Which fund should I buy? Sharp investment advice for 2026

Why 2569 is the Year for Mutual Fund Investment?

“Want your money to grow but don’t know where to start?” - This is a question many people ask themselves lately. The truth is, whether you’re a beginner or experienced, regardless of how much money you have, mutual funds are one of the best tools to build a solid financial foundation.

2569 is a special opportunity because the world is facing major changes - AI technology, elections, climate change, and economic adaptation. Governments and large corporations are investing heavily to cope with these issues. Therefore, investors who find the right entry points have the chance to profit from this wave of change.

What Exactly Are Mutual Funds?

To explain simply, mutual funds are like many individual investors pooling their money into a big fund, then entrusting it to a fund manager, a professional who works for the asset management company, to invest in the market.

When we invest, our money is converted into units of investment, whose value is called NAV (Net Asset Value) - this number changes at the end of each trading day, reflecting the performance of all assets held by the fund.

If assets increase in value → NAV increases → our profit

Who Benefits the Most from Mutual Funds?

Beginner investors

If you don’t know which stocks are better, mutual funds are like having a personal advisor skilled in managing your money.

People with no time

Work full-time and have no time to follow market news? Let the fund manager do that for you.

Risk-averse investors

Mutual funds help diversify investments across various asset classes - not putting all eggs in one basket.

Tax-saving seekers

Some types of funds, such as SSF, RMF, ThaiESG, offer tax deductions if conditions are met.

How Many Types of Funds Are There? Which Should You Choose?

Based on the asset class invested

1. Money Market Funds (Money Market Fund)

• Risk: Very low
• Suitable for: Emergency savings or long-term waiting
• Invests in: Deposits, short-term government bonds

2. Bond Funds (Bond Fund)

• Risk: Low to moderate
• Suitable for: Those seeking steady returns without high risk
• Invests in: Government bonds, corporate bonds

3. Equity Funds (Equity Fund)

• Risk: High, but with high potential for profit over the long term
• Suitable for: Long-term investors who can tolerate volatility
• Invests in: Stocks across all sectors

4. Hybrid/Flexible Funds (Hybrid/Flexible Fund)

• Risk: Moderate
• Suitable for: Indecisive investors seeking balance
• Invests in: Mix of stocks and bonds depending on market conditions

5. Alternative Investment Funds (Alternative Investment)

• Risk: Very high
• Suitable for: Experienced investors
• Invests in: Gold, real estate, oil

Based on special investment policies

• Index/ETF Funds: Returns track the index, low fees
• Industry Sector Funds: Focus on a specific industry, high risk, high return potential
• International Funds: Access global markets, diversify risk
• Tax-Exempt Funds: Invest to gain tax benefits

How to Choose the “Right” Fund for You

Step 1: Know Yourself

Before choosing a fund, answer these 3 questions:

• What is your goal? - Retirement, buying a house, education? Different goals require different fund types.
• How long will you invest? - The longer, the higher risk you can generally accept.
• How much risk can you tolerate? - Can you sleep well if your portfolio drops 20%?

Step 2: Study the Investment Policy

Read the Fund Fact Sheet - the fund’s ID card. Know what assets it invests in, which countries, and how.

Step 3: Analyze Data for Comparison

• Past Performance: Compare with benchmark indices and other funds in the same group - is the manager good?
• Maximum Drawdown: How much did it hurt during the worst downturn? Are you prepared for that?
• Sharpe Ratio: Is the return worth the risk?
• Total Expense Ratio (TER): Among similar funds, choose the one with lower TER.

10 Mutual Funds to Watch in 2569

Why are these funds interesting?

Based on the global economic outlook for 2569, it is expected to be a “year of two halves” - tough in the first half but recovering well in the second. Megatrends guiding investments include AI, clean energy, healthcare, and sustainability.

