Equity mutual funds remain one of the most effective vehicles for long-term wealth creation.

But most investors either don’t understand how they’re structured — or end up choosing funds based on returns alone. That leads to misaligned portfolios, unnecessary risk, and missed goals.

A well-structured equity MF portfolio can do the heavy lifting for your long-term goals. But structure matters more than selection. So, here’s a cheatsheet to help you understand the basics of equity mutual funds.