The dialogue “म्हारी छोरियां छोरों से कम हैं के?” from the movie “Dangal” isn’t just a dialogue but a reality. Women today are not behind men in any field, including mutual fund investments. In fact, women not only invest more than men in mutual funds but also maintain their investments for longer periods.
According to Axis Mutual Fund’s “Women Investment Behaviour Report 2024,” women investors show increased interest in mutual funds. The report reveals that the average Assets Under Management (AUM) for women investors is approximately ₹2,15,714, significantly higher in comparison to men’s average AUM of ₹1,81,107.
Axis Mutual Fund analyzed data of more than 1 crore customers. It found that over the past 5 years, women have not only caught up with men in mutual fund investments but also show a long-term perspective towards their investments. Despite market fluctuations, women tend to remain steadfast in their investment decisions compared to men.
Around 70.4% of women seek advice related to investments from professionals, friends, or family. But when it comes to making decisions, approximately 72% of women make the final call on their investments themselves. 19.7% delegate their investments to their husbands.
There are two ways to invest in mutual funds. Lumpsum, where the entire amount is invested at once, and SIP (Systematic Investment Plan), where a fixed amount is invested every month. According to the survey, women prefer to invest a significant portion of their investments through Lumpsum, whereas men prefer investing through SIP.
In SIP, the benefit of cost averaging is evident. In simple terms, during market highs, SIP buys fewer units with the same amount, while during market lows, more units are bought, averaging out the cost per unit. This strategy can potentially enhance long-term returns.
Apart from cost averaging, SIP allows you to invest small amounts like ₹500 every month. As your income increases, you can use Step Up SIP to increase your SIP amount. You can potentially create wealth amounting to lakhs or crores for yourself over time.