Should you or should you not opt for flexi cap funds?

Should you choose a flexi cap fund or flexi cap mutual fund? This is question that many investors are pondering over, particularly in the present scenario. Flexi cap funds came to India on the 6^th of November, 2020, when SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) released its official circular, introducing this as a wholly new segment positioned under equity plans and schemes. Flexi cap mutual funds have ample scope of deploying investments throughout all the major categories, namely small cap, large cap and mid cap funds without any restrictions so long as a minimum of 65% of the fund comprises of equity and equity linked financial instruments. Investors can also readily diversify throughout companies or entities of diverse market capitalizations while also lowering their overall volatility quotient and curbing risks considerably in turn.

Here are some key advantages of flexi cap funds that may make you choose them over other types of funds in the bargain.

• Flexi cap mutual funds online will offer ample diversification to investors. When you consider investing throughout several market caps, ten diversification will be the key aspects worth considering. When you buy flexi cap fund online, you benefit from the open and flexible approach towards managing and operating this fund. This scales up exposure to numerous styles, themes and sectors in the market.
• Flexi cap mutual funds also help in greatly mitigating risks. Suppose one invests only in small cap funds and the market goes down. In this scenario, the investor will naturally be impacted heavily. Yet, in another scenario, a portfolio that is well diversified throughout market caps will automatically work to cushion investors against any fluctuations in the market. Risk mitigation is thus a vital aspect worth mentioning here.
• Markets have various cycles and ups and downs. Investors should aim at staying secure throughout their investment journey as the primary objective. Flexi cap funds are dynamic and help in steering investors smoothly throughout diverse cycles in the market.
• These funds are also more dynamic while adapting swiftly to continually evolving investment markets and scenarios.

The popularity of these funds is evident with reports from AMFI (Association of Mutual Funds of India) clearly indicating that these funds witnessed overall outflows of Rs. 9,044 crore in January-March, 2021 while inflows went up to Rs. 260 crore in April, 2021 and a whopping Rs. 1,130 crore for May, 2021. These funds have a good track record by way of returns too; Annual returns went up to almost 59.64% and 10-year yields stand at roughly 13%. Monthly returns are hovering around 6.39% for May, 2021 as compared to -1.44% in January, 2021. Returns went up to an all-time peak in the month of February this year, ranging at approximately 8%. Owing to the structure of this fund, investors received double benefits of not just deploying investments in the highest performing stocks but also an option for exiting from the options which were deemed unattractive.

Flexi cap funds offer a more diversified portfolio for investors and due to this factor, the fund will balance returns and risks nicely as per experts. They offer steady returns even during bearish market cycles and this makes them good options for any portfolio. Fund managers may analyze allocation and shift between various sectors and companies, based upon performance and on a periodic basis. It should also be noted that AUM (assets under management) for these funds went up marginally to Rs. 1,59,000 crore for May, 2021 as compared to AUM of Rs. 1,58,700 crore in Q1 2021.