• Balanced Funds
  Some investors may wish to have an investment in all the major asset classes to reduce the risk of investing in a single asset class. A balanced unit trust fund generally has a portfolio comprising equities, fixed income securities and cash.

• Equity Funds
  An equity unit trust is the most common type of unit trust where its concentration of investments is focussed in equities or securities of listed companies. Equity unit trust funds are popular in Malaysia as they provide investors with exposure to the companies listed on Bursa Malaysia. The performance of the units is therefore linked to the performance of Bursa Malaysia. A rising market will normally give rise to an increase in the value of the unit and vice-versa. There is a wide array of equity unit trusts available in the market, ranging from funds with higher risk, higher returns to funds with lower risk, lower returns.

• Exchange Traded Funds (ETF)
  ETF is linked unit trust fund whose investment objective is to achieve the same return as a particular market index. ETF often have low expense ratios and can be bought and sold throughout the trading day through a stockbroker, on an exchange.

• Fixed Income
  FundsFixed income funds invest mainly in Malaysian Government Securities, corporate bonds, and money market instruments. The objective of a fixed income fund is usually to provide regular income.

• Index funds
  These funds invest in a range of companies that closely match (or “track”) companies comprising a particular index.

• International equity funds
  International equity funds are funds primarily invested in overseas stock markets.

• Money Market Funds
  Money market funds invest in liquid, low risk money market instruments that are in effect short-term deposits (loans) to banks and other-low risk-financial institutions, and in short-term government securities. Hence, money market funds in general have relatively lower risk and provide stable income returns.

• Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS)
  REITs invest in real properties, usually prominent commercial properties and provide the investor with an opportunity to participate in the property market in a way which is normally impossible to the small time investor. By investing into REITS, however, it is possible to invest a small amount to gain exposure to the property market and have diversification in your portfolio.

• Shariah Funds
  The objective of Shariah funds is to invest into Shariah compliant investments which for example exclude companies involved in activities, products or services related to conventional banking, insurance and financial services, gambling, alcoholic beverages and non-halal food products.

There are generally 3 ways to invest in unit trusts funds, namely through Cash, Regular Savings or Investment through your EPF fund.

• Cash or Lump Sum Investments
  This is where an investor has a lump sum amount to invest into a unit trust fund. Over a period of time, the initial investment will increase as income is earned by the fund. When the investor redeems his or her units, the unit redemption price will reflect the accumulation and compounding of the invested capital over the relevant periods. It is this compounding effect over time which makes investment into unit trust funds attractive.

• Regular Savings
  An investor may invest in unit trusts funds by making regular (e.g. monthly or quarterly) investments to their fund. This is an ideal, disciplined and useful way to generate capital for a future need. By making equal and regular contributions over a period of time, the sum accumulated at the end of the period will increase. This is commonly known as dollar cost averaging. At the end of the period, the redemption (or sale) price of the units held will represent the accumulation of all contributions, plus returns generated from the total contributions since the first purchase was made. The effect is more noticeable the longer the holding and contribution period. This form of savings is the basis of most pensions fund accumulation e.g. the Employees Provident Fund.

• EPF Members Investment Scheme
  Investors may also invest into unit trust funds from their EPF Account 1 if he or she is eligible. EPF members can refer to their EPF statement as well as the Basic Savings Table to check their eligibility and quantum of investment allowed.