These sound similar but are paid very differently, and that changes the advice. A mutual fund distributor earns a commission from the fund house on what you buy, so their incentive leans toward selling products. A SEBI Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) is fee-only: you pay them, the product does not, so advice and sales are separated. Your bank relationship manager is usually a distributor with a sales target, even when the conversation feels like friendly guidance. None of this makes distributors dishonest, but you should always know who is paying the person advising you, because that shapes what lands on your table. For a founder with a concentrated, illiquid net worth, the conflict-free structure of an RIA often matters more. Ask directly how someone is compensated. This is general education, not a recommendation, so weigh it against your own situation and confirm details independently.
A curated summary to orient you, not advice. The resources below are the real value.
3 hand-picked resources, 3 India-specific, 2 link-checked. Pick how you want to dig in.
Why we picked it The market regulator own free investor-education portal: unbiased basics on investing, mutual funds, and avoiding scams, with nothing to sell you.
From SEBI by SEBI
Open investor.sebi.gov.in →Why we picked it The free, India-first grounding in what to do with cash once you have it: goals, allocation, SIPs, and not losing it to fees.
From Zerodha Varsity by Zerodha Varsity
Open zerodha.com →Why we picked it A trusted India-first place to compare funds and think about where cash goes once you have some to invest.
From Value Research by Value Research
Open valueresearchonline.com →
