UTI Wealth Builder Fund Series II

Q. Dear Ashal,
This fund`s theme seems to be good. Is it worth investing? I am asking, since I have invested in Gold funds (I was going to quit these ones and start investment in Gold ETF). But now i want to know, what will be good.

regards,
MIK

Ans. Dear MIK, this UTI fund is in a class of it`s own. Having at least or more than 65% Eq. exposure (this is to gain from the Taxation window for Eq. MFs) & mandated to not more than 35% in gold ETFs or money market instruments, it`s very hard to compare this fund with any other fund.

The fund is relatively new (just completed it`s 1st year of operation in Nov. 2009). From it`s launch in Nov. 2008, till March 2009 the Eq. as well as Gold market, both were dull. From march 2009 onwards, both these asset class r firing all guns blazing. This may create a misleading picture due to super duper performance.

In future how it`s Eq. component 'll perform is yet to be tested. having only 35% Gold ETF exposure may not give enough diversification for a person who wants to invest a part of his portfolio in gold ETFs. Yes to have a Gold exposure as per ur requirement u w`d have to stop in some of ur other plain Eq. funds to keep the Eq. & Gold ratio in ur portfolio at ur desired level.

Sample this what i mean.

I assume Gold price 17K per 10 gm.

In normal if u want to invest for 1 gm. of gold in ur portfolio ur inv. amount `ll be 1700 Rs.
In case of this UTI Wealth Builder Fund II, to have the same 1 gm. Gold u w`d have to invest around 5K Rs. - 1700 Rs. for 1 gm of Gold & remaining 3300 Rs. for 65% eq. exposure. As u rinvesting additional 3300 Rs. in Eq. thru this fund, u w`d have to stop some of ur other funds. To maintain the over all balance of Eq. & Gold.

In general, people may invest from diversification point of view to have exposure in 2 asset class under a single investment.

Thanks

Ashal...

Liquid Funds

Please pardon my ignorance, but I have a very basic question regarding "Liquid" funds.
I am planning to park my lumpsum money in liquid funds and initiate STP to diversified equity funds of the same fund house.
This was actually discussed in this messageboard about one month back. My question is: do I need to park my money in only those funds which have the word "Liquid" in the name? I know this sounds silly, but just wanted to confirm if the term "Liquid" (when used in a fund name) has some special meaning? e.g. consider the following 2 options where I want to STP to Birla Sunlife Frontline Equity.

1. Birla SL Dynamic Bond -RP (G) - STP to - Frontline Equity
2. Birla SL Liquid Plus - RP (G) - STP to - Frontline Equity

Now, the first option seems to be a better option to me as it has given 11% return in last 1 year. So can I go ahead with this?
Or do I have to choose the 2nd option only because the name suggests it's a "Liquid" fund?

FYI, exit loads are as below:
Birla SL Dynamic Bond (0.20% if the investment is redeemed within 30 days months from the date of allotment.)
Birla SL Liquid Plus (0.25% for redemption /switch out of units within 1 month from the date of allotment)

Again, that means I cannot start STP from Birla SL Liquid Plus before 1 month, correct me if I am wrong.

Dear, Plz. note -

Birla Dynamic bond fund is a bond fund, that's why its performance in terms of returns is better than liq. + fund. As it is a bond fund, exit load is there.
Birla SL Liq. + fund don't have any exit load. I personally check from birla web site for the same. In fact no liq. + fund has exit load.

If u opt Dynamic bond fund for higher returns, even in this case Exit load don't seems much as u 'll transfer 1K per week only. So u 'll pay exit load for 4 weeks only. So for a weekly STP of 1K, ur total exit load for 4K Rs. 'll be 8 Rs. (0.2% of redeemed amount) only.

One plain advise, to avoid entry load on Target Eq. fund (Birla Frontline in this case), invest under direct mode only.

Regarding the use of word, liquid + , is not at all necessary, some AMCs use other words like Cash plus, Cash management, Money Plus etc. Please check the individual schemes' details that it fits in the Liq. + category or not.

thanks
Ashal ...