Investing in mutual funds has become a cornerstone of personal finance and wealth-building for individuals around the world. This investment collects money from multiple investors to purchase a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other securities. The person who decides how to use this money in the best way is called a mutual fund manager. These managers are very important because best mutual fund managers choices can make a big difference in how much money the fund makes.
In this article, we will talk about some of the best fund managers in India. We’ll examine what they do and why they are good at it. This information is helpful for anyone who wants to understand more about how mutual funds work and how to pick a good one.
What Is a Mutual Fund Manager?
Mutual fund managers are professionals tasked with overseeing the investment strategy of a mutual fund. They make critical decisions on which stocks, bonds, or other assets to buy or sell, aiming to align these choices with growth or income generation. Their role also involves balancing the potential for high returns against the risks of market fluctuations.
Mutual fund managers are vital in steering the fund toward its financial goals. Their expertise is often backed by significant experience and specialized education in finance. These are crucial for the fund’s performance and, consequently, the returns for the investors.
Key Takeaways
- A mutual fund manager is a professional responsible for managing a mutual fund’s investment portfolio.
- Mutual fund managers are responsible for fund allocation, market analysis, and risk management. Their decisions significantly influence the fund’s performance.
- Considerations for choosing a mutual fund manager include the manager’s track record, investment philosophy, Assets Under Management (AUM), and experience.
Responsibilities of Mutual Fund Managers
Mutual fund managers have a range of responsibilities that are important to the success of the funds they manage. These include:
Investment Strategy Development
They devise and implement investment strategies that align with the fund’s objectives. These objectives can range from growth and income to capital preservation.
Market Research and Analysis
The analysis includes market trends, economic data, and financial reports. This information helps identify investment opportunities and understand potential risks.
Asset Allocation
They made decisions on distributing the fund’s assets across various investments. This decision includes choices like stocks, bonds, or other securities, aiming to optimize returns while managing risk.
Portfolio Management
The fund’s portfolio is continuously monitored and adjusted. This adjustment aims to respond to market changes and align with investment objectives.
Risk Assessment and Management
They evaluate and manage the risks associated with different investments. This action ensures that the level of risk taken is appropriate for the fund’s goals.
Performance Tracking
They regularly compare the fund’s performance with benchmarks and industry standards. This comparison ensures that the fund meets its targets and investor expectations.
Compliance and Regulation Adherence
They ensure all investment activities comply with regulatory requirements and ethical standards.
Investor Communication
They report the fund’s performance, investment strategy, and market outlook to the investors regularly.
Team Leadership
Many mutual fund managers lead a team of analysts and other investment professionals. They guide them in research, analysis, and decision-making processes.
Continual Learning
They must keep up with financial markets, new investment tools and techniques, and regulation changes. So they can maintain a competitive edge in the industry.
10 Best Mutual Fund Managers
When investing in mutual funds, the fund manager’s knowledge and plan are very important to how well the fund does. Here are 10 outstanding mutual fund managers known for their skill, consistency, and ability to understand complicated financial markets.
| Fund Manager Name | Mutual Fund Manager | AUM (in cr) | Number of Schemes | Expertise Relevance (Years) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Aniruddha Naha | PGIM India Mutual Fund | ₹23.1K Cr | 27 schemes | 18 years |
| 2. Ankit Agarwal | UTI Mutual Fund | ₹23.3K Cr | 230 schemes | 12 years |
| 3. Chandraprakash Padiyar | Tata Mutual Fund | ₹1.5L Cr | 57 schemes | 22 years |
| 4. Harsha Upadhyaya | Kotak Mutual Fund | ₹2.86L Cr | 73 schemes | 23 years |
| 5. Jinesh Gopani | Axis Mutual Fund | ₹2.7L Cr | 56 schemes | 17 years |
| 6. Manish Gunwani | Bandhan Mutual Fund | ₹1.1L Cr | 76 schemes | 25 years |
| 7. Neelesh Surana | Mirae Asset Mutual Fund | ₹1.6L Cr | 56 schemes | 24 years |
| 8. R. Srinivasan | SBI Mutual Fund | ₹8.7L Cr | 38 schemes | 23 years |
| 9. Rajeev Thakkar | PPFAS Mutual Fund | ₹61.9K Cr | 6 schemes | 15 years |
| 10. Sankaran Naren | ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund | ₹6.5L Cr | 76 schemes | 27 years |
1. Aniruddha Naha
Overview
Aniruddha Naha is a senior fund manager at PGIM India Asset Management Pvt. Ltd. He has worked in finance for over 18 years and knows much about the stock and bond markets. He manages the PGIM India Broad Equity Fund and the PGIM India Midcap Opportunities Fund. These funds are known for their broad and mid-cap-focused strategies. A Masters in Finance & Control is one of Naha’s school qualifications. This gives him a lot of analytical and financial knowledge.
