Fixed Income Mutual Funds: Invest in Best Fixed Income Funds 2024 (2024)

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For many Indian millennials at the peak of their careers, having extra funds seems distant. While limited salaries usually end up fulfilling personal needs and identifying the nature of inflation, savings seem challenging, especially when living in a metropolitan city. With limited savings in hand, choosing the right type of investment becomes crucial to building wealth opportunities for the future. Therefore, with Fixed-Income Mutual Funds, it is possible.Let’s learn how.

What are Fixed Income Mutual Funds?

Fixed income mutual funds or mutual fund debt funds, are investment avenue that primarily invests in fixed-income securities, such as government securities (G-Secs), corporate bonds, CDs, and other money market funds. Debt funds are relatively stable investment avenues, however, the income may not be a fixed amount as it depends upon the performance of the fund.

List of Best Fixed Income Mutual Funds in India 2024

Let’s look at the bestfixed incomemutual funds you might want to invest in.

Disclaimer: Please note that the above list is for educational purposes only, and is not recommendatory. Please do your own research or consult your financial advisor before investing.

Note: The data on the top fixed income plans in India in the list is from 19th April, 2024. However, for real-time updates on stock prices and market trends, visit the smallcase stocks collection today!

Top Fixed Income Plans Overview

Let’s have a quick look at the top fixed-income mutual funds.

ICICI Prudential Overnight Fund

ICICI Prudential Overnight FundDirect-Growthisan Overnightmutual fund scheme.The fund was launched by ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund in November 2018.It is a medium-sized fund with a category with an expense ratio of 0.1%.

Aditya Birla Sun Life Medium Term Fund

Aditya Birla Sun Life Medium Term Plan Direct-Growth is a Medium Duration mutual fund scheme. This scheme was launched by Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund in January 2013. It is a medium-sized fund with an expense ratio of 0.85%.

SBI Magnum Gilt Fund

SBI Magnum Gilt Fund Direct-Growth is a Gilt mutual fund scheme. This scheme was launched by SBI Mutual Fund in January 2013. It is a medium-sized fund with an expense ratio of 0.46%.

ICICI Prudential All Seasons Bond Fund

ICICI Prudential All Seasons Bond Fund Direct Plan-Growth is a Dynamic Bond mutual fund scheme.This scheme was launched by ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund in January 2013.It is a medium-sized fund with an expense ratio of 0.53%.

ICICI Prudential Credit Risk Fund

ICICI Prudential Credit Risk Fund Direct Plan-Growth is a Credit Risk mutual fund scheme. This scheme was offered to investors by ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund. It is a medium-sized fund of its category with an expense ratio of 0.84%.

Nippon India Nivesh Lakshya Fund

Nippon India Nivesh Lakshya Fund Direct-Growth is a Long Duration mutual fund scheme. This scheme was launched by Nippon India Mutual Fund in June 2018. It is a medium-sized fund with an expense ratio of 0.3%.

Edelweiss Banking and PSU Debt Fund

Edelweiss Government Securities Fund Direct-Growth is a Gilt mutual fund scheme. This scheme was launched by Edelweiss Mutual Fund in August 2013. It is a medium-sized fund with an expense ratio of 0.39%.

ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund

ICICI Prudential Short Term Fund Direct Plan-Growth is a Short Duration mutual fund scheme. The scheme was launched by ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund in January 2013. It is a medium-sized fund with an expense ratio of 0.45%

HSBC Corporate Bond

HSBC Corporate Bond Direct-Growth is a Corporate Bond mutual fund scheme. This scheme was launched by HSBC Mutual Fund in January 2013. It is a medium-sized fund with an expense ratio of 0.3%.

IL&FS Infra Debt Fund-Series 3-B

IL&FS Infra Debt Fund – Series 3-B is a Sectoral Fund- Infrastructure mutual fund scheme. The scheme was launched by IL&FS Infra Asset Management Limited (IIAML), a subsidiary of IL&FS Investment Managers Limited.

How Do Fixed Income Funds Work?

Fixed incomemutual fundsare designedto consistently boost the fund’s income through the interest earned on its holdings. Typically close-ended, these funds are available for subscription only during their New Fund Offer (NFO) period and come with a specified tenure and fixed maturity date. The funds raised remain locked within this tenure, ensuring efficient corpus management.Fund managersare crucial in selecting assets with optimal growth potential, benefiting from ample time to devise a suitable long-term investment strategy.

