Investment Behaviour of Doctors and Engineers Towards Mutual Funds: A Comparative Study of Belagavi City, India

Despite rising financial literacy and the expansion of mutual fund products in India, many high-income professionals continue to favour conventional instruments such as fixed deposits, gold, and real estate. This study examines the investment behaviour of two prominent professional groups doctors and engineers towards mutual funds in Belagavi, a rapidly developing Tier-2 city in Karnataka, India. Using a quantitative, descriptive research design, primary data were collected from 203 respondents (98 doctors and 105 engineers), selected through purposive sampling and a structured questionnaire administered both online and offline. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, Chi-square tests of association, and Spearman rank correlation were employed to analyse demographic influences, awareness levels, perception, risk preference, and decision-making factors. Results indicate that while awareness of mutual funds is high (86.2%), active participation remains moderate (51.7%). Gender, age, income, and employment type significantly influence investment behaviour, whereas profession alone does not. Doctors allocate a higher proportion of income to mutual funds and adopt longer investment horizons, while engineers monitor their investments more frequently. Risk preference significantly shapes allocation, monitoring frequency, and investment horizon, and liquidity together with past fund performance emerged as the strongest behavioural drivers. The findings offer practical implications for asset management companies, financial advisors, and policymakers seeking to expand mutual fund penetration among professional segments in emerging urban markets.