In a situation where interest rates are falling and some signs of recovery in earnings are evident, experts often suggest investors to be with balanced funds that offer exposure to equities as well as debt.

In the balanced category, Birla Sun Life Balanced scheme, managed by Mahesh Patil, Dhaval Shah and Pranay Sinha, is the oldest and has distinguished itself as a consistent performer.

Birla SunLife Balanced 95 Fund invests 60% of the portfolio money in equities and remaining in debt instruments.

On the equity side, the scheme's fund managers invest in companies that are large in size and are well-established in their respective sectors. A few prominent companies in the portfolio include Dabur, Kansai Nerolac Paints, Pidilite Industries and Dalmia Bharat.

On the debt side, the scheme is invested in government bonds, which provide a reasonably good safety cushion. In the past threeand five-year period, the scheme has delivered 15.5% and 18% returns, respectively, while the fund's category has delivered 13.1% and 15% during the same period.