Monday, September 20, 2010

MFs go insurers' way to sell plans

You can't escape the phrase 'gift your child Rs 1 crore' printed in bold letters in the newsletter from the neighbourhood mutual fund agent. Then, the small text below it explains that if you invest Rs 6,000 in best performing mutual funds scheme via a systematic investment plan (SIP), your newborn would be a crorepati (assuming the scheme returns 20% per year) by the time she becomes 18.

The example shouldn't surprise anyone, but actually it does. It is because the mutual fund newsletters usually don't talk this way: their tone is always impersonal; they always speak about the dividends declared, performance of top funds vs the respective benchmark, assets under management and so on.

''It is true that mutual fund newsletters usually speak about the performance of schemes, returns on benchmarks like sensex, dividend history, assets under management... Insurance players used to speak about goal-based investments,'' says Rajesh Krishnamoorthy, managing director, iFast Financial. ''It seems the mutual fund industry has also started speaking about investing for a goal. Maybe because of the recent troubles the industry is trying to reach out to investors forcefully,'' he adds.

''Maybe it is true that we were speaking more about performance, dividend and so on. But there was always a tacit understanding that mutual funds are the best investment vehicle to meet individual's long term goals,'' says Sandeep Dasgupta, CEO, Bharati Axa Investment Managers. ''The change in language may be because the industry is going through dramatic changes after the entry load ban last year. Maybe this is one way to communicate effectively to investors,'' he adds.

The mutual fund industry has been struggling to find its feet ever since the market regulator — Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) — banned entry loan on mutual funds. Mutual fund sales force has been dwindling since then. Faced with no incentives to sell MF schemes, many agents have shifted to peddling more-lucrative unit-linked insurance plans (Ulips), which gave them attractive upfront commissions.

According to financial experts, mutual funds should do more investor education programmes — as per the new guidelines they are expected to hold five such programmes every month, but they seldom do it — and talk more about goal-based investments.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/MFs-go-insurers-way-to-sell-plans/articleshow/6588257.cms

No comments:

Just click away from joining most active Mutual Fund India google group

Google Groups
Subscribe to Mutual Fund india
Email:
Visit this group

Aggrasive Portfolio

  • Principal Emerging Bluechip fund (Stock picker Fund) 11%
  • Reliance Growth Fund (Stock Picker Fund) 11%
  • IDFC Premier Equity Fund (Stock picker Fund) (STP) 11%
  • HDFC Equity Fund (Mid cap Fund) 11%
  • Birla Sun Life Front Line Equity Fund (Large Cap Fund) 10%
  • HDFC TOP 200 Fund (Large Cap Fund) 8%
  • Sundram BNP Paribas Select Midcap Fund (Midcap Fund) 8%
  • Fidelity Special Situation Fund (Stock picker Fund) 8%
  • Principal MIP Fund (15% Equity oriented) 10%
  • IDFC Savings Advantage Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%
  • Kotak Flexi Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%

Moderate Portfolio

  • HDFC TOP 200 Fund (Large Cap Fund) 11%
  • Principal Large Cap Fund (Largecap Equity Fund) 10%
  • Reliance Vision Fund (Large Cap Fund) 10%
  • IDFC Imperial Equity Fund (Large Cap Fund) 10%
  • Reliance Regular Saving Fund (Stock Picker Fund) 10%
  • Birla Sun Life Front Line Equity Fund (Large Cap Fund) 9%
  • HDFC Prudence Fund (Balance Fund) 9%
  • ICICI Prudential Dynamic Plan (Dynamic Fund) 9%
  • Principal MIP Fund (15% Equity oriented) 10%
  • IDFC Savings Advantage Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%
  • Kotak Flexi Fund (Liquid Fund) 6%

Conservative Portfolio

  • ICICI Prudential Index Fund (Index Fund) 16%
  • HDFC Prudence Fund (Balance Fund) 16%
  • Reliance Regular Savings Fund - Balanced Option (Balance Fund) 16%
  • Principal Monthly Income Plan (MIP Fund) 16%
  • HDFC TOP 200 Fund (Large Cap Fund) 8%
  • Principal Large Cap Fund (Largecap Equity Fund) 8%
  • JM Arbitrage Advantage Fund (Arbitrage Fund) 16%
  • IDFC Savings Advantage Fund (Liquid Fund) 14%

Best SIP Fund For 10 Years

  • IDFC Premier Equity Fund (Stock Picker Fund)
  • Principal Emerging Bluechip Fund (Stock Picker Fund)
  • Sundram BNP Paribas Select Midcap Fund (Midcap Fund)
  • JM Emerging Leader Fund (Multicap Fund)
  • Reliance Regular Saving Scheme (Equity Stock Picker)
  • Biral Mid cap Fund (Mid cap Fund)
  • Fidility Special Situation Fund (Stock Picker)
  • DSP Gold Fund (Equity oriented Gold Sector Fund)