Educational blogs

If you’re a beginner who’s just stepping into the world of mutual fund investing, you might feel a bit lost with all the jargon that’s commonly used. From CAGR to NAV and Alpha, these terms may seem alien - and frankly, overwhelming.

But worry not! Things are not as challenging as they seem. We’ve curated a comprehensive list of all the mutual fund jargon you need to know and understand to feel ready. 

Basic Mutual Fund Terms

Mutual Funds

A mutual fund is a type of investment vehicle that pools money from multiple investors to invest in various asset classes, like stocks and bonds, in keeping with the investment objective of the scheme. 

Net Asset Value (NAV)

NAV is short for Net Asset Value. It is the price of each unit of a mutual fund scheme. MF units are bought and sold based on the prevailing NAV. Unlike shares, where prices change constantly during trading hours, the NAV of a scheme is determined at the end of each day by the following formula:

NAV (in INR)  =    Market or Fair Value of Scheme's investments + Current Assets - Current Liabilities and Provision/ Number of Units outstanding under the Scheme on the Valuation Date

 Assets Under Management (AUM)

AUM refers to the total market value of all the investments managed by a mutual fund scheme on behalf of its investors. It indicates the size of the fund and the amount of money it is currently managing.

Fund Manager

A fund manager is an experienced professional responsible for managing a mutual fund scheme and its investments on behalf of the investors. The fund manager makes decisions on asset allocation, stock or bond selection, and portfolio rebalancing in line with the scheme’s investment objective.

Expense Ratio

The expense ratio is the annual fee charged by a mutual fund for managing investments on behalf of the investor. It includes costs such as the fund’s management fees, administrative expenses, registrar fees, custodian costs, and other operating costs. The total expense ratio of the fund is calculated as a percentage of the scheme’s average NAV. 

Exit Load

Exit load is a fee that’s charged by mutual fund schemes when investors redeem units within a specific time period, usually  15 days to a year or more. So exit loads work like a penalty and are aimed at discouraging investors from withdrawing too soon. 

Entry Load

Entry load was a fee that was charged when buying mutual fund units. But SEBI abolished entry load back in 2009 to protect investors. 

Benchmark Index

A benchmark index is a standard against which a mutual fund scheme’s performance is compared. For example, a large-cap fund may use the Nifty 50 as its benchmark. A fund’s benchmark index is selected at the time of launching the fund based on the fund’s objectives.

Portfolio

A portfolio is simply a collection of securities held by a mutual fund scheme. It is a list of assets that the fund has invested in. The fund manager is responsible for building and managing the scheme portfolio as per the fund’s investment objectives.

Asset Allocation

Asset allocation is the strategy used to distribute investments across various asset classes like equity, debt, and commodities. Asset allocation can be used in the context of an MF scheme to talk about how the scheme allocates between these asset classes. It can also be used for individual portfolios in reference to balancing potential risk and return with allocations.

Investment Methods

Systematic Investment Plan (SIP)

SIP is an investment route that allows you to invest a fixed sum of money at regular (monthly/weekly/daily) intervals into a mutual fund scheme. The goal is to invest consistently through market ups and downs, instead of trying to time the market. For most schemes, SIPs may start at a nominal value of about Rs. 500. 

Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP)

SWPs allow you to withdraw a fixed amount of money from your mutual fund investment at regular intervals. This helps you receive a regular and predetermined income from your MF investments over time. 

Systematic Transfer Plan (STP)

An STP allows you to transfer a fixed amount of money or a fixed number of units from one mutual fund scheme to another, provided both schemes are managed by the same AMC. Just like SIPs, STP transfers also take place on a prespecified date of the month. 

Lump Sum Investment

A lump-sum investment refers to investing a large amount of money at one time into a mutual fund scheme. The minimum lump-sum investment amount depends on the scheme in question, but generally it's about Rs. 5,000.

Rupee Cost Averaging

Rupee cost averaging is an investment strategy where you invest a fixed amount regularly into a mutual fund scheme to buy more fund units when markets are low and fewer units when markets rise. Over time, this averages out the per-unit cost of your investment.

Risk & Return Concepts

Alpha

Alpha measures a fund’s excess return over its benchmark. If a fund has a positive alpha, it indicates that the fund has outperformed its benchmark index.

Beta

Beta measures how sensitive a fund is to market movements. Here’s what different Beta values mean:

• Beta = 1 → moves with the market

• Beta > 1 → more volatile than the market

• Beta < 1 → less volatile than the market

Standard Deviation

Standard deviation is a statistical way of measuring how much a fund’s returns can deviate from its average return. It is used as an indicator for measuring volatility.

Sharpe Ratio

The Sharpe ratio measures a mutual fund’s return per unit of risk. So, it helps you understand the risk-adjusted returns of a fund. A higher ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance.

Volatility

Volatility refers to the degree of fluctuation in a fund’s returns over time.

Downside Risk

Downside risk refers to the potential a mutual fund’s NAV to decline due to adverse market conditions. It measures the possibility and magnitude of such losses. 

Diversification

Diversification is a risk management strategy where the investment is spread across assets to reduce concentration risk and potentially earn better returns. The idea is that all asset classes don’t behave the same way during periods of market volatility. So when one assets suffers and a different one may be able to balance things out.

Types of Equity Mutual Funds

Large Cap Mutual Funds

Large-cap mutual funds are equity-oriented MF schemes that invest at least 80% of total assets into large-cap stocks. Large-cap stocks are defined as stocks of the top 100 companies in the stock market by market capitalisation.

Mid-Cap Mutual Funds

Mid-cap funds are equity MF schemes that invest at least 65% of total assets in mid-cap stocks (101st–250th companies by market cap). 

Small Cap Mutual Funds

Small-cap funds are equity schemes that invest at least 65% of total assets in small-cap stocks. Small-caps are stocks of companies ranked beyond the 250th rank by market cap.

Multi-Cap Mutual Funds

Multi-caps are equity-oriented MF schemes that invest at least 75% of total assets in large, mid, and small-cap stocks, maintaining a minimum 25% of total asset exposure to each market cap. The rest of the 25% can be invested in equity, money market instruments and other liquid instruments, gold and silver instruments as permitted by the Board and in InvITs, subject to the ceilings laid out in MF Regulations with respect to the respective asset class.. 

Flexi-Cap Funds

Flexi-cap funds are equity MF schemes that invest at least 65% of total assets in equities and equity-related instruments, without any restrictions on the minimum market-cap allocations. In other words, flexi-cap funds can decide the composition based on the market conditions and fund managers perspective. 

Focused Funds

Focused funds is a type of equity mutual fund that invests in a maximum of 30 stocks. The fund invests at least  80% of total assets in equities and equity-related instruments, but  selects stocks based on the focus mentioned in the SID (Scheme Information Document).

Sectoral Mutual Funds

Sectoral funds are mutual fund schemes that invest at least 80% of total assets in a specific sector. Banking and pharma funds are some examples of sectoral funds. 

Thematic Mutual Funds

Thematic funds invest based on a selected theme. They allocate 80% of total assets in equities focused on a single theme like consumption or AI. 

Hybrid Mutual Fund Terms

Balanced Advantage Funds (BAFs)

Also known as dynamic asset allocation funds, BAFs invest in equity/debt that is managed dynamically. They follow a dynamic allocation strategy where the fund manager can adjust equity and debt allocation based on market conditions.

Aggressive Hybrid Funds

Aggressive hybrid funds invest 65%–80% of total assets in equity, and the rest goes into debt between 20 and 35% of total assets. This high equity allocation may make them suitable for investors with a high risk appetite.  For tax treatment, aggressive hybrid funds are treated as equity-oriented schemes.

Conservative Hybrid Funds

Conservative funds are a type of hybrid mutual fund that primarily invests in debt, maintaining a 75%–90% of total assets allocation to debt instruments like bonds. They can allocate 10%-25% of total assets in equities and equity related instruments as well. Since the debt allocation is higher at all times, these funds may be a suitable option for conservative investors seeking relative stability.

Debt Mutual Fund Terms

Liquid Funds

Liquid funds are debt MF schemes that invest in instruments with a short-term maturity of up to 91 calendar days. They can be redeemed easily, and investors often use them to park emergency funds. 

Ultra Short Term Funds

These funds invest in debt and money market instruments  with a Macaulay duration between 3 to 6 months.

Short-Term Funds

Short-term funds are schemes that invest in debt and money market instruments   with a Macaulay duration between 1 to 3 years.

Long Term Funds

Long-term funds invest in debt and money market instruments   that have a longer Macaulay duration of greater than 7 years.

Corporate Bond Funds

These funds invest at least 80% of total assets in the highest-rated corporate bonds (AA+ and above).

Gilt Funds

Gilt funds are schemes that invest at least 80% of total assets in government securities across different maturities. 

Taxation Terms

Capital Gains Tax

Capital gains tax is the tax applicable to the profits you make from the sale/redemption of your mutual fund units. This tax can be short-term or long-term, depending on the type of fund in question and your holding period. 

Short Term Capital Gains (STCG)

STCG is applicable to short-term profits booked on the sale of MF units. For equity funds, STCG is applicable at 20% if units are held for less than 12 months. For debt funds purchased on/after 1st April 2023, STCG is applicable at slab rates, regardless of the holding period.