From this perspective, we selected 10 mutual funds covering various directions to help you build a balanced portfolio:

Dividend Equity Funds - Defensive in uncertain markets

SCBDV Thai Dividend Equity Fund (SCBDV) Invests in large-cap Thai stocks on SET with stable dividends, often including energy, retail, banks - considered a “safe” choice for income-focused investors. Risk: 6/10

K-Fund Thai Dividend Equity Fund (KFSDIV) Similar to SCBDV but mixes stocks of different sizes, offering potential gains from mid and small-cap growth. Risk: 6/10

International Equity Funds - Riding global megatrends

KT-WTAI-A Global Technology Artificial Intelligence Equity Fund (KT-WTAI-A) Feeder fund investing via Allianz Global Artificial Intelligence - focuses on global companies benefiting from AI. When AI booms, this fund booms. Risk: 6/10

Bualuang Global Innovation & Technology Fund (B-INNOTECH) Invests via Fidelity Funds - Global Technology Fund, diversified across leading tech companies worldwide - not just AI, but also Cloud, E-commerce, Fintech. Risk: 7/10

Principal Vietnam Equity A (PRINCIPAL VNEQ-A) Directly invests in Vietnamese stocks with active selection - Vietnam, the “youngest country in Asia,” has leapfrog growth potential. Risk: 6/10

Bond Funds - Hedge against market volatility

Krungthai Short-Term Bond Plus Fund (KTSTPLUS-A) Invests in quality bonds (Investment Grade) with an average maturity under 1 year - acts as a “defense” team for your portfolio, reducing risk while providing returns. Risk: 4/10

Flexible Hybrid Funds - Adjust strategies based on market conditions

TISCO Flexible Plus Fund (TISCOFLEXP) Managers freely adjust stock-bond ratios from 0-100% depending on market outlook - a “umbrella” that adapts to various conditions. Risk: 6/10

Thematic Funds - Investing in world-changing innovations

K-Fund ESG Climate Tech (KFCLIMA-A) Invests via DWS Invest ESG Climate Tech - companies solving climate issues: clean energy, electric vehicles, energy saving. Risk: 6/10

K-G Healthcare (K-GHEALTH) Invests via JPMorgan Funds - Global Healthcare Fund - pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare services worldwide. Healthcare is always needed. Risk: 7/10

Asset Plus Sustainable Thai Stocks (ASP-THAIESG) Thai stocks with strong ESG credentials per SET ESG Rating - invest in Thailand, enjoy tax deductions, but only in companies with good governance. Risk: 6/10

Pros and Cons to Know Before Investing

Pros

✓ Diversification - Small income but access to various asset types ✓ Professional management - No need to study individual stocks ✓ High liquidity - Can sell back every trading day ✓ Easy to start - Small amount also possible ✓ Many options - From low to high risk

Cons

✗ Fees - Deducted from returns continuously ✗ Lack of control - Decisions made by managers, not you ✗ Dependent on manager - Poor management leads to poor results ✗ Taxation - Dividends and profits are taxed

Fund Fees - The Invisible Enemy

Fees are the “wages” you pay to the asset management company and related parties, divided into 2 types:

1. Visible Fees

• Sales fee: deducted at purchase, e.g., 1.5%. If investing 10,000 THB, actual amount is 9,850 THB
• Redemption fee: deducted when selling (rarely used)
• Switching fee: when transferring from one fund to another

2. Hidden Fees in NAV

Automatically deducted daily, unnoticed, but impact your returns:

• Management fee: salary of the fund manager
• Custodian fee: bank holding the assets
• Registrar fee: managing investor data

All these combined form the Total Expense Ratio (TER) - this is what you should look at. Over the long term, just 1% annual fee can reduce your returns by many tens of percent. Choosing a fund with a reasonable TER is key.

Summary - It’s Time to Start

Mutual funds are not complicated. They are powerful tools for everyone, regardless of how much money you have, to start building wealth.

2022569 has arrived, megatrends are changing the world: AI, clean energy, health. All create great investment opportunities. If you know “which fund to buy,” you’re ready to move forward.

Before choosing a fund, remember:

1. Know yourself - goals, time horizon, risk tolerance
2. Study the fund’s ID card - Fund Fact Sheet
3. Compare metrics - returns, risks, fees
4. Remember your choice - invest regularly, stay calm during market swings

How your money grows depends on the right decisions you make today.