International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 - 6510(Online), INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT (IJM) Volume

e 4, Issue 6, November - December (2013)

ISSN 0976-6502 (Print) ISSN 0976-6510 (Online) Volume 4, Issue 6, November - December (2013), pp. 192-197 IAEME: www.iaeme.com/ijm.asp Journal Impact Factor (2013): 6.9071 (Calculated by GISI) www.jifactor.com

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A STUDY OF CUSTOMERS PREFERENCE TOWARDS VARIOUS MUTUAL FUND SCHEMES IN THANE CITY
Prof. (Mrs.) SHRADDHA MAYURESH BHOME Asst. Professor, VPMs Joshi-Bedekar College, Thane, Maharashtra, Affiliated To University of Mumbai

ABSTRACT A Mutual fund is the dynamic investment vehicle for todays complex and modern financial scenario. We have seen the growing importance of mutual fund investment in India, when compared with other financial instruments. Investments in mutual funds are safer and also yields more returns due to proper portfolio management by the fund manager. Mutual fund are said to be the best channels for mobilizing the funds of the small investors an contribute significantly to the capital markets. The present study explains briefly about the mutual fund industry. The study also helps to understand the role of investment pattern and preferences of investors behind investing in mutual fund. In this paper, the impacts of various demographic factors on investors attitude towards mutual fund have been studied. For measuring various phenomena and analyzing the collected data effectively and efficiently for drawing sound conclusions, Chi-square test has been used and for analyzing the various factors responsible for investment in mutual funds Key Words: Mutual Fund, Investors Preferences, Chi-Square Test. INTRODUCTION A mutual is a set up in the form of trust, which has sponsor, trustee, assets management company (AMC) and custodian. Sponsor is the person who acts alone or in combination with another body corporate and establishes a mutual fund. Sponsor must contribute at least 40% of the net worth of the investment managed and meet the eligibility criteria prescribed under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Mutual Funds) regulations, 1996. The sponsor is not responsible or liable for any loss or shortfall resulting from the operation of the schemes beyond the initial contribution made by it towards setting up of Mutual Fund. The Mutual Fund is constituted as a trust in accordance with the provisions of the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 by the Sponsor. Trustee is usually a company (corporate body) or a board of trustees (body of individuals). The main responsibility of the trustee is to safeguard the interest of the unit holders and
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International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 - 6510(Online), Volume 4, Issue 6, November - December (2013)

also ensure that AMC functions in the interest of investors and in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Mutual Fund) Regulations 1996 the provisions of the Trust deed and the offer Document of the respective schemes. The AMC is appointed by the Trustees as the investment Manager of the Mutual Fund. The AMC is required to be approved by SEBI to act as an asset management company of the Mutual Fund. The AMC if so authorized by the Trust Deed appoints the Registrar and Transfer Agent to agent the mutual fund. The registrar processes the application form, redemption requests and dispatches account statements to the unit holders. The Registrar and Transfer agent also handles communications with investors and updates investor records. Among various financial instruments, i.e., shares, bonds and debentures. Mutual Fund is a special type of financial instrument that pools the funds of investors who seek to maximize ROI. Stocks provide high total returns with commensurate level of risk, while bonds may provide lower risks along with regular income. MFs presently offer a variety of options to investors such as income, balanced, liquid, gilt, index, exchange traded and sectoral funds. Today, there are 36 asset management companies covering Indian public sector, private sector and joint ventures with foreign players. These 36 mutual fund houses put together mobilized about Rs 6, 70,937 Cores worth assets. The total resources mobilized by the private sector institutions is 91.04%, Public sectors institutions other than UTI is 8.49%. The variation occurred in mobilization of funds during various periods is very high with Private sector participations followed by the public sector excluding UTI, and by UTI. There is considerable competition between foreign and domestic owned bodies and within domestic owned bodies. OBJECTIVES 1. To study the impact of various demographic factors on investors attitude towards mutual fund. 2. To analyze the investors awareness and perception regarding Mutual fund investment. 3. To find preference of investors about different investment avenue. REVIEW OF LITERATURE 1. Madhusudhan V Jambodekar (1996) conducted a study to assess the awareness of MFs among investors, to identify the information sources influencing the buying decision and the factors influencing the choice of a particular fund. The study reveals among other things that Income Schemes and Open Ended Schemes are more preferred than Growth Schemes and Close Ended Schemes during the then prevalent market conditions. Investors look for safety of Principal, Liquidity and Capital appreciation in the order of importance; Newspapers and Magazines are the first source of information through which investors get to know about MFs/Schemes and investor service is a major differentiating factor in the selection of Mutual Fund Schemes. 2. SEBI NCAER Survey (2000) was carried out to estimate the number of households and the population of individual investors, their economic and demographic profile, portfolio size, and investment preference for equity as well as other savings instruments. This is a unique and comprehensive study of Indian Investors, for; data was collected from 3,00,0000 geographically dispersed rural and urban households. Some of the relevant findings of the study are: Households preference for instruments match their risk perception; Bank Deposit has an appeal across all income class; 43% of the non-investor households equivalent to around 60 million households (estimated) apparently lack awareness about stock markets; and, compared with low income groups, the higher income groups have higher share of investments in Mutual Funds (MFs).
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International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 - 6510(Online), Volume 4, Issue 6, November - December (2013)

