Investment: Long term plan

Once we have decided for long term investment plan, do no change it. Keep the plan unchanged for a very long period of time, if our selection is good and correct. Review the investment portfolio regularly and make necessary changes in the portfolio and continue as planned.

Except the investments giving the fixed return, all others are subject to market risks. The market will be volatile and accordingly the portfolio would give positive or negative return in the short term. But in the long term, the return would be in favour of investors.

The investments like gold and equity shares can be transferred to next generation too. 

Investment: Debt funds

In mutual funds, we have the option to select equity fund, index fund, sectorial fund and debt fund.

Debt fund is the fund that invest bonds and non-existant convertible debentures (NCD). It is better to invest in a fund that invests in government bonds and NCD of high rated companies.

Some may feel it safe to start a SIP in a equity fund and later start a STP to a debt fund from the equity fund. 

Selecting the right funds become the backbone of the mutual funds investments.

Investment: Patience

Once we have invested and set an investment goal, we must stick to our plan. Stopping a SIP and withdrawing an investment suddenly would not make us successful in investments.

Problem is not with the investment which will give the fixed return but with the investment which has uncertain return.

Investing is like planting a seed and watering it regularly. We must give it the required time to grow. This is really the hard work for the investors. Many investors fail in investment as they quit investing when they see the things are going as they have planned.

If we have planned well, selected well and invested or investing well, all we need is have patience. 

Investment: Sector preference

If we want to build our portfolio on the basis of sector, we need to consider the total weightage of the stocks in a particular sector.

Banking and financial services lead in Nifty 50, followed by energy and IT sectors. After selecting the sectors, we can build our portfolio considering the weightage of stocks in the particular sector. As for example HDFC bank leads the banking sector.

Invest in Market leaders. Invest in top 1, 2 or 3 companies in a particular sector.

Bank nifty is available in ETF to invest, if we are not able to decide where to put our money in Banking sector.

Investors should plan their portfolio in such a way that they need not worry about the selected stocks as long as the stocks remain the market leaders. 

Investment: Growth and dividend

Investing in mutual fund has two options:
1. Growth
2. Dividend

Growth mutual funds are the funds that invest in growing companies. Growth option is accumulating of SIP amounts till the investor decides to redeem the amount or withdraw in the form of SWP. In this growth fund investments, investors enjoy the benefits similar to compound interest.

Investors can choose for monthly, quarterly or yearly payout of dividends. The dividend payout is not fixed. Here investors enjoy the benefits of investing in the companies that declare dividends.

Investment: Government securities

To raise funds to finance important projects and budget deficits, government issues government securities (G-SEC)  or treasury bills (T-Bills).

The return is fixed and secured and usually better than the fixed deposits.

Moreover government securities are reliable and investors get a good return when there is financial crisis and other investments are not doing well.