{"id":16713,"date":"2026-03-25T11:55:48","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T11:55:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/?p=16713"},"modified":"2026-03-25T11:55:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T11:55:49","slug":"discretionary-vs-non-discretionary-vs-advisory-pms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/discretionary-vs-non-discretionary-vs-advisory-pms\/","title":{"rendered":"Portfolio Management Services: Discretionary vs Non-Discretionary vs Advisory"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-discretionary-pms-the-hands-off-choice-3\">Discretionary PMS: The Hands-Off Choice<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-non-discretionary-pms-the-collaborative-path-6\">Non-Discretionary PMS: The Collaborative Path<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-advisory-pms-the-independent-approach-8\">Advisory PMS: The Independent Approach<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-detailed-comparison-discretionary-vs-non-discretionary-vs-advisory-11\">Detailed Comparison: Discretionary vs\u00a0Non-Discretionary\u00a0vs Advisory<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-pms-requirements-and-regulations-13\">PMS Requirements and Regulations<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-conclusion-20\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"aioseo-toc-item\" href=\"#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-26\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<p>In Indian <a href=\"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/equity\" title=\"\">equity\u00a0markets<\/a>, managing a high-net-worth portfolio involves multiple considerations beyond stock selection; it requires selecting a suitable management model.\u00a0<strong>Portfolio\u00a0Management Services or PMS<\/strong>\u00a0are investment services that generally used by HNIs and it offers direct asset ownership and specialized strategies.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, before making investment decisions, it is important to understand the\u00a0<strong>difference between discretionary and non-discretionary\u00a0pms<\/strong>, as well as where\u00a0<strong>advisory\u00a0pms\u00a0<\/strong>fits into the equation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1064de7bb771c0f90913407038f3f140\" id=\"aioseo-discretionary-pms-the-hands-off-choice-3\" style=\"color:#023368\">Discretionary PMS: The Hands-Off Choice\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For busy professionals and those who prefer professional management,\u00a0<strong>discretionary and non-discretionary\u00a0pms<\/strong>\u00a0are often compared, with the former being the commonly used. In\u00a0discretionary\u00a0model, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sebi.gov.in\/\" title=\"\">SEBI<\/a>-registered portfolio manager has the authority as per agreement to make all buying, selling, and asset allocation decisions on your behalf.\u00a0Let\u2019s\u00a0see the benefits of it;\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td>Speed&nbsp;<\/td><td>Since client approval is not\u00a0required\u00a0for every trade, managers can act without prior approval, subject to conditions.\u00a0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Professional Rigor&nbsp;<\/td><td>The portfolio is managed strictly based on data and research, reducing emotional decision-making from the equation.\u00a0<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Convenience&nbsp;<\/td><td>May suitable for investors preferring minimal involvement who want to outsource the entire portfolio management process.\u00a0<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-126df7776b6410f643d7e2eb48592bd4\" id=\"aioseo-non-discretionary-pms-the-collaborative-path-6\" style=\"color:#023368\">Non-Discretionary PMS: The Collaborative Path\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Non-discretionary PMS is a hybrid model where the portfolio manager provides research and suggestions, but the\u00a0final action\u00a0(Buy or Sell) only placed after\u00a0your\u00a0explicit approval.\u00a0The debate between discretionary and non-discretionary in\u00a0the final decision rests with the investor who want the benefit of professional research but wish to\u00a0maintain\u00a0a veto power over their assets.\u00a0While this offers more control, it can sometimes lead to delay may impact execution timing if there are delays in communication.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7c7a86818f522a4c987ffa982efae1fe\" id=\"aioseo-advisory-pms-the-independent-approach-8\" style=\"color:#023368\">Advisory PMS: The Independent Approach\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Advisory PMS or PMS advisory services\u00a0<\/strong>represents\u00a0the offers a higher degree of client control. Here,\u00a0the manager acts solely as a consultant, and they provide personalized strategies and recommendations, but the investor is also responsible for executing the trades in your own account.