3. Desigan et al (2006) conducted a study on women investors perception towards investment and found that women investors basically are indecisive in investing in mutual funds due to various reasons like lack of knowledge about the investment protection and their various investment procedures, market fluctuations, various risks associated with investment, assessment of investment and redressal of grievances regarding their various investment related problems. Savings is a habit specially embodied into women. Even in the past, when women mainly depended on their spouses income, they used to save to meet emergencies as well as for future activities. In those days, women did not have any awareness about various investment outlets. But as time passed, the scenario has totally changed. 4. Ramamurthy and Reddy (2005) conducted a study to analyze recent trends in the mutual fund industry and draw a conclusion that the main benefits for small investors due to efficient management, diversification of investment, easy administration, nice return potential, liquidity, transparency, flexibility, affordability, wide range of choices and a proper regulation governed by SEBI. The study also analyzed about recent trends in mutual fund industry like various exit and entry policies of mutual fund companies, various schemes related to real estate, commodity, bullion and precious metals, entering of banking sector in mutual fund, buying and selling of mutual funds through online. LIMITATIONS 1. Sample size was limited to 100 because of limited time which is small to represent the whole population. 2. The research was limited to Thane city only and if the same research would have been carried in another city, the results may vary. 3. Sometimes the respondents because of their business didnt able to concentrate while filling up the questions. However the researcher tried her level best to overcome the limitation. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY The study is basically an analytical study based on primary research as well as also related to the analysis of the attitude of investors towards mutual funds. In order to conduct this study, 100 investors in Thane city of Maharashtra state have been selected by simple random sampling method. The structured questionnaire was prepared for collecting the data. All the data required for this analytical study has been obtained mainly from primary sources, but at times, secondary sources of data have also been considered. The data collection method used to obtain the desired information from primary sources has been through direct interview and questionnaire has been used as an instrument. For measuring various phenomena and analyzing the collected data effectively and efficiently to draw sound conclusions, Chi-square test for testing of hypothesis has been used and for analyzing the various factors responsible for investment in mutual funds. Chi- Square test of goodness of fit has been used. It is a powerful test for testing the significance of the discrepancy between theory and experiment as given by Karl Pearson. HYPOTHESIS 1. 2. 3. 4. There is no association between age and the attitude towards mutual funds. There is no association between gender and the attitude towards mutual funds. There is no association between income and the attitude towards mutual funds. There is no association between educational qualification and the attitude towards mutual funds.
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International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 - 6510(Online), Volume 4, Issue 6, November - December (2013)

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

TABLE 1: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN AGE OF RESPONDENTS AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS MUTUAL FUND AGE POSITIVE NEUTRAL NEGATIVE TOTAL 20-35 YEARS 18 21 03 42 35-50 YEARS 12 19 17 48 50- ABOVE 02 05 03 10 TOTAL 32 49 19 100 Expected frequencies: 13 15 21 24 8 9

3 5 2 0.055892 5.99

calculated chi square= tabulated chi-square df=2*1 5% level

Accept the null hypothesis as calculated chi square is less than tabulated. S0, there is association between age and investment preference of mutual fund. The people of younger age have more preference for investment in mutual funds schemes.

TABLE 2: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN GENDER OF RESPONDENTS AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS MUTUAL FUND GENDER POSITIVE NEUTRAL NEGATIVE TOTAL MALE 28 25 05 58 FEMALE 04 24 14 42 TOTAL 32 49 19 100 4.02308E-05 5.99

18.56 13.44

28.42 20.58

11.02 7.98

calculated chi square= tabulated chisquare df=2*1 5% level

Accept the null hypothesis as calculated chi square is less than tabulated. There are females who are not in favour of investment in mutual funds than males. So, gender have problem in investing in mutual funds schemes.

