One of the most consistent funds in the category, ICICI Pru Dynamic Plan has enjoyed a 4-5-star rating over most of the last eight years. It currently has a 4-star rating. The fund has a flexi-cap mandate and has been an excellent fund to own in volatile markets.

Strategy: The USP of this fund is its ability to time the market on the behalf of investors. The fund uses a top-down strategy to identify investment-worthy sectors and also takes a view on the large-cap versus mid-cap allocations. Equity levels can range between 65-100 per cent. In practice, the fund has retained a sizeable cash/debt position over the last one year in the range of 18-25 per cent. It has also reduced mid- and small-cap allocations and overweighted large caps. This has led to lower returns compared to the category. The fund is a contrarian investor. It also looks for companies with temporary difficulties but having growth potential.

Performance: The fund has an impressive record of staying ahead of its benchmark in ten of the last 11 years. While the 1-year returns are below category, 5- and 10-year returns beat both the benchmark and category convincingly. The fund's record is unique in its ability to contain downside in every bear market in the last decade, yet outpacing indices in every bull run.

What we don't like: The fund is currently under-invested in equities and can lose out on upside in the case of a secular bull run.

Why invest: It puts your equity investments completely on autopilot, buying low and selling high, without any intervention on your part.