What are Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) facilities under mutual funds?
Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) facility through which you may investment in Mutual Fund schemes wherein you pay a set amount every month/quarter/half year for a set tenure. For example, if you take an SIP of Rs. 8,000 for 1 year on January 1, 2023, you will be paying Rs. 8,000 per month for next 12 months.
The statement “Small is Powerful” intends to market the idea of SIP that aims to convert small investment into larger investments over a span of time. Since the amount is invested regularly and is constant, you get additional number of units in the falling market and fewer units when the value is high. It helps you to smoothen out the market fluctuations and therefore the investments are a low cost over a period.
When should you invest in mutual funds through SIP?
SIP is beneficial as long as markets really are volatile or going down after you invested. If, at all, the markets turn bullish and start rising, SIP won't be beneficial, and may give less returns compared to lump sum investments. SIP is a simple concept and hence very powerful. Let’s see some factors as to why it’s worth investing through SIP mutual fund.
What are the benefits of investing in SIP?
· It is easier for a person to shell a smaller amount every month rather than a big amount all at once. Investing through SIP is lighter on the pocket. It’s easier to pay Rs 8,000 per month for a year, instead of investing Rs 96,000 at the same time.
The major advantage of SIP is a concept of rupee-cost averaging. SIP allows you to buy more units as the market goes down and fewer units as markets moves up.
The other advantage of SIP is that it trains you to become a disciplined investor. Once you begin SIP, every month you have got to contribute certain money in mutual fund and that habit is cultivated.
SIP presents a very convenient way of investing. It is only required to submit a filled-up enrolment form along with a cheque, which is to be deposited on the date requested by the mutual fund. Thereafter, units will be credit to your account & a notification will be sent out for the same.
Capital gains, if applicable, are taxable on a first-in, first-out basis.
Are there any disadvantages?
SIP investments don’t work in bullish markets or when market rises up over time. When market goes up and keeps growing over time, the units bought each time are at high value than the previous one, which can ultimately bring the average value up, compared to the lump sum investment at the beginning.
Tax saver Mutual Funds schemes lock your money for three years, once you invest through SIP; all of your investment is locked individually for three years from the date of investment. Therefore, if you pay your initial instalment on January 2023, it'll be locked until January 2026, and then the instalments paid in February, 2023 is locked until February, 2026 and so forth.