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Should I switch from VPF to NPS at 43?

Milind

Milind Vadjikar  |1182 Answers  |Ask -

Insurance, Stocks, MF, PF Expert - Answered on Mar 31, 2025

Milind Vadjikar is an independent MF distributor registered with Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) and a retirement financial planning advisor registered with Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
He has a mechanical engineering degree from Government Engineering College, Sambhajinagar, and an MBA in international business from the Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune.
With over 16 years of experience in stock investments, and over six year experience in investment guidance and support, he believes that balanced asset allocation and goal-focused disciplined investing is the key to achieving investor goals.... more
Siddharth Question by Siddharth on Mar 31, 2025Hindi
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I am 43 years old. I have invested in VPF since 2008 and it has grown to 64lacs currently. But have not invested in NPS at all. Should I divert my monthly investment to NPS and start from zero or should I continue to invest in VPF to take advantage of compounding? Please suggest.

Ans: Hello;

Interest on employee contribution to provident fund(EPF+VPF) in a financial year above 2.5 L is taxable after Budget 2021.

Hence it is recommended that you may divert your monthly investments into NPS tier-1 account.

You may select active choice and allocate maximum possible to equity and the rest between Govt securities and corporate bonds.

Note that withdrawals from NPS are highly restricted, before 60 age, being a pure retirement product.

The corpus accumulated in PF may be retained since it will continue to compound at the Interest rate.

Best wishes;
DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.
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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8265 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 01, 2025

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I have invested in VPF since 2008 and it has grown to 64lacs currently. But have not invested in NPS at all. Should I divert my monthly investment to NPS and start from zero or should I continue to invest in VPF to take advantage of compounding? Please suggest.
Ans: You have invested in VPF since 2008, and it has now grown to Rs. 64 lakhs. You are considering whether to continue VPF or start investing in NPS from scratch. Let’s analyze both options to determine the best approach.

Understanding VPF and NPS
VPF is an extension of EPF with tax benefits under EEE status, meaning contributions, interest, and withdrawals are completely tax-free. It provides fixed returns of around 8-8.5%, backed by the government. Withdrawals after 5 years are tax-free, making it a low-risk and stable option. However, it lacks equity exposure, limiting growth potential.

NPS, on the other hand, is a market-linked retirement scheme that offers a mix of equity and debt exposure. It has higher return potential (9-12%) but also comes with taxable withdrawals. Upon retirement, 40% of the corpus must be used for annuity, which is taxable. The extra Rs. 50,000 tax deduction under Section 80CCD(1B) is an added advantage, but NPS lacks liquidity as withdrawals are restricted until retirement.

Key Factors for Decision-Making
1. Compounding and Stability of VPF
VPF provides stable, tax-free compounding at 8%+ returns. Since you have been investing for 16 years, compounding is already working in your favor. The tax-free nature of both principal and interest makes it a highly efficient retirement tool.

2. Growth Potential and Risk in NPS
NPS has the potential to generate higher returns through equity exposure. However, it is also subject to market volatility. Additionally, the annuity requirement reduces flexibility, as a portion of the corpus is locked into a taxable pension.

3. Tax Efficiency and Withdrawal Flexibility
VPF is completely tax-free on withdrawal, while NPS has partially taxable withdrawals. If you start NPS now, the accumulated corpus will be small compared to VPF, reducing its impact on retirement planning. Since NPS funds remain locked until retirement, liquidity is limited.

Recommended Approach
Option 1: Continue VPF for Maximum Tax-Free Growth
If you want stability, predictable returns, and tax-free withdrawals, it is best to continue VPF. Your Rs. 64 lakhs corpus will keep compounding at 8%+, ensuring a risk-free retirement fund. Shifting to NPS would introduce market risk and annuity restrictions, which may not be necessary at this stage.

Option 2: Small Diversification to NPS for Tax Benefit
If you are looking for an additional tax benefit, you can invest Rs. 50,000 per year in NPS under Section 80CCD(1B). This will reduce taxable income while providing some exposure to equities. However, investing beyond this amount may limit liquidity and introduce unnecessary restrictions.

