Portfolio Management Services (PMS)

PMS provides personalized portfolios managed by professionals in your own demat/segregated account.

Minimum is typically ₹50 lakh; fees include management and performance. Result dispersion across PMS managers is wide.

Use PMS if you want concentrated, actively‑managed exposure and can evaluate strategy/risks; compare long‑term after‑fee performance.

₹50L minimumActive managementFee impact

Ways to Invest

  • Open a PMS account with a SEBI‑registered PMS; complete KYC and agreements.
  • Choose style: Large‑cap, Multi‑cap, Small/Mid, Value, Growth, Quant; review drawdowns & turnover.
  • Understand fee model (mgmt + performance with hurdle/high‑watermark) and reporting cadence.

What to Evaluate

  • 3–5 year after‑fee performance vs benchmarks; downside capture & volatility.
  • Portfolio construction, capacity, team stability, and compliance.
  • Operational setup: custodian, brokerage, audit, disclosure quality.

Why PMS Investments Are High Risk

High fees, high volatility, and no guarantee of beating mutual funds

  • High Minimum Ticket: SEBI minimum is ₹50 Lakhs — unsuitable for most investors.
  • Returns Not Guaranteed: Many PMS schemes underperform benchmarks & index funds.
  • High Fees: Typical 2% management fee + 10–20% performance fee (above hurdle).
  • Concentrated Portfolios: 12-25 stocks → higher drawdowns vs diversified mutual funds.
  • Reporting Lag: NAVs not updated daily; monthly or quarterly disclosure only.
  • Tax Inefficiency: Every buy/sell triggers real-time capital gains; no pass-through like MFs.
  • Style Drift Risk: Manager can change mandate, sector weightings, exposure levels mid-way.
  • Manager Dependency: PMS success ≠ repeatable; performance varies widely across cycles.
  • Liquidity: Redemptions take T+15 to T+30 days in some PMS structures.
Bottom line: PMS is meant for HNIs who understand equity risk, can tolerate deep drawdowns, and are comfortable with higher costs and low liquidity. It is not a substitute for equity mutual funds or index funds.

Real PMS Examples (India)

Well-known SEBI-registered PMS providers & strategies

PMS Provider Strategy Name Theme / Style Minimum Investment
Marcellus Investment Managers Consistent Compounders PMS High-quality concentrated equity ₹50 Lakhs
Motilal Oswal PMS NCP / Value PMS / Focused 25 Large & multi-cap focused portfolio ₹50 Lakhs
ASK Investment Managers India Select / Growth PMS Quality + growth with sector filters ₹50 Lakhs
ICICI Prudential PMS Large Cap / Flexicap PMS Disciplined quantitative + research ₹50 Lakhs
Unifi Capital Blended – Green / APJ etc. Special situation / thematic ₹50 Lakhs
Carnelian PMS Shift / Magic / Turning Point Growth + behavioural investing mix ₹50 Lakhs

Education only; not investment advice. Markets carry risk; do independent due diligence.