The Union Budget 2025

The Union Budget 2025 aims to accelerate growth, secure inclusive development, and invigorate private sector investments. The budget focuses on seven key areas: agriculture, MSMEs, investment, exports, villages, youth, and women.

*Key Highlights:*

- *Agriculture*: The government plans to increase agricultural productivity through the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, which will cover 100 districts with low productivity.

- *MSMEs*: The investment and turnover limits for MSMEs will be enhanced to promote growth and employment.

- *Investment*: The government will invest in people, economy, and innovation, with a focus on education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.

- *Exports*: The government aims to promote exports through various initiatives, including the establishment of a National Manufacturing Mission.

- *Villages*: The government will focus on rural development through initiatives such as the Jal Jeevan Mission and the Rural Prosperity and Resilience programme.

- *Youth*: The government will invest in education and skill development initiatives to promote youth employment and entrepreneurship.

- *Women*: The government will promote women's empowerment through initiatives such as the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme and the National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management.

Additionally:

- Increased Basic Exemption Limit New Tax Slab.

- Standard Deduction Increase.

- Increased Tax Rebate Limit.

- Direct tax code.

- Boost to Consumption.

The Union Budget 2025-2026 should improve economic and market sentiments in an uncertain global order and boost investor confidence. Despite short-term market volatility, robust fundamentals make India a promising opportunity for long-term investors. 

Introduced policies designed to promote long-term growth and sustainability in critical sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, energy, healthcare, and technology. 

By aligning with these growth themes, investors can potentially benefit from rising opportunities in the stock market and mutual funds providing lucrative options for investors seeking exposure to India’s evolving economic landscape.

*Aggressive equity fund Investors* : may look to mutual funds focusing on small-cap and mid-cap funds as well Sector funds like infrastructure, clean energy, FMCG,banking and financials are expected to outperform.

*Moderate equity fund Investor*: may look to mutual funds focusing on Flexicap funds and multicap funds with a mix of sector funds.

*Conservative equity fund Investor*: may look to mutual funds focusing on Dynamic asset allocation funds with mix of large cap funds , large and midcap funds and flexicap funds 

*Please Note Views are Personal*

I am here to assist you with all your mutual fund investment service needs. Please feel free to contact me.

Regards,

Ritesh Sheth CWM®

(Chartered Wealth Manager)

Amfi registered Mutual fund distributor under 

ARN-0209 EUIN- E030691.

ARN Date of initial registration - 16-AUG-2002 Current validity of ARN up to - 01-Oct-2027.

Disclaimer:

Mutual fund Investments are subject to market risk please read the offer documents before investing.

The schemes/services/offers/products provided on this message do not constitute an offer to sell or buy of mutual fund for units/products to any person. It shall be the sole responsibility of the person to verify genuinely of such information whether the usage of this and/or availing the services/facilities/products is in conformity with personal understanding.

What is the benefit of staying invested in the long term?

Invest for long term – an advice routinely given by many Mutual Funds distributer like me, This is especially true in case of certain Mutual Funds – such as equity and balanced funds.

Let us understand why the professionals give such advice. What really happens in the long term? Is there a benefit of staying invested for long term?

Consider your Mutual fund investments as a good quality batsman. Every good quality batsman has a certain style of batting. However, each good quality batsman would be able to accumulate lots of runs, if he continues to play for years.

We are talking about the record of a “good quality” batsman. Every good batsman would go through some good and poor performances. On average the record would be impressive.

Similarly, a good Mutual Fund would also go through some ups and downs – often due to factors beyond the control of the fund manager. An investor would benefit if one stays invested through these funds for long periods of time.

So, as long as you can afford, stay invested for long periods of time – especially in equity and balanced funds.

How am I reading the situation?

I have been expecting volatility in the markets. In the last 6-8 months, i have been advising to be cautious with our asset allocations while i am keeping a razor sharp focus on improving the overall quality & risk-reward of our investment portfolio.

Markets are never static and always have a significant emotional quotient. I understand that and try to navigate risk and returns continuously across the continuum of the cap curves and sectors available. 

Young investors entering the equity markets for the first time also heightened the bullishness in the market. 

Mutual funds have been asked to monitor the liquidity profile of their portfolios carefully and come up with strategies to counter sudden liquidity

issues that may arise.

Macro backdrop for corporate India has never been more favourable. With India’s fiscal deficit and current account deficit under check, capital

costs continue to remain benign.

