Mutual Fund Investment: Tracking And Monitoring Basics

Investing in mutual funds is just the first step. To make the most of your investments, you need to keep track of their performance. Knowing how your investments are doing is important to decide whether to stay invested and even to put in additional money. You don't need to fret over the scheme's performance daily, especially if you've invested for more than a year, but keeping a check on your investments is a good practice. There are several ways to do this, including:

- Checking your investments on the mutual fund company's website or app

- Checking your Consolidated Account Statement (CAS)

- Checking your mutual fund fact sheet

- Checking with your investment advisor

Check your mutual fund status online

Checking your mutual fund status online is simple and can be done in a few different ways. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Check Your Mutual Fund Status Online:

You can review your mutual fund status by logging into the Asset Management Company's (AMC) website or mobile app. You will need your folio number and other required details to sign in. Once logged in, you will be able to access information such as transaction history, fund balance, and more.

Check Fund Status Through AMC Customer Care:

If you prefer not to use digital platforms, you can visit the AMC's office to check your mutual fund statement. You will likely need to provide your folio number and Permanent Account Number (PAN) for verification. Alternatively, you can contact the AMC's customer care team by phone or email. They will ask for your details, verify them, and then provide you with the information you need.

Check the Status Through the Registrar's Website:

Some registrars, such as Karvy or CAMS, also allow you to check your folio number and mutual fund status on their websites. You will need to register on these websites using your mobile number and PAN.

Contact Your Broker to Check Status:

If you invested in mutual funds through a broker, they can track your status for you. Contact your broker and provide them with your PAN to receive real-time information about your investments.

Check Through the Consolidated Account Statement:

In India, there are two depositories—Central Depository Services Limited (CDSL) and National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL)—that maintain records of all your investment accounts, including your mutual fund folios. These depositories periodically send investors Consolidated Account Statements (CAS) that provide information about folio-wise mutual fund performance, helping you check the value of your portfolios. You can also access the CAS online by visiting the official CAMS website and following these steps:

• Visit camsonline.com and click on 'MF Investors'.
• On the next page, choose 'CAS-CAMS' under the 'Statements' menu.
• Enter your registered email address, PAN, and select the fund house.
• Choose a specific folio listing and the period for which you want the CAS statement.
• Create a password that you will use to access the CAS sent to your email address.
• Enter this password to open the CAS file received via email.

Check fund status through customer care

Checking the status of your mutual fund investments through customer care is a straightforward process. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Contact the AMC's Customer Care

You can reach out to the Asset Management Company (AMC) by calling their customer service number or sending them an email. This information is usually available on the AMC's website or your mutual fund account statement. When contacting them, keep your folio number and PAN (Permanent Account Number) handy, as these will be required for verification.

Step 2: Provide Necessary Details

Once you connect with a customer care representative, they will ask for your details. Provide them with your folio number and PAN. You may also need to provide additional information for verification, such as your name, address, or date of birth.

Step 3: Verify Your Information

The customer care representative will verify the information you provided. Ensure that the details you give are accurate and up-to-date to facilitate a smooth verification process.

Step 4: Receive Your Mutual Fund Folio Status

After successful verification, the customer care representative will provide you with the details of your mutual fund investments. They can give you information about your holdings, transaction history, fund balance, and other relevant details.

Additional Options

While contacting customer care is a convenient option, there are alternative methods to check your mutual fund status. These include:

• Visiting the AMC's office in person and providing your folio number and PAN for verification.
• Checking your mutual fund status online by visiting the AMC's website or using their mobile app.
• Contacting your broker or distributor if you invested through them. They can track your mutual fund status on your behalf.
• Checking the registrar's website, such as Karvy or CAMS, by registering with your mobile number and PAN.
• Reviewing your Consolidated Account Statement (CAS), which is periodically sent by depositories like CDSL or NSDL to your email address.

