How Salaried Employees Can Choose the Top Mutual Funds for SIP?

Summary: 

• SIPs (Systematic Investment Plans) promote “disciplined investing” and may allow salaried employees to build long-term wealth. 

• To choose the best SIP plans for beginners, investors can check the performance consistency of the scheme across different market cycles. 

• In addition, Sharpe Ratio, expense ratio, and portfolio composition can be evaluated. 

• On airpay money, you can compare and invest in top mutual funds for SIP based on your risk appetite. 

In India, several salaried employees try to build long-term wealth through SIPs in mutual funds. SIPs offer several benefits, like compounding, rupee-cost averaging, and even eliminate the need to time the market.  

However, the wealth you can accumulate largely depends on the mutual fund schemes you choose. Selecting unsuitable financial products may lead to lower returns and missed financial goals. 

Don’t want that? 

Read this article to understand how salaried employees can choose the “right” mutual funds for SIP. Furthermore, you will also explore the top ten SIP funds (sorted as per the highest returns) available on the airpay money app. 

4 Checks to Make When Exploring the Best SIP Plans for Beginners 

Realise that choosing a mutual fund is not about picking the scheme with the highest recent return. A good selection process looks at: 

• Performance consistency 

• Risk taken to earn returns 

• Expense ratio 

• Portfolio composition 

• Diversification level, and more 

Need assistance? 

Below are four checks you may make while analysing the top mutual funds for SIP: 

1. Consistent Performance Across Market Cycles 

As an investor, you may avoid judging a mutual fund based on any “one year” of strong returns. Instead, check the fund’s 3–5 year rolling returns. They show how the scheme performed during different time periods instead of a single fixed duration.  

Now, compare these returns with their benchmark index, such as the Nifty 50. The fund may be considered “consistent” if it: 

• Regularly ranks among the top performers (compared to peers) and 

• Beats the benchmark over multiple periods.  

2. Returns Should Match the Level of Risk Taken 

A fund may generate high returns but also experience large price swings. To check whether the return justifies the volatility, you may use the Sharpe ratio.  

A “ratio above 1” (for equity funds) could be preferred as it indicates that the fund has delivered better returns relative to the level of risk taken. 

3. Keep Costs Low to Protect Your Final Returns 

Every mutual fund charges an annual fee called the “expense ratio,” which covers the operational costs of running a scheme. This fee is deducted directly from your investment value. For example,  

• Let’s say you invest ₹1,00,000 in a mutual fund with an expense ratio of 1%. 

• Now, you are charged ₹1,000 (₹1,00,000 x 1%) annually. 

• This amount is adjusted within the fund’s Net Asset Value (NAV). 

So, what to do here? 

You may perform a “peer review/comparison” and prefer funds with lower expense ratios.  

4. Check Fund Size + Portfolio Composition 

Assets Under Management (AUM) represent the total money invested in a mutual fund scheme. Usually, larger funds have better liquidity, which allows the fund manager to buy or sell securities without major price impact. 

Additionally, a mutual fund portfolio that holds a “diversified mix” of stocks (rather than heavy exposure to a few companies or sectors) could be preferred. As an investor, you may review the number of holdings + sector allocation. This knowledge will allow you to check whether risk is spread across multiple areas of the market. 

Searching Options? Check Out These Schemes Available on the airpay money app 

airpay money is a 360-degree financial wellness mobile application trusted by 1,00,000+ users. Here, you can check out the best SIP plans for beginners offered by India’s leading AMCs, such as Mirae Asset, Motilal Oswal, Samco, Invesco India, and more.  

Need some options?

Below are the top mutual funds for SIP, you may consider in 2026 as per your risk appetite (sorted based on the highest returns offered): 

Note: The mutual fund schemes mentioned above are available for investment through the airpay money app. Return figures are valid as of March 13, 2026, and are subject to market fluctuations. 

Conclusion 

So now you know how to select the “right” mutual fund scheme from the hundreds of options available in the market. After assessing your risk appetite, you may pick a scheme by: 

• Checking performance consistency across market cycles 

• Comparing risk-adjusted returns like the Sharpe ratio 

• Reviewing the fund manager’s experience and AMC track record 

• Analysing expense ratios through peer comparison 

• Examining portfolio diversification and fund size (AUM) 

If you are searching for top mutual funds for SIP, these plans can be explored on the airpay money mobile application. The entire investment process is 100% online with no in-person branch visits required. You also get the option to invest via a lump sum or SIP (monthly).