Archive · 16 Aug 2025
Pension Savings Fuel PMS, Not Just the Wealthy
Imagine people saving for retirement have their money invested in a special program called PMS.
These programs are mainly for wealthy people, but pension money from the EPFO, which manages retirement funds for many Indians, is flowing into them.
The EPFO is required to invest through these programs, which means lots of money from regular workers is helping PMS grow.
Because of higher costs, taxes, and rules, rich people are putting less money into PMS.
Meanwhile, things like mutual funds have advantages like tax benefits.
Pension savings fuel Portfolio Management Services (PMS), particularly from EPFO.
EPFO is mandated to invest a portion of its corpus via PMS.
PMS assets from EPFO have increased, while those from HNIs have shrunk.
Increased compliance costs and higher minimum investment deter HNI participation.
Mutual funds offer tax advantages compared to PMS.
- Who
- Portfolio Management Services (PMS), EPFO, HNIs, and investors.
- What
- The shift in funding sources for Portfolio Management Services (PMS) and the impact of pension funds.
- When
- The article discusses recent trends and data up to May 2025, and compares to data five years prior.
- Where
- The article focuses on the Indian financial market.
- Why
- To explain the growing influence of pension funds on the PMS industry and associated challenges.
PMS Challenges
Mutual Fund Advantages
Tax Efficiency
PMS Challenges
Capital gains tax is levied on stock churn, even without redemption.
Mutual Fund Advantages
Mutual funds have a tax-exempt nature at the fund level, which is more tax efficient.
- PMS Assets (May 2025)
- ₹35 trillion
- EPFO Share of PMS Assets (May 2025)
- 79% (₹28 trillion)
- EPFO Share of PMS Assets (5 years prior)
- 75%
- HNI Share of PMS Assets (May 2025)
- 21%
- Minimum PMS Investment
- ₹50 lakh
- Number of reports PMS providers file monthly to Sebi
- 12
- Break-even AUM for PMS providers
- ₹200 crore