Gold Mutual Funds: A Safe Haven in Volatile Markets?

Gold mutual funds are open-ended fund of fund schemes that invest primarily in gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Instead of holding physical gold, these funds allow you to gain exposure to the price of gold through financial investments.

The underlying gold ETFs in such funds typically hold gold of high purity, usually 99.5%, stored safely with authorised custodians. This means the value of your investment moves broadly in line with domestic gold prices, subject to market movements.

Here’s how gold mutual funds work:

• Pooling of Funds: The fund manager collects money from many investors and combines it into a single investment pool.

• Investment in Gold-linked Instruments: The pooled amount is used to invest in gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

• Value Movement: The value of the fund changes in line with gold prices. For instance, if the gold prices rise, the value of the fund’s holdings also generally increases. When prices fall, the value may decrease.

• Unit Transactions: You can buy and sell units of the gold mutual fund through the fund house, much like purchasing or redeeming any other mutual fund scheme. The price of each unit depends on the current value of the underlying gold investments.

• Management Fees: For managing the fund and handling transactions, the fund house charges an expense ratio, which covers administrative and operational costs.

   

Gold mutual funds have the following chief characteristics:

• Accessibility: You can invest without needing a demat or trading account.

• Convenience: There is no need to store or insure physical gold.

• Liquidity: You can redeem units directly with the fund house whenever required.

• Systematic Investment: You can start small with regular monthly contributions through SIPs.

• Transparency: The NAV is published daily, reflecting the current market value of gold.

• Diversification: Generally, Gold behaves differently from equities and bonds, helping you balance risk.

• Professional Oversight: Experienced fund managers handle the investment decisions.

• Regulated Framework: The scheme operates under SEBI and AMFI regulations for investor protection.

   

Market volatility can unsettle even the most seasoned investors. When equity markets experience large swings, certain assets may help cushion the impact on your portfolio. Gold has historically played such a role because its price movements are often different from those of equities or bonds.

A gold mutual fund can help you:

1. Diversify your portfolio: Gold typically has a low correlation with other asset classes, which helps reduce overall risk.
2. Manage inflation risk: Gold has historically maintained its real value when inflation rises, helping preserve purchasing power.
3. Build stability: During times of economic or geopolitical uncertainty, gold has often acted as a balancing component within portfolios.

However, it is important to remember that gold prices can fluctuate in the short term. You should view your investment in gold mutual funds as a way to enhance portfolio balance, not as a guaranteed safe haven.

But it is important to note that gold mutual funds are not designed to replace equities or debt instruments. They may be used as an additional layer of stability within a diversified investment strategy.

Although both aim to reflect gold’s market value, the way they operate differs.

If you prefer simplicity and the option to invest small amounts regularly, a gold mutual fund can be more convenient. If you already have a demat account and prefer real-time trading flexibility, a gold ETF may suit you better.

1. Scheme Type: An Open-ended fund of fund scheme investing in Tata Gold Exchange Traded Fund
    

2. Scheme Objective: The investment objective of the Scheme is to seek to provide returns that are in line with returns provided by Tata Gold Exchange Traded Fund. However, there is no assurance or guarantee that the investment objective of the Scheme will be achieved. 
    

3. Key Highlights:

   • At least 95% of the pooled corpus will be invested in Tata Gold ETF units.

   • It may hold up to 5% of its total assets in debt or money market securities to manage liquidity.
      

4. Riskometer: High Risk 
    

5. Disclaimer - Investors may note that they will be bearing the recurring expenses of the scheme (Tata Gold ETF Fund of Fund), in addition to the expenses of other schemes (Tata Gold Exchange Traded Fund) in which the Tata Gold ETF Fund of Funds makes investments.

Know more about Tata Gold ETF Fund of Fund

You might consider investing in gold mutual funds if you identify with any of the following:

• New investors – If you are just starting out, gold mutual funds offer a simple, accessible way to begin investing without needing a demat account.

• Diversification seekers – You can use gold exposure to try to balance your portfolio and potentially reduce the impact of equity or bond market volatility.

• Systematic investors – If you want to invest through regular SIPs to build discipline, and avoid timing the market.

• Investors with a high risk appetite – Gold FoFs have a high risk exposure and may be suitable for investors with a high risk appetite. 

• Non-demat investors – If you don’t have a Demat account but wish to hold gold, you can consider gold mutual funds. 

• Investors looking to tackle volatility – If you want to hedge against uncertainty, gold has historically behaved as a relatively steady asset, helping preserve value when markets turn volatile.

   

Before you invest in gold mutual funds or gold ETFs, consider these key points to make informed decisions:

1. Assess your risk tolerance: Gold prices can fluctuate overtime. So, make sure you’re comfortable with short-term corrections and understand that returns are not guaranteed.

2. Check the expense ratio: Gold mutual funds are actively managed and therefore, charge an expense ratio. Remember to compare this expense ratio across gold mutual funds to avoid spending more over time in management fees.

3. Decide your investment tenure: As mentioned earlier, gold prices can fluctuate in the short-term. That’s why, historically, investments in gold have worked well over a medium- to long-term holding period within a balanced portfolio.

4. Understand taxation: Capital gains you make from gold mutual funds are subject to taxation based on their holding periods. For investments withdrawn after 12 months, LTCG tax of 12.5% is applicable. Short-term capital gains withdrawn with the first 12 months are taxed at your slab level.

5. Avoid overexposure: Overexposure to gold can impact the growth potential of your portfolio and compromise its risk balance.

6. Stay disciplined with SIPs: Regular investments in gold SIP plans help you build exposure steadily. Gold SIP plans can also help you manage market volatility through rupee cost averaging.  

Gold continues to hold its place as an important asset in uncertain times. Through gold mutual funds, you can access the benefits of gold investing without the challenges of buying and storing it physically. These funds combine professional management, transparency, and regulatory oversight, giving you a convenient way to include gold in your portfolio.

Funds such as the Tata Gold ETF Fund of Fund provide one such avenue to gain exposure within a well-defined mutual fund structure. By maintaining a balanced approach and aligning your gold allocation with your financial goals, you can use gold mutual funds as a tool to strengthen your overall investment strategy.