When it comes to beginner investing, many people think of individual stocks, which can be exhausting for newcomers who don’t have time to follow the market. Have you ever thought that the best mutual fund for us might be a good solution?

Actually, a mutual fund is when many investors pool their money into a large amount, and then let specialists (fund managers) manage it on their behalf. In this way, it’s like having our own investment advisor—we don’t have to sit and analyze stocks ourselves, and we don’t have to keep up with market news day after day.

What we pay is the investment units, and the value of each unit is NAV (Net Asset Value), which is announced every business day. If the assets the fund invests in increase in value, the NAV will also rise—and that’s our profit.

To be honest, the best mutual fund isn’t just one specific fund. It depends on each person’s goals. If you don’t want to take much risk, you should look at bond funds that offer consistent returns. If you’re willing to accept risk, you can choose Thai or international equity funds.

This year (2569), there are interesting trends such as AI, clean energy, and Healthcare—so a good mutual fund should align with these trends.

Dividend equity funds like SCBDV or KFSDIV are suitable for people who want a cash flow. KT-WTAI-A and B-INNOTECH are suitable for those who believe in the potential of AI and technology. If you want to save more safely, KTSTPLUS-A (short-term debt instruments) is also a good option.

For those who are still hesitant, TISCOFLEXP (a flexible mixed fund) is also not bad, because the fund manager can adjust the allocation according to market conditions—we don’t have to think for ourselves.

One thing to watch out for is fees (TER). Even a difference of only 1% per year over 20-30 years can cause a huge difference in your final returns. So choosing a mutual fund with reasonable fees is just as important as choosing an investment policy.

In reality, choosing a good mutual fund isn’t difficult if we know ourselves first. What are the goals? How long do we plan to invest? What level of risk can we accept? Once we understand ourselves, finding the right match becomes easier.