His past work in finance has helped him learn more about how markets work and how to make smart investments, making him a better fund manager. Naha’s work at PGIM India shows his dedication to disciplined investment strategies and keen market insight. This has made him a respected figure in the mutual fund industry.
Mutual Fund Name: PGIM India Mutual Fund
AUM (in cr): ₹23.1K Cr
Number of Schemes: 27 schemes
Expertise Relevance (Years): 18 years
2. Ankit Agarwal
Overview
Another well-known fund manager in the Indian mutual fund business is Ankit Agarwal. Aside from his impressive range of degrees, he also has a postgraduate diploma in Management in Finance, Computer Science and Engineering, and Economics Management. His education in many fields has given him an overall understanding of fund management.
Agarwal’s working background includes important work at several well-known companies. For example, he was senior vice president and fund manager at Centrum Capital Ltd., assistant vice president and wealth and investment manager at Barclays, and senior analyst at Lehman Brothers in London. Lastly, he held BNP Paribas and D. E. Shaw & Co. positions before joining UTI Mutual Fund. He has worked in many different financial and business areas, which has given him a deep understanding of how markets work and how to make smart investments.
Mutual Fund Name: UTI Mutual Fund
AUM (in cr): ₹23.3K Cr
Number of Schemes: 230 schemes
Expertise Relevance (Years): 12 years
3. Chandraprakash Padiyar
Overview
Since September 2018, Chandraprakash Padiyar has been a senior fund manager at Tata Asset Management. Padiyar has been doing research and managing funds for more than 19 years, so he brings a lot of information and experience to his job. He has a strong school background and an MBA in Finance from the Symbiosis Institute of Business Management. Besides that, he has passed all three levels of the CFA Program from The CFA Institute in the United States. The CFA institute is considered a highly esteemed finance qualification.
Chandraprakash Padiyar worked for UTI Mutual Fund and Alchemy Capital Management Pvt Ltd. before he joined Tata Asset Management. He most likely has an extensive knowledge of the financial markets and business strategies because he has worked for several companies.
Mutual Fund Name: Tata Mutual Fund
AUM (in cr): ₹1.5L Cr
Number of Schemes: 57 schemes
Expertise Relevance (Years): 22 years
4. Harsha Upadhyaya
Overview
Harsha Upadhyaya is currently working for Kotak Mahindra Asset Management. He has been researching stocks and handling funds for 23 years. Upadhyaya has a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) degree from the National Institute of Technology, Surathkal, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Finance) from the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow. These are both outstanding educational qualifications. He is also a chartered financial analyst, a title given by the CFA Institute in the United States.
Upadhyaya is in charge of an extensive portfolio at Kotak Mahindra. He is in charge of assets worth ₹79,591 Crore, extended out over 27 plans. He has worked for reputable firms like DSP BlackRock Investment Managers and Prabhudas Lilladher Pvt. Ltd, SG Asia Securities, Reliance Group, and UTI Asset Management Co. in the past.
