# Retirement mutual funds compared

Source page: https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/category/retirement-funds

Retirement funds are solution-oriented funds with a lock-in of at least 5 years or until retirement age, whichever comes first. Some hold mostly equities, others mostly bonds. (SEBI categorisation of mutual fund schemes, 6 October 2017, as amended.)

All 30 retirement funds, Direct plan, Growth option, NAV as of 2026-10-07. Every figure is worked out from each fund's own NAV.

Category averages: 3-year return +9.4% a year, 5-year return +8.5% a year (both annualised), volatility over 3 years 9.8%, expense ratio 1.11%.

| Rank | Fund | 1Y | 3Y (annualised) | 5Y (annualised) | Volatility 3Y | Worst fall 5Y | Expense ratio | Fund size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Pure Equity - Direct Plan - Growth Option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/icici-prudential-retirement-fund-pure-equity-direct-plan-growth-option) | +3.6% | +18.9% | +17.9% | 16.4% | -16.9% | 0.87% | ₹2,158 Cr |
| 2 | [ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Hybrid Aggressive - Direct Plan - Growth Option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/icici-prudential-retirement-fund-hybrid-aggressive-direct-plan-growth-option) | +3.4% | +16.8% | +14.2% | 14.0% | -14.7% | 1.18% | ₹1,320 Cr |
| 3 | [Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 30s Plan-Direct Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/aditya-birla-sun-life-retirement-fund-the-30s-plan-direct-growth) | +11.2% | +15.5% | +11.6% | 15.7% | -19.0% | 1.35% | ₹487 Cr |
| 4 | [HDFC Retirement Fund - Equity Plan - Growth Option - Direct Plan](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/hdfc-retirement-savings-fund-equity-plan-growth-option-direct-plan) | -7.4% | +8.5% | +11.0% | 13.5% | -16.1% | 0.92% | ₹6,998 Cr |
| 5 | [SBI Retirement Benefit Fund - Aggressive Plan - Direct Plan - Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/sbi-retirement-benefit-fund-aggressive-plan-direct-plan-growth) | -2.1% | +7.8% | +10.0% | 15.0% | -17.9% | 1.11% | ₹3,242 Cr |
| 6 | [SBI Retirement Benefit Fund - Aggressive Hybrid Plan - Direct Plan - Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/sbi-retirement-benefit-fund-aggressive-hybrid-plan-direct-plan-growth) | +0.3% | +8.7% | +10.0% | 12.3% | -14.5% | 1.19% | ₹1,672 Cr |
| 7 | [Tata Retirement Savings Fund - Progressive Plan -Direct Plan-Growth Option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/tata-retirement-savings-fund-progressive-plan-direct-plan-growth-option) | +3.1% | +12.0% | +9.6% | 16.6% | -19.7% | 0.82% | ₹2,255 Cr |
| 8 | [Tata Retirement Savings Fund- Moderate Plan -Direct Plan-Growth Option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/tata-retirement-savings-fund-moderate-plan-direct-plan-growth-option) | +3.0% | +11.4% | +9.6% | 14.1% | -16.1% | 0.83% | ₹2,251 Cr |
| 9 | [Nippon India Retirement Fund - Wealth Creation Scheme- Direct Plan- Growth Plan - Growth Option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/nippon-india-retirement-fund-wealth-creation-scheme-direct-plan-growth-plan-growth-option) | -4.9% | +9.5% | +9.5% | 15.2% | -18.7% | 1.28% | ₹3,127 Cr |
| 10 | [HDFC Retirement Fund - Hybrid-Equity Plan - Growth Option - Direct Plan](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/hdfc-retirement-savings-fund-hybrid-equity-plan-growth-option-direct-plan) | -6.9% | +6.8% | +8.5% | 10.8% | -12.3% | 1.10% | ₹1,604 Cr |
| 11 | [ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Hybrid Conservative - Direct Plan - Growth Option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/icici-prudential-retirement-fund-hybrid-conservative-direct-plan-growth-option) | +3.7% | +9.5% | +8.4% | 4.6% | -4.7% | 1.06% | ₹98 Cr |
| 12 | [Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 40s Plan-Direct Plan-Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/aditya-birla-sun-life-retirement-fund-the-40s-plan-direct-plan-growth) | -0.6% | +9.9% | +8.3% | 11.6% | -14.6% | 1.12% | ₹116 Cr |
| 13 | [UTI Retirement Fund- Direct](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/uti-retirement-fund-direct) | -0.3% | +8.3% | +8.3% | 6.8% | -6.3% | 1.08% | ₹4,699 Cr |
| 14 | [Axis Retirement Fund - Dynamic Plan - Direct Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/axis-retirement-fund-dynamic-plan-direct-growth) | -3.0% | +10.8% | +7.4% | 13.6% | -17.1% | 1.39% | ₹285 Cr |
| 15 | [SBI Retirement Benefit Fund - Conservative Hybrid Plan - Direct Plan - Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/sbi-retirement-benefit-fund-conservative-hybrid-plan-direct-plan-growth) | +0.4% | +6.7% | +7.3% | 7.0% | -6.9% | 1.24% | ₹255 Cr |
