Mutual fund investments are growing in popularity in India. A common question that many new investors might have is what mode of investment to opt for – SIP or lump sum. If you are one such investor looking to gain insight into this, read on.
How is a SIP investment different from a lump sum investment?
Investing in mutual funds through SIP – systematic investment plans – helps investors invest a fixed amount of money in the scheme regularly. Investing through a lump sum, on the other hand, requires the investor to make a one-time payment in full at the beginning of the investment period.
Benefits of investing in mutual funds through SIPs:
Here are the key benefits of making SIP investments:
- You can reduce the impact of market volatility on your investment portfolio: Rupee-cost averaging is one of the advantages of SIP investments. You can buy more units when prices are low and fewer units when prices are high. This results in an averaging out of the cost per unit time, which reduces the impact of market volatility on your mutual fund investment.
- SIPs help you develop a disciplined approach to investing: You can successfully maintain a consistent approach to investing through SIP contributions by contributing fixed amounts towards your investment goals.
- SIPs offer flexibility: You can start SIP investments with a monthly amount as low as ₹100.
- You can leverage the power of compounding through SIP investments: The power of compounding helps you as an investor earn higher returns through fixed, smaller contributions to a mutual fund over a long period.
- SIPs help you benefit from fund managers’ expertise: If you are a first-time investor who still understands how the market functions, you can benefit from a fund manager’s expertise when you make SIP contributions.
- SIPs help you achieve specific financial goals: Goal-based investing is very effective since it helps you remain aligned with your financial goals. SIPs help investors set financial goals and achieve them in a fixed time frame.
Benefits of lump sum investments:
The following are the benefits offered by lump sum investments:
Lump sump investments result in simplified portfolio management: You only have to make one investment decision while investing in a mutual fund scheme via a lump sum. This results in simplified portfolio management as you don’t have to continuously monitor your investment.
They offer a potential for higher returns: Lump sum investments could generate higher returns compared to SIP investments in a rising market.
Lump sum investments do not rely on the market’s timing: If you are someone who can invest a significant amount at any given point in time, lump sum investments can help you avoid the stress of timing the market.
Which strategy works best for your financial goals?
You can use an online SIP returns calculator to identify the mode of investment that helps you achieve your financial goals. You must consider the investment horizon, investment amount, risk appetite, and investment goals before deciding on the ideal investment mode.
In conclusion, you must analyze your investment portfolio and other key aspects like your risk appetite to decide on the ideal investment mode for your mutual fund investments.
