Ask ET Mutual Funds: Looking for advice, facility to invest in direct plans

I am a beginner in mutual funds investment and want to invest in direct plans of mutual funds. Can you please suggest a reliable website which provide advisory service and let you invest in direct plans?
--Annu Rani

Direct plans are meant for investors who don’t need any help with their mutual fund investments. In other words, it is meant for individuals with a sound knowledge about how the mutual funds work, how to choose a scheme, how to monitor its performance, how to buy and sell, etc.

Since you are a newcomer to mutual funds and investing, it would be better if you take the help of a seasoned mutual fund advisor. A mutual fund advisor would help you with the formalities of investing in mutual funds, help you choose a scheme and monitor its performance, and with timely sell or buy recommendations.


Sure, you might save on commissions if you invest in direct plans. But you may be taking a huge risk. Since you are not familiar with mutual fund investments, you might pick wrong schemes or fail to monitor its performance and take remedial action if the scheme is underperforming.

Our advice: take the help of a good mutual fund advisor (check with your friends and colleagues) and start investing right away. Slowly, pick up the basics (you can visit ET.com Mutual Funds and read basic topics) and slowly gain confidence and start investing on your own.

(If you have any mutual fund queries, message ET Mutual Funds on Facebook. We will get it answered by our panel of experts.)