What are the Different Types of Fixed Income Funds?

Here is a list of types offixed incomeor debt funds available.

• Long-Term Debt Funds: These funds are invested in government securities and corporate debt, maturing in 5 or 10 years. They may be more affected by interest rate changes, witnessing capital depreciation in rate hikes and appreciation in rate cuts.
• Short-Term Debt Funds: These funds invest inshort-terminstruments like G-Secs, short-term corporate papers, and money market instruments. Their Net Asset Value (NAV) might be less susceptible to interest rate shifts.
• Credit Opportunities Fund: This fund assumes a slightly higher credit risk, including AA-rated bonds for higher yields. However, careful bond selection is crucial to mitigate default risks.
• Floating Rate Debt Fund-Short Term: These funds invest in short-term floating-rate instruments, where interest rates vary with benchmarks like MCLR or the Bank rate.
• Floating Rate Debt Fund—Long Term: This is an extension of short-term floating rate funds with a longer maturity, potentially performing well in rising rate environments.
• Ultra-Short Term Funds: Also known as Liquid-Plus Funds, these funds invest in short-term papers with a maturity of less than one year, enhancing yields by incorporating a small portion of long-term paper.
• Long-Term Gilt Funds: These are similar to short-term gilt funds but with a longer maturity period, making them more susceptible to interest rate changes.
• MIP Aggressive Funds: Monthly Income Plans with a higher equity exposure (25-30%) for capital growth, balancing stability with alpha.
• MIP Conservative Funds: Unlike MIP Aggressive funds, where the equity component can go up to 25-30%, a conservative MIP limits its equity exposure to approximately 5-10%.

Components of Fixed Income Funds

Fixed incomefunds are dependent on the style of investments and expected returns. Let’s look at each of the components of topfixed incomemutual funds.

• Debt Funds: Debt funds are fixed-income plans that primarily invest in relatively safer instruments such as government and corporate bonds, debentures, and other debt securities. The primary objective is to generate stable returns through interest income while maintaining a low-risk profile compared to equity investments.
• Money Market Funds: Money Market Funds arefixed incomeplans that invest in short-term, highly liquid instruments liketreasury bills, commercial paper, short-term bank certificates of deposit (CDs), and banker’s acceptances. These funds are well-suited for short-term investments, typically up to 90 days, andare directly influencedby changes in interest rates.
• Exchange-Traded Funds: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are index funds traded on stock exchanges in the context of fixed-income plans. They mirror the performance of a specific index, such asNifty, BSE Sensex, or S&P. ETFs provide investors with the flexibility to buy and sell shares in the cash market daily. Gold ETFs, a popular form of ETF, offer exposure to the performance of gold.

Features of Fixed Income Mutual Funds

Here is a list of features offixed incomemutual funds.

• Fixed incomefunds prioritize delivering a consistent income to investors rather than capital appreciation.
• This mutual fund type is suitable for investorswho arelooking for a steady return rather than increasing the value of their investment,especiallyretirees or those with a low-risk tolerance.
• Fixed-income funds are highly liquid, allowing investors to withdraw or redeem their funds whenever needed. This feature provides easy access to funds, enhancing the investor’s financial flexibility.
• Debt fundsmayprovide better long-term returns than money market funds or CDs.However, ETFs can be slightly more profitable as they function similarly to equity funds.
• Fixed income mutual funds can be subject to the tax regulations applicable to debt funds. In practical terms, short-term capital gains are added to income and taxed according to the slab rate, while long-term capital gains incur a 10% tax without indexation and a 20% tax with indexation.

How to Invest in Fixed Income Mutual Funds?

Multiple avenues are available if you want to incorporate fixed-income securities into your investment portfolios. Nowadays, many brokers provide direct access to diverse bond markets, encompassing Treasuries, corporatebonds, and municipal bonds.

However, for those who prefer to avoid individually selecting bonds, fixed-income mutual funds, also known as bond funds, offer exposure to various bonds and debt instruments. These funds provide investors with an income stream while benefiting from professional portfolio management.Fixed incomeexchange-traded funds (ETFs) operate similarly to mutual funds but may offer greater accessibility and cost-efficiency to individual investors.These ETFs may focus on specific credit ratings, durations, or other criteria,andtheytypically involve professional management expenses.

