While investing for any specific goal, we always assume some rate of return from the investment based on some rationale. Actual return may vary from time to time from assuming return, so it becomes very important to check whether we are getting that return or not. We also need to check how various asset classes and schemes are performing in our portfolio. This exercise is known as review and it should be done on periodic bases. Ideally once in a year, you must review your portfolio.
Reviewing doesn’t necessarily mean frequent buying and selling based on performance. The return which we assume is for the CAGR return for the entire period of investment and need not be equal to the assumed CAGR every year.
How to review your mutual fund schemes:
You can review the performance of your scheme and compare it with the performance of the benchmark. Apart from benchmarking, you can also compare it with peer group performance.
Performance of good schemes also may lag in some times, so short-term performance should not be given too much weight while doing the review of the portfolio. Rather than short-term performance, you must consider long-term return and consistency in performance.
Apart from the return you also need to compare your portfolio on other parameters like risk, risk-adjusted return, and quality of portfolio while reviewing the scheme.
If the scheme underperforms on all the above parameters you should exit the same and invest in some other scheme.
But, remember review doesn’t necessarily mean buying and selling every time while you review. The decision of exiting should not be based on short-term underperformance noticed during the review. You need to adopt a holistic approach to reviewing the scheme by taking into consideration of other important parameters also apart from short-term return.
Once you know where you are going by setting appropriate investment objectives, your portfolio review will help you reach your destination. How? By identifying problems and mistakes you can correct mid-course. Much like a pilot, your job is to stay on course so that you can reach your destination safely and in a timely manner.
