If you’re new to investing, money market funds are a good place to start your investor journey! When it comes to mutual funds, they have the lowest risk levels and are relatively easy to get started with. That’s why we’re going to tell you all about it so you can get started.
What is the money market?
To explain better we need to understand a term used by investors; liquidity. Now, think of investments on a scale of a bucket of zero-degree ice to a bucket of water. If you are thirsty, you would go for the most liquid option. This can be a bottle of water or melting ice. In essence, a highly liquid investment can be easily converted to cash to satisfy your thirst for money.
Against that background, the money market transacts in highly liquid instruments. Given their liquid nature, they are so close to money hence their name. Instruments traded in this market include treasury bills and commercial papers. Two common factors to these instruments are they’re short-term and low-risk in nature.
Money market funds
These are mutual funds that help invest your cash in the money market. Here’s a brief reminder of the good work mutual funds do. They break heavy investments into purchasable units. For example, a $10 million investment broken down into units of $100. That way, more people can access investments. Think of them as the democratic structure of the investment world.
Henry B. R. Brown invented money market funds in 1969
The New York Times
Back in the 1960s, the average American could not access commercial papers and similar instruments. Then, the minimum requirement ran into hundreds of thousands of dollars. In August 1969, Mr Brown invented a solution that will not only change this for Americans but millions of micro-investors around the world. This solution has grown from a $250,000 industry to one valued at trillions of dollars. At Cowrywise, we have kept Brown’s spirit alive by making it easier for more to invest by retailing mutual funds.
How do mutual funds earn returns?
As stated earlier, these funds invest in a basket of low-risk instruments. Though returns are variable, your capital is safe from the volatility that comes with instruments that have higher risks. Daily, your returns accrue on your available balance.
To understand this better, assume the rate is fixed at 10% per annum. Every day, you will earn a daily breakdown of that. This is around 0.028% per day. Hence, if you put ₦30,000 into the fund today, you’ll earn that daily rate per day. And if you go on to add ₦10,000 two days after, you’ll start earning the daily rate on ₦40,000. If you top up or withdraw by selling some units, the same flow applies.
The accumulated returns are then paid out at an agreed interval. So, even if you withdraw your entire capital the returns earned so far will still be paid to you. This interval can be monthly, quarterly and so on. For money market funds on Cowrywise, returns get paid out quarterly. Sounds like a good way to build side cash.
If you already have an account, sign in and start investing.
Money market funds invest in a basket of low-risk instruments
How to invest in money market in Nigeria
You have the alternative of filling out long forms and emailing your fund manager for updates. On the other hand, you can use Cowrywise and track your growth daily with the app. We bet you love the latter. Start now:
- Get the Cowrywise app and signup here
- Tap invest in mutual funds
- Take the assessment test
- Look out for the funds with “low-risk” badges. Those are money market funds
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Simple and educative. Thank you Ope.
Thank you. I’d like for you to explain how the “sell unit” option on Cowrywise works
Hello Ega, when you invest in a mutual fund you buy slices of the fund (units). When you sell units, it means you are taking your money out of the fund.
It is the option you use to withdraw from a mutual fund.
Great innovation from Ope;Cowrywise,just pray it works out well.
Nice educative piece.
Hi, hum how long does it take to get my money back when I sell my units
Is this related to buying shares in firms while cowrywise is the stockbroker?
No please.
Thank you Ọpẹ. This is really simple and enlightening. The pizza analogy made me understand the intricacies of mutual funds.
A very good investment idea.
Like a previous question, how long does it take to get my money back after selling my unit?
Thanks Ope
Everyday I go to my dash board to see how my funds are growing. happy and greatfull to this platform and the decision I took. More investment!!!
Hi Adetoun and Racheal, it takes about one working day to get your funds back.
What a nice write up.
Please keep the flag flying.
You guy are doing a great job.
Thanks
If by chance ah can’t sell the unit expected yet ensure dat my deposit is automatically withdrawn every day what the risk involve there?
I am sold to this idea already. Well done.
Thank you
That’s very explain Tory and educating as well but being a newbie in investment market,
1. Is mutual fund as flexible as T-bill, if the rates on a particular investment increase in a country’s stock market will ROI on the investment mutually increase across board..
2. What’s the duration on mutual fund, it’s it annually or your company’s has a fixed duration before one’s unit can be recoverd, need more clarification on that .
Hello, when a share unit is sold, is the investor still available to receiving dividends?
That depends on the fund type.
Good write up. I know little more than the words. My questions are 1.what’s the tenure of the investment?
2. What’s the interest rate?
3. Can I terminate the investment anytime?
Hello ope, thank you for the explanation.
Does this mean that money can not be lost on mutual funds due to market change?
For money market mutual funds, yes.
Thank you Ope
Pls explain the ‘sell unit’ in Cowrywise and how it works. Thanks.
