Research Article· Published 05 October 2026· 8 min read
Direct vs Regular Mutual Funds: How Much Money Do Indian Investors Save Over 15 Years?
BL
Researched by BrokerLens Financial Research Desk
Fact-Checked & Verified against primary NSE, BSE and SEBI disclosures
In mutual fund investing, expense ratio is often treated as an afterthought. However, the difference of 1.0% to 1.5% between Regular plans and Direct plans compounds into substantial wealth destruction over long horizons.
The Compounding Math
Consider a disciplined investor contributing Rs 10,000 per month for 15 years at an expected 12% annualized return:
- Direct Plan (0.7% Expense Ratio): Final corpus accumulates to approximately Rs 50.45 Lakhs.
- Regular Plan (1.9% Expense Ratio): Final corpus accumulates to approximately Rs 43.80 Lakhs.
- Net Wealth Loss to Intermediary Commissions: Over Rs 6.65 Lakhs.
Explore our SIP Calculator and review direct mutual fund platforms to secure higher net compound growth.
Editorial Integrity: BrokerLens does not accept payment to promote brokers or alter factual analyses. Read our Editorial Policy and Methodology.