mutual funds
All editorial pieces filed under mutual funds. 2 quick takes · 2 notes · 32 deep dives.
MFD vs RIA — Mutual Fund Distributor vs SEBI Registered Investment Adviser
An MFD (Mutual Fund Distributor) is an AMFI ARN-registered intermediary who distributes mutual fund products and earns commissions from AMCs. A SEBI Registered
Target Maturity Fund — Defined-Maturity Debt Fund with Held-to-Maturity Yield Lock
A Target Maturity Fund (TMF) is a passively managed open-ended debt fund that tracks a defined-maturity G-Sec or SDL index. Investors who hold to the maturity d
Smart Beta Fund — Factor-Tilted Index Funds
Smart Beta Funds are passively managed index funds that track factor-based indices (momentum, quality, low volatility, value, alpha-50) instead of market-cap-we
Solution-Oriented Fund — SEBI Umbrella Category with Mandatory Lock-In
Solution-Oriented Funds are a SEBI umbrella category covering Retirement Funds and Children's Funds. All schemes in this category carry a mandatory lock-in of 5
Children's Fund — SEBI Solution-Oriented Category for Child Education Goals
A Children's Fund is a SEBI solution-oriented mutual fund scheme with a mandatory 5-year lock-in or lock-in until the child attains majority (age 18), whichever
Retirement Fund — SEBI Solution-Oriented Category with 5-Year Lock-In
A Retirement Fund is a SEBI solution-oriented mutual fund scheme with a mandatory 5-year lock-in or lock-in until retirement age (whichever is earlier). Availab
Multi-Asset Fund — Mandatory Allocation Across 4+ Asset Classes
A Multi-Asset Fund is a SEBI-defined hybrid category that must invest ≥10% each in at least three asset classes (equity, debt, and one more — typically gold or
Balanced Fund — Pre-2018 Category & Post-SEBI Reclassification
Balanced Fund was a legacy SEBI mutual fund category combining equity and debt. Post the October 2017 SEBI Categorisation Circular (effective April 2018), all b
NFO — New Fund Offer
A New Fund Offer (NFO) is the initial subscription window during which an AMC collects capital to launch a new mutual fund scheme. SEBI caps the window at 15 bu
Dynamic Asset Allocation Fund — SEBI Hybrid Category with Tactically Managed Equity-Debt Mix
Also known as Balanced Advantage Fund, this SEBI hybrid category dynamically shifts equity allocation between 30–80% using quantitative or model-driven framewor
Capital Protection Fund — SEBI Close-Ended Hybrid Category with Indicative Capital Preservation Structure
A SEBI close-ended hybrid category using a debt-plus-equity structure to target capital preservation at maturity. The protection is structural and indicative —
FoF (Overseas) — SEBI Fund of Funds Category Investing in Foreign Equities and ETFs
A SEBI mutual fund category investing in foreign funds or ETFs, providing Indian investors global exposure within a domestic wrapper; taxed at slab rate post Fi
FoF (Domestic) — SEBI Fund of Funds Category Investing in Indian Mutual Fund Schemes
A SEBI mutual fund category that invests exclusively in other domestic mutual fund schemes, resulting in a two-layer expense ratio structure and debt-fund tax t
Thematic Fund — SEBI Equity Category with ≥80% in Cross-Sector Theme-Based Stocks
A SEBI equity fund category requiring at least 80% in stocks linked to a defined investment theme (e.g., ESG, infrastructure, manufacturing) that may span multi
Sector Fund — SEBI Equity Category with ≥80% Concentration in a Single Sector
A SEBI equity fund category requiring at least 80% of assets in a single sector (e.g., IT, Pharma, Banking), carrying the highest concentration risk among equit
Dividend Yield Fund — SEBI Equity Category Focused on High-Dividend-Yield Stocks
A SEBI equity fund category requiring ≥65% in stocks with dividend yield higher than the benchmark index yield, targeting income-generating equity with relative
Equity Savings Fund — SEBI Hybrid Category Using Arbitrage to Achieve Equity Tax Treatment
A SEBI hybrid category combining unhedged equity with arbitrage and debt, designed to provide equity tax treatment at near-hybrid risk levels. Capital is not gu
Aggressive Hybrid Fund — SEBI Hybrid Mutual Fund Category with Equity-Dominant Allocation
A SEBI-defined hybrid category investing 65–80% in equity and 20–35% in debt, qualifying for equity tax treatment while retaining a debt buffer.
