New Delhi, Oct. 16 -- If your daughter has just turned five, investing Rs.5,000 a month through a systematic investment plan (SIP) in a small-cap mutual fund could help build a corpus for her future needs by the time she turns 25. The money could contribute towards higher education, marriage or other financial goals. However, small-cap funds carry significant market risks, and returns are not guaranteed.

Historically, the Nifty Smallcap 250 Total Return Index (TRI), which accounts for reinvested dividends, delivered annualised returns of 14.51% over the five years and 15.63% since its launch in April 2016, according to the NSE Indices factsheet dated September 30, 2026.

Meanwhile, total mutual fund inflows reached a record Rs.32,490 cro...