The report titled ‘Mutual Growth’ underscores significant strides women have made in mutual fund participation. The report is backed by recent industry insights from AMFI data, curated by CRISIL.
Women’s empowerment in financial decision-making and their increasing momentum towards embracing capital market instruments is visible in the mutual fund industry. In line with the mutual fund industry’s exponential growth, crossing the Rs 50 lakh crore mark, women are increasingly making their presence felt in the industry.
According to the industry data, women’s share in mutual fund industry assets has expanded from 15% in March 2017 to nearly 21% as of December 2023. The share of women’s mutual fund folios and assets in B-30 cities has increased from 15% to 18% and from 17% to 28%, respectively, during the period.
According to the report, the age analysis of women mutual fund investors indicates almost 50% of women investors fall in the 25-44 age group, versus around 45% for the overall set of individual investors.
Goa has the highest share of women investors in the mutual fund industry at 40%, followed by north-eastern states with around 30%. Chandigarh, Maharashtra, and New Delhi also have over 30% share of women in the industry’s assets under management.According to the report, most women investors continue to invest through the regular plan route in mutual funds and stay invested for longer when investing through a mutual fund distributor.
The number of women mutual fund distributors has steadily increased, nearing the 42,000 registration mark as of December 2023, managing over Rs 1 lakh crore in AUM.
The report was released at a special industry initiative for International Women’s Day where women fund managers, research analysts and dealers from the industry were felicitated by Sebi Chairperson, Madhabi Puri Buch and AMFI board members.
“Women can lead and champion the right investment causes by leveraging their perspectives, advocating for inclusive decision-making processes, and fostering environments where diverse voices are heard and valued. Together, women can champion a paradigm shift where they are not confined by outdated stereotypes, but empowered to thrive authentically and unapologetically in every aspect of their lives,” said Madhabi Puri Buch, Sebi chairperson.
“Let us, as an industry, cultivate an environment that recognises women’s role in investments domain,” she added.
“The increasing participation of women in mutual funds is a testament to their growing economic empowerment. We are witnessing a positive trend towards greater financial literacy and inclusion among women, which is crucial for the overall development of our society. We, at AMFI as a part of our journey towards a Viksit Bharat want to take this to the next level by conducting more women-focused investor awareness initiatives,” said Navneet Munot, Chairman of AMFI.
Venkat Chalasani, Chief Executive of AMFI, added, “It is heartening to see women embracing new-age financial instruments, such as mutual funds, alongside traditional investment options. The increase in women distributors highlights their ability to make financial decisions for themselves and guide others reflecting a growing confidence and financial awareness among women.”