Corporate India has a good balance sheet and with the Make in India campaign, we are witnessing a recovery

in manufacturing, which favours midcaps and small caps more as they tend to supply global vendors from here. 

Multiple indicators were endorsing the fact that from a medium-to-long-term perspective, value stocks, which had so far traded in the neglected territory, will now be market outperformers in absolute as well as relative terms. any further up move and this outperformance would eventually signify preference for value stocks. According to my reading multiple indicators are now pointing to an amplification of the value thesis at a much larger scale as we are at an inflexion point. I am now seeing that the stocks in admired territory are undergoing a correction, while stocks in neglected territory are seeing a rise in valuations.

My understanding is emphasizing that this trend will perpetuate going forward.

I would like to

⇨ Add more to the investments during corrections as it helps in higher returns, when market (/ Portfolio) recovers.

⇨ During corrections, instead of Timing the Low, which is near impossible, plan your investments in a staggered manner for certain %-age of correction.

⇨ Keep a SIP … it really helps in building your goal-kitty and wealth over years.

⇨ Asset allocation plays a vital role in the larger scheme of things.

⇨ Rebalance the allocation in times of need (like a sharp rally in equities, deep correction in markets, other assets, etc).

Please call me for detailed discussion and investment opportunities.

*Views are personal & not for any recommendation/endorsement.*

Happy investing!!

Regards,

Ritesh Sheth CWM®

(Chartered Wealth Manager)

Amfi registered Mutual fund distributor under ARN-0209 EUIN- E030691.

ARN Date of initial registration - 16-AUG-2002

Current validity of ARN upto - 01-10-2029

*Mutual fund Investments are subject to market risk please read the offer documents before investing.*

Investments in India for NRIs in USA/ CanadaIndian

NRIs based out of US and Canada can invest in Indian mutual funds. However, AMCs do not have a uniform policy to deal with US and Canadian clients.

Currently, close to 14 fund houses receive investment from investors based out of these two countries and another five AMCs receive investment only from US.

Broadly, there are two categories of fund houses here - where investors are not required to physically present in India and vice versa.

Here is the list of fund houses where investors are not required to be physically present in India:

Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund

Nippon India Mutual Fund

Quant Mutual Fund

Sundaram Mutual

UTI Mutual Fund

Interestingly, these fund houses allow such NRIs to invest in their MF schemes without any restriction that too through online transaction.

Let us look at the fund houses which insist NRIs to be physically present in India:

360 One Mutual Fund

Axis Mutual Fund

DSP Mutual Fund (Only lumpsum)

ITI Mutual Fund (Only lumpsum)

Kotak Mutual Fund

Navi Mutual Fund

NJ India Mutual Fund

PPFAS Mutual Fund

SBI Mutual Fund

Taurus Mutual Fund

White Oak Capital Mutual Fund

Similarly, here is the list of fund houses, which receive money only from US investors:

Bandhan Mutual Fund (Only US)

Edelweiss Mutual Fund (Only US)

HDFC Mutual Fund (Only US)

ICICI Mutual Fund (Only US)

Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund (Only US)

Please note that all these fund houses receive investment only through physical mode. 

Also, these fund houses insist NRIs to submit application form along with a declaration form indicating their residential status.

NRIs residing in US and Canada will have to share Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) details and tax identification number (TIN) along with KYC details.

FATCA declaration form captures information like type of address (residence, business, registered office etc.), country of tax residence, tax identification number, Global Intermediary Identification Number (GIIN) and seek investors consent for sharing the information with relevant tax authorities.

For KYC, 

NRI needs to be physically present in India for KYC.

here is the list of valid KYC documents:

PAN card

Overseas address proof

Passport

Passport size photograph

OCI Card (In case of foreign passport holder)

For transaction, an NRE (Non-Resident External) or NRO (Non-Resident Ordinary) account is a must.

Hope i have addressed Common questions/query receivedfrom US and Canadian NRI. 

Please note this blog is on the basis of best efforts basis. Request reader please connect with your financial advisor or mutual fund companies for proper guidance.

Regards 

Ritesh Sheth CWM®

Disclaimer:

The views are for personal use and for educational propose only. Ritesh Sheth & Family or Tejas Consultancy does not guarantee the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any information in this emailer and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for results obtained from the use of such information.

