Objective
To uncover whether there’s truly one “best” mutual fund by asking a cross-section of people from different age groups and financial backgrounds.
The Hypothesis
Everywhere online, people ask:
“Which mutual fund is best right now?”
“What are the top 5 mutual funds in India?”
“Best SIP fund to invest in?”
But no matter how many articles you read, most people are still unsure after scrolling through all the recommendations.
So I ran a simple 4-day social experiment to test something:
“What if we asked real people, in real situations, what they thought was the best mutual fund—and why?”
The Experiment Setup
Duration: 4 Days
People Surveyed: 1 person each day
Approach: Ask the same question (“What’s the best mutual fund?”) but phrase it differently each time
Criteria: Different age group & context each day
Day-by-Day Responses
Day 1 – 22-Year-Old Brother (Aggressive Growth Stage)
Question: “Sam, markets are doing great. What do you think is the best mutual fund right now?”
Answer: “I recently invested in a couple of small cap funds—especially HDFC Small Cap. They gave great returns. So for me, small cap is the way to go this year.”
Insight: Young, risk-seeking, focused on high returns and momentum.
Day 2 – 29-Year-Old Friend (Wealth Building Stage)
Question: “Congrats on your wedding, Vishal! Which mutual fund did you start your SIP with?”
Answer: “I went with multicap funds—good diversification, and I’m looking to buy a house in 10–12 years.”
Insight: Moderate risk, long-term goal (home), values diversification.
Day 3 – 40-Year-Old Uber Driver (Income + Stability Stage)
Spontaneous Question: “Sir, which mutual fund is doing well these days?”
Answer: “I don’t take too much risk—so I’ve put my money in balanced and debt funds.”
Insight: Risk-averse, income-focused, prefers capital safety with modest returns.
Day 4 – 50-Year-Old Family Friend (Tax Optimization Stage)
Question: “Hi Rajiv uncle, found anything for your tax planning yet?”
Answer: “Yes, I’m going to invest in an ELSS fund to claim benefits under Section 80C.”
Insight: Goal-driven (tax saving), low-to-moderate risk, time-sensitive investment.
Key Learning: There Is No Single Best Mutual Fund
Every response was different—and none of them repeated a fund or category. Why? Because:
- Different age brackets
- Different risk profiles
- Different financial goals
Conclusion
“The best mutual fund is the one that’s right for you—based on your age, risk appetite, and purpose of investment.”
Pro Tip from Team Saan
Before choosing a fund, ask yourself:
- What is the goal of this investment?
- How much risk am I comfortable taking?
- What is my time horizon?
Once you know this, fund selection becomes much easier—and way more effective.
After you have figured out your goals and risk appetite, this chart will certainly help you in choosing the appropriate fund accordingly.