Long Term Capital Gains (LTCG)

LTCG applies to long-term gains booked through the sale of units after 12 months. For equity funds, it’s applicable at 12.5% above the Rs. 1.25 lakh/year exemption limit. Debt funds (purchased after 1st April 2023) are always taxed at STCG. 

Indexation

Indexation was a method used to adjust capital gains from mutual fund redemptions for inflation. However, indexation benefits aren’t available for investments made on/after 1st April 2023. 

Mutual Fund Performance Metrics

Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)

CAGR is the average annual rate at which an investment grows over a specific time window(longer than 1 year). It is typically used to assess the growth potential of a fund and assess past performance. 

Rolling Returns

Rolling return is a method used to calculate the annualised average returns of a mutual fund scheme across multiple overlapping periods within an extended investment horizon. So it provides a dynamic perspective by assessing overlapping timeframes. 

Trailing Returns

Trailing returns measure how the fund has performed between two specific dates (1Y, 3Y, or 5Y). So it sums up the historical performance of the fund.

Yield to Maturity (YTM)

YTM is the estimated return that might be made if a bond is held until its maturity date, expressed as an annual rate.

Modified Duration

Modified duration tells investors how much a bond’s price is likely to change when interest rates increase/decrease.

Regulatory & Industry Terms

Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)

SEBI is the Indian market regulator responsible for the growth and regulation of the Indian securities market. SEBI oversees the Indian MF industry and prescribes its regulatory framework and rules.

Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI)

Established in 1995, AMFI is a non-profit self-regulatory body that represents all SEBI-registered AMCs. AMFI is responsible for promoting best practices in the mutual funds industry. It works closely with SEBI to protect investor interest and ensure compliance with MF regulations. 

AMFI Registration Number (ARN)

ARN is a unique registration number issued by AMFI to each mutual fund distributor. It essentially helps confirm the distributor’s authorisation. 

Know Your Customer (KYC)

KYC is a mandatory verification process that needs to be completed by the investor before they start investing in a mutual fund scheme. It is a one-time exercise to verify your identity, address, and other details.

Advanced Mutual Fund Concepts

Market Capitalisation

Market capitalisation is the total market value of a company’s outstanding shares. The current share price of the company is multiplied by the company’s total number of outstanding shares to reach the market cap value. 

Growth Option

The growth option in a mutual fund scheme allows the profit earned from the investment to be reinvested into the scheme to compound over time. 

Dividend Option (IDCW)

From 1st April 2021, SEBI renamed the dividend option to IDCW (Income Distribution Cum Capital Withdrawal). Under the IDCW option, a mutual fund may distribute surplus to investors, depending on availability and trustee discretion. But these payouts are not guaranteed. When IDCW is paid, the scheme’s NAV reduces.

Direct Plan

A direct plan allows you to invest in a mutual fund scheme directly through the AMC. It typically has a lower expense ratio because no sales and distribution commission related expense is charged to the plan. 

Regular Plan

A regular plan means investing in a mutual fund scheme through a mutual fund distributor or agent. The expense ratio of regular plans tends to be higher due to distributor related expenses. 

Lock-in Period

Lock-in period is the minimum amount of time during which you cannot redeem your investments from a mutual fund scheme. For instance, ELSS funds have a lock-in period of 3 years. 

Conclusion

So now you know all the essential mutual fund terminology needed to get started with your investment journey. Just remember, this is just the beginning. This list is not an exhaustive one, and as you learn more about MF, you will likely come across more terms and concepts that need clarity. The key is to stay consistent and not be overwhelmed. 

Disclaimer

• An Investor Education and Awareness Initiative by Tata Mutual Fund. 

• To know more about KYC documentation requirements and procedure for change of address, phone number, bank details, etc., please visit: https://www.tatamutualfund.com/deshkarenivesh

• Please deal only with registered Mutual Funds, details of which can be verified on the SEBI website under ‘Intermediaries / Market infrastructure institutions.’

• All complaints regarding Tata Mutual Fund may be directed to service@tataamc.com and/or https://scores.sebi.gov.in/ (SEBI SCORES portal) and/or https://smartodr.in/login

• Nomination is advisable for all folios opened by an individual, especially with sole holding, as it facilitates an easy transmission process. 

• This communication is a part of the investor education and awareness initiative of Tata Mutual Fund.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!

It is a widely followed principle in investing, and mutual fund investors often apply it by diversifying across different asset classes. However, with a large number of mutual funds available across categories and sub-categories, selecting the “right” ones can become time-consuming and perplexing if done manually.

So, what’s the solution? This is where a mutual fund screener can be used. It is a digital tool that allows you to filter, compare, and shortlist funds using specific criteria. 

Read this article to first learn what a mutual fund screener is and the various filtering criteria it offers. Next, learn how you can use it to shortlist schemes and start a SIP online in 2026.

What is a Mutual Fund Screener?

A mutual fund screener is an online tool that allows you to filter mutual funds based on different criteria or factors. Instead of going through hundreds of schemes one by one, the screener narrows the list based on your inputs.

For a better understanding, let’s check out the various factors you can apply:
 

Note: This is only an illustrative list. The filtering options available on mutual fund screeners may vary across platforms.

How to Use a Mutual Fund Screener and Start a SIP in 2026?

Firstly, identify your investment objectives and risk tolerance. Usually, it depends on your:

• Income stability

• Financial responsibilities, and

• Comfort with market fluctuations

In such an assessment, investors are usually classified as low, moderate, or high risk-takers. A high-risk investor may tolerate volatility for potentially higher returns, while a low-risk investor prefers relative stability. Such an analysis ensures that the funds you select match your risk appetite. 

Next, follow these steps:

Step 1: Use a Mutual Fund Screener to Shortlist Funds

After identifying your investment objective and risk tolerance, use a mutual fund screener to shortlist schemes. You may begin by selecting the fund category (equity, debt, hybrid, etc.) that aligns with your risk level. Then apply filters such as:

• Time horizon

• Expense ratio

• Fund size

Additionally, you can further refine results using “sub-categories” like large-cap, mid-cap, or hybrid funds. The mutual fund screener will now display a list of funds as per your filtering criteria.

You Can Even Apply “Advanced Filters”

Besides basic filtering, you can also narrow down your search using several advanced filters, such as:

• Performance across different time periods

• Returns in rising (bull) and falling (bear) markets

• Sharpe ratio, Standard Deviation, or Maximum Drawdown

• Performance vs. Benchmark vs. Peers

• Category Averages, and more
   

By applying these advanced filters in the mutual fund screener, you can move beyond basic return comparison and evaluate the overall quality of a fund. It allows you to see:

• How scheme has performed over time

• How it behaves in different market conditions, and 

• Whether the returns justify the level of risk taken

Moreover, you can also assess if the fund is outperforming its benchmark and peers, rather than just appearing strong in isolation.

Step 2: Evaluate AMC Investment Strategy of Shortlisted Funds

Once you have shortlisted funds using the mutual fund screener, review the investment strategy of each scheme. Note that an Asset Management Company (AMC) launches and manages a mutual fund scheme as per its “investment objective” as defined in its offer document. 

To make a thorough analysis of the shortlisted schemes, you may analyse the following documents:
 

• Key Information Memorandum (KIM)

• Scheme Information Document (SID)

• Scheme Summary Document (SSD)

• Statement of Additional Information (SAI)

These documents are usually available on the official AMC website. Some major parameters you can review in these documents are:
 

From your mutual fund list, remove the schemes that do not match your risk level, investment objective, or preferred asset allocation mix. 

Step 3: Start an SIP in the Select Mutual Fund Schemes

After filtering the schemes using a mutual fund screener and further narrowing the list manually by analysing the AMC investment strategy, you now have a set of funds where you can start an SIP (Systematic Investment Plan).

In this investment method, you invest a fixed amount at regular intervals (e.g. daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly, etc.). This amount is automatically debited from your linked bank account without any manual intervention.

How to Start SIP Online?

To start an SIP online, you must first complete your KYC (Know Your Customer) verification on the official AMC website. This can be done by submitting documents, such as:

• PAN and Aadhaar

• Bank account details (usually along with a cancelled cheque or bank statement)

• Address proof (passport, utility bill, or driving license)

• Passport-sized photograph (digital format)

Post-successful verification, you can start an SIP after confirming the following:

• Mutual fund scheme(s)

• Investment amount (may start from as low as ₹100)

• Investment frequency (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.)

• SIP start date

In most cases, you are also required to set up an “e-NACH mandate” for an auto-debit facility.

Conclusion

So now you know what a mutual fund screener is and how you can use it to shortlist mutual fund schemes. If we recap, it is a digital tool that displays different mutual funds, which investors can filter based on criteria such as AUM, expense ratio, investment time horizon, and sub-categories like large-cap, mid-cap, and more.

Once you have a few shortlisted schemes, you can further narrow down the list by reviewing the scheme investment strategy. Such an analysis can be made by referring to documents such as the Key Information Memorandum (KIM), Scheme Information Document (SID), and related disclosures available on the AMC website. 

