Retail investors are increasingly opting for systematic investment plans (SIPs) in mutual funds as the industry garnered Rs 7,554 crore through this route in July, a surge of 53 per cent from the year-ago period.

According to the Association of Mutual Funds in India, over Rs 67,000 crore was garnered through SIPs in 2017-18 and more than Rs 43,900 crore in the preceding fiscal.

SIPs have been the preferred route for retail investors to invest in mutual funds as it helps them reduce market timing risk. Further, investors are not showing interest in investing into traditional asset classes like real estate and gold and preferring financial assets such as mutual funds.

“While SIP remains a popular mode of investment, there is need for investor awareness on the advantages of SIP, especially in volatile markets. There are emerging challenges in this space such as premature cancellations of SIP instructions as investors rush to discontinue their SIPs in a falling market,” said Stefan Groening, Director — Investment Solutions, Sharekhan, BNP Paribas.

As per the latest data, SIP contribution in July was Rs 7,554 crore -- the same as the previous month. In comparison, the industry garnered Rs 4,947 crore in July last year and Rs 3,334 crore in July 2016. The latest collection has taken the total inflow through the route to Rs 29,102 crore so far in the current fiscal (till July).

MFs have 2.33 crore SIP accounts through which investors regularly invest in Indian mutual fund schemes. In the current fiscal, 9.92 lakh SIP accounts were added each month on an average, with an average ticket size of Rs 3,250.

SIP is an investment vehicle that allows investors to invest in small amount periodically instead of a lumpsum payment. The frequency of investment is usually weekly, monthly or quarterly. It is similar to a recurring deposit where investors deposit a small or fixed amount every month.

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