SWP: You withdraw a fixed amount regardless of the fund’s performance. Dividend payout: Payout depends on the fund's declared dividends, which may vary or stop.

If the fund's value drops significantly, your withdrawals may deplete your investment faster. Choosing funds with lower risk (like debt funds) can mitigate this issue.

For regular funds, there is no lock-in, and you can start SWP anytime. For tax-saving schemes like ELSS, you can set up an SWP only after the lock-in period (e.g.,…