How many mutual funds is too many for a portfolio?
To diversify and reduce risks, it is sufficient to have 1-2 funds in each fund category, assuming one doesn't have too many fund categories in their portfolio.
Financial planners say it is difficult to put a cap on the number of schemes in an investor's portfolio, as investors increasingly use mutual funds to meet both long-term and short-term goals. However, they feel investors should restrict themselves to 10 schemes, as a higher number is difficult to monitor and manage.
Unless you are very well versed with the markets and have expert knowledge about mutual funds, a good rule of thumb would be to own: Large Cap Mutual Funds: Up to 2. Maybe 3 at best. Beyond that, it doesn't make sense as there will be a great overlap in the shares owned by your mutual funds.
So, what's the ideal number of funds? Well, there is no right or wrong answer. It can depend on a number of factors including the number of funds you're comfortable monitoring in your portfolio, your investment objectives and risk appetite.
Most industry professionals estimate a number of assets ranging from 20-30 in a portfolio to reduce the market risk.
Katrina Ávila Munichiello is an experienced editor, writer, fact-checker, and proofreader with more than fourteen years of experience working with print and online publications. The consensus is that a well-balanced portfolio with approximately 20 to 30 stocks diversifies away the maximum amount of unsystematic risk.
But while diversification is important, it doesn't mean that you keep adding new funds to your portfolio. Investing in too many funds, and justifying it as diversification, is redundant. Beyond a point, there are no additional (diversification) benefits available if you increase the number of funds in the portfolio.
Too Much of Mutual Fund Investment
You must remember that each equity fund you invest in has at least 50 stocks. If you hold, say, 7 to 10 of these equity funds, you are in actual fact, investing in around 500 stocks on the high side. This figure could go higher, depending on your distinct number of funds.
The three-fund portfolio is lazy investing at its best. It's simple, it's proven to have a better long-term track record of gains than picking single stocks and trying to time the market, and it lets you generally "set it and forget it" when it comes to saving for retirement.
Investing in multiple mutual funds can be a smart move for investors who want to diversify their portfolios and gain access to professional asset management. However, it's important to be aware of the possible drawbacks, such as the potential for over-diversification and higher transaction costs.
What is the 5% portfolio rule?
This rule suggests that investors should not allocate more than 5% of their portfolio in any one stock or investment. The idea behind this rule is to limit the potential risk to the overall portfolio if one investment does not perform as expected.
One frequently used rule of thumb for retirement spending is known as the 4% rule. It's relatively simple: You add up all of your investments, and withdraw 4% of that total during your first year of retirement.
The three-fund portfolio consists of a total stock market index fund, a total international stock index fund, and a total bond market fund. Asset allocation between those three funds is up to the investor based on their age and risk tolerance.
The common rule of asset allocation by age is that you should hold a percentage of stocks that is equal to 100 minus your age. So if you're 40, you should hold 60% of your portfolio in stocks. Since life expectancy is growing, changing that rule to 110 minus your age or 120 minus your age may be more appropriate.
A good asset allocation varies by individual and can depend on various factors, including age, financial targets, and appetite for risk. Historically, an asset allocation of 60% stocks and 40% bonds was considered optimal.
If you are a moderate-risk investor, it's best to start with a 60-30-10 or 70-20-10 allocation. Those of you who have a 60-40 allocation can also add a touch of gold to their portfolios for better diversification. If you are conservative, then 50-40-10 or 50-30-20 is a good way to start off on your investment journey.
According to the 30:30:30:10 rule, you must devote 30% of your income to housing (EMI'S, rent, maintenance, etc.), the next 30% to needs (grocery, utility, etc.), another 30% to your future goals, and spend rest 10% on your “wants.”
Understanding when you have too many funds
While it's important to make sure your portfolio is properly diversified, having too many funds can make it difficult to keep track of your investments. You should therefore only keep as many funds in your portfolio as you're comfortable monitoring.
The biggest risk of over-diversification is that it reduces a portfolio's returns without meaningfully reducing its risk. Each new investment added to a portfolio lowers its overall risk profile. Simultaneously, these incremental additions also reduce the portfolio's expected return.
While there is no precise answer for the number of funds one should hold in a portfolio, 8 funds (+/-2) across asset classes may be considered optimal depending on the financial objectives and goals of the investor. Further, higher allocation of portfolio to the right fund is of crucial importance.
How do you declutter a portfolio?
Decluttering your investment portfolio means simplifying it by eliminating things you don't need. Just like cleaning your home and throwing away things you no longer use during Diwali, in your investments, it means selling or removing assets/investments that are no longer helpful or needed.
While savings will help you deal with a rainy day and insurance will protect you in case of an unfortunate situation, mutual funds may help you fulfill your financial goals and build wealth.
Specifically, a fund is prohibited from: acquiring more than 3% of a registered investment company's shares (the “3% Limit”); investing more than 5% of its assets in a single registered investment company (the “5% Limit”); or. investing more than 10% of its assets in registered investment companies (the “10% Limit”).
Diversified management investment companies have assets that fall within the 75-5-10 rule. A 75-5-10 diversified management investment company will have 75% of its assets in other issuers and cash, no more than 5% of assets in any one company, and no more than 10% ownership of any company's outstanding voting stock.
If you were to stay invested for a shorter duration, say 20 years, you'd invest Rs 2,40,000, but your portfolio value would be Rs 9.89 lakh. A decade-long investment of Rs 1,000 per month would equal Rs. 2,30,038, as compared to Rs. 1,20,000 invested over the same period.
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