Mutual funds are a popular investment vehicle for many Singaporean investors who are looking to build their wealth and achieve their financial goals. However, with so many mutual funds available, it may be challenging to find one that is really aligned with your goals and risk profile. Many investors are left confused and not knowing where to start.

In this article, we will highlight some key steps Singaporean investors can take to choose a mutual fund to invest in. Whether you are a skilled and experienced investor or you are just beginning to invest in mutual funds, you can eventually achieve your goals if you make informed trading decisions. We will also look at the 5 top-rated mutual funds for Singaporeans to invest in. However, this list should not be viewed as endorsement or investment advice.

Choosing a mutual fund to invest in

When it comes to selecting mutual funds, traders should not be hasty. It is important to do your due diligence and understand what you are investing in before pulling the trigger, as there is market risk involved in mutual funds just as there is risk involved in any other investment product. Below are some steps you should take when choosing mutual funds.

Determine your investment goals and risk tolerance

The most important thing you should do is understand and have a clear idea of your investment goals and risk tolerance. This means knowing what you are hoping to get out of the fund, and whether you would prefer to invest in the long term or in a relatively shorter term. This can help you find the mutual funds that are aligned with your objectives and risk preferences, as well as other needs.

Research mutual funds thoroughly

You should always research the mutual fund thoroughly before investing in it. This means looking at its track record of performance, its expenses and fees, and the fund manager behind the fund. You can also access the fund’s prospectus, which is a document that provides detailed information on the mutual fund. The prospectus will include information on its investment strategy, its past performance, some risks that investors should be aware of, and its fees and expenses. Some fees and expenses include management fees, administrative fees, and sales charges.

Consider consulting a financial advisor

If you find it challenging to find a mutual fund that works for you, you should consider consulting with a financial advisor that can help you narrow down your choices and offer a fresh and expert perspective based on your needs and goals.

The 5 top-rated mutual funds for Singaporeans

Below is our list of the 5 top-rated mutual funds for Singaporean investors. Many of these are funds that track global indices and bonds, and there are a couple of Southeast Asian and Singaporean-specific funds that are popular among locals. Remember that this list of top-rated mutual funds is a general one that does not consider specific investor requirements and objectives. If a mutual fund piques your interest, you should do more research to find out if it is suitable for you and the fees and charges required.

LionGlobal Vietnam Fund

The LionGlobal Vietnam Fund aims to achieve medium to long-term capital growth by investing in Vietnam. The fund comprises of companies listed in Vietnam, and other companies that have operations in, or derive part of their revenue from Vietnam and the nearby region. The fund size is 167.3 million SGD. The fund manager is Kok Fook Meng, a director of Asian Equities with 26 years of experience, and the fund’s inception date was 2 February 2007, denominated in USD with a minimum initial investment of 1,000 USD.

Singlife MM Capital Growth

The Singlife MM Capital Growth fund aims to achieve long-term capital growth by investing in Asian equities, specifically the Schroder Asian Growth Fund Class A and the Schroder Singapore Fixed Income Fund Class I. The fund inception date was 3 May 1996, and the fund is managed by Schroder Investment Management (Singapore) Limited.

UBS Global Emerging Markets Opportunity Fund SGD P

The UBS Global Emerging Markets Opportunity Fund SGD P is a fund that seeks to achieve medium to long-term capital growth on a risk-adjusted basis. It invests in a variety of emerging markets stocks in various regions in Asia and Latin America and Africa, with most of these being shares in companies in the financial services and technology sectors. The total fund size is 1.32 billion GBP, and the fund was launched on 6 January 2010.

LionGlobal Short Duration Bond Fund Class A (SGD) (Dist)

The LionGlobal Short Duration Bond fund Class A aims to achieve medium to long-term capital growth by investing in Singaporean and international bonds, as well as other high quality interest rate securities. There is no target industry or sector, and the fund size is 812.2 million SGD. The fund manager is Chu Toh Chieh, a senior director and head of Fixed Income with 27 years of experience. The fund’s inception date was 28 December 2016, denominated in SGD with a minimum initial investment of 1,000 SGD.

Infinity Global Stock Index Fund SGD

The Infinity Global Stock Index Fund SGD aims to achieve medium to long-term capital growth by investing in the performance of global stock markets. It is a feeder fund in the Vanguard Global Stock Index Fund, and it has a fund size of 205.2 million SGD. There is no specific sector or industry that it tracks, and the fund was launched on 30 May 2020. The minimum initial investment is 100 SGD, with a minimum subsequent investment amount also being 100 SGD.

Risks involved in mutual fund investments

Before investing in mutual funds, Singaporean traders should know that they are subject to market risk and manager risk. This means the value of the fund’s holding can fluctuate, and the professional fund manager may make poor investment decisions that can lead to the fund’s performance suffering.

There is also a concentration risk and liquidity risk. Concentration risk is the risk that a fund may be invested in too concentrated asset classes or sectors, which can increase the fund’s risk if the sector or asset class experiences a decline in value. Liquidity risk is the risk that a mutual fund may hold assets that are illiquid, making it difficult for the fund to meet redemption requests from investors, which is important for times of market stress.

Finally, mutual fund investors should understand that they are subject to taxation on their investment gains. This is not a risk perse, but investors should ensure they are aware of this.

Summary

Choosing and investing in a mutual fund requires careful consideration. You should always have an idea of your own investment goals and risk tolerance before looking for one. Once you have found a desirable mutual fund, make sure you do thorough research to understand how it works and how aligned with your investment goals it is. There are many top-rated mutual funds that are suitable for Singaporeans, but the above list should not be construed as investment advice. Ultimately, traders know best what will work for them and what will not. If in doubt, consult a financial advisor for guidance.