The perspectives shared by Madhu Lunawat (Founder and MD, The Wealth Company)
In today’s dynamic and often volatile financial landscape, investors are increasingly seeking strategies that can provide both growth and stability. While traditional investment avenues have their merits, the need for a more resilient and diversified approach has never been more apparent. This is where multi-asset allocation funds emerge as a powerful solution, offering a balanced and disciplined approach to wealth creation. Think of a multi-asset allocation fund as a well-balanced cricket team.
You need aggressive batsmen (equity) who can score quick runs and take the game forward, steady middle-order players (debt) who stabilize the innings when wickets fall, all-rounders (gold) who contribute in multiple ways, and a reliable wicketkeeper (cash) who catches opportunities. A team with only aggressive batsmen might score quickly but collapse under pressure. Similarly, a portfolio needs different “players” with different strengths to win the long game.
Key Message: “Champions aren’t built on star players alone. A winning portfolio, like a winning team, needs balance across all positions.”
The Need for Multi-Asset Allocation
The primary challenge for most investors is not a lack of options, but rather the complexity of choosing the right mix of assets. Equities offer high growth potential but come with significant volatility. Debt instruments provide stability and regular income but may offer limited capital appreciation. Gold and other commodities act as a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty, but their performance can be cyclical. A multi-asset allocation fund simplifies this complex decision-making process by investing in a diversified portfolio of at least three asset classes, with a minimum allocation of 10% to each, as mandated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). This ensures that the fund is not overly reliant on any single asset class, thereby mitigating risk and providing a more stable investment journey.
The Role in Asset Allocation
Multi-asset allocation funds play a crucial role in strategic asset allocation by providing a professionally managed, diversified portfolio within a single investment. The fund manager actively monitors market conditions and economic trends, dynamically adjusting the allocation between different asset classes to optimize risk-adjusted returns. For instance, during a bull market, the fund may increase its equity exposure to capitalize on rising stock prices. Conversely, in a bear market, the allocation may shift towards debt and gold to preserve capital and cushion the portfolio from steep declines. This active management and automatic rebalancing save investors the hassle of constantly monitoring their portfolios and making tactical allocation decisions.
Who Should Invest?
Multi-asset allocation funds are particularly well-suited for a wide range of investors:
- First-time investors: These funds provide a simplified and diversified entry point into the world of investing, eliminating the need to pick individual stocks or bonds.
- Investors with a low to moderate risk tolerance: The diversified nature of these funds helps to smooth out returns and reduce volatility, making them ideal for those who are not comfortable with the high-risk nature of pure equity funds.
- Long-term investors: By providing a balanced exposure to different asset classes, these funds are well-positioned to deliver steady, long-term growth.
- Investors seeking a hassle-free investment experience: The active management and automatic rebalancing features of these funds make them a convenient, “invest and forget” solution.
Hybrid Multi-Asset Funds vs. Equity-Heavy Funds
It is important to distinguish multi-asset allocation funds from their more aggressive counterparts, such as aggressive hybrid funds. While both fall under the hybrid category, their risk-return profiles are significantly different.
Feature | Multi-Asset Allocation Funds | Aggressive Hybrid Funds |
Equity Allocation | Typically 10-70% | 65-80% |
Asset Classes | Minimum 3 (e.g., equity, debt, gold) | Primarily equity and debt |
Volatility | Lower | Higher |
Risk Profile | Balanced | Aggressive |
Ideal Investor | Risk-averse to moderate | Risk-tolerant |
Aggressive hybrid funds, with their high equity allocation, tend to outperform in bull markets but are also more susceptible to sharp declines during market downturns. Multi-asset allocation funds, on the other hand, provide a more stable and consistent performance across market cycles. The 10-year average return for aggressive hybrid funds is slightly higher at 12.12% CAGR compared to 11.12% for multi-asset funds. However, it is interesting to note that the top-performing multi-asset funds have delivered returns that are comparable to, and in some cases, even better than their aggressive hybrid counterparts, but with lower volatility.
Volatility During Crises like COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic served as a stark reminder of the importance of portfolio resilience. During the market crash of 2020, many equity-heavy portfolios suffered significant losses. Multi-asset allocation funds, however, demonstrated their ability to weather the storm. The inclusion of debt and gold in the portfolio helped to cushion the impact of the sharp decline in equity markets.
As a result, these funds experienced lower drawdowns and recovered more quickly than their equity-heavy counterparts. This ability to provide stability during times of crisis is one of the most compelling reasons to include multi-asset allocation funds in any investment portfolio.
Conclusion
In a world of increasing uncertainty, multi-asset allocation funds offer a compelling proposition for investors seeking a balanced and disciplined approach to wealth creation. By providing a diversified portfolio of different asset classes, these funds can help to mitigate risk, reduce volatility, and deliver steady, long-term growth. As the first Indian woman to establish a mutual fund house, I am committed to empowering investors with the knowledge and tools they need to achieve their financial goals. I believe that multi-asset allocation funds are an essential component of any well-diversified investment portfolio, and I encourage all investors to consider them as a part of their wealth creation journey.
(The perspectives shared in this column reflect the author’s own views and interpretations.)