SIP, or Systematic Investment Plan, is an investment strategy that allows individuals to invest in mutual funds regularly over a specified period. It involves investing a fixed amount at regular intervals, typically monthly. SIP offers several advantages, making it a popular investment method. Firstly, it promotes financial discipline by encouraging regular savings. Secondly, it provides the benefit of rupee cost averaging, allowing investors to buy more units when prices are low and fewer units when prices are high. Additionally, SIPs offer flexibility and convenience, as investors can start with a small amount and increase it gradually. Overall, starting a SIP is a wise choice as it helps inculcate disciplined investing habits and offers potential for long-term wealth creation.

What is an SIP?

SIP, or Systematic Investment Plan, is an investment option provided by mutual funds that enables investors to invest a fixed amount at regular intervals, typically monthly or quarterly. It promotes the habit of regular savings and investing, regardless of market conditions.

What are the benefits of SIP?

The benefits of SIP investment are several. A few of them are rupee cost averaging, disciplined investing, flexibility of investment & amount, long term wealth creation as a resultant of compounding effect.

How to start an SIP?

Starting an SIP is easy. First, you need to select a fund that is best suited to your long-term goals and risk profile. You can do this yourself, or you can take the help of a professional financial advisor. Once you have zeroed-in on a fund, you need to fill the SIP application form, post which a fixed amount is deducted from your bank account every month and directed towards the mutual fund you choose to invest in.

How much return can I expect on an SIP investment?

Unlike traditional fixed income products, Mutual Fund investments do not provide a guaranteed return. But, historically, over a long-term, investments in Equity Funds have generated better returns than traditional fixed-income products. Having said that, Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks. You are advised to read all scheme related documents carefully before investing.

What are some of the best SIP plans?

There is no such thing as a “Best Mutual Fund.” It is a myth. Every fund has a unique investment objective that caters to the needs of different investors. You need to select the right fund basis your risk appetite and time-frame for achieving your life goals. You may decide to invest either via SIP or Lumpsum.

What is meant by “SIP frequency?”

SIP frequency refers to the pre-defined interval at which a fixed amount, mandated by you, is deducted from your bank account. You can go with a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual frequency.

Is there a minimum amount to start an SIP?

The minimum amount to start an SIP varies from fund-to-fund. Having said that, many funds in India now let you start an SIP at 100 rupees. Investing via SIP is not limited to small amounts. You can invest any amount you want. There is no upper limit on SIP. Minimum tenure of SIP is 6 months, whereas there is no maximum tenure.

What is the maximum amount I can invest through SIP?

Investing via SIP is not limited for any mutual fund scheme. You can start an SIP with any amount that you wish. There is no upper limit on SIP.

Can I have multiple SIPs?
Yes, you can start more than one SIP. There is no restriction on the number of SIPs you can have at a given point in time.

Does SIP offer the options of Growth and Dividend?
Yes, when you start an SIP, you can choose the option of either Growth or Dividend.

Can I switch between the options of Growth and Dividend at any point in time?
Yes, you can any time switch your SIP from Growth to Dividend and vice-versa, in an open-ended fund, without a lock-in period.

Is SIP available for all types of mutual funds?
Yes, you can start an SIP for any open-ended mutual fund.

What is meant by “Rupee Cost Averaging?”

One of the main benefits of SIP is Rupee Cost Averaging. It simply means that you get more units when the market goes down and less when the market goes up. Thus, you average out the cost of total units bought. This helps you to optimize returns over the long term.

Can I change the SIP amount at any time?

Yes, you can increase your SIP amount at any point. There are two ways to do that. You can either start a new SIP with the additional amount or you can opt for a facility, commonly known as SIP Booster or SIP Top-up, that lets you increase your SIP instalment amount at a pre-defined interval.

Can I stop my SIP at any time?

Yes, you can stop your SIP instalment at any point in time. There are no charges levied for stopping an SIP. Moreover, you can withdraw the corpus accumulated through previous instalments.

Can I switch my SIP investment from one fund to another?

No, you can’t switch your SIP from one fund to another. You will need to stop the current one and start a new one in your desired fund. But, the corpus accumulated through past instalments, in an open-ended fund without a lock-in period, can be switched to another fund.

Will I incur a penalty if my SIP installment fails to get through due to an insufficient account balance?

There is no penalty levied by Mutual Funds if your account balance is insufficient when the SIP instalment is due. It’s just that your instalment for that particular month will not be processed, but your SIP will continue normally next month onwards, provided the balance is sufficient.

