The Securities and Exchange Board of India ( SEBI ) , recently conducted a survey in association with the National Council of Applied Economic research ( NCAER ) , regarding the mindset of the Indian investor , his choices and preferences The sample survey covered 300,000 geographically dispersed urban and rural households. The survey revealed that of the three major investing avenues - mutual funds , equity shares and debentures, mutual funds come out tops .

We know that no two people are the same, neither do the two have the same needs . Though that sounds like the worst cliché you have heard, when people follow the herd in and out of the stock market, or an infotech fund, they threaten the belief that people know what they want. Few things should always be there in the investor's mind while investing money - investment goals , required growth rate , risk factors involved .

Investors always look forward to a company which will provide the maximum returns . Safety and liquidity remain the primary considerations determining the choice of an investment avenue.

Spread out your mutual fund investments : According to one income tax consultant , the first-time investor in mutual funds should be cautious. They should never invest all their money in one fund , but spread it out in two or three funds for better results. No one can guarantee how much a mutual fund scheme will provide in terms of returns after a year. This is because mutual funds invest in equity securities and bonds , and their returns depend on what returns they get on these investments. Prudential ICICI , Kothari Pioneer , Unit Trust of India (UTI) , are some of the best mutual fund trust as of today.

Keeping a close watch helps : A mutual fund sends a quarterly newsletter that contains portfolio information. Several daily newspapers have pages reporting the net asset values , the sales and redemption prices of open - ended schemes of these companies. It is very important for investors to be up-to-date and well informed about their investments.Most mutual funds also have investor service centres at all the major towns .

Do not be  taken for a ride : Leading mutual funds make grand claims in their efforts to attract small investors. But investors should not be carried away by attractive offers , extra-honey treatment , they should view every move with suspicion .Go by the facts , not faces and beware of dazzling performance-claims.

Mutual funds are not guaranteed or insured by any bank or government agency. A higher rate of return typically involves a higher risk of loss . Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results . So shop around. Compare one mutual fund with others of the same type before you buy; and make sure it is right for you.

Author's Name : Sharmistha Chakraborty