Mutual fund guides

Plain-English explainers for Indian investors. Educational and independent - we take no commission and never recommend specific funds.

• Direct vs Regular Mutual Fund Plans: What's the Difference?

  Direct vs Regular mutual fund plans explained: how distributor commissions raise the expense ratio, what the TER gap costs over decades, and how to switch.

  6 min read

• How to Choose a Mutual Fund: A Practical Framework

  A step-by-step framework for choosing mutual funds in India: define your goal and horizon, pick the right category, then compare on long-run return, risk, cost and consistency.

  6 min read

• How to Read a Mutual Fund Factsheet

  A plain-English guide to reading a mutual fund factsheet for Indian investors: NAV, AUM, expense ratio, holdings, risk metrics, benchmark, exit load and more.

  6 min read

• Index Funds vs Active Funds in India: Which Should You Pick?

  Index funds vs active funds in India explained: costs, tracking error, the large-cap underperformance evidence, and where active management may still earn its fee.

  5 min read

• Mutual Fund Expense Ratio (TER) Explained

  Understand the Total Expense Ratio (TER) in Indian mutual funds: what it covers, typical ranges by category, how it's deducted daily from NAV, and why it compounds.

  6 min read

• Mutual Fund Taxation in India (2026): Capital Gains Rules

  How mutual funds are taxed in India: equity vs debt STCG/LTCG rates, the post-Apr-2023 debt slab rule, ELSS 80C, IDCW and SIP FIFO taxation.

  5 min read

• SIP vs Lumpsum: Which Is Better for Mutual Funds?

  SIP vs lumpsum for Indian mutual funds: how rupee-cost averaging works, what the data shows, when each makes sense, and the behavioural truth nobody admits.

  6 min read

• Types of Mutual Funds in India (SEBI Categories Explained)

  A plain-English tour of every SEBI mutual fund category in India - equity, debt, hybrid, solution, passive and commodity funds, with risk, return and who each suits.

  5 min read

• Understanding Mutual Fund Risk Metrics: Sharpe, Alpha, Beta & Drawdown

  A plain-English guide to mutual fund risk metrics for Indian investors: volatility, Sharpe, Sortino, alpha, beta, max drawdown, and what "good" looks like.

  6 min read

• What Is a Mutual Fund? A Beginner’s Guide for Indian Investors

  A plain-English guide to mutual funds for Indian investors: how pooling, units and NAV work, AMC vs scheme, open vs close-ended, SEBI rules, benefits and risks.

  6 min read