Can I invest in ELSS using SIP?

Yes, it is possible to invest in an ELSS fund through SIP.

What is the ideal investment horizon for an SIP?

SIP is a good habit of saving & investing a fixed amount regularly with the objective of creating wealth over the long term. Hence, an SIP should be done for perpetuity, unless you are starting an SIP for a specific goal that is due on a particular date.

Which SIP frequency is better – weekly or monthly?

Assuming the same rate of return, a weekly frequency will turn out to be a better choice as you get the benefit of compounding. Unfortunately, the market returns are not predictable. Hence, there is no correct answer as to which frequency is better. That being said, it is advisable to select the frequency based on your cash flow. Hence, salaried individuals prefer a monthly frequency for their SIP.

Should I invest in SIP directly or through an advisor?

There more than 1000 open-ended mutual funds in India. Selecting the right fund is always an uphill task. It requires in-depth knowledge of markets and mutual funds. If you have the time and the required skills to analyse the funds for finding the one that suits your needs and risk appetite, you can go for Direct funds. Otherwise, it is advisable to go with the professional financial advisors who will recommend you the right fund that is best suited to your needs and life-goals.

Is there any extra or hidden cost that I will incur for starting an SIP?

No, there is no extra charge or hidden cost for starting an SIP.

If the returns on my investment are negative, what should I do?
When facing negative returns, the most common mistake investors tend to do is to stop their SIP and withdraw the accumulated corpus. Ideally, if you have a long-term investment horizon, a market downturn should be treated as an opportunity to buy more to average out the cost of total units. This will help you to generate favorable returns when the market becomes positive.

What is meant by “SIP Booster” or “SIP Top-up?”
SIP Booster or SIP Top-up lets you increase the amount of your SIP installments at pre-defined intervals. This way, you don’t need to start a new SIP from time-to-time. The increase in the instalment amount can be a fixed sum of money or it can be a percentage of your current instalment value.

Which is better – Lumpsum or SIP?
The answer to this question depends on the stock market conditions. During upward trends, the lumpsum mode of mutual fund investment tends to give relatively higher returns whereas during falling markets, investments made via an SIP generally provides better returns than a lumpsum investment. Having said that, SIP promotes a habit of regular savings and investing, regardless of market conditions.

What is the Power of Compounding?
In compounding, interest is generated not only on the initial investment amount but also on the previously accumulated interest. In case of SIP, the regular re-investment of returns to generate compounding effects over time. Hence, it is advisable to start investing as early as possible to reap the maximum benefits of compounding.

What are the types of SIPs available?
Below are the types of SIP available on Kotak mutual fund website: 1. Perpetual SIP: Investors can choose a perpetual SIP with Kotak Mutual Fund, which continues indefinitely until the investor decides to stop or modify it. 2. Top-up SIP: Kotak Mutual Fund provides the option of a top-up SIP, allowing investors to increase their investment amount periodically by a fixed percentage or a fixed amount. 3. Smart SIP: In a Smart SIP, the SIP installment varies based on market valuations.

Do I need to log in on every SIP date to place the Mutual Fund SIP orders?
No, you typically don’t need to log in on every SIP date to place mutual fund SIP orders. Once you set up the SIP with your mutual fund provider, the SIP orders are automatically processed on the specified dates from your respective bank. You may need to ensure sufficient funds are available in your bank account and maintain an active SIP mandate.

How are SIPs taxed?
SIPs in mutual funds are taxed based on the holding period and the type of mutual fund. Equity-oriented SIPs held for more than one year are subject to long-term capital gains tax, while debt-oriented SIPs have different tax implications. For more details, investor must consult their financial advisors.

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But when we talk about a share market, we’re talking about a smaller part of the stock market. In a share market, it’s all about buying and selling parts of companies, which we call shares or stocks. These shares represent a piece of a company, and people can buy or sell them to have a share in that company’s money and profits. So, while we sometimes use the words “stock market” and “share market” the real difference is that a stock market has more things to trade, while a share market is all about trading pieces of companies.

Why Invest In Share Market?
We buy shares in companies to help our money grow over time. Some people worry that investing in shares is risky, but lots of research has proved that if you pick the right shares and hang on to them for a while, like five to ten years, they can make your money grow even faster than things like houses or gold, and they can beat the rising cost of living (inflation). So, investing in the right shares for the long run can be a smart way to make your money grow.