Who Should Invest in Fixed Income Bond Funds?

Fixedmonthly income plan can be a good investment option for investors who wish to seek a stable source of returns rather than increasing theirportfolio’sinvestment value, such as retirees.

Thus, the percentage of the portfolio dedicated tofixed incomefunds largely depends onrisk toleranceand investment goals, which may differ. Investors can also apply abalanced approach by involving a mix of fixed-income products and stocks, creating a portfolio with, for instance, 50% in fixed-income products and 50% in stocks.

Factors to Consider Before Investing in Fixed Income Mutual Funds

Let’s consider the factors before investing in a mutual fund with regular income.

• Interest Rate Risk vs. Credit Risk: Understand that interest rate risk is typically temporary, fluctuating with market conditions, while credit risk can be more permanent. Consider your risk tolerance and investment horizon in managing these risks effectively.
• Know the Credit Quality of Your Scheme: You can evaluate the credit quality of the mutual fund scheme by reviewing the credit ratings assigned to the securities in its portfolio. Higher-rated securities can indicate lower credit risk.
• Keep Your Risk Appetite in Mind: Tailor your investment choices based on your risk appetite. Different fixed-income funds come with varying levels of risk, such as government bonds being lower risk than corporate bonds. Align your fund selection with your risk tolerance to ensure a suitable and comfortable investment experience.

Risks Involved While Investing in Fixed Income Mutual Funds

Before we discuss how to choose the rightfixed incomefund, let’s understand the two main risk factors.

• Interest Rate Risk: It may impact the prices offixed incomesecurities, moving inversely to changes in interest rates. When rates rise, prices fall, and vice versa. Eachfixed incomeinstrument may exhibit varying sensitivity to interest rate changes, known as duration, with longer durations indicating higher sensitivity.

• Credit Risk: Involves the potential for default, where the issuer fails to meet interest or principal payments. Rating agencies assess credit risk based on the issuer’s financial strength and assign credit ratings to instruments. If an instrument’s credit rating is downgraded, its price decreases, while an upgrade leads to a price increase.

Benefits of Investing in Fixed Income Mutual Funds

Now that we have covered potential risks, it’s time to look at the benefits of fixed income mutualfunds.

• Lower Volatility: Debt funds are generally less volatile than equities and offergreaterstability.Thismakes them suitable for risk-averse investors seeking capital preservation.
• Good Returns: Debt mutual funds arefixed incomemutual funds that can offer good returns by investing in bonds and other fixed-income securities. Thus, these funds invest in bonds and can earn interest income on these investments.
• Diversification: They offer diversity within the fixed-income space, allowing you to invest in a variety of bonds (government, corporate, etc.) and reduce portfolio risk compared to individual bond selections.

How to Choose the Best Fixed Income Plan Mutual Funds for Investing?

When deciding which fixed-income debt funds to invest in, you can use atechnique calledfixed-income analysis. This method can help assesswhich investments align with the investor’s risk tolerance and expected returns.

Fixed income analysis may often begin with risk. Every investment exhibits a connection between its risk and return, implying that, under equal circ*mstances, returns might be higher when the investments are riskier. Consequently, fixed income analysis may not only evaluate whether an investor is at ease with the assumed risk but also whether the risk level aligns appropriately with the expected return of a fixed income security.

What are the Returns on Fixed Income Mutual Funds & How are They Calculated?

There are different ways to calculate return on a fixed income fund, depending on the specific period and desired perspective:

• Simple Annual Return: This considers only the total annual income divided by the initial investment.

• Internal Rate of Return (IRR): This reflects the discount rate at which the total cash flows (income and capital gain/loss) equal zero, providing a more comprehensive view of overall return.

• Modified Dietzler Yield: This calculates the annualized yield based on the current fund price and the remaining maturity of the underlying bonds.

However, when evaluatingfixed incomefund returns, it’s crucial to consider:

• Holding Period: Returns can vary significantly based on how long you hold the fund units.
• Expense Ratio: Fund fees impact net returns, so factor them into your calculations.
• Taxes: Tax implications can influence your realized return, depending on the type of fund and holding period.

