Module 5 of 5 · Investing without picking stocks

Mutual Funds

How funds work, the categories SEBI defines, SIPs, what they cost under the 2026 framework, and how to read a factsheet.

Lessons
7 lessons
Total reading time
about 28 min in total
Your progress 
Start with lesson 1

Lessons in this module

  1. What Is a Mutual Fund?beginnerMany investors pool money, a professional manager invests it, and everyone owns units in proportion to what they put in. Here is how that actually works. 4 min read
  2. Types of Mutual FundsbeginnerSEBI defined strict categories so that a fund's name has to mean something. Here is the map — equity, debt, hybrid, index funds and ETFs. 4 min read
  3. SIP, STP and SWPbeginnerA SIP is not a product — it is a way of paying. Here is what it actually does for you, and the two related tools most people never hear about. 4 min read
  4. What a Mutual Fund Costs YoubeginnerThe expense ratio is deducted quietly from NAV every day, and over decades it is the largest controllable factor in your result. Plus the new 2026 cost framework. 4 min read
  5. How to Invest, and Why Cut-Off Timings Decide Your NAVbeginnerWhat you need to start, where to buy, and the rule that decides whether you get today's NAV or tomorrow's. 4 min read
  6. How to Read a Fund FactsheetintermediateOne page tells you what a fund owns, what it costs, how concentrated it is and how much it has actually fallen in the past. Here is how to read it. 4 min read
  7. Choosing Funds, Tax, and Common MistakesintermediateHow many funds you actually need, how mutual fund gains are taxed, and the ten errors that cost ordinary investors the most. 4 min read