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A mutual fund offers investors the opportunity to pool their money with other investors in an investment that’s managed by professional investment managers. Mutual funds invest in stocks, bonds or other securities according to each fund’s objective.

Four Advantages of Investing in Mutual Funds

Investors turn to a mutual fund because of four distinct advantages they may offer over investing in individual securities.

1. Professional Management — A mutual fund offers investors access to full-time, professional money managers who have the expertise, experience and resources to actively buy, sell, and monitor investments.

2. Diversification — Buying shares in a mutual fund is an easy way to diversify your investments across many securities, which is just another way of saying that you won't have all your eggs in one basket. If one investment decreases in value, another investment in the portfolio may increase.

3. Affordability — For many people, it would be more costly to purchase directly all of the individual securities held by a single mutual fund. By contrast, the minimum initial investments for most mutual funds are more affordable.

4. Liquidity — Most mutual funds allow you to sell your fund shares on any day the stock markets are open, so you have easy access to your money. Of course the value of your shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

Types of Mutual Funds

Mutual funds come in many varieties, designed to meet different investor goals. Most of Franklin Templeton’s mutual funds fall into one of four main asset classes:

Equity Funds

An equity fund is a fund that invests primarily in stocks. The objective of an equity fund is generally to seek long-term capital appreciation. These type of funds may focus on certain sectors of the market or may have a specific investment style, such as investing in value or growth stocks.

Fixed Income Funds

A fixed income fund is a fund that invests primarily in bonds or other debt securities. Fixed income funds generally pay a return on a fixed schedule, though the amount of the payments can vary. Investors may consider this type of fund for their potential for income generation and capital preservation.

Multi-Asset Funds

There’s more to diversification than just combining bonds and stocks. A multi-asset fund offers exposure to a broad number of asset classes, often offering a level of diversification typically associated with institutional investing. Multi-asset funds may invest in a number of traditional equity and fixed income strategies, index-tracking funds, financial derivatives as well as alternative investments. This diversity allows portfolio managers to potentially balance risk with reward and deliver steady, long-term returns for investors, particularly in volatile markets.

Alternative Funds

Potentially attractive for investors seeking to reduce volatility and improve returns in their portfolios, alternative funds invest in a variety of strategies and asset classes, looking to provide risk and return profiles that have lower correlations to traditional asset classes (such as equities, fixed income, and cash).

How to Invest in Mutual Funds

Speak to a financial advisor. A financial advisor (who can be an independent financial advisor, a bank or an insurance company representative) is the best person to contact for your investment needs. He/She can help:

  • establish your financial profile
  • assess your current financial situation
  • set personalised and realistic investment goals
  • define the best way to reach your objectives

He/She will also be able to monitor the performance of your portfolio and propose adjustments when and if needed.