Debt has become an attractive asset class as the yields on even good quality papers have risen to around 8 per cent, says Ashish Shanker, MD & CEO, Motilal Oswal Private Wealth. Shanker advises investors not to fall prey to near-term returns when investing in mutual funds.

Here are the edited excerpts from an interview with Abhishek Kumar.

What asset allocation formula do you use for your clients?

Firstly, we prepare a blueprint called investor charter on the basis of a client's return expectations, risk appetite and liquidity requirements. For example, we would advise 70-75 per cent allocation to fixed income and rest in equities for conservative investors wanting 8-10 per cent return. Someone wanting 10-12 per cent will be given a portfolio with a higher equity exposure. There are also other nuances like tax considerations when designing a portfolio.