Learn mutual funds, SIPs and investing in India
The Learn hub from GTP Fintech Solutions is a plain-language library for Indian beginners: SIPs, step-up SIPs, tax-saving funds, expense ratios, and how to verify an AMFI ARN, then a glossary for factsheet words. Each guide links to calculators and services so you can act when ready.
Most read guides
Start here if you are new to SIPs, step-ups, tax-saving funds or verifying a distributor.
- How to Start a SIP for Beginners in IndiaA plain-language walkthrough for first-time investors: what a SIP is, how much to start with, KYC, picking a fund, an…
- Is SIP Safe During a Market Crash or Dip?Why continuing a SIP in a crash can help long-term investors, when pausing makes sense, and how to stay calm without…
- Step-Up SIP vs Regular SIP (Worked Example)See how a yearly step-up SIP can outpace a flat SIP from the same starting amount. Worked numbers, assumptions, and w…
- Expense Ratio, Exit Load and AMC Track Record ExplainedWhat expense ratio and exit load mean for your mutual fund returns, how to read AMC track record without chasing last…
- ELSS Tax-Saving Mutual Funds ExplainedHow ELSS works under Section 80C, the three-year lock-in, SIP vs lumpsum for tax season, and when ELSS fits versus PP…
- How to Check a Mutual Fund Advisor’s AMFI RegistrationHow to verify an AMFI ARN for mutual fund distributors in India, how that differs from SEBI RIA, and what GTP Fintech…
All guides
Start with beginners and step-up SIPs, then tax-season and trust checklists when you need them.
- How to Start a SIP for Beginners in IndiaA plain-language walkthrough for first-time investors: what a SIP is, how much to start with, KYC, picking a fund, and when to review. Fr…
- Is SIP Safe During a Market Crash or Dip?Why continuing a SIP in a crash can help long-term investors, when pausing makes sense, and how to stay calm without guessing the bottom.…
- Step-Up SIP vs Regular SIP (Worked Example)See how a yearly step-up SIP can outpace a flat SIP from the same starting amount. Worked numbers, assumptions, and when step-up fits sal…
- Expense Ratio, Exit Load and AMC Track Record ExplainedWhat expense ratio and exit load mean for your mutual fund returns, how to read AMC track record without chasing last year’s winner, and…
- ELSS Tax-Saving Mutual Funds ExplainedHow ELSS works under Section 80C, the three-year lock-in, SIP vs lumpsum for tax season, and when ELSS fits versus PPF or other 80C optio…
- How to Check a Mutual Fund Advisor’s AMFI RegistrationHow to verify an AMFI ARN for mutual fund distributors in India, how that differs from SEBI RIA, and what GTP Fintech Solutions publishes…
- SIP vs Lumpsum Investment in Mutual FundsWhen a monthly SIP beats a one-time lumpsum, when lumpsum makes sense, and how to combine both without guessing the market. Clear compari…
- ELSS vs PPF: Which 80C Option Fits You?ELSS vs PPF compared on lock-in, risk, returns potential, and Section 80C use. A calm framework for salaried Indians choosing tax-saving…
The investing glossary
The words in a fund factsheet, in plain language. 39 terms, each with an example, a table where the numbers help, and the questions people ask.
39 terms
- ARNARN stands for AMFI Registration Number. It is the unique code the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) gives to a person or firm that is allowed to distribute mutual funds.Costs & plans
- Asset allocationAsset allocation is how you divide your money between asset classes such as equity, debt and gold, and it drives most of how your portfolio behaves.Retirement & insurance
- AUMAUM stands for Assets Under Management: the total market value of the money a mutual fund scheme, a fund house or an adviser manages for investors.Tax & returns
- BenchmarkA benchmark is the market index a mutual fund is measured against, such as the Nifty 50 TRI for a large-cap fund, so you can tell whether the manager added value.Tax & returns
- Best date for a SIPNo SIP date wins consistently over the long run. Choose a date a day or two after your salary arrives so the debit never fails.SIP & investing
- CAGR vs absolute returnCAGR stands for Compound Annual Growth Rate: the single yearly rate at which an investment would have to grow, compounding each year, to turn its starting value into its ending value over the period.Tax & returns
- Capital gains on mutual fundsGains on mutual fund units are taxed only when you redeem. The rate depends on the fund's type and how long you held each unit: equity funds pay 12.5% on long-term gains above ₹1.25 lakh a year and 20% on short-term gains.Tax & returns
- Debt fundA debt fund is a mutual fund that lends money by buying bonds, government securities and other money-market instruments, earning interest instead of owning shares.Fund types
- Demat accountA demat account is an electronic account that holds shares, ETFs, bonds and other securities in digital form, the way a bank account holds money.Costs & plans
- Direct vs regular planA direct plan and a regular plan hold exactly the same portfolio; the difference is that the regular plan includes a distributor's commission in its expense ratio and the direct plan does not.Costs & plans
- DiversificationDiversification means spreading your money across different assets, sectors and companies so that the poor result of one does not wreck the whole portfolio.Retirement & insurance
- ELSSELSS stands for Equity Linked Savings Scheme: a mutual fund that invests mainly in shares, offers a tax deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakh a year under the old tax regime, and locks your money in for three years.Fund types