Conservative Hybrid Fund — SEBI Hybrid Mutual Fund Category with Debt-Dominant Allocation
A SEBI-defined hybrid category investing 75–90% in debt and 10–25% in equity, designed for income generation with limited equity upside.
Growth Fund — SEBI Equity Mutual Fund Category with Growth-Investment Style
A Growth Fund is a SEBI-defined equity mutual fund that pursues a growth-investment strategy — targeting companies with above-average earnings or revenue growth
Value Fund — SEBI Equity Mutual Fund Category with Value-Investment Style
A Value Fund is a SEBI-defined equity mutual fund that follows a value-investing strategy — building a portfolio with stocks trading below P/E or P/B medians re
Contra Fund — SEBI Equity Mutual Fund Category with Contrarian Investment Style
A contra fund is a SEBI-defined equity mutual fund that follows a contrarian investment strategy — buying stocks that are currently out of favour, undervalued,
IDCW — Income Distribution cum Capital Withdrawal in Mutual Funds
IDCW is the SEBI-mandated name (from April 2021) for what was previously called the "dividend" option in mutual funds. It correctly signals that payouts come fr
Country Fund
A country fund is a mutual fund or ETF concentrating exposure in a single foreign country — such as Edelweiss US Technology Fund or Motilal Oswal Nasdaq 100 FoF
Fund of Funds (FoF)
A Fund of Funds is a mutual fund that invests in other mutual fund schemes rather than directly in stocks or bonds — commonly used to access international funds
International Fund (Mutual Fund)
An international fund is a SEBI-categorised Indian mutual fund that invests at least 80% of its assets in overseas equities — providing global diversification w
Best Debt Mutual Fund Categories Explained: SEBI's 16 Buckets and How to Choose
Reviewed by MintByte Editorial · Fact-checked by MintByte Research Desk · Reviewed May 30, 2026 Methodology — How we picked these This l
Repatriable vs Non-Repatriable Investment for NRIs: The Definitive Guide
mutual-funds Repatriable vs Non-Repatriable Investment for NRIs: The Definitive Guide Reviewed by MintByte Editorial · Fact-checked by MintByte Rese
What is XIRR in Mutual Fund Investing? A Plain-English Guide with Examples
Published by MintByte Research · Last updated 30 May 2026 If you've ever logged into a mutual fund app and seen a return labelled "XIRR" instead of "CAGR", y
SIP vs Lumpsum: Which is Better in 2026? A Data-Driven Comparison
Published by MintByte Research · Last updated 30 May 2026 The SIP vs lumpsum which is better question has a perfectly logical answer in finance theory and
Top Performing Mutual Funds in India (2026): Category-wise Leaders by 3-Year CAGR
Published by MintByte Research · Last updated 30 May 2026 Finding the top performing mutual funds in India is one of the most common questions for both fir
NRI Investing in Indian Mutual Funds: A 2026 Practical Guide
NRI Investing in Indian Mutual Funds: A 2026 Practical Guide If you are a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) and want to invest in Indian mutual funds, you can — but t
ETF vs Index Fund in India 2026: A Practical Comparison
ETF vs Index Fund in India 2026: A Practical Comparison You want passive exposure to the Nifty 50. You have two ways to get it — buy an ETF on the exchange, o
Equity Savings Fund vs Arbitrage Fund: Which Hybrid Belongs in Your Portfolio?
Equity Savings Fund vs Arbitrage Fund: Which Hybrid Belongs in Your Portfolio? You have a 6- to 24-month horizon, you want better post-tax returns than a debt
How to Read a Mutual Fund Factsheet: A 5-Step Guide
Every month, every Asset Management Company (AMC) in India publishes a factsheet for each of its schemes. It is the single most useful document an investor has,
SIP Investing Through Market Crashes: A Data-Driven Guide
If you began a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) in HDFC Top 100 in January 2008 — eight months before Lehman Brothers collapsed and the Nifty fell 60% — what wo