Investment Choices: Deciding on an Equity Fund

While an equity fund is simply a fund that invests in stocks, there are various types of equity fund types to invest in. To effectively choose an equity fund that’s right for you, it’s first vital that you understand these different types of equity funds.

Some of the different types of equity fund types available to investors include: the growth fund, value fund, index fund, sector fund, income fund, balanced fund, and asset allocation funds. What’s more, each type of fund is different from the next in the way it functions and the results it delivers.

So it’s ultimately wise to make an informed decision when it comes to investing in any type of fund.

When many people look to invest, they’re drawn to do so with companies that demonstrate rapid growth. For these investors, there’s the growth fund. Growth companies tend to re-invest a significant amount of their profits for research and development, and support investments that are based on generating capital gains rather than income.

Value funds, on the other hand, invest in "value" stocks - stocks with companies that are usually older and more established. These types of funds tend to be more stable, but don’t usually demonstrate the rapid movements of growth funds. Another type of fund investment - the index fund - follows a market index rather than being actively managed. This type of fund has a low management fee, but also usually has a minimal turnover of securities.

Meanwhile sector funds invest in a particular area of an industry - such as gold or technology funds - and offer high appreciation potential. However, these equity funds can also pose a higher risk to the investor.

Another type of equity investment has to do with the income fund. Income funds focus on current income over growth - an objective that can be achieved by investing with companies that have a proven history of dividend payments. The balanced fund, however, invests in bonds for income and stocks for appreciation. Asset allocation funds divide investment between income stocks, growth stocks, and cash or money instruments. Advisers and fund managers then switch the percentage of und holdings in each category based on how that group performs.

If you’ve invested in funds before, you might have an idea of the type of equity fund you want to invest in now. However, if you’re new to equity investment, it’s always best to seek professional advice from an investment specialist. An adviser can take into account your unique financial goals to suggest an investment fund that’s right for you. He or she can also outline any potential gains and risks of equity investment, ensuring you’re aware of what investment entails before making any financial moves.