After this manual shortlisting, you may now have schemes in which you can start an SIP. This process can be initiated online by completing KYC requirements and setting up an e-NACH mandate for auto-debit of the SIP amount.

Disclaimer

• An Investor Education and Awareness Initiative by Tata Mutual Fund. 

• To know more about KYC documentation requirements and procedure for change of address, phone number, bank details, etc., please visit: https://www.tatamutualfund.com/deshkarenivesh

• Please deal only with registered Mutual Funds, details of which can be verified on the SEBI website under ‘Intermediaries / Market infrastructure institutions.’

• All complaints regarding Tata Mutual Fund may be directed to service@tataamc.com and/or https://scores.sebi.gov.in/ (SEBI SCORES portal) and/or https://smartodr.in/login

• Nomination is advisable for all folios opened by an individual, especially with sole holding, as it facilitates an easy transmission process. 

• This communication is a part of the investor education and awareness initiative of Tata Mutual Fund.

Many investors struggle to figure out the right time to move out of high-risk assets like equities when planning for long-term goals like retirement. Moving out too early may compromise potential returns, while moving out too late may expose your gains to sudden market fluctuations. That’s where life cycle funds come in. 

Life cycle mutual funds aim to tackle this problem with a simple and predetermined glide path strategy that automatically adjusts asset allocation with an aim to balance risk gradually as you near your goal. Introduced by a SEBI circular dated 26th February 2026, life cycle mutual funds are designed for goal-based investing, like retirement planning. They will now replace the solution-oriented mutual fund schemes that existed before, making goal-based investing simpler. 

So, if you are looking for a simple retirement planning mutual fund or planning for some other goal, you should understand life cycle mutual funds and how they may help you. 

What are Life Cycle Mutual Funds?

A life cycle fund is a new category of open-ended mutual fund schemes introduced by the Indian market regulator SEBI. According to SEBI, life cycle mutual funds will:

• Have a predetermined maturity ranging between 5 to 30 years

• Follow a glide path strategy to automatically shift your asset allocation mix over time to align investments with specific financial goals

So, when you are far away from your goal, the fund may lean heavily into equities for potential growth. But as you inch closer to the maturity, it will gradually move into debt assets.. Life cycle mutual funds can invest in a variety of assets, including equities, debt, InvITs, ETCDs, Gold ETFs, and Silver ETFs.

As per SEBI, such funds can be launched for tenures in multiples of five years, and each AMC can have up to 6 life cycle mutual fund schemes active for subscription at any given time. 

SEBI’s Asset Allocation Framework for Life Cycle Funds

The following table sums up the asset allocation framework laid out by SEBI for life cycle mutual funds:
 

Example : For Life Cycle Funds with maturity of 30 years

SEBI’s circular lays out specific asset allocation guidelines for each maturity tenure. AMCs must stick to these allocation rules when launching and operating the life cycle fund. 

Understanding the Key Features of Life Cycle Mutual Funds

Let’s have a look at the key features and characteristics of life cycle funds, as prescribed by SEBI:
 

Fixed Maturity Tenures

Starting with a minimum of 5 years, AMCs can launch life cycle funds with tenures in multiples of 5 years, up to a maximum of 30 years. So the varied tenure options include 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years. 

Moreover, as per SEBI’s guidelines, the life cycle mutual fund scheme must list the fixed maturity year in the name of the fund. For example, a life cycle fund may be named “Life Cycle Fund 2040,” indicating that the fund is designed to mature in the year 2040.

Structured Exit Loads

SEBI has also introduced a stricter exit load structure for life cycle funds, primarily to discourage investors from exiting their investment early. So, if you exit early, you’ll have to pay the following exit loads:

• Exit within 1 year of investment: 3%

• Exit within first 2 years of investment: 2%

• Exit within first 3 years of investment: 1%

This is also done to help inculcate better financial discipline among investors to keep them focused on achieving long-term goals. 

Fixed Asset Allocations

As mentioned earlier, SEBI has set fixed asset allocation rules for each life cycle fund tenure. It has defined how much of the fund’s assets may be invested in equities, debt, and gold/silver ETFs, ETCDs, or InvITs based on the years to maturity. This allows standardisation in the glide path followed by life cycle funds.

Investment in High-Quality Debt

Life cycle funds can invest in only high-quality debt assets, and there are specific rules around the maturity windows of these assets as well. Here’s what SEBI mandates in terms of debt investments in life cycle mutual funds:

• Life cycle funds can invest in AA or higher-rated debt assets only 

• These debt assets should have a maturity that’s less than the target maturity of the fund

Benchmarking

As per SEBI, life cycle mutual funds must follow the benchmark framework as prescribed for as multi-asset allocation funds. This is because SEBI recognises that different life cycle funds from different AMCs may have varying underlying asset allocations.

Merging Near Maturity

When a life cycle fund has less than one year remaining to its maturity, it may be merged with the nearest maturity life cycle fund. But this can only be done with the consent of the unitholders.

Advantages of Life Cycle Mutual Funds

The key benefits of life cycle mutual funds are listed below:
 

Automatic Rebalancing

The life cycle fund automatically rebalances based on the glide path strategy and asset allocation rules outlined by SEBI..

Easy Risk Management

Life cycle funds automatically reduce equity exposure as the fund nears its target maturity date. This way, it aims to reduces risk as you get closer to your goal, which may protect your corpus from unexpected market ups and downs. 

Aids Goal-Based Planning

Life cycle funds are built with goal-based investing in mind. You can align your investment with a specific financial milestone, such as retirement, a child’s higher education, or another goal. Moreover, life cycle funds aren’t just for super long-term goals. These funds have varied maturities of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years. So you can even use them for goals that are 5 or 10 years away! 

Simple and Convenient 

Life cycle mutual funds follow a set-and-forget approach where you simply have to choose a scheme that aligns with the time horizon of your goal and start investing. Once that’s done, the fund manager takes care of all other aspects, including portfolio rebalancing. 

Transparent Structure

Life cycle mutual funds follow the rules and regulations laid down by SEBI. So you know exactly how the fund allocates your money, and there is complete transparency. 

Who may invest in Life Cycle Funds

Here’s who may invest in life cycle funds:

• Investors who have a clear, time-bound goal, like planning their child’s college education

• Investors with a long-term goal like retirement 

• Investors looking for a diversified and disciplined investment approach

Life Cycle Funds: An Example

Let’s assume you have 30 years until retirement and decide to invest in a 30-year life cycle fund to build your retirement corpus. As the years pass and you move closer to your goal, the fund gradually shifts its allocation from equity toward debt to reduce risk.

Here is how the allocation may evolve:
 

• 15–30 years to maturity: The portfolio remains growth-oriented, with 65%–95% invested in equity, 5%–25% in debt, and up to 10% in other assets such as InvITs, ETCDs, Gold ETFs and Silver ETFs. 
   

• 10–15 years to maturity: Equity exposure moderates to 65%–80%, while debt remains between 5%–25% and other assets up to 10%.
   

• 5–10 years to maturity: Equity allocation gradually reduces to 50%–65%, with 5%–25% in debt and up to 10% in other asset classes.
   

• 3–5 years to maturity: The portfolio becomes more balanced, with 35%–50% in equity, 25%–50% in debt, and up to 10% in other assets.
   

• 1–3 years to maturity: As the goal approaches, equity exposure reduces further to 20%–35%, while debt increases to 25%–65% to help reduce volatility. Other assets can remain up to 10%.
   

• Less than 1 year to maturity: The fund becomes more conservative, with 5%–20% in equity, 25%–65% in debt, and up to 10% in other assets.

In this way, the life cycle fund automatically adjusts the asset allocation over time, gradually reducing equity exposure and increasing debt allocation as the investment approaches maturity.

Conclusion

SEBI introduced life cycle funds to replace earlier solution-oriented categories that had static allocation problems. Life cycle mutual funds will automatically align asset allocation with your life goals, potentially simplifying goal-based mutual fund investing. This may help eliminate:

• Asset allocation decisions

• Timing errors

All you have to do is decide on the time horizon of your goal and choose a corresponding fund with the similar duration (in multiples of 5 years) to get started. 

Disclaimer

• An Investor Education and Awareness Initiative by Tata Mutual Fund. 

• To know more about KYC documentation requirements and procedure for change of address, phone number, bank details, etc., please visit: https://www.tatamutualfund.com/deshkarenivesh

• Please deal only with registered Mutual Funds, details of which can be verified on the SEBI website under ‘Intermediaries / Market infrastructure institutions.’

• All complaints regarding Tata Mutual Fund may be directed to service@tataamc.com and/or https://scores.sebi.gov.in/ (SEBI SCORES portal) and/or https://smartodr.in/login

• Nomination is advisable for all folios opened by an individual, especially with sole holding, as it facilitates an easy transmission process. 

• This communication is a part of the investor education and awareness initiative of Tata Mutual Fund.

SIPs and mutual fund investing go hand-in-hand in the minds of Indian investors. But many investors (especially beginners) wonder if they should continue with SIP investments in mutual funds when markets start going south. 