This BLOG is addressed to and intended for the investors of Ritesh Sheth & Tejas Consultancy only. You are advised to contact Ritesh Sheth & Tejas Consultancy to clarify any issue that you may have with regards to any information contained in this blog. Ritesh Sheth & Family or Tejas Consultancy does not have any liability to any person on account of the use of information provided herein and the said information is provided on a best effort basis. In case of investments in any of our schemes, please read the offer documents carefully before investing. 

Exit strategy is a less discussed topic for mutual funds

While investing in Mutual Funds, Investors take various factors in consideration, like when to buy, what to buy, how much to buy etc. However, a less discussed topic is an exit strategy. 

Ideally, an investor should exit mutual fund investments on completion of financial goal apart from that, there are four other scenarios when an investor should exit MF investments.

In fact, for long-term investments, he/she should start exiting equity-linked MFs when the goal is still 2 to 3 years away and shifting the funds to safer investment options. 

But things don’t always happen, the way they should. The same is true for investments and hence, one needs a well-sounded exit strategy. 

Apart from what one should do in an ideal situation, four other scenarios when an investor should exit MF investments:

• When the mutual fund deviates from its stated mandate and takes undue risks that it is not supposed to take.
• The mutual fund is unable to deliver consistent fund performance over a full market cycle of under five years.
• When your asset allocation merits you to rebalance between asset classes.
• When you need money.

In such cases, here are the exit strategies an investor should follow:

When the mutual fund deviates from its stated mandate and takes undue risks

A classic example for this would be Franklin Templeton. The company had to wind up 6 of its mutual funds in debt category in April last year simply because it took more risk than its stated mandate. 

The AMC took exposure in bonds with high credit risk to generate high return. As much as this strategy might work wonders for longer term investments, the company took this risk for short-term debt funds. 

Though these funds were able to provide high returns before the pandemic based on this strategy, in the post-COVID era, as redemption requests increased and the bonds became illiquid, unable to manage the pressure, the AMC had to wind up its funds. 

The mutual fund is unable to deliver consistent fund performance.

A fund can be called as an underperformer if it has delivered say 5% or 6% in 2-3 years. “It may be that the market too delivered the same. Not your fund’s fault. 

Also, if a fund has been steadily behind the benchmark for 3 or more quarters by 3-6 percentage points or more, it is again an underperformer.

Then, you need to see if this has to do with the theme/strategy itself. For example, a value fund might not be performing well in the Nifty 50 but, the situation might be as such that other value funds are also at the same level. In that case, compare it with similar funds to know if your fund is a poor one among the other underdogs. “It is a different call if you choose to exit a strategy. That is more about your portfolio requirement and less to do with the performance of the fund."

What should be the exit strategy for the above-mentioned cases.

If your fund has been underperforming or shifted from its stated mandate, you should first stop the SIP. And, start the same in similar funds in your portfolio or choose a better one. 

“If you simply stop with the above, it is likely that over a period, you will be left with an unwieldy portfolio."

When your asset allocation merits you to rebalance between asset classes. 

For an effective investment plan, one needs to rebalance his/her portfolio periodically. It is done by selling/exiting investments in overpriced asset classes and investing in underpriced ones. Rebalancing portfolio helps the investor to generate higher return and at the same time de-risk the assets.

How to decide which funds to sell?

When you are rebalancing and you have multiple funds from the same category or style, exit the funds that are performing average first, if there are no funds that are underperforming. 

Reinvest in funds that you like/favour in your portfolio and if there are none, the nearest fund in terms of risk profile. 

For example, if you had a large and midcap fund and you would rather exit it to consolidate, you can well consider investing in a multicap fund. It may be marginally less aggressive but there’s no point adding a new fund since your aim is to consolidate. Else, split it between a multicap fund and midcap fund that you already hold.

When you need money.

No matter how prepared you are for the rainy days, there can be emergency situations when you might need to sell your mutual fund investments from the long-term portfolio.

How to decide which funds to sell?

Under such circumstances, the funds in the underperforming and performing average categories should be your first choice.

Many of you use the argument that you will book profit in the performing fund first. But you need to remember that MFs are not stocks. A stock that has gone up becomes expensive. A mutual fund that has returned well, may continue to return well as it rejigs its portfolio to find newer opportunities. Track record of consistent performance is more important. The exception to this is sector/theme funds.

However, there is no one correct answer to when one should exit a mutual fund, it depends on various factors.

 “It's a function of investor time horizon, risk appetite and the purpose of investment." 

