08/10/2026
TREASURY BILLS VS MUTUAL FUNDS : N5,000,000: THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I WOULD INVEST IT✅
Remember my previous post where we compared Treasury Bills and Mutual Funds, using N5,000,000 as our example?
Well...
That post was interesting, I saw a lot of interesting suggestions, arguments and contributions in the comments.
Many of you gave me so many flowers 🌹
And packing it now to do decorations is what I'm currently doing
Thank you🙏
Now let's be more serious
Some people said:
“T-Bills all the way.”
Others said:
“Mutual Funds are better.”
And some people wanted to know something even more important:
“Okay Clems, if the N5 million were actually yours, what would YOU do with it?”
Fair question.
So let's take it a step further.
After looking at the strengths and limitations of both instruments, and speaking from my own experience and understanding of investing , if I had N5,000,000 today, I would lean towards Mutual Funds.
But hold on...
When I say Mutual Funds, I don't mean that every investor should go and buy the same type of Mutual Fund.
Your risk appetite matters.
Let me introduce you to two investors.
MEET AKPAN AND UDUMA 👇
Akpan is comfortable taking more investment risk because he is focused on long-term growth.
Uduoma, on the other hand, is conservative.
He doesn't like seeing his investment fluctuate and would rather prioritize stability and preservation of capital.
Now, if I were Akpan, I would seriously consider an Equity Mutual Fund.
But what exactly is an Equity Fund?
📌 WHAT IS AN EQUITY MUTUAL FUND?
Simply put, an Equity Mutual Fund is a fund that pools money from different investors and invests a significant portion of that money in shares/equities of companies.
Instead of you individually researching and buying several stocks, the fund manager manages a diversified portfolio of equities according to the fund's strategy.
Because you're investing in equities, the potential for long-term growth can be higher.
But...
So is the risk.
Your investment value can rise significantly, but it can also fall when the market performs poorly.
That's why Equity Funds are generally more suitable for investors who have a longer investment horizon and can tolerate market fluctuations.
WHAT ABOUT UDUMA?⁉️
If I were Uduma, with a much lower risk appetite, I would probably look more towards a Money Market Fund.
Money Market Funds typically invest in relatively short-term, interest-bearing instruments such as:
👉 Treasury Bills
👉 Commercial Papers
👉 Certificates of Deposit
👉 Other short-term money-market instruments
(So can you see , you're indirectly investing in TBills here)
The objective is generally to provide stability, liquidity and income, rather than aggressive capital growth.
So why would I choose Akpan's Equity Fund over Uduma's Money Market Fund if I were comfortable with the risk?
HERE'S MY REASON 👇
GROWTH POTENTIAL.
Some equity funds can deliver very strong returns during favourable market periods.
For example, if a particular fund has returned 40% year-to-date, a N5,000,000 investment at that same return would mathematically be worth an additional N2,000,000, before considering fees, taxes where applicable, and the fact that past performance does not guarantee future returns.( Some have done more than this YTD)
But don't misunderstand me.
I'm NOT saying every Equity Fund will give you 40%.
I'm using it to demonstrate the difference in potential.
Money Market Funds, on the other hand, generally target more conservative returns.
If, for example, a fund delivered 15% on N5,000,000, that's N750,000 before applicable fees/taxes.
At 18%, that's N900,000.
Again, actual returns vary by fund, market conditions and the period you're measuring.
And this is where the conversation becomes interesting.
Now
WHY I WOULDN'T AUTOMATICALLY PUT MY N5M IN A MONEY MARKET FUND
One major reason is growth potential.
If I'm investing for the long term and I can comfortably tolerate volatility, I don't want my money merely sitting in an investment whose return may struggle to stay significantly ahead of inflation over time.
Because here's the problem:
Your money can increase in naira terms and still lose purchasing power in real terms.
That's why I pay attention to real return, what my investment actually earns after considering inflation and relevant costs.
And yes, there are also fees and charges to consider.
Depending on the fund, you may have management fees and other applicable charges.
So I don't just look at:
“How much did this fund make?”
I also ask:
“How much did investors actually keep?”✅
BUT HERE'S THE BIGGER LESSON...
I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY PUT THE ENTIRE 5M INTO ONE INVESTMENT.
Yes, diversification bisbkey
And this is where many investors get it wrong.
They hear about one investment performing well and want to put everything there.
That's not how I think about investing.
If I decided that only N3,000,000 of my N5,000,000 should go into Mutual Funds, I could deploy the remaining N2,000,000 into other opportunities.
For example:
🏠 n2,000,000 into Real Estate
Depending on the location and available opportunities, I could use it as a deposit or purchase interest in land/property with long-term appreciation potential.
📊 Equity in an existing business✅
If I find a legitimate business with a proven track record, proper records, competent management and a model I understand, I could consider taking an equity position.
💰 High-Yield Savings✅
Instead of putting all my conservative allocation into Treasury Bills, I could consider a suitable high-yield savings product where the terms, rate, liquidity and applicable conditions make sense for my needs.
And yes, Treasury Bills can still have a place in the portfolio.
Now listen the fact that I'm not talking about TBILLS 👇
I'm not saying Treasury Bills are bad.
Far from it.
So ask me , Clems
WHEN WOULD YOU CONSIDER TREASURY BILLS?
If I have a large amount of capital that I want to preserve while earning relatively predictable returns, Treasury Bills can be useful.
If we're talking about substantial capital — say N150M, N200M, N500M or more , even a relatively conservative return can translate into a significant naira amount.
But the point isn't simply:
“I have a lot of money, therefore I should buy T-Bills.”
Your investment objective, liquidity needs, tax considerations, prevailing yields and alternatives still matter.
MY FINAL ADMONITION 👇
Treasury Bills are good.
Money Market Funds are good.
Equity Funds are good.
But none of them is automatically the best investment for everybody.
The smartest question isn't:
“Which investment is giving the highest return?”
Ask:
“What is this money supposed to do for me?”
If I need capital preservation and relatively predictable income, I may choose differently.
If I'm investing for long-term wealth accumulation and can handle volatility, I may take more equity exposure.
And if I have a substantial amount of money, I don't necessarily have to choose just one.
I can build a portfolio where:
💰 Money Market/T-Bills = Stability
📈 Equity Funds/Stocks = Growth
🏠 Real Estate = Another long-term asset
💼 Business Equity = Ownership & potential upside
The goal isn't to find one magical investment.
The goal is to make your money work across different assets according to your goals, risk tolerance and timeline.
Now, let's make this practical.
IF YOU HAD N5,000,000 TODAY...
Would you:
Put everything in Treasury Bills?⁉️
Put everything in Mutual Funds?⁉️
Split it across Mutual Funds, Real Estate, Stocks/Business and other assets?⁉️
Or...
Do something completely different?⁉️
Tell me what you would do with the N5M and WHY.
Let's learn from each other in the comments. 👇
New to investment, comment BLUEPRINT to get my INCOME TO ASSET ACCELERATOR BLUEPRINT which gives you clarity on investing before you say 'jack"
Follow me here Clems Chegwe
Business Growth Strategist
Founder, Clemcheg Consults Ltd.
Disclaimer : This is not a financial advice, invest based on your risk appetite