The answer is yes! SIPs are, in fact, one of the tools you can use to help tackle market volatility. By averaging out investment costs over time, SIPs may help smooth out the impact of short-term fluctuations on your portfolio. 

If you’re still on the fence, this article will explain how continuing your SIPs during market volatility can be beneficial for mutual fund investors.

Understanding Systematic Investment Plans and Market Volatility

A Systematic Investment Plan or SIP is a staggered way of investing in mutual funds. An SIP allows you to make fixed and regular contributions to a mutual fund scheme on a monthly, annually, quarterly, or weekly basis. For starting an SIP, most mutual fund schemes require a low minimum investment of about Rs. 500. 

Market volatility, on the other hand, refers to periods of rapid and unpredictable price fluctuations in the stock market. Such price fluctuations may be caused by various reasons, such as geopolitical conflicts, global events, and economic policy changes. 

When prices of underlying stocks and assets fluctuate, the NAV of mutual fund schemes can also swing significantly. This can impact the overall portfolio value of mutual fund investors, challenging their patience and risk tolerance. 

What Do Mutual Fund Investors Do During Market Volatility?

When markets experience intense periods of volatility, most mutual fund investors tend to panic. They often take panicked decisions like:

• Pausing SIP investments in mutual funds to avoid further losses

• Waiting for market stability to return

• Withdrawing their mutual fund corpus

While not all mutual fund investors behave this way, it is still a common course of action, particularly among beginners who have just started SIPs.

Risks of Stopping SIPs in Volatile Markets

As mentioned earlier, when markets turn volatile, many mutual fund investors start second-guessing their investment decisions and even consider withdrawing/stopping their SIP investments. But doing so leads to the following risks:

• There is a possibility of missing out on the potential gains that may arise when the markets recover

• You may lose out on the opportunity to buy more units of the scheme that you’ve invested in at lower prices (NAVs)

• Stopping SIPs in mutual funds can disrupt your long-term financial goals, making it harder to build wealth over time.

Potential Benefits of SIPs During Market Volatility

Here’s a list of potential benefits mutual fund investors can enjoy if they stay put with SIP investing in mutual funds even during volatile phases:
 

1. Buy More Units Through Rupee Cost Averaging

Rupee cost averaging is a key feature of SIP. Through rupee cost averaging, you buy more units when prices (NAV) fall and fewer units when prices (NAV) rise. So, in a falling market, the same amount of SIP investment in mutual funds will now help you buy more units.

Over time, rupee cost averaging helps average out the cost of investment and the impact of short-term volatility on your investment portfolio. Accumulating more units at a lower NAV may mean better positioning of your portfolio later when markets recover and NAVs rise.

2. No Need to Time the Market

Mutual fund investors should also consider continuing with their SIPs because there’s no way to accurately time the market. In a falling market, it's almost impossible to time a lump-sum investment because the market may fall further after you invest. 

With SIPs, you continue investing a fixed sum regularly, regardless of market conditions. Over time, SIPs may help you capture both the highs and lows of the market phases through rupee cost averaging. 

3. No Compounding Breaks

Potential Wealth creation through SIPs and mutual funds works on the principle of compounding returns. Compounding is simply when returns on your investments earn their own returns. Now, compounding works ideally better when the given time frame is longer. 

If you pause SIPs, those missed contributions don’t get added to your corpus and fail to earn compounding returns. By continuing your SIPs through market volatility without breaks, you ensure that compounding continues as well, without any disruptions.

4. Aim to Build Wealth for Long-Term Goals

Market volatility is typically short-lived, but your SIPs  isn’t. Most mutual fund investors use SIP calculators and other tools to link their SIPs to specific goals like children’s higher education, buying a home, and retirement. 

These are all long-term goals that may be years away, and stopping SIPs in fear of short-term losses can compromise your wealth-building potential for them. 

Moreover, SIP investing in mutual funds may actually offer potential opportunities to build wealth for long-term goals during periods of market volatility, when you buy more units for a lower NAV. This may help you capture market recovery and aim to better along with your long term goals.

Tips to Manage SIPs During Periods of Market Volatility

Here are a few tips that may help you better manage your SIPs during periods of market fluctuations:

• Avoid checking your SIP portfolio’s value daily during volatile market phases. Looking at potential losses may increase the chances of a panic sell-off.

• Keep contributing to your mutual fund allocations consistently. Don’t get swayed by peer pressure or market volatility news, especially if you are a long-term investor. 

• Stay focused on your goals. While volatility may impact your short-term returns, it doesn’t shift your investment timelines for specific goals. 

Conclusion

It’s natural to feel worried when you see your portfolio turning red during periods of market volatility. But at these times, it’s equally important to stay focused and avoid making emotionally driven decisions. 

For mutual fund investors, continuing their SIPs during such times may be beneficial in the following ways:

• No compounding gaps

• Buy more units when prices (NAV) fall 

• Stay focused on SIP-linked goals

In short, it’s important to remember that SIPs offer a way to handle market volatility tactically through rupee cost averaging and aiming to seize potential opportunities for long-term growth. Remember that market volatility usually lasts for a few weeks to months, and you shouldn’t change your long-term plans for such short-term ups and downs. 

Disclaimer

• An Investor Education and Awareness Initiative by Tata Mutual Fund. 

• To know more about KYC documentation requirements and procedure for change of address, phone number, bank details, etc., please visit: https://www.tatamutualfund.com/deshkarenivesh

• Please deal only with registered Mutual Funds, details of which can be verified on the SEBI website under ‘Intermediaries / Market infrastructure institutions.’

• All complaints regarding Tata Mutual Fund may be directed to service@tataamc.com and/or https://scores.sebi.gov.in/ (SEBI SCORES portal) and/or https://smartodr.in/login

• Nomination is advisable for all folios opened by an individual, especially with sole holding, as it facilitates an easy transmission process. 

• This communication is a part of the investor education and awareness initiative of Tata Mutual Fund.

Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) have become one of the most preferred ways to invest in mutual funds. They help you invest regularly, average investment costs over time, and stay disciplined through different market conditions.

But SIPs are not limited to equity or debt funds. You can apply the same approach to precious metals like gold and silver as well. Through gold ETF FoF and silver ETF FoF SIPs, you can invest in these metals without needing a Demat account or dealing with storage and purity concerns.

In an environment where gold and silver prices may continue to react to global interest rates, currency movements, and economic uncertainty, investing through SIPs can offer a more structured way to build exposure over time instead of relying on a single entry point. 

Understanding Gold ETF Fund of Funds

A gold ETF fund of funds is a type of open-ended FoF mutual fund scheme that invests in gold ETFs. Here’s how a gold ETF FoF works:

• Gold ETF FoF buys gold ETFs

• Gold ETFs buy units of physical gold of 99.5% purity

• The fund’s NAV depends on the underlying gold ETF price, which tracks the market price of gold

So, you can gain exposure to the gold prices without having to open a Demat account, worrying about storing the gold, or having any purity concerns. It provides a convenient way to invest in the yellow metal, especially for those who have mutual fund accounts and don’t want to invest in gold metal ETFs directly.

Understanding Silver ETF Fund of Funds

A silver ETF Fund of Funds follows the same logic as gold ETF FoFs, but just for silver. A silver ETF FoF is a type of mutual fund scheme that uses its corpus to buy silver ETF units. Here’s how it works:

• Silver ETF FoF buys silver ETF units

• The underlying silver ETF buys physical silver bars of 99.9% purity

• The NAV of the scheme is determined by the domestic price of silver 

Much like gold ETF FoFs, silver ETF FoFs also help avoid purity, storage, and Demat account concerns.

What are SIPs in Gold and Silver ETF FoFs?

SIPs or systematic investment plans in gold and silver ETF FoFs are a structured way to invest in these mutual fund FoF schemes. SIPs help you invest a fixed amount at regular intervals into a mutual fund scheme (typically monthly), regardless of the market conditions. 

Here’s how an SIP in gold/silver ETF FoF works:

• You select a gold or silver ETF Fund of Funds scheme

• You choose the SIP option and set your investment amount and frequency

• You register and confirm the auto-debit mandate

• On each SIP date, units of the FoF are allotted based on the applicable NAV

Why Investing in Gold and Silver ETF FoFs Via SIPs is a structured approach for 2026?

Investing in gold and silver ETF fund of funds through SIPs in 2026 may be considered due to the following reasons: 

• Balance Expenses and Affordability

With the prices of precious metals touching record high levels, purchasing them physically now requires a large investment (especially if you want meaningful exposure). Balancing your expenses with such investments may be difficult for most investors. SIPs may help address this. 

Systematic investment plans in gold and silver ETF FoFs can help make the investment more affordable. You can start SIPs in gold ETF FoFs and silver ETF FoFs with as little as Rs. 500. This makes adding precious metal exposure to your portfolio relatively accessible.

• SIP Help Leverage Rupee Cost Averaging

SIPs help you buy more units of a fund when prices fall and fewer units when prices rise. Over time, the cost of investing in the fund gets averaged out. This is called rupee cost averaging. The principle applies to SIPs in silver ETF FoFs and gold ETF FoFs as well. You keep investing a fixed sum at regular intervals to participate across different market phases.

