Should I allocate over half of my portfolio to small and mid-cap funds?

Is it advisable to build a core equity portfolio (50-60 per cent) in mid and small caps, considering an SIP tenure for 10 plus years? - Anonymous

When it comes to long-term investing, a time horizon of 10 years or more is well-suited for equity investments. However, it's important to avoid over-concentrating in one type of fund or solely investing in mid and small-cap funds. For example, building a core equity portfolio where 50-60 per cent is allocated to mid and small-cap funds is not recommended.

Instead, a diversified approach to equity via flexi-cap funds is recommended, as they invest across large, mid, and small-cap stocks. By investing in a flexi-cap fund, around 25-30 per cent of your portfolio is exposed to mid and small-cap stocks, while large-caps make up about 70 per cent. When building a portfolio, it's best to focus on stocks that provide growth with stability, which large-caps tend to offer. Riskier assets should only be allocated a small portion of the portfolio.

While mid and small-cap funds may provide higher returns than flexi-cap funds in the long run, they may fluctuate more in the short run and are generally considered riskier. Having a higher exposure of 50-60 per cent to mid and small-cap funds can make your portfolio much more volatile, which is not advisable.

In conclusion, if you're willing to accept higher risk and volatility for higher returns, you can add a mid or small-cap fund along with a flexi-cap fund. This way your portfolio allocation to mid- and small-caps would be slightly higher. However, it's not advisable to make them the core of your portfolio.

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This article was originally published on April 13, 2023.