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This\u00a0model is generally used by experienced investors who have the time and tools to execute trades but want a second opinion from professional\u00a0strategists\u00a0to support\u00a0portfolio\u00a0decision-making<strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/open.navia.co.in\/index-navia.php?utm_source=organic&#038;utm_medium=blog\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"display:flex; width:100%;\" ><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d1l8l3rp33cdzs.cloudfront.net\/images\/naviacee\/Open-free-demat-account%20%28blog%29%20%281%29.gif\" width=\"80%\" \nheight=\"auto\"  style=\"border-radius:10px; margin:5px auto;\"\/><\/a>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b384c4e7d69be0fae6101c00e5c913f0\" id=\"aioseo-detailed-comparison-discretionary-vs-non-discretionary-vs-advisory-11\" style=\"color:#023368\">Detailed Comparison: Discretionary vs\u00a0Non-Discretionary\u00a0vs Advisory\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Aspect<\/th><th>Discretionary PMS<\/th><th>Non-Discretionary PMS<\/th><th>Advisory PMS<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Decision-Maker&nbsp;<\/td><td>Portfolio Manager&nbsp;<\/td><td>Investor (after advice)&nbsp;<\/td><td>Investor&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Trade Execution&nbsp;<\/td><td>Manager&nbsp;<\/td><td>Manager (after approval)&nbsp;<\/td><td>Investor&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Client Control&nbsp;<\/td><td>Low&nbsp;<\/td><td>Moderate&nbsp;<\/td><td>High&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Time Requirement&nbsp;<\/td><td>Minimal&nbsp;<\/td><td>Moderate&nbsp;<\/td><td>High&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Typically Used By<\/td><td>Hands-off investors&nbsp;<\/td><td>Active collaborators&nbsp;<\/td><td>Independent experts&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-37b2f2a884fed172aad734bd46b5df3c\" id=\"aioseo-pms-requirements-and-regulations-13\" style=\"color:#023368\">PMS Requirements and Regulations\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In India, all PMS types are regulated by SEBI under the Portfolio Managers Regulations, 2020. So, understanding these\u00a0<strong>pms\u00a0requirements\u00a0<\/strong>is essential for compliance, that include,\u00a0the minimum investment requirement is \u20b950 lakh (as per current regulations), the provider must\u00a0maintain\u00a0a minimum net worth of \u20b95 crore, and providers are required to provide periodic disclosures including performance and risks.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While many ask that&nbsp;<strong>what is&nbsp;pms&nbsp;period,&nbsp;<\/strong>in simple term, it&nbsp;generally refers&nbsp;to the investment horizon or the lock-in period specified in the agreement, often aligned with market cycles.&nbsp;And the&nbsp;<strong>pms&nbsp;charges&nbsp;<\/strong>typically includes;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udd38 <strong>Fixed Management Fee:\u00a0<\/strong>Usually,\u00a01% to 2.5% of the AUM annually.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udd38 <strong>Performance Fee:\u00a0<\/strong>A performance-linked fee structure (often 10-20%) that may apply when returns exceed a pre-agreed &#8220;hurdle rate.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udd38 <strong>Operating Costs:\u00a0<\/strong>Includes <a href=\"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/\" title=\"\">brokerage<\/a>, custodian fees, audit fees, and\u00a0an 18% GST on the management fee.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, discretionary\u00a0services have the may involve higher fees due to the level of active management involved, while advisory services are the may involve relatively lower costs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-01229877449c61ed205735a23350192f\" id=\"aioseo-conclusion-20\" style=\"color:#023368\">Conclusion\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You must understand that there is investment choices may vary based on individual preferences in portfolio management. The choice between\u00a0<strong>discretionary vs non-discretionary\u00a0pms<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0<strong>advisory\u00a0pms\u00a0<\/strong>depends on how much you value control\u00a0versus convenience.\u00a0So, if you prefer professional manag, choose\u00a0a discretionary\u00a0or if you prefer shared decision-making,\u00a0non-discretionary is\u00a0your path or if you simply want a if you prefer advisory support, advisory is the way to go.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Do You Find This Interesting?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p>We\u2019d Love to Hear from you-<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/form.typeform.com\/to\/bpQ8ZlDc\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"64\" src=\"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Yes-No-Button-1.png\" alt=\"feedback yes or no button\" class=\"wp-image-8901\" srcset=\"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Yes-No-Button-1.png 300w, https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Yes-No-Button-1-150x32.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-09914e861c07eb54468e2a2f3597beb2\" id=\"aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-26\" style=\"color:#023368\">Frequently Asked Questions\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle wp-block-ub-content-toggle-block\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-block-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\" data-mobilecollapse=\"true\" data-desktopcollapse=\"true\" data-preventcollapse=\"false\" data-showonlyone=\"false\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\" style=\"color: #000000; \"><strong>What is the difference between non-discretionary PMS and advisory PMS?