• Build Exposure Over Time Instead of Timing the Market

Gold and silver prices can be difficult to predict, even for experienced investors. SIPs help you avoid relying on a single entry point by spreading your investments over time. Instead of investing a lump sum, you gradually build exposure across different price levels, allowing you to participate in various phases of the market cycle.

• Smooth Out Volatility

Gold and silver prices can fluctuate globally due to things like economic signals, currency movements, and interest rates. Systematic investment plans in gold and silver ETF FoFs may be able to better manage this volatility. In 2026, with continued global uncertainty and shifting rate cycles, investing through SIPs can help you stay consistent and avoid reacting to short-term price movements.

• Eliminate Emotional Decision-Making

SIPs in gold ETF FoFs and silver ETF FoFs encourage consistency and investment discipline, may help to reduce emotional-based decisions. So, for instance, if gold prices fall, you may avoid to panic sell. Similarly, if silver prices rise, you don’t double your investment in the asset. SIPs in metal ETF FoFs allow you to maintain a systematic and disciplined approach. 

Suitability of Gold and Silver ETF FoF SIPs

Starting SIPs in gold and silver ETF FoFs may be considered for the following types of investors:

• Those who want to diversify their holdings with precious metal exposure

• Those looking to invest in gold ETFs or silver ETFs without a Demat account

• Those who don’t wish to invest in gold ETFs or silver ETFs directly

• Those with regular cash flows to fund SIPs

• Those looking for an affordable entry point into gold and silver ETF FoF investing

General Characteristics of Gold ETF FOF’s and Silver ETF FOF’s

So, which one should you choose for 2026: Silver ETF FoFs or gold ETF FoFs? Here’s a table that may help you decide:

How to Build a Good SIP Plan for Gold and Silver ETF FoFs?

So, if you wish to start SIPs in gold ETF FoFs or silver ETF FoFs, here’s how you may approach it meaningfully:

• Start with a clear goal: Decide why you want exposure to gold or silver, such as diversification or long-term allocation.

• Keep allocations balanced: Use gold and silver as a part of your overall portfolio, not the entire investment.

• Invest regularly: A fixed SIP helps you stay consistent and avoid reacting to short-term price movements.

• Think long term: Precious metals can move in cycles, so staying invested over time is important.

• Review periodically: Check if your allocation to gold and silver still aligns with your overall investment plan.

• Avoid over-allocation: Limit exposure to commodities so your portfolio remains diversified across asset classes.

Conclusion

Starting SIPs in gold ETF FoFs and silver ETF FoFs is a smart option, especially when it comes to navigating the volatile markets of 2026. SIPs help you think of precious metal allocation as a way of diversifying steadily and not just following a trend. 

Using SIPs may help you:

• Participate in different market movements

• Smooth the impact of price fluctuation in the short-term

• Invest in a disciplined way without being swayed by emotions

All this makes systematic investment plans in gold and silver ETF FoFs a smart choice for investors who wish to allocate affordably to precious metals without a Demat account. 

FAQs

1. Can SIP be done in gold and silver ETF FoFs?

Yes, investors can invest in silver and gold ETF Fund of Funds through SIPs, which allow regular investments without requiring a Demat account.

2. Is SIP suitable for investing in gold and silver?

SIPs allow investors to invest gradually over time, which may help manage price fluctuations in commodities like gold and silver.

Disclaimer

• An Investor Education and Awareness Initiative by Tata Mutual Fund. 

• To know more about KYC documentation requirements and procedure for change of address, phone number, bank details, etc., please visit: https://www.tatamutualfund.com/deshkarenivesh

• Please deal only with registered Mutual Funds, details of which can be verified on the SEBI website under ‘Intermediaries / Market infrastructure institutions.’

• All complaints regarding Tata Mutual Fund may be directed to service@tataamc.com and/or https://scores.sebi.gov.in/ (SEBI SCORES portal) and/or https://smartodr.in/login

• Nomination is advisable for all folios opened by an individual, especially with sole holding, as it facilitates an easy transmission process. 

• This communication is a part of the investor education and awareness initiative of Tata Mutual Fund.

A short-duration fund is a type of debt mutual fund. As per SEBI regulations, the fund must invest in debt and money market instruments such that the Macaulay duration of the portfolio is between 1 year and 3 years. 

For those unaware, Macaulay duration indicates the “average time” it takes for investors to receive the money invested in the bonds through interest payments and principal repayment.

As per AMFI, the net inflows into short-duration funds increased significantly from ₹427 crore in March 2024 to ₹5,578 crore in March 2025 (at a highly impressive y-o-y growth rate of 1206%). This indicates a substantial rise in investor participation and a higher amount of fresh investment entering the category over the one-year period. (Source: AMFI Annual Report - Fiscal 2025).

So, are you also looking to invest? Read this article to first understand the primary features, advantages, and disadvantages of short-duration mutual funds.

Primary Features of Short-Term Mutual Fund

Advantages of Investing in Short-Duration Mutual Funds in 2026

One of the biggest advantages of short-term funds is that they may have a lower sensitivity to interest rate changes as compared to long-duration schemes (depending on portfolio constitution and various other macro-economic factors).

Note that when the RBI increases policy rates, the market value of bonds usually decreases. This influences the Net Asset Value (NAV) of a debt mutual fund. 

For a short-duration mutual fund, the impact on its NAV could be limited. That’s because short-term bonds do not react as strongly to interest rate changes as long-term bonds.

Additionally, realise that investing in the debt markets requires a deep analysis of several factors, such as:

• The credit quality of issuers

• Repayment capacity

• Interest rate trends, and

• Maturity structure of bonds
   

Individual retail investors may find it difficult to evaluate all these aspects. The solution? A short-duration fund is usually managed by experienced fund managers who study the financial position of issuers, assess credit ratings, and review market conditions before adding securities to the portfolio. 

Besides, they also monitor the investments regularly and adjust the portfolio when required. Such a “professional oversight” saves investors from making individual security selection decisions on their own.

Disadvantages of Investing in Short-Term Debt Mutual Funds

Note that short-duration funds generate income primarily from interest earned on debt securities. The return potential of these funds is generally considered lower than that of equity investments. Over a long period, there is a possibility that inflation may rise at a pace similar to or higher than the returns generated by such short-term debt mutual funds.

When this happens, the real value of the returns may decline. As a result, these funds may not provide as much long-term wealth growth as compared with asset classes such as equities. 
 

Additionally, some more drawbacks you must be aware of are:

1. Possibility of Credit Default by Issuers

To enhance returns, some short-duration funds may also invest a portion of the portfolio in corporate bonds that carry low ratings (such as BBB or lower). These instruments may offer higher interest income, but they also carry greater repayment risk. 

If a company whose bonds are held in the fund’s portfolio faces financial stress or difficulty in repaying its debt, the value of those bonds may decline, which can lead to a fall in the fund’s NAV.
 

2. Exposure to Interest Rate Changes

Short-duration funds are less sensitive to interest rate fluctuations than long-duration debt funds. However, this reduced risk does not imply zero risk!

When interest rates rise, the market value of short-term bonds may decline (although the decrease is usually smaller than that observed in long-term bonds). But why? This happens because new short-term bonds may offer higher interest rates, making older bonds less attractive to investors.

As a result, if the market prices of bonds in the portfolio fall due to rising interest rates, the NAV of the fund may decline.
 

3. Liquidity Risk

As mentioned before, short-duration mutual funds invest in several debt instruments issued by companies, banks, and financial institutions. Under normal market conditions, these securities can be easily bought or sold in the market. 

However, in certain situations, such as financial stress in the credit market or sudden risk aversion among investors, trading activity in some corporate bonds may decline.

When market participants are unwilling to purchase these securities, selling them may become difficult. If the fund needs to sell such bonds to meet redemption requests, it may have to accept a lower price. This can reduce the NAV of the scheme. 

Conclusion

So now you know what short-duration mutual funds are, along with their primary features, advantages, and limitations. If we recap, a short-duration fund invests in debt and money market instruments with an average maturity period of 1-3 years (measured in terms of Macaulay duration).

The portfolio of these schemes are professionally managed by experienced fund managers. However, returns from these funds are usually lower than those of equity mutual funds. 

In addition, credit risk, liquidity risk, and interest rate movements may influence the value of the securities held by the fund, which can lead to fluctuations in the fund’s NAV.

Short Duration vs Ultra-Short Duration Funds: Which Horizon Fits You?

 

Disclaimer

• An Investor Education and Awareness Initiative by Tata Mutual Fund. 

• To know more about KYC documentation requirements and procedure for change of address, phone number, bank details, etc., please visit: https://www.tatamutualfund.com/deshkarenivesh

• Please deal only with registered Mutual Funds, details of which can be verified on the SEBI website under ‘Intermediaries / Market infrastructure institutions.’

• All complaints regarding Tata Mutual Fund may be directed to service@tataamc.com and/or https://scores.sebi.gov.in/ (SEBI SCORES portal) and/or https://smartodr.in/login

• Nomination is advisable for all folios opened by an individual, especially with sole holding, as it facilitates an easy transmission process. 

• This communication is a part of the investor education and awareness initiative of Tata Mutual Fund.