An Investor Education & Awareness Initiative

          Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.

Are Mutual Funds Safe to Invest In?

 Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool a group of people or institutions and invest their money in bonds, stocks, and other securities. A fund manager, who is usually a finance expert, manages the investment and provides maximum returns to investors by putting the amount in various securities that are in accordance with the mandates stated in the mutual fund’s prospectus.

A mutual fund provides individual investors with access to professionally managed portfolios and allows them to invest in a large number of securities. The performance of a fund is usually tracked based on the change in the total market cap of the fund — derived by averaging the performance of each underlying investment. Every shareholder, therefore, makes a profit or loss directly proportional to the amount they invest. The price of the fund unit is referred to as the net asset value (NAV) of the mutual fund. It is the price at which an investor buys or sells fund units of a scheme. The NAV is calculated by dividing the worth of total assets in the portfolio minus liabilities. Mutual fund units are sold and purchased at the prevailing NAV.

Types of Mutual Funds

Mutual funds in India are classified into equity funds, debt funds, and hybrid mutual funds, depending on their equity exposure and asset allocation. Therefore, the associated risk and returns provided by a mutual fund scheme would depend on its type. We provide an analysis of numerous types of mutual funds below:

Equity Mutual Funds

As the name suggests, equity funds invest primarily in equity shares of companies across all market capitalizations. A mutual fund is an equity fund if at least 65% of its portfolio is invested in equity instruments. The returns offered by equity funds depend on market movements and have the potential to be the highest among all classes of mutual funds. These can be classified into small-cap funds, mid-cap funds, large-cap funds, multi-cap funds, sector funds, index funds, and Equity-linked savings schemes (ELSS). The latter is covered under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, providing investors with tax deductions of up to Rs. 1,50,000 every year.

Debt Mutual Funds

Debt mutual funds invest in debt, money markets, and other fixed-income instruments such as treasury bills, certificates of deposit, government bonds, and various high-rated securities. Debt funds are a good choice for risk-averse investors as their performance is not influenced too much by market fluctuations, making the returns somewhat predictable. Debt mutual funds are divided into dynamic bond funds, income funds, short-term and ultra-short-term debt funds, liquid funds, gilt funds, credit opportunities funds, and fixed maturity plans (FMPs).

Hybrid Mutual Funds

Investing in hybrid funds is a great way to reduce the risk of exposure across asset classes as they allow you to invest in both equity and debt instruments. They can be of various types:

• Equity-oriented hybrid funds
• Debt-oriented hybrid funds
• Monthly income plans
• Arbitrage funds

Depending on the market conditions, the money manager would modify the fund’s asset allocation to maximize benefits to the investors. The primary purpose of hybrid funds is to balance the risk to reward ratio by providing a more diverse portfolio.

Are Mutual Funds Safe

Mutual funds come with a certain level of risk. You stand a chance to lose the money you have invested in the securities held by a fund go that far down in value. Dividend payments may also change based on market conditions. However, all mutual funds are registered with SEBI and function within the provisions of strict rules and regulations created to protect the investor’s interests. And long term investments in mutual funds have the potential to offer you adequate returns.

Mutual funds provide diversification to the investor’s portfolio at a low cost. By investing in a single fund, you can get exposure to at least 30-40 stocks. An investor can opt for a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) to invest a fixed amount periodically. You can start the SIP with an initial amount as low as Rs. 500, which can be transferred automatically from your registered bank account every month. Mutual fund investors can also quickly redeem their shares at any time for the current NAV plus any redemption fees.

Moreover, mutual fund companies hire professionals with vast experience who have spent dedicated time in the capital market to manage their investors’ money. All portfolio-related details are disclosed regularly to enable investors to understand what proportion of fund money is invested in which particular instruments. This makes investing in mutual funds a reliable and transparent option.

To Sum It Up

Mutual funds are growing in popularity as a valuable investment vehicle. It is crucial to choose an appropriate mutual fund scheme based on your investment objectives and risk tolerance. You can invest in mutual funds online thru my NSENMF platform as well offline investment route involves filling up the required application forms, and completing your eKYC (Know Your Customer) compliance by submitting your Aadhaar Card and PAN details.

