A Comparative Study of Mutual Fund Investments through Traditional Channels and FinTech Platforms

The rapid advancement of financial technology has significantly transformed the investment landscape, particularly in the mutual fund industry. This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of mutual fund investments through traditional channels and FinTech platforms by examining the key factors influencing investor preferences. The research focuses on four major determinants, namely convenience, trust, cost-effectiveness, and accessibility, to understand their impact on the choice of investment platform. The study is based on primary data collected from a sample of 320 respondents using a structured questionnaire measured on a five-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were employed using IBM SPSS Statistics to analyze the data. The findings of the study reveal that FinTech platforms are increasingly preferred by investors due to their higher levels of convenience, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness. Among these factors, convenience emerged as the most significant predictor of platform preference, followed by accessibility and cost advantages. However, trust was found to be a critical factor favoring traditional investment channels, indicating that investors continue to value reliability and personalized advisory services. The results highlight the existence of a transitional investment environment characterized by the coexistence of digital and traditional channels. The study contributes to the existing literature by providing a comparative empirical perspective on investment platform preferences and offers practical implications for FinTech firms, traditional intermediaries, and policymakers. It also emphasizes the need for integrating technological efficiency with trust-building mechanisms to enhance investor engagement and satisfaction in the evolving financial ecosystem.