 

Almost every market expert has been talking about the precious metals rally of 2025 and the role of silver. Silver today isn’t just a precious metal. It has also gained popularity among investors due to its industrial role in manufacturing and finite reserves. 

While earlier owning silver meant buying it physically, now you can invest in the metal through silver ETFs or silver ETF FoFs. Silver ETF FoFs are mutual fund schemes that track the domestic price of silver by investing in silver ETFs. These mutual fund schemes allow investors to gain exposure to silver without concern related to storage, security and. 

If you’re a first-time investor exploring silver investments, this article explains how silver ETF FoFs work, their potential benefits, and how to invest.

What is a Silver ETF Fund of Fund?

A silver ETF Fund of Fund (FoF) is an open-ended fund of fund mutual fund scheme that uses pooled money from multiple investors to buy units of silver ETFs. The underlying silver ETF invests in physical silver. Simply put, it provides a mutual fund route for investors who want exposure to silver but may not wish to buy silver ETFs directly on the stock exchange. The silver ETF tracks the domestic price of silver (subject to tracking errors). Silver ETF FOF allows investors to gain exposure to the price movements of Silver ETF through their usual MF investment account, without needing a Demat account. 

How does a Silver ETF FoF work?

Here’s how a silver ETF FoF actually operates:
 

Step 1: An investor invests in the silver ETF FoF

An investor buys units of the silver ETF fund of funds through a mutual fund platform. This could be done through a lump sum investment or through an SIP.
 

Step 2: The fund invests in the silver ETF

The mutual fund collects money from multiple investors to buy units of a silver ETF. 
 

Step 3: The silver ETF holds physical silver

The silver ETF, in turn, buys physical silver (primarily silver bars of 99.9% purity) and stores the same with a custodian. Apart from physical silver, silver ETFs may also invest in Exchange-Traded Commodity Derivatives (ETCD) within the limits specified by SEBI. 
 

Step 4: Silver ETF FoF price changes with movements in silver prices

The NAV of a silver ETF FoF changes based on the performance of the underlying silver ETF, which is linked to the domestic price of silver. When silver prices move in the market, the prices of silver ETFs may also change, which in turn affects the NAV of the silver ETF FoF. 
 

Step 5: Investors can buy or redeem FoF units

Investors can buy and sell units of the silver ETF fund of funds through their mutual fund account. This works just like buying or selling any other mutual fund unit.

Advantages of investing in Silver ETF FoFs

So, why should you consider investing in silver ETF FoFs? Here’s a list of advantages you can consider:
 

1. No Demat account required

You don’t need to have a Demat and trading account to invest in or redeem units of a silver ETF FoF. Unlike direct silver ETF investments, where Demat accounts are mandatory, silver ETF FoFs don’t have such requirements. You can invest in a silver ETF fund of funds using your regular mutual fund account.
 

2. Start Small with SIPs

Most beginners want to start small. Silver ETF FoFs offer that opportunity. If you wish to start investing in silver ETF FoFs, you can do so with monthly SIPs of as little as Rs. 500. You can set up an auto-debit mandate with your bank to have the SIP amount automatically invested into the silver ETF FoF scheme for a disciplined and consistent approach. 
 

3. May Help You Spread Risk and Diversify 

Generally, silver has a low correlation with equities, meaning it may be a good option for diversification and portfolio risk management. Investing in silver ETF FoFs can help spread the investment risk in your portfolio and potentially reduce the impact of volatility on your returns. 
 

4. Liquidity

Since silver ETF FoFs are a type of mutual fund scheme, the process of redeeming units is the same as any other MF scheme. So if you need funds urgently, you can place a redemption request through your investment platform, and the money will be credited within the set redemption timelines. Additionally, there are no lock-in periods (but exit loads may apply if withdrawn generally within 15-30 days of investment), so easy liquidity is always available.

What’s the difference between Silver ETF FoFs and Silver ETFs?

Now, as a beginner, you might still be unclear about the differences between silver ETF FoFs and silver ETFs. But understanding these differences is key to making suitable investment decisions. Here’s a table that sums up the key differences between silver ETF FoFs and silver ETFs:
 

Who may consider investing in Silver ETF FoFs?

By now, you must be wondering about the suitability of silver ETF FoFs. A silver ETF fund of fund may be considered by investors who::

• Investors who want exposure to silver without physically holding the asset.

• Investors who want to diversify beyond equities and debt assets.

• Investors without a Demat and trading account

• Investors with a medium- to long-term investment horizon.

How to invest in a Silver ETF FoF?

Next on our guide is how to get started with your silver ETF FoF investments. Because silver ETF FoFs work like any other MF scheme, the steps you need to take to get started are largely similar. 

You can invest in a silver ETF FoF through two routes: directly through the AMC or through a mutual fund distributor or investment platform. Let’s understand both in detail:
 

1. Direct Investment Through the AMC

If you want to invest without a distributor, you can choose the direct plan of the silver ETF fund of fund through the AMC. Here’s what you need to do:

• Visit the asset management company’s website or app offering the silver ETF FoF direct plan.
• Complete your KYC verification if it is not already done.
• Select the silver ETF fund of fund scheme you wish to invest in.
• Choose a preferred investment method: lump sum or SIP.
• Complete the transaction using the available payment options such as net banking or UPI.

Direct plans usually have a lower expense ratio because there is no distributor commission.

2. Investment Through a Distributor or Investment Platform

You can also invest in a silver ETF FoF through a registered mutual fund distributor, broker, or online investment platform. Here’s what you need to do:

• Open an investment account with a mutual fund distributor or investment platform (log in if you already have an account)
• Review the silver ETF fund of funds schemes and select your preferred scheme.
• Choose your investment amount and mode (lump sum or SIP).
• Complete the payment and confirmation.

In the regular route, the distributor assists with transactions and portfolio servicing, and the expense ratio includes distributor commission.

Things to consider before investing

Before investing in a silver ETF fund of funds, it is important to consider a few key things, such as:

1. Commodity price volatility
Silver prices can move sharply due to changes in global demand, industrial usage, currency movements, and economic conditions. This can lead to short-term fluctuations in returns.

2. Expense structure
A silver ETF FoF carries two layers of costs. So, as an investor, you’ll have to bear the expense ratio of the FoF as well as the expenses of the underlying silver ETF.

3. Investment horizon
Commodity-based investments often experience cyclical price movements. That’s why investors may need a longer horizon to navigate such fluctuations.

4. Portfolio allocation
Silver investments are usually considered a supplementary allocation rather than the core of a portfolio. Investors should evaluate how much exposure they want to commodities.

5. Tracking differences
Since the FoF invests in an ETF that tracks silver prices, returns may differ slightly from the actual price movement of silver due to tracking error and fund expenses. A lower tracking error generally indicates that the fund’s performance is closer to the price movement of silver.

Conclusion

A silver ETF FoF lets you invest in silver through a mutual fund. Instead of buying physical silver or trading ETFs on an exchange, the fund invests in units of a silver ETF for you. This can make it easier for investors to gain exposure to  silver through familiar mutual fund investment platforms.

However, returns still depend on how silver prices move in the market. Like any commodity investment, prices can fluctuate. Before investing, it is important to understand how the fund works and how much exposure to silver fits within your overall portfolio allocation.

Fund of Fund Disclaimer: - 

“Investors are bearing the recurring expenses of the scheme, in addition to the expenses of other schemes in which the Fund of Funds Scheme makes investments”

Disclaimer

• An Investor Education and Awareness Initiative by Tata Mutual Fund. 

• To know more about KYC documentation requirements and procedure for change of address, phone number, bank details, etc., please visit: https://www.tatamutualfund.com/deshkarenivesh

• Please deal only with registered Mutual Funds, details of which can be verified on the SEBI website under ‘Intermediaries / Market infrastructure institutions.’

• All complaints regarding Tata Mutual Fund may be directed to service@tataamc.com and/or https://scores.sebi.gov.in/ (SEBI SCORES portal) and/or https://smartodr.in/login

• Nomination is advisable for all folios opened by an individual, especially with sole holding, as it facilitates an easy transmission process. 

• This communication is a part of the investor education and awareness initiative of Tata Mutual Fund.

Gold prices reached record highs in the past year driven by global uncertainties and central bank purchases. So, if you had invested in gold mutual funds, you now probably hold a higher gold allocation than originally planned. In such cases, rebalancing helps you trim excess exposure and redirect funds to restore the intended portfolio balance. 

But how do you go about it? 

The easiest rule to follow is the 10% gold rule. In this article, we assess how you can rebalance your 2026 portfolio with this 10% gold rule. 

What is the 10% Gold Rule?

The 10% gold rule refers to a common thumb rule popularised by wealth managers and personal finance guide. It simply states that investors should ideally maintain a 10% gold exposure in their long-term portfolios. The idea here is to have a potentially balanced portfolio that spreads investment risks across various asset classes like commodities, equities, and debt. 

However, it is important to note that while many global asset management frameworks promote the 10% gold rule for diversification and hedging, this is not a one-size-fits-all rule. It depends on your investment horizon and risk appetite. So, if you’re investing in gold mutual funds, your allocation to the same will be tailored on the basis of these factors. 

