New Delhi, Sept. 5 -- If you want to start investing in the National Pension System (NPS), the first step is to choose the right platform to open an account with.

There are two options: the direct route through e-NPS and a point of presence (PoP) such as ET Money or HDFC Pension-entities approved by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) to open and operate accounts.

If you choose the direct mode and open an account using e-NPS-in other words, directly with the central record-keeping agencies (CRAs)-the account opening charges and transaction costs are typically lower. However, experts say PoPs provide value-added services that can help subscribers.

For instance, CAMS CRA charges Rs.18 as account opening fees and...