| 16 | [HDFC Retirement Fund - Hybrid-Debt Plan - Growth Option - Direct Plan](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/hdfc-retirement-savings-fund-hybrid-debt-plan-growth-option-direct-plan) | -0.3% | +6.5% | +6.8% | 4.4% | -4.0% | 1.35% | ₹146 Cr |
| 17 | [Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 50s Plan-Direct Plan-Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/aditya-birla-sun-life-retirement-fund-the-50s-plan-direct-plan-growth) | +2.9% | +7.7% | +6.8% | 4.4% | -5.0% | 0.63% | ₹27 Cr |
| 18 | [Franklin India Retirement Fund - Direct - Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/franklin-india-retirement-fund-direct-growth) | -1.7% | +7.2% | +6.8% | 6.1% | -7.4% | 1.53% | ₹493 Cr |
| 19 | [SBI Retirement Benefit Fund - Conservative Plan - Direct Plan - Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/sbi-retirement-benefit-fund-conservative-plan-direct-plan-growth) | +1.4% | +6.5% | +6.8% | 4.8% | -4.4% | 0.97% | ₹140 Cr |
| 20 | [Tata Retirement Savings Fund- Conservative Plan-Direct Plan-Growth Option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/tata-retirement-savings-fund-conservative-plan-direct-plan-growth-option) | +2.8% | +7.5% | +6.4% | 5.6% | -6.1% | 1.05% | ₹171 Cr |
| 21 | [Axis Retirement Fund - Aggressive Plan - Direct Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/axis-retirement-fund-aggressive-plan-direct-growth) | -3.0% | +10.0% | +6.2% | 12.4% | -21.0% | 1.28% | ₹706 Cr |
| 22 | [ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund - Pure Debt - Direct Plan - Growth Option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/icici-prudential-retirement-fund-pure-debt-direct-plan-growth-option) | +3.7% | +6.6% | +5.9% | 1.7% | -1.3% | 1.22% | ₹80 Cr |
| 23 | [Nippon India Retirement Fund - Income Generation Scheme- Direct Plan- Growth Plan - Growth Option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/nippon-india-retirement-fund-income-generation-scheme-direct-plan-growth-plan-growth-option) | -1.0% | +6.5% | +5.9% | 5.5% | -7.4% | 0.98% | ₹143 Cr |
| 24 | [Axis Retirement Fund - Conservative Plan - Direct Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/axis-retirement-fund-conservative-plan-direct-growth) | -2.1% | +6.9% | +5.6% | 7.0% | -8.5% | 1.25% | ₹47 Cr |
| 25 | [Aditya Birla Sun Life Retirement Fund-The 50s Plus-Debt Plan-Direct Plan-Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/aditya-birla-sun-life-retirement-fund-the-50s-plus-debt-plan-direct-plan-growth) | +3.2% | +5.9% | +5.0% | 1.4% | -2.3% | 0.92% | ₹14 Cr |
| 26 | [Union Retirement Fund - Direct Plan - Growth Option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/union-retirement-fund-direct-plan-growth-option) | +1.7% | +12.1% | N/A | 14.4% | N/A | 1.39% | ₹216 Cr |
| 27 | [Baroda BNP Paribas Retirement Fund - Direct plan - Growth option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/baroda-bnp-paribas-retirement-fund-direct-plan-growth-option) | +1.6% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1.21% | ₹405 Cr |
| 28 | [PGIM India Retirement Fund - Direct Plan - Growth Option](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/pgim-india-retirement-fund-direct-plan-growth-option) | +0.2% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1.13% | ₹109 Cr |
| 29 | [Bandhan Retirement Fund - Direct Plan - Growth](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/bandhan-retirement-fund-direct-plan-growth) | -2.5% | N/A | N/A | 9.3% | N/A | 0.96% | ₹182 Cr |
| 30 | [UTI - Unit Linked Insurance Plan- Direct](https://www.rudowealth.com/mutual-funds/uti-unit-linked-insurance-plan-direct) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1.00% | ₹5,108 Cr |

Ordered by 5-year annualised return, highest first; funds younger than 5 years follow by 3-year, then 1-year return. Volatility is the annualised standard deviation of monthly returns. Worst fall is the largest drop from a peak in the last 5 years. We do not label any fund as the best.

Investing from the UAE: NRIs can generally invest once KYC is complete, paying from an NRE or NRO bank account. Some fund houses do not accept residents of the United States or Canada. The UAE does not levy personal income tax, and the India UAE tax treaty may affect how gains are treated, so confirm your own position with a tax adviser.

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RuDo Wealth is a fee-only cross-border advisory operating through two separate companies. India: RuDo Wealth Investment Advisory, SEBI Registered Investment Adviser, registration INA000019503. UAE: RuDo Digital Wealth, FSRA Financial Services Permission 220155, Category 3C (Retail), ADGM. The entity permitted to serve you depends on your country of residence.

General information, not a recommendation to buy or sell any fund. Past performance does not indicate future returns.