At the India Fixed Income Summit, Basant Bafna, Head of Fixed Income at Mirae Asset, discussed the underutilization of fixed income mutual funds by retail investors in India, who tend to favor traditional bank fixed deposits (FDs). He pointed out that while many investors remain unaware of the benefits of fixed income products, these funds offer yields 175 to 180 basis points higher than FDs. Bafna stressed the importance of aligning investments with specific financial goals, such as purchasing a car or planning for retirement, rather than relying on familiar but potentially less beneficial options like FDs. He highlighted that fixed income is not just for conservative investors; aggressive investors can also benefit from these funds, particularly when yields decline, leading to potential capital gains. Furthermore, he noted that the SEBI categorization framework has made fixed income investing more accessible, allowing investors to better understand the duration and type of products available. Bafna urged investors to focus on long-term asset allocation and fundamentals instead of reacting to short-term market fluctuations.