Bits-and-pieces funds

Over the last few years, we've had a seemingly unending series of dramatic events which have created uncertainty and volatility for equity investors. However, even though the events themselves all appear to be apparent black swans, the approach investors need to take to protect themselves is straightforward and predictable. Strangely, the unease produced by such events has been made worse for some investors because of a partial reversal of a longstanding trend. Long time readers may have noticed my recurring comments on the traditionally heavy dependence of Indian savers on fixed-income investments. It's well-known that India favours such investments, with many savers habitually opting for Public Provident Fund (PPF), bank and post office deposits as their go-to saving mechanisms. I've regularly highlighted the importance of directing at least some long-term savings towards equities or equity-oriented mutual funds. However, an emerging trend is that