WHAT ARE DEBT FUNDS?
Debt funds are mutual funds that invest in fixed income securities like bonds and treasury bills. Gilt funds, short term plans, liquid funds, and fixed maturity plans (FMPs) are some of the investment options in debt funds. Apart from these categories, debt funds include various other funds investing in short term, medium term and long-term bonds.
Debt funds do not invest in equity. They only invest in debt instruments issued by the government, banks, and corporate entities; thereby making them much less risky compared to equity mutual funds, alleviating concerns of risk-averse investors. Debt Funds can generate relatively stable returns (7-8% annualized).
BENNEFITS OF DEBT FUNDS
Asset Allocation
Even the most risk seeking investors should have debt as a component of their portfolios. The variety of Debt Funds available provide options for investors with all kinds of time horizons and offer more attractive returns than bank deposits.
Invest in Equity Via STPs
If you wish to invest a large sum in an equity fund, but want to stagger the investments over a period, put your money in a liquid fund or ultra-short term debt fund and enrol for a systematic transfer plan (STP) whereby you invest a fixed sum from your debt fund to an equity fund each month/week. This helps you enhance your returns by utilising rupee cost averaging just like SIPs.
Much better than Bank FDs in Most Cases
Unlike FDs, Debt Funds do not offer assured returns, nor do they guarantee the principal amount as they are subject to market risks (interest risk and credit risk). However, in most cases the pre-tax returns compares attractively to the bank deposits and post-tax returns are even better because they benefit greatly from taxation in the long run (and indexation post 3 years).
HOW ARE EARNINGS FROM DEBT FUNDS TAXED?
If held for less than 3 years, capital gains from debt funds would be added to investor’s income and taxed at his marginal rate of tax. If held for more than three years, investors will have to pay Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG) tax at 20% with indexation.
CHOOSING A DEBT FUND
You should invest in a debt fund depending on the period for which you want to make the investment. Or in other words, match your investment horizon with that of the debt fund. For example, if you have an investment horizon of three months, liquid funds would be the best bet for you.
Look at the modified duration, which is a measure of sensitivity of your debt fund to interest rate volatility. Fund houses disclose modified duration of in monthly fact sheets.
Keep an eye on the exit load of the debt fund. Some funds levy a penalty for exiting before the minimum period.
TYPES OF DEBT FUNDS
Overnight Funds – holding portfolio with maturity of up to 1 day
Liquid Funds – holding portfolio with maturity of up to 91 days
Ultra-Short Duration – holding portfolio with maturity of 3-6 months
Low Duration – holding portfolio with maturity of 6-12 months
Money Market – holding portfolio of money market instruments with maturity of up to 1 year
Short Duration – holding portfolio with maturity of 1-3 years
Medium Duration – holding portfolio with maturity of 3-4 years
Medium to Long Duration – holding portfolio with maturity of 4-7 years
Long Duration – holding portfolio with maturity of more than 7 years
Dynamic Bond – can invest across maturity durations
Corporate Bond – at least 80% in corporate bonds (AA+ & above)
Credit Risk Fund – at least 65% in corporate bonds below AA
Banking and PSU – at least 80% in instruments issued by banks, PSU undertakings, municipal corporations, etc.
Gilt – at least 80% in instruments issued by government across periods
Gilt with 10-year Constant Duration – at least 80% in instruments issued by government across periods such that the average maturity is 10 years
Floater – at least 65% in floating rate instruments
Please feel free to contact us regarding any queries related to debt funds, we at SMFS will help you in your financial journey towards a secure future.
