
Originally Posted by
makie
Let me elaborate mutual funds further para masabtan sa tanan.
The concept of mutual funds is pooling the money of investors and let a professional and experienced fund manager handle your money/investments for you. These are the things that the fund manager normally does:
*Buy shares of companies such as Jollibee, Ayala, SM, San Miguel, and the like. Mutual funds is a very convenient alternative in investing in the stock market because of these two reasons: you can invest even a small amount (for as low as P5,000) and a professional fund manager does the managing on your behalf. In short, through mutual funds, you instantly become part owners of some of the biggest corporations in the Philippines. Stock funds can go up to as high as 30% or even 50% in a year but is very volatile.
*Lend it to government and corporations. Your investment will be growing in a relatively fixed rate since your earnings will be derived from the interest rate of the loan. This is ideal for people with low risk tolerance. Normally, the returns are around 5% to 8% a year and it can go higher or lower than that.
So for a student, I highly recommend mutual funds because of these benefits:
1.) Relatively cheap - For as low as P5,000, you can already start your mutual fund investment. You are NOT mandated to add an amount regularly hence, you add more to your investment if you wish. For additional investments, you can add for as low as P1,000 only any time you wish. Let me emphasize this, you are not mandated to add or pay on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually).
2.) Convenient - Because a professional fund manager does the investing and management on your behalf, you can forget about your investment and get back at it after let's say 3 or 4 years. It basically works like time deposits. You leave your money to the mutual fund company then you're assured that it will grow in time. The difference between deposits and mutual funds though it that mutual funds are investments, deposits are not. Since a professional fund manager does the management, you can focus on other things especially on your studies.
3.) Starting early - Mutual funds grow at a rate of 10% to 12% based on its history hence the earlier you start, the greater your growth potential. If you're still 20 years old and constantly investing P10,000 a year for the next 30 years at an average of 12% per year, then your P300,000 (total amount invested) grew to P3M when you reach 50 years of age.
4.) Forced savings - If you have long term goals such as having a house or a car a few years from now, then you can make mutual funds your option instead of putting it in the bank. Money doesn't really grow in banks because of the inflation rate but it grows in mutual funds provided that it is done long term.