Example of Fixed Income

Fixed-income securities are financial instruments that offer a fixed interest rate. These may encompass bonds issued by governments or corporations, certificates of deposit (CDs), money market funds, and commercial paper. Additionally, preferred stock is occasionally classified as fixed-income due to its hybrid nature, incorporating characteristics of both debt and equity securities.

Taxation on Fixed Income Mutual Funds as per the Union Budget 2024-25

The taxation on capital gains from your mutual fund investments is based on their holding periods and asset allocation. A few revisions were made to the tax rates, depending on their types, in the Union Budget 2024-25. It may be important to learn about these revisions when considering fixed income mutual funds. These changes include:

Equity Mutual Funds

• Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG): The gains from equity mutual funds held for less than 12 months are now taxed at 20%. This is an increase from the previous tax rate of 15%.
• Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG): For equity mutual funds held for over a period of over 12 months, gains are classified as long-term capital gains. The new budget introduces these key changes to the LTCG:

1. Tax-Free Limit: The capital gains up to Rs. 1.25 lakh per year are tax-free. This is an increase from the previous limit of Rs. 1 lakh.
2. Tax Rate: The gains exceeding Rs. 1.25 lakh are now taxed at a flat rate of 12.5%. This is an increase from the previous rate of 10%.
3. Indexation: The benefit of indexation, which allowed investors to adjust the purchase price for inflation, has been removed for all asset classes, including equity mutual funds.

Indexation was a method that allowed investors to adjust the purchase price of assets for inflation. This adjustment reduced taxable profits when selling assets like property or gold. Previously, these long-term capital gains were taxed at 20%. The new rule imposes a flat 12.5% tax on all long-term capital gains but eliminates any indexation benefits.

Debt Mutual Funds

• Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG): If you sell your debt fund units within a period of 36 months, the gains are classified as short-term capital gains. The STCG will be taxed according to your income tax slab rate.
• Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG): For debt funds held for a period over 36 months, the gains are classified as long-term capital gains. The new budget outlines a few changes on the LTCG for debt funds, including:

1. Tax Rate: A flat 12.5% tax rate applies to these gains.
2. No Indexation Benefit: The previous benefit of adjusting the purchase price for inflation is removed. Now, the entire gain after three years is taxable at 12.5%.

• Change in Holding Period for Specified Mutual Funds: Previously, debt mutual funds with a holding period of over 36 months were taxed based on the investor’s tax slab, classified as Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG). Now, for specified mutual funds where over 65% of the investment is in debt, the holding period for taxation has been reduced to over 24 months. These funds will still be taxed according to the investor’s tax slab as either LTCG or STCG.

Hybrid Mutual Funds

Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG)

The tax on short-term capital gains depends on the fund’s asset allocation when it comes to hybrid mutual funds. Here is a breakdown of STCG tax rates according to their asset allocation in hybrid funds:

• Equity-Oriented Hybrid Funds (more than 65% in equity): The gains from units sold within 12 months are taxed at 20%.
• Debt-Oriented Hybrid Funds (less than 65% in equity): The gains from units sold within three years are taxed according to your income tax slab.

Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG)

The capital gains tax on hybrid mutual funds that extend the specified period (12 or 36 months) is known as the long-term capital gain tax. The tax treatment under this condition is as follows:

• Equity-Oriented Hybrid Funds: The gains from units held for over a period of 12 months are taxed at 12.5%. The gains up to Rs. 1.25 lakh are tax-free.
• Debt-Oriented Hybrid Funds: The gains from units held for over a period of 36 months are taxed at 12.5% without indexation benefits. This means the entire gain is taxed at this rate, without adjustment for inflation.

Note: Mutual fund schemes where neither the equity nor debt orientation exceeds 65% will now be classified as long-term investments after 24 months. The previous holding period for these funds was 36 months. These will be taxed at the revised LTCG tax rate of 12.5%.

To Wrap It Up…

In conclusion,fixed incomedebt funds can be a valuable investment option for individuals seeking a balancedand lower-riskportfolio.These funds can provide a steady income stream, and their flexibility in terms of risk profiles caters to a diverse range of investors. Understanding the nuances of interestratesand credit risks is essential for making informed investment decisions.

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Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs) on Fixed Income Mutual Funds