Mutual Fund Name: Kotak Mutual Fund
AUM (in cr): ₹2.86L Cr
Number of Schemes: 73 schemes
Expertise Relevance (Years): 23 years
5. Jinesh Gopani
Overview
Jinesh Gopani was well-known as Head of Equity at Axis Asset Management Company (AMC). As an equity fund manager, he started working for Axis AMC in 2009 and worked until he was Head of Equity in 2016. Gopani was in charge of multiple funds at Axis AMC, including the main Axis Long-Term Equity Fund. This man has worked in the mutual fund business for over 17 years.
Gopani worked as a portfolio manager at Birla Sunlife AMC before he joined Axis AMC. He was in charge of managing alternative assets across various financial styles. He was exceptionally skilled at managing funds because he worked with many business strategies. Now that Jinesh Gopani is no longer working for Axis Mutual Fund, Shreyash Devalkar can take over as the new Equity Head at Axis MF. However, Gopani had an important role in developing the fund’s equity strategy at Axis MF.
Mutual Fund Name: Axis Mutual Fund
AUM (in cr): ₹2.7L Cr
Number of Schemes: 56 schemes
Expertise Relevance (Years): 17 years
6. Manish Gunwani
Overview
Manish Gunwani is known for being an expert fund manager with much experience. Besides a Bachelor of Technology, he has a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM). Gunwani has had a lot of noteworthy jobs in the mutual fund industry with several well-known companies. He was a fund manager for Nippon India Mutual Fund and ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund before he joined Bandhan Mutual Fund. Moreover, he has worked as an analyst for many companies, such as Vicisoft Technologies, Lehman Brothers, Brics Securities, Lucky Securities, SSKI Securities, and Prime Securities.
Gunwani has been a fund manager for different types of funds and has helped develop and carry out investment plans. Due to his good analytical skills, technical background, and management schooling, he has made it through the complicated financial markets.
Mutual Fund Name: Bandhan Mutual Fund
AUM (in cr): ₹1.1L Cr
Number of Schemes: 76 schemes
Expertise Relevance (Years): 25 years
7. Neelesh Surana
Overview
Neelesh Surana has been in the financial services business for about 24 years. He is the chief investment officer of equities at Mirae Asset Global Investments (India). His professional experience includes a long tenure as a senior portfolio manager at ASK Investment Managers Pvt Ltd, where he was in charge of both local and international investments. His investment approach is a mix of disciplined risk management and picking stocks independently. He wants to take advantage of growth opportunities while managing the risks that come with the market.
Many people have praised the Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund and other funds Surana has run, showing how well he navigates the complicated stock market and regularly makes income.
Mutual Fund Name: Mirae Asset Mutual Fund
AUM (in cr): ₹1.6L Cr
Number of Schemes: 56 schemes
Expertise Relevance (Years): 24 years
8. R. Srinivasan
Overview
R. Srinivasan is the chief investment officer (CIO) in equity at SBI Funds Management. He has worked in finance for more than 26 years. He has worked for SBI Funds Management as a senior fund manager since May 2009. Besides that, some reputable companies were worth mentioning to illustrate his extensive experiences, like Motilal Oswal, Future Capital Holding, Principal PNB, Oppenheimer & Co (later Blackstone), and Indosuez WI Carr. He has a Master’s in Financial Management and a postgraduate degree in Commerce from the University of Bombay.
R. Srinivasan has a lot of professional knowledge and a strong academic background, which helps him understand how markets work. In the Indian mutual fund sector, he is known as a strong and skilled asset manager. His ability is real because his work at SBI Funds Management has proven it all.
Mutual Fund Name: SBI Mutual Fund
AUM (in cr): ₹8.7L Cr
Number of Schemes: 38 schemes
Expertise Relevance (Years): 23 years
9. Rajeev Thakkar
Overview
Rajeev Thakkar has worked in finance for over 15 years. He has a lot of impressive academic credentials, including a chartered accountant, a cost accountant, a CFA charter holder, and a CFP certificate. Thakkar has a lot of education, which makes him better at managing finances and investments. The amount of time he put into finance gave him a lot of experience in the capital markets. Thakkar started working at PPFAS (Parag Parikh Financial Advisory Services) in 2001 and quickly rose to head of the research division by 2003. Later, he was in charge of the Portfolio Management Service’s key “Cognito” scheme.