If you want to withdraw from your mutual fund, selling the units helps you do that.
Can I continue to save in my mutual funds without buying units can it run in auto pilot?
Thanks ope
My question is what is duration time can I terminate my investment , what is the percent interest rate on investment and what is tenure of investment..
The duration is a personal choice you have to make. I play for the long term though.
Thanks Ope dear!
Good write up. My questions are: if I invest 100k, what’s my interest rate? Secondly, if there is an interest rate, how often does it flow into what I have invested? And lastly, how long is the tenure?
Hi there, this depends on the mutual fund you choose. Have you checked them out.
Thank you Ope for the briefing on Mutual funds.
You’re welcome
Thank you Ope, i’ve been to trying to understand this for a long while now i have it like a box of pizza
Sir,
If invest in money market fund,what will be my expected interest?
This is really interesting,I always had a thing for mutual funding but I couldn’t get any better explanation than this,I once had an account with cowrywise but I lost the phone and eventually forgot the password,guess i would have to create one for this
If cowrywise are inactive on NSE, will it affect my investment with them and why are some stockbrokers that were active now inactive?
Very good explanation. Have been saving with cowrywise for some time it has been going I think I will now switch to the investment colum. Thank guys
Many of the questions on my mind have been answered.
Thanks, Ope for the simple explanation.
I’m definitely going to start one today!
Good explanation
Thanks for reading, Adewale
Very Interesting,
My questions now are
1.what’s the tenure of the investment?
2. What’s the interest rate?
3. Can I terminate the investment anytime?
What are the chances of losing money on this platform. Please I need a very clear and understanding response.
Good morning Ope.
Hi Odeniyi.
You don’t lose money with any of our Savings Plans.
For Mutual Fund investments on Cowrywise, there are different ways to earn.
I’ll recommend you begin investing in Money Market Funds as those are low-risk funds.
Thanks federal government for helping us
Thanks … I’ll like to know how possible is it that I’ll earn with out the fund managers selling my units in this platform.
Thanks
Hi Solace.
If you would rather not sell your units, you may also earn through dividends which are paid periodically, depending on which fund you’ve purchased on the platform.
Please let me know if you need any more clarification.
I have alot of questions to ask but just want to ask with these few…
1.what does the sell unit stand for?
2.is it the investor that gets to choose how long the investment would stay….
What’s the minimum amount to start with investing
Hi Ope, Saving on cowrywise has helped me but now I Intend to invest in mutual funds. If I no longer want the funds, can I sell them on cowrywise?
If yes, how long will it take to sell and get my investment back?
Very good write up…. thank you for the information
You’re welcome
So how would I see my profit….
Please I need more information about the dollar mutual funds on cowrywise, the difference between both and which to invest in(talking about Nigeria eurobonds and arm eurobonds)
Please I need more information about the dollar mutual funds on cowrywise, the difference between both and which to invest in(talking about Nigeria eurobonds and arm eurobonds)
Hello Ope, you said “Distribution in this case, would mean waiting on the fund manager to deduct the ₦100,000 gained and pay it to you without selling your units.” does this mean you still have your ₦200,000 phone [which you can still sell and gain another ₦100,000 which still enjoying your ₦100,000 gained from your fund manager?
A
Thank you for this insightful piece.
In case of appreciation of the fund, what would the fund manager do, since I am not monitoring the market fund? Since I don’t want to withdraw yet, what happens next to the fund and the gain, will the fund manager automatically increase my fund with the gain or will he send it to my account?
Thanks for the information, please how do I redeem my mutual fund?I invested in money market fund on the 7 of February,I requested to withdraw from my money but it’s saying I haven’t redeemed my mutual fund
Thanks Ope for this education.
Please, is mutual fund the same as index fund? If no, do we have in index fund in Nigeria?
Thank you again
How long does it take to get your money back after selling your units?
And, what happens if you only sold a certain percentage of it, not 100% of the units?
Very educative Ope, thanks. I hope we can get on clubhouse someday, so much opportunity there
How long does it take to sell your unit
Please Ope I need more clarification on this money market mutual fund. If I invest #5000 this month and continue same in other months just like savings do I still stand a chance of getting gains. Please explain more
How do I sell on mutual investment fund?
Please do I need to invest every day or just once. And too I needed to know more about investing. Finally don’t you have agricultural products investments?
Educative and insightful.
Hello Ope, it was quite insightful.
My question is under *capital appreciation, at what point would the fund manager distribute the gains if I decide not to sell my units, as there an agreed period like in the case of *periodic distribution. Is it going to be at the fund manager discretion?
I
Thanks
Thank you for always simplifying your write up, it’s very informative and educative.
I really want to invest but I kinda still need more explanations, maybe in an ABC way.
And I want to know which investment to go for. Thank you.