Not that funds haven't tried to woo investors. The big boom in equities had mutual funds launching one scheme after another. Sure enough, they have managed to rake in the moolah, but the fact of the matter is they have failed to rope in new investors. A closer examination will reveal that hot money that chased mutual funds last year has come at the cost of existing schemes. In other words, investors have taken out money from existing funds to invest in new funds.

There are many reasons for this continuing lack of retail interest in funds. One, wary of the scams that dogged previous bull runs, many are still hesitant to put their money in equities. Two, weaned on assured return schemes of the past coupled with the volatility of equity returns, investors are still worried about the viability of equities as a regular income option. The fact is that for the past 10 years several equity diversified funds have delivered returns of over 20 per cent on an average, beating assured return products hands down. But what would make retail investors trust funds more? Consistency in performance is the answer. Hopefully, the stock markets should oblige this time.

In this annual magazine of mutual funds we bring to you all that you need to know about funds. Plus a coffee and conversation section with the six best fund managers in the country. To whet the appetite of readers who are on the look out for thematic ideas, we have featured 10 funds based on their themes and past performances. We have also delved into some key industry trends.

Happy investing!