Check the status through the registrar's website

Checking the status of your mutual fund investment through the registrar's website is a straightforward process. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Identify the Registrar

First, you need to identify the registrar of your mutual fund. The two largest registrars in India are Computer Age Management Services Limited (CAMS) and KFin Technologies Ltd (KFintech). Most large funds will have either of these two companies as their registrar.

Step 2: Register on the Registrar's Website

To access information about your mutual fund holdings, you will need to register on the registrar's website. Visit the registrar's website and look for an option to register or sign up. You will typically be asked to provide your mobile number and Permanent Account Number (PAN) for registration.

Step 3: Log in to the Registrar's Website

Once you have registered, you can log in to the registrar's website using the credentials you created during registration.

Step 4: Provide Details

After logging in, you will need to provide some additional details to access your mutual fund information. This typically includes your folio number, PAN, and mobile number.

Step 5: Access Information

After providing the required details, you will be able to access information about your mutual fund holdings, such as the status of your investments, transaction history, and fund balance.

It is important to note that the specific steps and requirements may vary slightly depending on the registrar's website. Additionally, if you have investments with multiple registrars, you may need to repeat this process for each registrar.

Contact your broker to check status

If you've invested in mutual funds through a broker, you can contact them to check the status of your investment. Here are the steps you can follow:

• Get in Touch with Your Broker: Reach out to your broker, who will serve as an intermediary between you and the Asset Management Company (AMC). Your broker will have access to the latest information about your mutual fund investments.
• Provide Necessary Information: When contacting your broker, have your PAN (Permanent Account Number) ready. This is a crucial identifier linked to your folio number, which helps in tracking your mutual fund investments.
• Broker Communicates with AMC: Your broker will then get in touch with the AMC and provide them with your folio number. This number is unique to each of your mutual fund investments and allows the AMC to track your investment details.
• Acquire Investment Details: By communicating with the AMC, your broker can obtain up-to-date information about your mutual fund investments. This includes real-time fund performance, investment amounts, returns, and transaction details.
• Receive Information from Broker: After gathering the relevant information from the AMC, your broker can then share the details of your mutual fund investments with you. This allows you to stay informed about the status and performance of your investments.

Remember that your broker plays a vital role in facilitating communication between you and the AMC. They can provide you with timely updates and insights about your mutual fund investments, helping you make informed decisions.

Check through the consolidated account statement

Checking through the Consolidated Account Statement (CAS) is a great way to keep track of your mutual fund investments. The CAS is a single, combined account statement that details all your financial transactions across all mutual funds and other securities held in dematerialised (Demat) mode. It is issued by your depositories and is typically generated monthly, detailing the transactions of the previous month. It is important to note that the CAS will only include portfolios in which financial transactions have taken place during that month.

To obtain your CAS, you can request it from the two depositories in India: the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) and the Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL). These depositories will send the CAS to your registered address or email. Alternatively, you can download the CAS from various online platforms, such as KFin Technologies Limited, Franklin Templeton, and Sundaram.

The CAS provides a comprehensive overview of your mutual fund investments. It includes basic information such as your name, email, date of birth, contact number, and bank account details. Additionally, it details your holding units, unique client codes, and the International Securities Identification Number of all securities in your portfolio. The CAS also covers transactions such as switching or merging funds, dividend or bonus payments, and reinvestment options. It further specifies the investment mode, along with closing and opening share unit portfolio balances.

The CAS is an invaluable tool for investors, offering several benefits. Firstly, it helps in reviewing the performance of your mutual fund portfolio, allowing you to assess whether your investments are profitable and make informed decisions about staying invested in a particular fund. Secondly, it reduces paperwork by consolidating all your financial investment data into one report. Lastly, the CAS assists in understanding your tax liability by providing detailed information about your transactions, which can be used for tax deductions and tax-saving investment proof.

While the CAS offers a convenient way to monitor your mutual fund investments, it is important to be aware of its limitations. Generating consolidated statements can be time-consuming, and they may not provide as much information as individual company reports. Therefore, it is advisable to review your CAS periodically and supplement it with additional research or advice from a qualified investment advisor.

Frequently asked questions