Investing in mutual funds in 2026 - The characters that encounter again

“Want your money to grow but don’t know where to start?” This question is about many people’s stories. The good news is that mutual funds offer an excellent solution for investors of all levels. Whether you have little or much experience, and regardless of how much money you invest, you can start building wealth today.

In this article, we will introduce you to mutual funds in depth, from theory to practical application, and highlight 10 interesting mutual funds for 2569 (2026) that may help you succeed in investing.

What is a mutual fund? Made simple

When talking about mutual funds (Mutual Fund), it refers to a pooling of small investors who combine their money into a large sum and entrust it to professionals—called “fund managers”—to manage the investments. This way, individual investors like you can access the complex world of investing with professional support.

When you invest in a mutual fund, your money is converted into “unit trusts”. Each unit has a value called NAV (Net Asset Value) or “Net Asset Value”. This figure is announced at the end of each trading day and reflects the performance of all assets held by the fund. If the assets grow, NAV increases accordingly—that’s your profit.

Who is suitable to invest in mutual funds?

Actually, mutual funds are suitable for almost everyone, especially:

• Beginners: If you lack deep knowledge of analyzing stocks or bonds, mutual funds are like having a personal advisor to assist you.
• Busy people: For those who don’t have time to follow news and data, fund managers handle that for you.
• Risk diversifiers: Rest assured that your money is spread across multiple asset classes, not just a single stock.
• Tax benefits seekers: Certain funds like SSF, RMF, and ThaiESG are designed to offer tax deductions.

Additionally, with large capital, fund managers have greater bargaining power and can access investment opportunities unavailable to retail investors, such as IPO allotments or private bond investments with limited offerings.

Deep dive: Types of mutual funds

Mutual funds come in various forms, designed to suit different goals and risk levels.

Based on Asset Class(

1. Money Market Funds )Money Market Fund(

• Risk: Lowest
• Suitable for: Short-term savings or emergency funds
• Invests in: Deposits, high-quality short-term debt securities

2. Fixed Income Funds )Fixed Income Fund(

• Risk: Low to moderate
• Suitable for: Those seeking higher returns than savings but less risky than stocks
• Invests in: Government bonds, corporate bonds

3. Equity Funds )Equity Fund(

• Risk: High
• Suitable for: Investors comfortable with volatility, with a long-term goal
• Invests in: Domestic and international stocks

4. Hybrid Funds )Mixed/Hybrid Fund(

• Risk: Moderate
• Suitable for: Indecisive investors seeking balance
• Invests in: Mix of stocks and bonds, adjusted according to market conditions

5. Alternative Investment Funds )Alternative Investment Fund(

• Risk: Very high
• Suitable for: Experienced investors
• Invests in: Gold, oil, real estate, infrastructure

) Based on Special Investment Policies###

Index Funds and ETFs

• Passive investment strategies tracking an index
• Low fees, ETFs can be traded in real-time

Sector Funds (Sector Fund)

• Focused on a single industry, e.g., technology, healthcare
• High risk but also high return potential

Foreign Investment Funds - FIF (FIF)

• Enable global investments in the US, China, Vietnam, Europe

Tax-advantaged Funds

• SSF, RMF, ThaiESG with holding conditions for tax benefits

How to choose the right mutual fund

Finding the “right” fund among many options can seem challenging, but a systematic process makes it easier:

( Step 1: Self-assessment

Before looking outward, ask yourself three questions:

• What are your goals? Retirement savings? Buying a house? Education fund?
• What is your investment horizon? The longer, the higher risk you can generally take.
• What level of risk can you tolerate? Can you sleep well when your portfolio drops 10-20%?

) Step 2: Study the investment policy

Read the Fund Fact Sheet. Key points to review:

• Where is the money invested?
• Which countries?
• What strategy? ###Active or Passive###?

( Step 3: Deep analysis

• Past performance: Compare with benchmark and peers, but remember “past performance does not guarantee future results.”
• Maximum Drawdown: Shows the worst loss experienced.
• Sharpe Ratio: Measures risk-adjusted return; higher is better.
• Total Expense Ratio (TER) )Total Expense Ratio###: An important factor affecting long-term returns.

10 mutual funds to watch in 2569 (2026)

Before listing, consider the big picture for 2569:

Analysts expect the global economy to split into two phases—volatile in the first half, recovery in the second. AI will be a key catalyst for energy, chips, and tech demand. This is why we selected the following funds.

( Thai Dividend Equity Funds: Defensive stance amid volatility

)# 1. Siam Commercial Bank Dividend Equity Fund ###SCBDV###

(# 2. Krungsri Dividend Equity Fund )KFSDIV###

( International Equity Funds: Follow global trends

)# 3. KTAM World Technology Artificial Intelligence Equity ###KT-WTAI-A###

(# 4. Bualuang Global Innovation & Technology Fund )B-INNOTECH###

(# 5. Principal Vietnam Equity A )PRINCIPAL VNEQ-A###

( Bond Funds: Safe fortress

)# 6. Krungthai Short-Term Bond Plus ###KTSTPLUS-A###

( Hybrid Funds: Flexible according to market conditions

)# 7. TISCO Flexible Plus ###TISCOFLEXP###

( Thematic Funds: Investing in the future

)# 8. Krungsri ESG Climate Tech ###KFCLIMA-A###

(# 9. K-G Healthcare )K-GHEALTH###

(# 10. Asset Plus Thai Sustainable Equity )ASP-THAIESG###

Pros and cons of mutual funds

( Advantages ✅

• Diversification: Small amounts can access multiple asset types
• Professional management: Fund managers handle the investments
• High liquidity: Most can be bought and sold daily
• Easy access: Many funds start at just a few hundred baht
• Variety of options: From very low to very high risk

) Disadvantages ❌

• Fees: Deducted from returns
• Lack of direct control: Dependent on fund manager decisions
• Manager risk: Poor decisions can lead to underperformance
• Tax on dividends: 10% withholding tax applies

What to know about mutual fund fees?

Fees are divided into two parts:

1. Fees directly charged to investors

• Sales fee: When purchasing units, e.g., 1.5% of investment amount
• Redemption fee: When selling back to the fund
• Switching fee: When transferring between funds within the same management company

2. Fees deducted from the fund ###as they accrue to NAV###

• Management fee: Paying fund managers
• Custodian fee: Bank fees for safeguarding assets
• Registrar fee: Data management of unit holders

All these add up to the Total Expense Ratio (TER), which investors compare. A difference of just 1% per year over 20-30 years can lead to significant differences in final portfolio value.

Conclusion

Mutual funds have proven to be a powerful investment tool, providing easy access and suitability for everyone. For 2569 (2026), filled with challenges and opportunities, building a portfolio aligned with global megatrends—whether AI, clean energy, technology, or sustainability—will be key to long-term wealth creation.

Mutual funds are not just for beginners but also for experienced investors, as they help optimize portfolio management and strategic planning. Invest wisely, and let time work for you.