Here’s a more realistic illustrative asset allocation matrix that may help:
 

Disclaimer: The above table is for purely for information and illustration purpose. Please do not construe it as a recommendation or any type of advice.

What is Rebalancing Your Portfolio and when is it needed?

Portfolio rebalancing is the act of adjusting asset allocation in your investment portfolio to ensure that it suits your risk tolerance and investment objectives. This involves:

• Redeeming certain assets

• Reinvesting in other assets
   

You can approach portfolio rebalancing in one of the following ways:

• Calendar-Based: You rebalance at fixed intervals (annually, semi-annually, or quarterly).

• Threshold-Based: You rebalance when allocation to a particular asset moves more than the preset limit (typically 5%). 

• Hybrid: You evaluate at fixed intervals but only rebalance if the allocation drifts beyond the preset limit.

Why use Gold to Rebalance Your Portfolio?

If until now, your portfolio was limited to equities and debt, you can consider adding gold while rebalancing it for 2026. You can consider investing in gold ETF and other gold-related assets because:

• Gold acts as an inflation hedge and store of value, helping you preserve your purchasing power when inflation is high.

• Gold can help add diversification to your portfolio and manage volatility due to its low correlation with other assets like equities and bonds.

Gold is also a good crisis protection cushion since the value of gold typically tends to rise during periods of geopolitical tensions and wars.

Ways to add Gold to your Portfolio (without adding physical gold)

Physical gold was the preferred way of investing in gold earlier. But this method had several drawbacks like safety concerns, purity issues, and storage problems. 

Today, you don’t need to buy physical gold jewellery or coins to invest in gold. You can now rebalance your portfolio by investing in gold ETF fund of funds, gold ETFs

Here’s a list of ways you can rebalance your portfolio in 2026 with gold:

1. Gold ETFs

Gold ETFs are passively managed funds that invest in gold. They track the price of physical gold in the domestic market and aim to offer returns in-line with these prices, subject to a tracking err

Here’s what you need to know about gold ETFs:

• You will need a Demat account and trading account to invest in gold ETFs.
• You can invest in them during market hours like you invest in stocks because gold ETFs trade on the stock exchanges.

2. Gold ETF Fund of Funds

Gold fund of funds are open-ended mutual fund schemes that invest in gold ETFs. These gold ETFs are backed by actual gold that holds high purity (99.5%) gold to track changes in the domestic price of the precious metal, subject to a tracking error. 

Here’s everything you need to know about investing in gold ETF fund of funds schemes:

• You can invest in gold ETF FoF (ETF fund of funds) and invest small sums regularly. You can start gold investments via SIPs with as little as Rs. 500.
• Apart from gold SIP plans, you can also make lump-sum investments.
• Gold ETF FoF returns depend on the price of gold and the performance of the underlying gold ETF.

Disclaimer: Investors are requested to note that they will be bearing the recurring expenses of the fund of funds scheme, in addition to the expenses of underlying scheme in which the fund of funds scheme makes investments.

Step-by-step guide: How to rebalance your portfolio based on 10% Gold Rule

Regardless of whether you want to pick gold ETF fund of funds or gold ETFs for rebalancing, understanding how to go about is equally important. That’s why we’ve listed a simple step-by-step guide on how to rebalance your portfolio: 

Step 1: Review Your Portfolio Annually/Semi-Annually

Review your portfolio annually or semi annually or any other preferred frequency to see how it is performing. Track how each asset class performs during this time and check if your asset allocation has moved away from the original set-up. 

For instance, if equities rallied last year, your portfolio may have drifted to become equity-heavy. Typically, experts suggest to rebalance portfolios if your mix moves more than 5% from your original allocation. 

Step 2: Check Your Gold Exposure

If you have already invested in gold ETF fund of funds/gold ETFs or have SIPs running, evaluate the total value of these investments in gold. Convert them into a ratio of your overall portfolio value and see how much exposure of gold you currently have. 

Upon review, you will likely see one of two things. Either: 

• Your gold exposure will be above 10%

• Your gold exposure will be below 10%

Step 3: Take Action

Consider these steps once your assessment is complete:

• Above 10%: If your exposure in gold is above the general 10% threshold, consider selling overweight assets. Try to reallocate funds to equities/debt (based on your goals, risk tolerance, and target asset allocation).

• Below 10%: If you haven’t yet included gold into your portfolio or your exposure to gold is below the 10% limit, consider boosting this allocation. You can consider options like gold ETF FoF funds and gold exchange traded funds that invest in gold for this purpose.

Please note that rebalancing your portfolio is not a one-time action. You need to do it periodically, alongside monitoring the performance of your investments.

Common mistakes to avoid when adding Gold to your portfolio

Here are a few common mistakes you should avoid when adding gold mutual funds or any other gold-based asset to your portfolio:
 

• Chasing gold mutual fund returns: Buying when the markets are high and selling when there’s a price swing can lead to missed opportunities. Definite rules like the 10% gold rule may be a better option in such cases. 
   

• Ignoring cost differences between various gold products: The investment costs you incur can impact your total returns. For instance, gold ETF fund of funds typically have a higher expense ratio than gold ETFs because they will be bearing the recurring expenses of the fund of funds scheme, in addition to the expenses of underlying scheme in which the fund of funds scheme makes investments.
   

• Allocating to gold excessively without considering risk: This can lead to increased volatility. Remember that the 10% gold rule is indicative and can (and should) be tailored to your risk tolerance.
   

• Failing to contextualise rebalancing: Please remember that rebalancing your portfolio for gold also means reviewing and correcting other asset imbalances. So, check if your equity and debt allocations also need change and make buy/sell decisions accordingly. 

Conclusion

So now you know how to rebalance your 2026 portfolio with the 10% gold rule. All you have to do is:

• Review your portfolio

• Check your current gold exposure that includes gold ETF fund of funds, gold ETFs, etc. 

• Redeem or invest more depending on where your allocation stands vis-a-vis the 10% rule

But do remember to tailor the 10% rule to fit your investment horizon, risk appetite, and goals while rebalancing. This way, you can use a specific guideline to avoid random buys/sells, while still remaining true to your investment needs.

Disclaimer:

• An Investor Education and Awareness Initiative by Tata Mutual Fund. 

• To know more about KYC documentation requirements and procedure for change of address, phone number, bank details, etc., please visit: https://www.tatamutualfund.com/deshkarenivesh

• Please deal only with registered Mutual Funds, details of which can be verified on the SEBI website under ‘Intermediaries / Market infrastructure institutions.’

• All complaints regarding Tata Mutual Fund may be directed to service@tataamc.com and/or https://scores.sebi.gov.in/ (SEBI SCORES portal) and/or https://smartodr.in/login

• Nomination is advisable for all folios opened by an individual, especially with sole holding, as it facilitates an easy transmission process. 

• This communication is a part of the investor education and awareness initiative of Tata Mutual Fund.

Invest and forget! That’s not how investing in mutual funds works. Instead, it is an ongoing process that requires regular assessments. While your idea may be to stay invested for the long term, it is important to review your mutual fund portfolio periodically.

But why? That’s because both the market and your financial goals aren’t static! Over time, your investment objectives, income, and risk-taking ability may change. Similarly, the market conditions also shift, which can affect how your funds perform.

Thus, you must make periodic analysis of your mutual fund portfolio to see if your investments are still suitable for your goals and current financial situation.

Okay, but how to do this? Read this article to learn five different ways you can review your mutual fund investment plans in 2025. 
 

5 Techniques to make a thorough Mutual Fund Portfolio Review in 2025!

If you are a serious long-term mutual fund investor, ideally, you should review your portfolio at least once a year. Such a yearly review allows you to:

• Spot underperforming funds

• Check if your asset allocation is suitable as per your financial goals

• Decide whether you need to add, switch, or reduce any investments

Additionally, regular reviews also keep you informed about the latest market trends. Need assistance? Below are five techniques you may follow in 2025 to make a detailed analysis of your mutual fund portfolio:

1. Compare Each Fund’s Performance with Its Benchmark

Start with a detailed mutual fund comparison. Check how each fund has performed compared to its “benchmark”. 

For those unaware, a benchmark acts like a reference point and shows how well a mutual fund is performing in comparison to the overall market or a particular segment. For example, 

• Large Cap Category Fund uses the Nifty 100 as its benchmark. 

• Now, this means the fund’s returns are compared against how the Nifty 100 has performed over the same period.

How to Apply This Review Technique?

Firstly, check your fund’s benchmark on its factsheet on the AMC’s website. Then, compare the fund’s returns with the benchmark’s returns over different time periods, such as 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, and since inception. Now, there could be two possible scenarios:

2. Check the Fund’s Expense Ratio

Every mutual fund charges a small yearly fee called the “expense ratio”. This covers the cost of:

• Managing and running the fund

• Administrative charges

• Operational expenses

Usually, it is shown as a percentage of your total investment. Please note that even though it may look small, a higher expense ratio can reduce your overall returns over time.

How to Apply This Review Technique?

Compare your fund’s expense ratio with the average ratio of similar funds in the same category. For example, if most funds in your category charge 1%, but your fund charges 2%, that’s worth noting!

