2 weeks ago
SEBI's Amarjeet Singh calls mutual fund distributors behavioural anchors
This story is about people called mutual fund distributors, who help ordinary investors choose where to put their money.
A mutual fund is like a big basket that holds many different investments, and a distributor is a guide who helps you pick the right basket.
In India, people have saved about 85 lakh crore rupees in mutual funds, which is a huge amount of money.
A group called SEBI, which makes sure investing in India is fair and safe, held a training event for distributors.
At the event, SEBI leader Amarjeet Singh explained why distributors matter so much to investors.
He said distributors act like a 'behavioural anchor', helping people stay calm when the stock market goes up and down.
Investors who get help from a distributor often keep their money invested for longer than people who invest all on their own.
Distributors also help people in small towns learn about investing and choose good products.
SEBI is creating new ways for distributors to help more, while Mr. Singh reminded them to always be honest and put investors' interests first.
SEBI Whole-Time Member Amarjeet Singh highlighted mutual fund distributors' role as a 'behavioural anchor' for investors at the NJ Partners Business Training 2026 held on 13 August.
India's mutual fund industry AUM stands at around ₹85 lakh crore, having grown more than eightfold since crossing ₹10 lakh crore in 2014.
About 71% of mutual fund assets held by retail and HNI investors come through distributors, with active AMFI-registered distributors rising from 2.4 lakh to 3.4 lakh in five years.
Roughly 34% of SIP assets in regular plans have been held for more than five years, compared with 20% in direct plans, illustrating distributors' role in keeping investors invested.
SEBI has simplified the certification framework for Specialized Investment Funds and is consulting on a proposed mutual fund-only PMS requiring a minimum investment of ₹25 lakh.
- Who
- Amarjeet Singh, Whole-Time Member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), speaking at the NJ Partners Business Training 2026.
- What
- Explained the role of mutual fund distributors as 'behavioural anchors' for investors and outlined new opportunities SEBI is creating for distributors.
- Where
- An event organised by NJ Group in association with FICCI in India.
- When
- 13 August, at the NJ Partners Business Training 2026.
- Why
- To highlight how distributors help investors stay invested through market volatility, expand participation in smaller towns, and share SEBI's new frameworks like the MF-only PMS.
Key facts
- Mutual fund industry AUM
- Around ₹85 lakh crore
- AUM growth
- Crossed ₹10 lakh crore in 2014; grew more than eightfold in over a decade
- Mutual fund folios
- Over 27 crore
- Unique mutual fund investors
- Over 6 crore
- Retail/HNI assets via distributors
- About 71%
- SIP assets held 5+ years (regular vs direct plans)
- 34% vs 20%
- B-30 cities share of AUM
- Almost 19%, up from about 16% five years ago
- Proposed MF-only PMS minimum investment
- ₹25 lakh, vs ₹50 lakh for conventional PMS
Quotes
Amarjeet Singh
SEBI member and whole‑time member
“"Distributors have been central to this journey. They serve as the bridge between households and capital markets, playing a critical role in guiding and handholding investors,"”
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