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International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 - 6510(Online), Volume 4, Issue 6, November - December (2013)

TABLE 3: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN LEVEL OF INCOME OF RESPONDENTS AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS MUTUAL FUND INCOME LEVEL (MONTHLY) POSITIVE NEUTRAL NEGATIVE TOTAL UPTO RS.20000/08 13 05 26 RS. 20000 TO 18 26 07 51 RS.30000 RS. 30000/- AND 06 10 07 23 ABOVE TOTAL 32 49 19 100 calculated chi square= 0.565199138

tabulated chi square df=2*1 5% level 5.99

The people in the mid income group which is Rs.20000- to Rs.30000/- p.m. are in favour of investment in mutual funds.

TABLE 4: ASSOCIATION BETWEEN LEVEL OF EDUCATION OF RESPONDENTS AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS MUTUAL FUND EDUCATION POSITIVE NEUTRAL NEGATIVE TOTAL LEVEL UNDERGRADUATE 04 05 03 12 GRADUATE 02 05 08 15 POST GRADUATE 21 14 05 40 DOCTORATE 05 25 03 33 TOTAL 32 49 19 100

3.84 4.8

5.88 3.75

2.28 2.85

calculated chi square = 6.30186E-05 tabulated chisquare df=2*1

12.8 10.56

19.6 16.17

7.6 6.27

5% level

5.99

The people who are post-graduates are in more favour of investment in mutual funds. So, accept the null hypothesis which is there is association between level of education as well as preference towards investment in mutual funds.

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International Journal of Management (IJM), ISSN 0976 6502(Print), ISSN 0976 - 6510(Online), Volume 4, Issue 6, November - December (2013)

SUGGESTIONS 1. The investors should go for various schemes in mutual fund as Better Avenue of investment. 2. Mutual fund companies also should go for effective marketing of their product and must emphasis on portfolio management concept. 3. Mutual funds are dynamic investment avenue which should be treated for all age groups. REFERENCES 1. Vidya Shankar, S., "Mutual Funds - Emerging Trends in India", Chartered Secretary, Vol.20, No.8, 1990, 639-640. 2. Shankar, V., (1996), "Retailing Mutual Funds: A consumer product model, The Hindu, 24 July, 26. 3. Citing Website, Association of Mutual Funds in India 4. Ramamurthy, B. M. and Reddy, S. (2005), Recent Trends in Mutual Fund Industry, SCMS Journal of Indian Management, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp.69-76. | 6. 5. Badla, B S., and Garg, A. (2007), Performance of Mutual Funds in India - An Empirical Study of Growth Schemes, GITAM Journal of Management, Vo1. 5, No.4, pp.29-43 6. King, J.S. (2002), Mutual Funds: Investment of Choice for Individual Investors? Review of Business, Vol.23, No.3, pp.35-39. 7. Prof. Abdul Noor Basha and G.V.satya sekhar, A Critical View of Undisclosed Facts of Disclosed Fact Sheets: A Case Study of Benchmarking of Mutual Funds, International Journal of Management (IJM), Volume 1, Issue 2, 2010, pp. 44 - 52, ISSN Print: 0976-6502, ISSN Online: 0976-6510. 8. A.Vennila and Dr. R. Nandhagopal, Study on Performance Evaluation of Mutual Fund Schemes in India During Pre-Recession, Recession and Post-Recession Period, International Journal of Management (IJM), Volume 3, Issue 1, 2012, pp. 126 - 134, ISSN Print: 0976-6502, ISSN Online: 0976-6510. 9. Dr. K. Rakesh and V S M Srinivas, Understanding Individual Investors Investment Behavior in Mutual Funds (A Study on Investors of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh), International Journal of Management (IJM), Volume 4, Issue 3, 2013, pp. 185 - 198, ISSN Print: 0976-6502, ISSN Online: 0976-6510. 10. Sindhu.K.P and Dr. S.Rajitha Kumar, Influence of Characteristics of Mutual Funds on Investment Decisions A Study, International Journal of Management (IJM), Volume 4, Issue 5, 2013, pp. 103 - 108, ISSN Print: 0976-6502, ISSN Online: 0976-6510.

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