Stockbrokers used to congregate around Banyan trees to make stock dealings. They had no choice but to move from one location to another as the number of brokers grew and the streets filled. Finally, in 1854, they moved to Dalal Street, which is now home to Asia’s oldest stock market, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). It is also India’s first stock exchange, and it has played a significant role in the Indian financial markets since then. Even today, the BSE Sensex is one of the benchmarks used to assess the strength of the Indian economy and financial system.

Types Of Share Market
Primary Market:
This is the process through which a corporation registers to sell a specified number of shares and raise funds. This is also known as being a stock exchange listed company. To raise finance, a corporation goes to the major markets. If a firm is selling shares for the first time, it is referred to as an initial public offering (IPO). Read more on factors to consider before investing in an IPO.

Secondary Market:
The secondary market is where new securities are exchanged after they have been sold in the main market. This is to allow investors to sell their shares and exit an investment. Secondary market transactions are in which one investor buys shares from another investor at the current market price or at a price agreed upon by both parties.

What Is Sebi?
In India, there’s a group called the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), and they’re like the boss when it comes to overseeing the stock and investment markets. Their main job is to make sure that people who invest their money are safe, and they also want the stock market to work well. They do this by making rules and standards for different folks involved in the market, like companies, brokers, and people who invest. They also look after the stock exchanges and make sure there are fair rules for how things work in the share market. Their aim is to protect everyone’s rights and interests while making sure the market is honest and works properly.

Key Financial Instruments To Trade In The Stock Market
1. Bonds:

Companies need money to undertake projects. They then pay back using the money earned through the project. One way of raising funds is through bonds. When a company borrows from the bank in exchange for regular interest payments, it is called a loan. Similarly, when a company borrows from multiple investors in exchange for timely payments of interest, it is called a bond. Click here to read about the importance of tracking bond yield movements.

For example, imagine you want to start a project that will start earning money in two years. To undertake the project, you will need an initial amount to get started. So, you acquire the requisite funds from a friend and write down a receipt of this loan saying ‘I owe you Rs 1 lakh and will repay you the principal loan amount by five years, and will pay a 5% interest every year until then’. When your friend holds this receipt, it means he has just bought a bond by lending money to your company. You promise to make the 5% interest payment at the end of every year, and pay the principal amount of Rs 1 lakh at the end of the fifth year.

Thus, a bond is a means of investing money by lending to others. This is why it is called a debt instrument. When you invest in bonds, it will show the face value – the amount of money being borrowed, the coupon rate or yield – the interest rate that the borrower has to pay, the coupon or interest payments, and the deadline for paying the money back, called the maturity date.

2. Shares:

Investing in the share market is another place for raising money. In exchange for the money, companies issue shares. Owning a share is akin to holding a portion of the company. These shares are then traded in the Indian share market. Consider the previous example; your project is successful and so, you want to expand it.

Now, you sell half of your company to your brother for Rs 50,000. You put this transaction in writing – ‘my new company will issue 100 shares of stock. My brother will buy 50 shares for Rs 50,000.’ Thus, your brother has just bought 50% of the shares of stock of your company. He is now a shareholder. Suppose your brother immediately needs Rs 50,000. He can sell the share in the secondary market and get the money. This may be more or less than Rs 50,000, as the price of the shares may change. For this reason, it is considered a riskier instrument.

Shares are thus a certificate of ownership of a corporation. Thus, as a stockholder, you share a portion of the profit the company may make as well as a portion of the loss a company may take. As the company keeps doing better, your stocks will increase in value and so will your investment.

3. Mutual Funds:

These are investment vehicles that allow you to indirectly invest in share market markets or bonds. It pools money from a collection of investors, and then invests that sum in financial instruments. This is handled by a professional fund manager.

Every mutual fund scheme issues units, which have a certain value just like a share. When you invest, you thus become a unit-holder. When the instruments that the MF scheme invests in make money, as a unit-holder, the value of your investment also increases get money.

This is either through a rise in the value of the units or through the distribution of dividends – money to all unit-holders.

4. Derivatives:

The value of financial instruments like shares keeps fluctuating. So, it is difficult to fix a particular price. Derivatives instruments come handy here. These are instruments that help you trade in the future at a price that you fix today. Simply put, you enter into an agreement to either buy or sell a share or other instrument at a certain fixed price. Read more to understand how to buy or sell a futures contract

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