Investment Glossary

A comprehensive dictionary of mutual fund and investment terms explained in simple language.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

AMC (Asset Management Company)

A company that manages mutual fund schemes by investing pooled money from investors in securities like stocks and bonds.

AUM (Assets Under Management)

The total market value of all investments managed by a mutual fund or an AMC.

Annualized Returns

The average annual return on an investment over a specified period, expressed as a percentage.

B

Benchmark

A standard index (like Nifty 50 or Sensex) against which a mutual fund's performance is measured.

Blue Chip Funds

Mutual funds that invest in well-established, financially stable large-cap companies.

C

CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)

The rate of return that would be required for an investment to grow from its beginning value to its ending value over a specified period.

Capital Gains

The profit earned when an investment is sold for more than its purchase price.

D

Debt Funds

Mutual funds that invest in fixed-income securities like government bonds, corporate bonds, and treasury bills.

Diversification

Spreading investments across different asset classes to reduce risk.

Dividend

A portion of a company's profits distributed to shareholders or mutual fund unitholders.

E

ELSS (Equity Linked Savings Scheme)

A tax-saving mutual fund with a 3-year lock-in period that offers deductions under Section 80C.

Equity Funds

Mutual funds that primarily invest in stocks/shares of companies.

Exit Load

A fee charged by the fund when an investor redeems units before a specified period.

Expense Ratio

The annual fee charged by the fund house to manage the mutual fund, expressed as a percentage of AUM.

F

Fund Manager

A professional responsible for making investment decisions for a mutual fund scheme.

Fund of Funds (FoF)

A mutual fund that invests in other mutual fund schemes rather than directly in stocks or bonds.

H

Hybrid Funds

Mutual funds that invest in a mix of equity and debt instruments to balance risk and return.

I

Index Funds

Mutual funds designed to track and replicate the performance of a specific market index like Nifty 50.

Inflation

The rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, reducing purchasing power.

K

KYC (Know Your Customer)

A mandatory one-time verification process required by SEBI for all mutual fund investors.

L

Lock-in Period

The minimum period during which an investor cannot redeem their mutual fund units.

Lumpsum Investment

A one-time, bulk investment in a mutual fund as opposed to periodic investments.

LTCG (Long Term Capital Gains)

Gains from selling equity mutual fund units held for more than 1 year, taxed at 10% above ₹1 lakh.

N

NAV (Net Asset Value)

The per-unit market value of a mutual fund scheme, calculated daily by dividing total assets minus liabilities by the number of units.

NFO (New Fund Offer)

The first-time subscription offer for a new mutual fund scheme, similar to an IPO for stocks.

R

Redemption

The process of selling mutual fund units back to the fund house to receive your money.

Risk Profile

An assessment of an investor's willingness and ability to take financial risk.

S

SEBI

Securities and Exchange Board of India — the regulatory body that oversees mutual funds and securities markets.

SIP (Systematic Investment Plan)

A method of investing a fixed amount regularly in a mutual fund, typically monthly.

STCG (Short Term Capital Gains)

Gains from selling equity mutual fund units held for less than 1 year, taxed at 15%.

SWP (Systematic Withdrawal Plan)

A plan that allows investors to withdraw a fixed amount from their mutual fund at regular intervals.

T

Thematic Funds

Mutual funds that invest in a specific theme or sector like technology, healthcare, or infrastructure.

Total Expense Ratio (TER)

The complete cost of managing and operating a mutual fund, including management fees, administrative costs, etc.

U

Units

The shares or portions of a mutual fund scheme that an investor holds. The number of units depends on NAV at time of investment.