Why You Need To Get A Health Insurance

The importance of health insurance and why you must get it.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has made the entire world sit up and realise that medical exigencies are unpredictable and can cause a financial upheaval that is tough to handle. With a high infection rate and no successful vaccine yet, people have started to understand the importance of having a good health insurance plan. Besides, with the rising cost of medical expenses, access to good medical facility and hospitalisation costs can be financially strenuous. Therefore, getting a health insurance cover for yourself and your family can provide the added protection you need in times like these. Apart from the obvious benefit of having the financial confidence to take care of your loved ones, a health insurance plan is extremely useful when it comes to beating medical treatment inflation.

Here are few crucial reasons why you need to consider getting a health insurance plan today:

• To fight lifestyle diseases

Lifestyle diseases are on the rise, especially among people under the age of 45. Illnesses like diabetes, obesity, respiratory problems, heart disease, all of which are prevalent among the older generation, are now rampant in younger people too. Some contributing factors that lead to these diseases include a sedentary lifestyle, stress, pollution, unhealthy eating habits, gadget addiction and undisciplined lives. 

While following precautionary measures can help combat and manage these diseases, an unfortunate incident can be challenging to cope with, financially. Opting for Investing in a health plan that covers regular medical tests can help catch these illnesses early and make it easier to take care of medical expenses, leaving you with one less thing to worry about. 

• To safeguard your family 

When scouting for an ideal health insurance plan, you can choose to secure your entire family under the same policy rather than buying separate policies. Consider your ageing parents, who are likely to be vulnerable to illnesses, as well as dependent children. Ensuring they get the best medical treatment, should anything happen to them, is something you would not have to stress about if you have a suitable health cover. Research thoroughly, talk to experts for an unbiased opinion and make sure you get a plan that provides all-round coverage. 

• To counter inadequate insurance cover

If you already have health insurance (for example, a policy provided by your employer) check exactly what it protects you against and how much coverage it offers. Chances are it will provide basic coverage. If your current policy does not provide cover against possible threats - such as diseases or illnesses that run in the family - it could prove insufficient in times of need. And with medical treatments advancing considerably, having a higher sum assured can ensure your every medical need is taken care of financially. But don't worry if you cannot afford a higher coverage plan right away. You can start low and gradually increase the cover. 

• To deal with medical inflation

As medical technology improves and diseases increase, the cost for treatment rises as well. And it is important to understand that medical expenses are not limited to only hospitals. The costs for doctor's consultation, diagnosis tests, ambulance charges, operation theatre costs, medicines, room rent, etc. are also continually increasing. All of these could put a considerable strain on your finances if you are not adequately prepared. By paying a relatively affordable health insurance premium each year, you can beat the burden of medical inflation while opting for quality treatment, without worrying about how much it will cost you.

• To protect your savings

While an unforeseen illness can lead to mental anguish and stress, there is another side to dealing with health conditions that can leave you drained – the expenses. By buying a suitable health insurance policy, you can better manage your medical expenditure without dipping into your savings. In fact, some insurance providers offer cashless treatment, so you don't have to worry about reimbursements either. Your savings can be used for their intended plans, such as buying a home, your child's education and retirement. Additionally, health insurance lets you avail tax benefits, which further increases your savings. 

• Insure early to stay secured 

Opting for a health insurance early in life has numerous benefits. Since you are young and healthier, you can avail plans at lower rates and the advantage will continue even as you grow older. Additionally, you will be offered more extensive coverage options. Most policies have a pre-existing waiting period which excludes coverage of pre-existing illnesses. This period will end while you are still young and healthy, thus giving you the advantage of exhaustive coverage that will prove useful if you fall ill later in life. 

A health insurance policy is an essential requirement in today's fast-paced lifestyle. Protecting yourself and your loved ones from any eventuality that could leave you financially handicapped is a must. For instance, the Bajaj Allianz General Insurance  Health Guard (Brochure) and Extra Care Plus (Brochure) offer comprehensive coverage and various benefits that can ensure your financial security. This is because these products cover day-care procedures, treatment at a wide network of hospitals, pre and post hospitalisation costs and even insure your mental illness treatment, among other things. With inclusions like these, you would not have to worry about a medical condition putting a strain on your finances. So, do your due research and choose  a health insurance plan that suits your needs. 

You can just click and buy Bajaj Allianz General Insurance  Health Guard and Extra Care Plus

You can also connect with me on: 9930444099 or EMAIL: riteshdsheth@gmail.com

The information provided in this blog is generic in nature and for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for specific advice in your own circumstances. You are recommended to obtain specific professional advice from before you take any/refrain from any action. 

*Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms and conditions, please read sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.