Be aware that passive funds usually have a lower mutual fund expense ratio because they simply track & replicate the market without Fund Manager’s Active Investment Strategy. 

Now, in contrast, actively managed funds charge higher expense ratio. However, that extra cost is only reasonable if the fund regularly performs better than its benchmark.

3. Review the Fund’s Past Performance

Before continuing with any type of mutual fund, it is important to see how it has performed in the past. By studying a fund’s history, you can learn how it has handled different market situations (both when the market was rising and when it was falling). Ideally, a fund that performs well in both good and bad times may be preferred. 

Note – The past performance of the mutual funds is not necessarily indicative of future performance of the schemes. 

How to Apply This Review Technique?

Check the fund’s performance over different time periods, such as 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, and since inception. Now, compare these results with other similar funds. You may obtain any of these two results:

4. Check How Diversified Your Mutual Fund Investment Plan Is

A diversified fund spreads its investments across:

• Different sectors (like banking, technology, and healthcare) 

and

• Asset types (like stocks, debentures, and cash instruments). 

Such a mixing reduces the impact of a poor performance in any single sector or asset. For example,

• Say the technology sector falls sharply.

• Now, gains in banking or healthcare holdings can offset some of these losses.

• This keeps the overall portfolio relatively stable.

Similarly, several fund managers combine stocks with bonds to reduce mutual fund risk, as bonds are generally less volatile than stocks.

How to Apply This Review Technique?

While reviewing your fund’s strength, check for these three major parameters: 

5. Understand Risk-Adjusted Returns

When reviewing mutual funds, don’t focus only on how much return they have given. It’s equally important to see how much risk was taken to achieve those returns. For example,

• Let’s say there are two mutual fund schemes, “Fund A” and “Fund B”.
• Both give a 10% return over one year.
• Fund A invests only in stable + large companies. 
• Its returns don’t fluctuate much and remain consistent throughout the year.
• In contrast, Fund B invests in smaller + riskier companies. 
• Its returns vary significantly over the same period.
   

Now, even though both gave a 10% return, Fund B took more risk to achieve it. If the market drops, Fund B’s NAV could fall much more than Fund A’s. This is why looking at risk-adjusted returns is important. 

How to Apply This Review Technique?

To understand the relation between risk and reward, you may refer to these three risk-adjusted metrics:

Conclusion

So, as an investor, you now know that mutual fund investment is not a one-time activity. You should make regular periodic reviews to check whether your mutual fund investment plans are serving your financial goals, risk tolerance, and market conditions. 

To make a thorough review, you can follow these techniques:

• Check if the fund’s returns outperform its benchmark over 1, 3, 5 years and since inception.

• See whether the fund’s costs (expense ratio) are reasonable compared to similar funds.

• Study past performance and look for managerial consistency.

• Evaluate asset allocation, sector exposure, and quality of holdings.

• Look at standard deviation, beta, and Sharpe ratio to assess risk versus return.
  
   

Disclaimers

• An Investor Education and Awareness Initiative by Tata Mutual Fund. 

• To know more about KYC documentation requirements and procedure for change of address, phone number, bank details, etc., please visit: https://www.tatamutualfund.com/deshkarenivesh

• Please deal only with registered Mutual Funds, details of which can be verified on the SEBI website under ‘Intermediaries / Market infrastructure institutions.’

• All complaints regarding Tata Mutual Fund may be directed to service@tataamc.com and/or https://scores.sebi.gov.in/ (SEBI SCORES portal) and/or https://smartodr.in/login

• Nomination is advisable for all folios opened by an individual, especially with sole holding, as it facilitates an easy transmission process. 

• This communication is a part of the investor education and awareness initiative of Tata Mutual Fund.

   

Mutual funds can seem overwhelming if you are new to investing, but they can generally be divided into two categories: active funds and passive funds. Both active and passive funds have their own unique benefits and can complement each other in a well-rounded portfolio. Active funds tend to be more popular. However, passive funds may also offer an alternative for building wealth.

In this blog, we’ll dive into the world of passive funds, exploring what they are and why they might be worth considering.

What Are Passive Funds?

Passive funds are mutual funds that follow a market index, like the Sensex or Nifty. These funds invest in the same stocks and in the same proportions as the indices they track.

The big difference with passive funds is that the fund manager doesn’t have to pick and choose which stocks to invest in. Instead, they simply copy / replicate an index. For example, if a passive fund is tracking the Nifty 50 index, it will invest in the stocks of the 50 companies that make up that index in the same proportion.

Why Invest in Passive Funds?

Passive funds come with several benefits that make them appealing to investors. Let’s break them down:

• Exposure to a Broad Market: By investing in a passive fund, you could get exposure to a wide variety of companies that reflect changes in the overall market.
   
• Minimal Fund Manager Role: In passive investing, the fund manager's role is minimal. They simply follow the index, which may lower the risk associated with stock picking.
   
• Easy to Manage: You don’t have to constantly track the fund’s performance. Since these funds mirror an index, your returns will closely match those of the underlying index over the same period/ time frame.
   
• Diversification: Passive funds help diversify your portfolio by investing in a wide range of stocks within an index, potentially reducing the risk tied to any single stock or sector.
   
• Time-Efficient: Passive funds require less time and effort. Since there’s no need for constant monitoring or adjustments, you just need to choose a fund that fits your investment goals.

Whether you decide to invest in active or passive funds depends on your financial goals, risk appetite, and investment timeline. If you’re new to investing and feel overwhelmed, consider passive funds as a simpler, lower-risk option. You may consider consulting a mutual fund distributor to find the right fit for you.

Disclaimers: 

• An Investor education and Awareness initiative by Tata Mutual Fund
• To know more about KYC documentation requirements and procedure for change of address, phone number, bank details etc., please visit: https://www.tatamutualfund.com/deshkarenivesh
• Please deal only with registered Mutual Funds, details of which can be verified on the SEBI website under ‘Intermediaries / Market infrastructure institutions.
• All complaints regarding Tata Mutual Fund may be directed to service@tataamc.com and / or https://scores.sebi.gov.in/ (SEBI SCORES portal) and or / https://smartodr.in/login 
• Nomination is advisable for all folios opened by an individual, especially with sole holding as it facilitates an easy transmission process.
• This communication is a part of investor education and awareness initiative of Tata Mutual Fund

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully. 

Do you prefer a simple approach to investing? If yes, passive mutual funds are good to explore. These funds replicate an index or follows an index composition and hence try to mirror the index returns. That is why they are called passive funds. These are simple to understand and do not need constant supervision like an active fund. 

In this blog, we’ll go over a checklist to help you get the most out of your passive investments.

Key Strategies for Managing Passive Funds

When investing in passive mutual funds, it's important to think about your goals, risk tolerance, and how long you want to invest. Here are some strategies that may effectively help you enhance your investment outcomes: 

1. Set Clear Goals

Before you invest, decide what you’re saving for. Are you planning for retirement, growing your wealth, or saving for your child's education? Clear goals will help you determine your time period and the risk you could take respective to that goal money. This will help you choose the relevant passive fund. 

2. Diversify Your Portfolio

Diversification means spreading your investments across different asset types, sectors, and market caps. Passive mutual funds could help you do this. Depending on your investment objective you could choose the respective index based passive fund. By diversifying, you manage and optimise the risk and increase the potential for your portfolio performance.

3. Know Your Risk Tolerance

Understanding your risk tolerance is crucial. Some passive funds, depending on the index composition, may provide moderate returns, while others might be more volatile. Select funds that align with your comfort level and ensure they do not jeopardize your financial goals

4. Focus on the Long Term

Passive investing is effective over a long period. Stick to your plan and avoid reacting to short-term market changes. Keeping a long-term mindset will help you ride out market ups and downs.

5. Review and Rebalance Your Portfolio

Check your investments regularly to ensure they still align with your goals and risk tolerance. If needed, rebalance your portfolio to maintain the right mix of assets and risk. This could help optimize your returns.

Passive mutual funds are becoming increasingly popular in India. They let you benefit from market growth without the need for constantly monitoring the market, by simply following the respective index with an aim to mirror the performance of a benchmark index. To make better investment choices, it's important to understand the structure of different types of passive funds—like index funds, ETFs, and fund of fund.

By setting clear goals, diversifying your portfolio, knowing your risk tolerance, and keeping a long-term perspective, you could build a passive investment strategy that helps you achieve your financial goals.

Disclaimers: 

• An Investor education and Awareness initiative by Tata Mutual Fund
• To know more about KYC documentation requirements and procedure for change of address, phone number, bank details etc., please visit: https://www.tatamutualfund.com/deshkarenivesh
• Please deal only with registered Mutual Funds, details of which can be verified on the SEBI website under ‘Intermediaries / Market infrastructure institutions.
• All complaints regarding Tata Mutual Fund may be directed to service@tataamc.com and / or https://scores.sebi.gov.in/ (SEBI SCORES portal) and or / https://smartodr.in/login 
• Nomination is advisable for all folios opened by an individual, especially with sole holding as it facilitates an easy transmission process.
• This communication is a part of investor education and awareness initiative of Tata Mutual Fund

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.