no such restriction. They need not need to confine their investments to a stated objective or any such stringent terms, unless the theme of the investments is restricted to certain sectors or market cap. This provides flexibility to the portfolio manager to take aggressive calls whenever required. For instance, if they sense risk or volatility and the situation demands, they can decide to maintain a 100% cash position and sell off all the equity holdings.• OwnershipIn PMS, the stocks are held directly by the investor. However, in Mutual Funds, they are held by the AMC or Fund House and the investors receive units of the scheme.• RiskMutual Funds cater to all types of investors. An investor with a high-risk appetite can go for an aggressive equity scheme. Someone who is risk-averse or lower on the spectrum can go for a hybrid or balanced fund. The risk quotient in Mutual Funds is reduced to a certain extent as the risk gets spread across a wide range of stocks.Relatively, investments through PMS are riskier. They are usually a highly concentrated portfolio (consisting of about only 20-30 stocks). However, with higher risk comes the possibility of higher returns with PMS.• Entry BarrierPortfolio Management Services may not be accessible for all retail investors. It is primarily targeted towards HNIs (High net-worth individuals). One can start mutual fund investments with only Rs. 500. However, in the case of Portfolio Management Services, the least investment required is Rs. 50 Lakhs*.• Ease of InvestingInvestments in Mutual Funds can be made easily through multiple channels such as the company's website, through R&T Agents or distributors or with the help of online platforms. However, the process for investment in the case of PMS is lengthier considering the high value of funds that are transacted through these accounts.• Cost StructurePortfolio Management Services are way more customized than Mutual Funds. Mutual Fund charges fees daily as a percentage of AUM and is capped for all schemes. Whereas, the costs involved in PMS is relatively more such as Entry Load, Fund Management expenses, Profit Sharing or Fixed Fee, custodian fees, audit-related fees, brokerage, etc. All these vary according to the provider. However, relatively high returns generated by PMS more than compensate for the costs involved.• TaxationIn the case of Mutual Funds, the investors have taxed basis the type of scheme and the duration for which he/she had remained invested. For instance, in case of equity mutual funds, if one exits from the scheme within the lock-in period (usually 12 months), then 15% tax is applied. However, after that period the proceeds are taxed at 10% if gains exceed Rs. 1 Lakh. (Till the limit of Rs. 1 Lakh it is tax-free)However, the taxation methodology is quite different in the case of PMS. Gains are calculated on every underlying transaction (and not just redemption) done by the portfolio manager. So, each time the portfolio manager sells a share, capital gain (or loss) is calculated for the investor and then taxed accordingly.Which one should you go for?So, is one of these a better option? No. Both Mutual Funds and Portfolio Management Services are managed funds. They have their own set of benefits and targeted towards a different set of investors. The choice between these two should be made after considering factors such as risk profile, investment objective, market understanding, etc. For instance, if you are looking for higher flexibility and customization, PMS may be a better option. On the other hand, if you do not have too many funds at hand but still want to enter into the equity market, Mutual Funds are your best bet.Whatever be your choice, you can seek the help of experts from IndiaNivesh. They are adept at crafting portfolios customized as per the client’s needs and long-term goals.Why should you trust IndiaNivesh with your hard-earned money? Outstanding research experience of more than 11 years State-of-the-art technological tools to keep abreast with the market knowledge Highly skilled experts with the cumulative market experience of 300 years Wide range of financial solutions – broking and distribution, institutional equities, PMS and strategies, corporate advisory, investment banking, and wealth management So, are you looking for the best portfolio management services? Or wondering which is the best mutual funds to invest today? Or still struggling with how to invest in Mutual Funds? Then worry not and just reach out to the team at IndiaNivesh. They will ensure that you realize your financial goals irrespective of the route (PMS vs Mutual Funds) you take. Disclaimer: Investment in securities market / Mutual Funds are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing. *Effective from 1st Jan 2020.

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