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\">\n\n<p>Non-Discretionary PMS involves a collaborative approach where the investor\u00a0maintains\u00a0enhanced control while receiving professional guidance from the portfolio manager. Advisory PMS provides the maximum level of investor control, with the portfolio manager acting strictly as an advisor.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-1-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\" style=\"color: #000000; \"><strong>What is the difference between discretionary and non-discretionary advisory?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-1-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\">\n\n<p>In a non-discretionary account, the broker\u00a0is required to\u00a0contact you and obtain your permission before executing any trades. Conversely, in a discretionary account, the broker\u00a0is authorized to\u00a0use their own judgment to buy or sell securities without consulting you or receiving prior approval.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-2-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\" style=\"color: #000000; \"><strong>What are the two types of PMS?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-2-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\">\n\n<p>Portfolio Management Services (PMS) are available in two forms: discretionary and non-discretionary. In a discretionary PMS, the manager executes investment decisions without needing client approval for individual transactions. In a non-discretionary PMS, the manager provides advice, but the client must approve every transaction before it is executed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-3-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\" style=\"color: #000000; \"><strong>Which is better,\u00a0discretionary\u00a0or non-discretionary?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-3-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\">\n\n<p>Non-discretionary PMS is may be considered by investors with market understanding and wish to\u00a0retain\u00a0control over their <a href=\"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/category\/investments\/\" title=\"\">investment<\/a> decisions. For all other investors, discretionary PMS is may be suitable, as it grants the portfolio manager full authority to manage investments.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-4-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\" style=\"color: #000000; \"><strong>What is non-discretionary PMS?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-4-49d22d9a-4e0f-412b-be97-9758f48f655d\">\n\n<p>Non-Discretionary Portfolio Management Service (NDPMS) is a more may involve lower costs\u00a0where the manager serves primarily as a client advisor. In contrast to Discretionary PMS (DPMS), the Portfolio Manager in an NDPMS structure is not authorized to make decisions on the client&#8217;s behalf.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>DISCLAIMER:<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>Investment in securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing. The securities quoted are exemplary and are not recommendatory. Full disclaimer:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/naviadisclaimer\">https:\/\/bit.ly\/naviadisclaimer<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Indian equity\u00a0markets, managing a high-net-worth portfolio involves multiple considerations beyond stock selection; it requires selecting a suitable management model.\u00a0Portfolio\u00a0Management Services or PMS\u00a0are investment services that generally used by HNIs and it offers direct asset ownership and specialized strategies.\u00a0\u00a0 So, before making investment decisions, it is important to understand the\u00a0difference between discretionary and non-discretionary\u00a0pms, as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16724,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[1035,11,7,21,22,53,1033,32],"class_list":["post-16713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trading","tag-equity-market","tag-financial-goals","tag-indian-stock-markets","tag-investments","tag-investor","tag-marketperformance","tag-portfolio-management","tag-wealth-creation"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/portfolio-management-1.jpg.jpeg","author_info":{"display_name":"Navia Markets","author_link":"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/author\/tradeplusonline\/"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16713","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16713"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16713\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16723,"href":"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16713\/revisions\/16723"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16724"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/navia.co.in\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}