The investor’s beliefs concerning the efficiency of the market, as well as the investor’s expertise, time and temperament, all factor into whether to have an active or passive portfolio. In passive investing, the key belief is that the market is efficient, so no active strategy should outperform on a risk-adjusted basis. In a passive portfolio, one does not try to beat the market, but rather do as well as the market. As such, one generally tries to minimize costs and time spent on managing the portfolio. The two common types of passive portfolios include: 1) index investing, 2) buy and hold strategy - Here one improves on an index by equal weighting stocks or improving the industry mixture.

Nowadays salary is not the only source of income. Everyone wants some extra passive income because inflation hits everyone. Investing in an Index fund according to me is safer side because it's like a mutual fund you get the return based on the index performance. You don't have to invest in one company you have an index in which too many companies are there to get a good return. In India, some common index funds are ICICI Prudential Nifty 50 Index Fund, and Nippon India Index Nifty 50.

Identify a realistic performance benchmark for your portfolio (such as base rate plus X%), then measure the performance of each holding against the benchmark. Those that are performing well against the benchmark deserve to be held with some potential for profit taking whilst those that are underperforming require a review. Unless there are reasons why an underperforming asset may improve then it should be reconsidered and if there are reasons to expect an over performing asset to underperform then it should also be reconsidered. Changes in market conditions prompt these reviews - for example, when interest rates rise, the comparative yield on a security becomes less attractive and its price is likely to fall.

The first three rules for real estate investing are "location, location, location." The first three rules for choosing the right index funds are "asset allocation, asset allocation, asset allocation." Read Investing 3.0: What the Creators of Index Funds Discovered and How to Profit from It, to learn how passively managed index funds have improved on actively managed funds. While others cite fees and tracking errors in criteria for selecting index funds, consider the design of the underlying index, its drift, and the cost of reconstitution. Ideally, you want to select funds that, in addition to low fees, maintain their exposure to the asset class(es) they track and minimize the cost of reconstitution.

When choosing index funds, consider key factors. Start by determining the category that aligns with your investment goals—options include mirroring broad market indices, thematic indices, or those built on specific investing styles or factors. Review the fund mandate for clarity on its objectives. Evaluate rolling returns to gauge performance consistency. Keep a close eye on the expense ratio; while active funds may justify higher fees, index funds should ideally have lower costs. Prioritize funds with minimal tracking error and tracking difference, ensuring they closely replicate the benchmark. When weighing ETFs against index funds, opt for the latter due to predictable costs, unlike ETFs with variable trading volumes on exchanges.

Asset allocation can be decided based on the time period in which you will need the money back. here's what I follow - Money required after >3 years goes into equity and the rest into debt. This allocation can be segmented further. Money needed back in less than a year can go into arbitrage/liquid/short term funds, money required after a year but before 3 years can be invested into corporate bond/credit risk/gilt funds. On the equity side, I try to maintain a 60-20-20 allocation to Large-Mid-Small cap. But me being an active long term investor, I usually tweak this to try to take advantage of market cycles.

Balancing your assets is key. Start with risk profiling and goal setting. Allocate 80% strategically for mandatory goals (core portfolio) and reserve 20% tactically for higher returns. For long-term goals (3+ years), invest in equity, diversifying across large, mid, and small caps. Consider hybrid categories for tax-efficient rebalancing. For short-term goals, opt for debt instruments. 10% allocation to gold. Asset allocation is akin to selling high and buying low. Set your desired allocation based on risk and goals. Adjust exposure if a category exceeds limits, reallocating as needed. Rebalance judiciously, aiming for a max of twice a year to consider exit loads and taxes. This approach maximizes returns while managing risk effectively.

Asset allocation is very important for every investor. While taking the step towards investing you have to identify your goal, when you want money, or your risk tolerance. Right asset allocation gives you the right path to invest money and get a good amount of return. Set your portfolio in a way that won't affect your money. Like investing only in stocks may be a bad decision because it's too risky. You invest your money in diversification like Gold, Mutual funds, Equity, FD, etc...

Deciding how comfortable you are with an account moving up and down is one of the most important decisions you need to make when you are starting to invest. Once you decide how comfortable you are with volatility, you can build out investments that fit that risk profile. Determining your risk tolerance can make your financial plan successful or not, depending on how well you stay to the plan.

Where the trading occurs in a tax sheltered account, such as an IRA, realized gains are not taxed. Therefore, the issue of tax efficiency is normally with regard to taxable accounts. In a passive investment portfolio, one is not trying to outperform the market. As such, trading is occurring less frequently. Thus, trading occurs where one needs to rebalance the portfolio, or for raising cash to meet client needs. So, for a taxable account, a passive investment strategy may result in much less trading. Therefore, the presumption is that the amount of realized gains will on average be less.

Taxes can eat up investment returns when you have had a great year and can cost you when you have had a terrible investment year. Capital gains are distributed to you as the account holder and you are responsible for paying the taxes each year. Sometimes the market has gone up and it is a little easier to pay capital gains. Other times, the market has gone down and you still get capital gains distributions that you still have to pay. Using more efficient tax vehicles like IRAs or low turnover index funds can help to mitigate capital gains distributions.

Once you invest your money you can't sit quietly now you have to check the performance of your portfolio if you invest your money in stock gives you a return or not, whether it increases with the index or not, and check the market conditions to find new, better, and safe opportunities.

A garden that is neglected may grow, but may not grow everything that you want. Investments may grow, but if you don’t watch them, over time they can get out of balance with what you are trying to accomplish. You need to rebalance on a regular basis to stay in your risk tolerance band and to take advantage of tax loss opportunities.

Life moves along and what worked when you were younger or when you first set up your plan, may not work as you age and as life changes. You need to set up a regular schedule for portfolio review and maintenance to make sure that your goals are still in line with what you had originally set up and if your investments are on track. Working with a professional can help to set up a plan and a regular schedule for review.