Thakkar is known for the systematic way he finds undervalued companies. This strategy has helped the schemes he has been in charge of perform very well for themselves. He is also known for being strong when the market is volatile. He invests in stocks at the right prices to ensure long-term gains and avoids risky investments.
Mutual Fund Name: PPFAS Mutual Fund
AUM (in cr): ₹61.9K Cr
Number of Schemes: 6 schemes
Expertise Relevance (Years): 15 years
10. Sankaran Naren
Overview
Sankaran Naren is the executive director and chief investment officer at ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund. He has worked in India’s mutual fund industry for 34 years, 19 of which were spent in mutual funds. He has plenty of experience in financial services, such as equity research, investment banking, and fund management.
Naren is known for his understanding of market cycles and ability to change his strategies easily. He carefully integrates the practice of market timing, focusing on taking advantage of market swings to make big profits, as seen in 2002, 2008, and 2020. His way of investing also stresses how important structural investing is for long-term returns.
Mutual Fund Name: ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund
AUM (in cr): ₹6.5L Cr
Number of Schemes: 76 schemes
Expertise Relevance (Years): 27 years
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Mutual Fund Manager
When choosing a mutual fund manager, several key factors should be considered to ensure that your investment aligns with your financial goals and risk tolerance. These factors include:
Performance Track Record
You should evaluate the fund manager’s performance history, focusing on their performance in different market conditions. While past performance doesn’t guarantee future results, it can indicate the manager’s expertise.
Investment Philosophy
You should understand the manager’s investing approach, risk management, and asset allocation strategies. How the manager adapts to market changes should also be taken into consideration.
Experience and Tenure
You should assess the manager’s experience in the industry alongside their tenure with the specific fund. Experienced managers are often more adept at navigating market fluctuations.
Expense Ratio and Fees
You should consider the fees associated with the fund, as higher fees can impact overall returns. It’s important to understand how the fee structure could affect the long-term growth of your investment.
Risk-Adjusted Returns
The performance should be examined in relation to the risks taken by the fund. Metrics like the Sharpe ratio can be useful in this assessment.
Alignment With Your Goals
You have to make sure the fund’s strategy aligns with your investment objectives, including your risk tolerance and time horizon.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the right manager among the best mutual fund managers is a complicated process that requires a close look at some important factors. There are many things to consider when selecting a mutual fund manager. Some of these are looking at the manager’s past performance, learning about their investment mindset, and judging their experience and length of service. Lastly, you need to examine how fees and expenses affect returns and ensure the manager’s selection fits your investment goals.
Investors should look at all of these things to see if the fund manager can meet their needs and goals. By carefully applying these factors, investors can make sensible decisions that fit their financial plans and objectives. This will lead to a stronger and more useful investment portfolio in the long run.
FAQs
A mutual fund manager is a professional responsible for making investment decisions for a mutual fund’s portfolio. They choose the fund’s investments, such as stocks, bonds, or other assets, to achieve its objectives. The manager’s decisions significantly impact the fund’s performance and value.
When selecting a mutual fund manager, consider factors such as their track record, investing approach, experience in the industry, performance in different market conditions, risk-adjusted returns, and how their approach aligns with your investment goals.
Assets Under Management (AUM) is significant as it reflects the scale of operations and trust investors have in the fund. A higher AUM can indicate investor confidence and the fund’s success. However, it should not be the sole criterion, as larger funds might face challenges maintaining high growth rates.
Experience is crucial as it typically equips the manager with skills to navigate market volatility better and make informed investment decisions. Experienced managers have often dealt with various market cycles, which can add valuable insights to their investment strategies.
Detailed profiles of top mutual fund managers can be found on financial news websites, investment platforms, and the mutual fund’s official website. Websites like Morningstar, Bloomberg, and Reuters often provide comprehensive information about fund managers, including their background, investment style, and performance history.
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