Best Debt Mutual Funds

The individuals who can find debt funds the most suitable are:

1. Risk-Averse Investors

As previously mentioned, debt funds are most suitable for investors who are looking forward to investing on the safer side of mutual funds. They are, so far, the most safe mutual funds an individual can choose.

Since they invest in fixed-income underlying assets (such as bonds, treasury bills, and more), they can be a fund an investor faces the least risks with. Market fluctuations and other factors take a very slight toll on these funds, making them most suitable for risk-averse investors. 

2. Investors Who are Looking for Greater Returns than Bank Deposits

Bank deposits are sought by investors who do not want to deal with market risks and have stable returns. In the case of debt funds, they offer higher percentages of stable returns than bank deposits and are also the least affected funds when it comes to market conditions. 

3. Short or Medium Term Investors

Individuals can invest in these funds for the short term since they are known to perform well in a short duration. 

4. Investors Who Seek Moderate Returns

Unlike equity funds, the risks of debt funds are moderate, and so are the returns that come with it. This means the returns coming from debt funds are low when compared to equity funds. Investors who are comfortable availing of a below-moderate return from their investment can instantly choose one of these funds to start their investment.

The certain factors to be considered while finding the top debt funds for your portfolio are-

1. Taxes: You will earn reasonable returns from debt fund investments, but these returns will be taxed. The taxes can chip off your investment returns, so it is essential to be aware of these taxes for your benefit. 
2. Selecting Funds Based on Tenure: Debt funds come in various forms, such as liquid funds and more. You will have to choose a fund based on your investment tenure. For very short investments (days or weeks), you will have to invest in liquid or overnight funds to witness the highest benefits. For investments that range from 1 year or more, you can choose short-term funds, thus, you will have to be aware of these factors.

Investors can reap the following benefits by investing in the best debt mutual funds:

• High liquidity: One of the key benefits of fixed income funds is liquidity. Investors can redeem their units any time after their purchase. The amount will reflect in their bank account within a day. 

• Partial withdrawals: One can withdraw partially from their funds to meet necessary requirements without impacting the rest of the investment. 

• Flexibility in investment: Investors can either buy units in a lump-sum or choose to invest via SIP. 

• Provides stability: Since a major portion of the investment corpus is allocated to debt instruments, stock market fluctuations mostly do not impact the returns. 

• Tax-efficient: Debt funds are more tax-efficient than traditional investment options, such as bank fixed deposits. Income from debt funds is taxed when an investor chooses to redeem his/her units. However, income from bank FD is taxed every year. Debt funds also attract indexation benefits if sold after 3 years from the purchase date.  

Credit quality rating:  The debt instruments are rated by credit rating agencies in India. Before investing in these funds, individuals can check the credit quality rating to get an idea of the risk level associated with a scheme.

During the research for the best debt funds to invest in 2024, ensure to check the risks mentioned below-

1. Interest Rate Risks: Interest rate risk is analysed by market interest rates, which fund managers have little control over. An unexpected increase in interest rates can wipe out months of capital profits, particularly for long-term funds. Although the best performing debt funds are termed to be the safest, they are still exposed to the market, which brings this factor. 
2. Credit Risk: Credit risk originates from the chances of the debt fund's bonds defaulting on interest and principal payments. The downgrade of IL&FS and the accompanying value decrease for some debt funds have demonstrated that even liquid funds are not completely immune to the consequences of credit default.

3. Exit Load: Though these funds perform well in short to medium-term periods, they can bring in an exit load when you leave the fund, which you will need to be aware of before selling the fund. 

FAQs

Q1. What is meant by a debt mutual fund, and how does it work?

A debt mutual fund is one where the investment portfolio is done in securities and bonds that are known to provide a fixed income. 

Q2. Is a debt fund investment better than FDs?

Historically, debt funds have outperformed bank deposits, such as FDs, for the same tenure. Additionally, the low risks of these funds also make it a good investment choice for investors with the risk-tolerance of choosing bank FDs. 

Q3. What are the risks of debt funds?

The risks of debt funds are minute, but they are not risk-free. Given that they invest in secure underlying assets such as bonds and securities, with the least investment percentage in equities, it makes them a highly safe investment instrument for risk-averse investors. 

Q4. Can I make a SIP investment in debt funds?

Yes, you can easily start with a systematic investment plan, even for debt funds, based on your financial goals. 

Q5. Who can invest in debt funds?

The kind of investors who can start investing in a debt fund are - short-term investors and investors with a low-risk appetite.

Disclaimer: Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme-related documents carefully.