Mutual Funds
A mutual fund pools money from many investors and invests it in a portfolio of securities managed by a professional fund manager, with each investor owning units of that pool.
Fund types, SIP versus lumpsum, expense ratios, NAV, and how returns are measured with CAGR and XIRR. The default starting point for most first-time investors in India.
What you will be able to do
- Tell an index fund apart from an active fund
- Decide between SIP and lumpsum on evidence, not opinion
- Read a factsheet without getting lost
Lessons
Work through these in order.
Investment guides
Product-level explainers for this topic.
Free calculators
Run your own numbers, nothing is stored.
NISM exams
Syllabus, fees and free mock tests with explanations.
Careers that use this
Roles where this knowledge is used daily.
Key terms
Frequently asked questions
Which NISM certification covers mutual funds?
NISM Series V-A, the Mutual Fund Distributors certification, is the mandatory exam for anyone distributing mutual funds in India.
Is SIP better than lumpsum?
Neither is universally better. SIP spreads entry price and suits regular income; lumpsum puts money to work immediately and historically wins more often in rising markets. Your cash-flow situation usually decides.
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VIA Capital publishes financial education only. Nothing on this page is investment advice, a stock recommendation, or a personalised financial plan.