Need help getting started?
New to mutual funds, or stuck on a decision? Tell us what you're trying to figure out - your first SIP, tax-saving, parking a lump sum for a few years - and we'll point you to the right tools, fund categories, and resources. No jargon, no sales pitch.
Common questions
Quick answers to what most first-time investors ask.
Are mutual funds safe?+
Mutual funds are regulated by SEBI and your money is held with a SEBI-registered custodian, separate from the AMC, so the fund house cannot run away with it. But "safe" doesn't mean "guaranteed": the value of your units rises and falls with the underlying stocks or bonds, and there's no fixed return like an FD. The real risk levels vary enormously by type, so always check the category before assuming a fund is low-risk. You can browse funds grouped by risk and asset class on the category pages.
How much money do I need to start investing in mutual funds?+
You can start a SIP with as little as Rs 100 to Rs 500 per month in most schemes, and many lumpsum investments begin at Rs 1,000 or Rs 5,000. There's no need to wait until you have a large amount; the point of a SIP is to invest small sums regularly. Focus on starting consistently rather than starting big, and increase the amount as your income grows.
Is SIP better than lumpsum?+
Neither is universally better; it depends on your cash flow and the situation. A SIP (investing a fixed amount at regular intervals) suits salaried investors because it averages your purchase price across market ups and downs and removes the pressure of timing. A lumpsum makes sense when you already have a large sum sitting idle, though it carries more timing risk in volatile equity markets. Many investors use a SIP for monthly savings and deploy occasional windfalls as lumpsums, sometimes staggered over a few months.
What's the difference between Direct and Regular plans?+
Direct and Regular are the same fund with the same portfolio and manager; the only difference is cost. A Regular plan pays a commission (trail fee) to a distributor, which is baked into a higher expense ratio, while a Direct plan has no commission and a lower expense ratio. That cost gap compounds over decades and can quietly eat into your corpus. Use the cost calculator to see the rupee impact of the Direct-vs-Regular drag on your own investment; FindMF takes no commission and the difference is computed from disclosed expense ratios.
How are mutual funds taxed in India?+
Taxation depends on the fund type. For equity-oriented funds (at least 65% Indian equity, including ELSS and most aggressive hybrids), gains held under 12 months are short-term and taxed at 20%, while gains held 12 months or more are long-term, taxed at 12.5% on profits above Rs 1.25 lakh per year. For debt funds (and funds with under 35% equity) purchased on or after 1 April 2023, the entire gain is taxed at your income-tax slab rate regardless of how long you hold, with no LTCG benefit or indexation. Hybrids follow equity rules if they hold at least 65% equity, otherwise debt rules; gold and silver funds bought after April 2023 are taxed at slab rate like debt.