What Is Better - Mutual Fund Or ETF?

Mutual funds can be described as professionally managed investment schemes that collect money from various investors and then invest it in diversified holdings. Mutual funds invest in a wide range of securities such as stocks, bonds, debt instruments and much more. Each scheme has a defined NAV (Net Asset Value) which is derived after dividing the total investment of a mutual fund by the number of investors.

ETFs or Exchange Traded funds are passively managed funds that merely replicate an index. These funds usually hold all the stocks in the same weight as they are held by the underlying index. ETF is not actively managed by a fund manager. It just tracks the performance of the index. ETFs are actively traded on a stock exchange and can be freely purchased and sold throughout the trading session.

Mutual Funds vs. ETFs

The decision between a mutual fund and an ETF is one of the major conundrums for an investor while making an investment decision. Though both these products look quite similar, there are differences between them. Following are the significant differences between Mutual Funds and ETFs.

• Flexibility

ETFs are freely traded in the market and can be bought and sold as per the investor’s convenience. Their market price is available in real-time just like ordinary equity shares. Mutual funds units can be bought or sold only by placing a request with the fund house. NAV indicates the price of one unit of a mutual fund.

• Fees and Expenses

As ETFs merely replicate the performance of an index, they do not need active management. As a result, the fees and expenses associated with ETF investments are low. While in the case of Mutual Funds, the fund manager actively takes investment decisions on behalf of the investors. As a result, the fund management expenses are higher.

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• Commissions

As ETFs are traded like any other share on the exchange, investors need to pay commissions on sale and purchase of units as per the prevailing rules. While in case of mutual funds, there is no need to pay any commission for the sale and purchase.

• Management

Mutual funds are more likely to be managed actively by an experienced fund manager who takes all the investment decisions on behalf of the investors. While in the case of ETFs, the funds merely track the market index. There are some actively managed ETFs also, but they have a higher expense ratio.

• Lock-in Period

ETFs do not have a minimum holding period, and the investors are free to sell the investment as and when they like. Mutual funds like ELSS (Equity Linked Savings Scheme) come with a lock-in period of 3 years. During this timeframe, it is not possible to liquidate the investment. This can range from 9 days to 3 years, depending on the mutual fund scheme chosen.

How to decide between Mutual Funds and an ETF?

Both of the investment options mentioned above offer you an excellent way to build a diversified investment portfolio. As to which option should be chosen, there are many factors that need to be considered, such as: –

• Ease to liquidate the investment
• Your risk appetite
• Your investment horizon
• The tax-saving strategy that you have.
• Your financial goals.

Conclusion

When you have answered these questions, you will be able to narrow down as to which of the above two options you must choose. ETFs offer you more flexibility and higher returns in the short-run while mutual funds require you to stay invested for a comparatively extended period but help create a corpus for the future. The decision has to be entirely yours but must be taken after careful consideration.

Also read: How to Choose the Best Mutual Fund?

Disclaimer: This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.