Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Regular SIP investors hold funds longer than direct investors
Imagine you save a little pocket money every month — that is like a SIP, a small regular investment.
Mutual funds are big baskets where many people put their money together.
Some people invest with the help of a helper called a distributor.
That is called a regular plan.
Other people invest all by themselves, which is called a direct plan.
New numbers show that more people who had a helper kept their investments for five years or longer.
About 34% of regular-plan investments stayed for five years or more, while only 20% of direct ones did.
The expert quoted in the article says helpers act like a 'behavioural anchor' that stops people from giving up when markets get bumpy.
But some people point out that the numbers don't prove the helper is the reason, and helpers also charge fees.
Many Indian investors still invest through distributors today.
34% of SIP assets in regular plans have been held for more than five years, compared to 20% in direct plans.
The expert cited, Singh, said the figures indicate 'a stronger long-term orientation in regular plans.'
Singh described distributors as a 'behavioural anchor' that can help investors stay invested during market volatility.
The data shows a difference in holding behavior but does not establish that using a distributor causes investors to hold SIPs longer.
Mutual fund industry AUM has reached around ₹85 lakh crore, with folios crossing 27 crore and unique investors exceeding 6 crore; about 71% of retail and HNI assets come through distributors.
- Who
- Indian mutual fund investors, an expert named Singh quoted by the article, and SEBI's view on distributors.
- What
- Data shows 34% of SIP assets in regular plans were held for more than five years versus 20% in direct plans.
- When
- Not specified in the article.
- Where
- India's mutual fund industry.
- Why
- To highlight the role distributors can play in helping investors stay invested for the long term.
Skeptics of distributor value
Proponents of distributor value
Do distributors help investors stay invested longer?
Skeptics of distributor value
The data does not prove that using a distributor causes investors to hold SIPs longer, and regular plans carry higher cost structures because distributors are paid.
Proponents of distributor value
Singh says distributors act as a 'behavioural anchor' who give perspective during market volatility; the 34% versus 20% holding data indicates a stronger long-term orientation in regular plans.
- Regular plan SIP assets held 5+ years
- 34%
- Direct plan SIP assets held 5+ years
- 20%
- Mutual fund industry AUM
- Around ₹85 lakh crore
- Mutual fund folios
- Crossed 27 crore
- Unique mutual fund investors
- Over 6 crore
- Retail/HNI assets via distributors
- Around 71%
- Regular plan investment route
- Through distributors
- Direct plan investment route
- Directly with the fund house or platforms