- Equity SIPAn equity SIP is a SIP into an equity mutual fund scheme, so each monthly instalment goes into a fund that holds mostly shares.SIP & investing
- Exit loadExit load is a fee a mutual fund charges if you redeem or switch out units before a stated period, deducted from the redemption amount.Costs & plans
- Expense ratioThe expense ratio is the annual fee a mutual fund scheme charges to run itself, expressed as a percentage of the scheme's assets and already deducted from the NAV every day.Costs & plans
- Flexi cap fundA flexi cap fund is an equity fund that must keep at least 65% of its money in shares, with the manager free to choose between large, mid and small companies in any proportion.Fund types
- FolioA folio number is the account number a mutual fund house gives you to record the units you hold with it.Costs & plans
- Human Life Value (HLV)Human Life Value (HLV) is the present value of the income or expenses your family would lose or need if you were not there, used to decide how much life cover to buy.Retirement & insurance
- Hybrid fundA hybrid fund invests in a mix of equity, debt and sometimes gold or other assets in one scheme, so you get diversification and some automatic balancing in a single fund.Fund types
- Index fundAn index fund is a mutual fund that holds the same stocks as a market index, such as the Nifty 50 or the Sensex, in the same proportions, instead of a manager picking stocks.Fund types
- InflationInflation is the general rise in prices over time, which means the same rupee buys less each year.Tax & returns
- iSIPiSIP stands for Internet SIP: a SIP registered online, with the bank debit authorised through net banking or an online mandate instead of a paper form.SIP & investing
- Large, mid and small capIn India, large caps are the 100 largest listed companies by full market capitalisation, mid caps are those ranked 101 to 250 and small caps are those ranked 251 and below.Fund types
- Lock-in periodA lock-in period is a fixed time after you invest during which you are not allowed to withdraw your money.Costs & plans
- NAVNAV stands for Net Asset Value. It is the price of one unit of a mutual fund on a given day: the value of everything the fund owns, minus its liabilities, divided by the number of units.Tax & returns
- NFONFO stands for New Fund Offer: the first time a fund house invites investors to buy units of a new scheme, usually at a face value of ₹10 per unit.Fund types
- NPSNPS stands for National Pension System: a government-backed, market-linked retirement savings scheme regulated by PFRDA, where you save through your working years and use the corpus after retirement.Retirement & insurance
- Risk profileYour risk profile is a description of how much loss you can afford and stomach, and how much risk your goals require, used to pick the right mix of investments.Retirement & insurance
- RiskometerThe riskometer is a SEBI-mandated dial on every mutual fund scheme that shows how risky the scheme's portfolio is, on a scale of six levels from Low to Very High.Retirement & insurance
- SIPSIP stands for Systematic Investment Plan. It is a way of investing a fixed amount in a mutual fund scheme on a fixed date, usually every month, instead of putting the whole amount in at once.SIP & investing
- SIP top-upA SIP top-up lets you raise your SIP by a fixed rupee amount (such as ₹500 or ₹1,000) at regular intervals, usually once a year.SIP & investing
- Step-up SIPA step-up SIP is a SIP whose monthly amount increases automatically by a fixed percentage (or fixed rupee amount) every year, so your investing keeps pace with your income.SIP & investing
- STPSTP stands for Systematic Transfer Plan: you move a fixed amount from one scheme to another scheme of the same fund house at regular intervals.SIP & investing
- SWPSWP stands for Systematic Withdrawal Plan: you tell the fund to redeem a fixed amount from your investment on a chosen date each month and send it to your bank account.SIP & investing
Common learning questions
Where to start, how step-up differs from a flat SIP, and how to verify registration.
- Where should a beginner start on this site?
- Read the SIP beginner guides, try the step-up SIP calculator, then skim the glossary for words that appear on fund factsheets. When you want a human conversation, WhatsApp or contact us.
- What is the difference between a regular SIP and a step-up SIP?
- A regular SIP keeps the same monthly amount. A step-up SIP raises that amount each year. Over long horizons the step-up usually builds a larger corpus because later instalments are higher and still have time to compound.
- How do I verify an AMFI ARN?
- Ask for the ARN, then search it on the AMFI distributor register. GTP Fintech Solutions publishes ARN-368973. Do not invest with anyone whose registration you cannot verify.
- Do these guides replace personal guidance?
- No. Guides and calculators are educational. A personalised plan depends on your goals, income, cover and risk capacity — start with a discovery conversation when you are ready.
Try a calculator
Each one shows the exact formula and a worked example, so you can see how the number is produced.
- Step-Up SIP Calculator
- SIP Calculator
- Lumpsum Calculator
- SIP Goal Calculator
- SWP Calculator
- SIP Delay Cost Calculator
- Retirement Calculator
- Child Education Calculator
- Wedding Fund Calculator
Talk to our team
Start the conversation today
WhatsApp for the fastest reply, or leave your details and we will call you back. Advicein Hindi, Marathi and English.
Prefer a form? Use the panel. Or WhatsApp +91 88303 58628 directly.