Final Insights
VPF is more efficient for retirement savings due to its tax-free nature, stable returns, and liquidity. NPS is suitable only for tax benefits, but the mandatory annuity requirement reduces flexibility. If needed, invest Rs. 50,000 yearly in NPS to optimize tax savings, but avoid diverting major funds from VPF to NPS. Continuing with VPF ensures compounding, stability, and tax-free growth, making it the better choice for retirement planning.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

..Read more

Latest Questions
Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |4447 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Apr 19, 2025

Career
Sir I have 138472 rank in jee mains 90.66 prcntile general category female outside delhi . Sir what can i get in JAC Delhi in any round or spot round . Can I get IIIT Delhi or any other ?
Ans: Manoj, IIIT Delhi, through JAC Delhi, places more importance on candidates from Delhi, especially in the highly competitive CSE field. The admission requirements for IIIT-D use JEE Main scores plus bonus points, giving more weight to candidates from Delhi. The cutoffs for outside Delhi General branches like CSE, CSAM, and CSB are typically in the top 30k to 50k places. IIIT-Delhi is out of reach even in spot rounds with your rank of 138k. Other JAC Delhi colleges include DTU, NSUT, IIIT-D, and IGDTUW (only for women). IGDTUW is a good choice for women, as fields like ME, ECE, and IT sometimes close at 70k-90k ranks but rarely go above 100k. At 138k rank, the chances are very low even for IGDTUW.

Back-up plans include CSAB special rounds, private universities/colleges that take your JEE rank. With a 90.66 percentile, you have a good chance of getting into good colleges/universities in CSE or ECE during state quota rounds. The final answer is IIIT-Delhi: ? At rank 138k, it's not possible. Other JAC Delhi schools, like IGDTUW: Not likely at all, not even in spot rounds

Pay attention to CSAB, State Counseling, and Private Colleges.

n order to produce a predetermined schedule of NITs/GFTIs/IIITs to which your rank will qualify for admission, here is, How to Predict Your Chances of Admission into NIT or IIIT or GFTI After JEE Main Results – A Step-by-Step Guide.

Providing precise admission chances for each student can be challenging. Some reputed educational websites offer ‘College Predictor’ tools where you can check possible college options based on your percentile, category, and preferences. However, for a more accurate understanding, here’s a simple yet effective 9-step method using JoSAA’s past-year opening and closing ranks. This approach gives you a fair estimate (though not 100% exact) of your admission chances based on the previous year’s data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Check Your Admission Chances Using JoSAA Data
Step 1: Collect Your Key Details
Before starting, note down the following details:

Your JEE Main percentile | Convert the Percentile to AIR, based on the Formula available in Google.
Your category (General-Open, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD categories)
Preferred institute types (NIT, IIIT, GFTI)
Preferred locations (or if you're open to any location in India)
List of at least 3 preferred academic programs (branches) as backups (instead of relying on just one option)
Step 2: Access JoSAA’s Official Opening & Closing Ranks
Go to Google and type: JoSAA Opening & Closing Ranks 2024
Click on the first search result (official JoSAA website).
You will land directly on JoSAA’s portal, where you can enter your details to check past-year cutoffs.
Step 3: Select the Round Number
JoSAA conducts five rounds of counseling.
For a safer estimate, choose Round 4, as most admissions are settled by this round.
Step 4: Choose the Institute Type
Select NIT, IIIT, or GFTI, depending on your preference.
If you are open to all types of institutes, check them one by one instead of selecting all at once.
Step 5: Select the Institute Name (Based on Location)
It is recommended to check institutes one by one, based on your preferred locations.
Avoid selecting ‘ALL’ at once, as it may create confusion.
Step 6: Select Your Preferred Academic Program (Branch)
Enter the branches you are interested in, one at a time, in your preferred order.
Step 7: Submit and Analyze Results
After selecting the relevant details, click the ‘SUBMIT’ button.
The system will display Opening & Closing Ranks of the selected institute and branch for different categories.
Step 8: Note Down the Opening & Closing Ranks
Maintain a notebook or diary to record the Opening & Closing Ranks for each institute and branch you are interested in.
This will serve as a quick reference during JoSAA counseling.
Step 9: Adjust Your Expectations on a Safer Side
Since Opening & Closing Ranks fluctuate slightly each year, always adjust the numbers for safety.
Example Calculation:
If the Opening & Closing Ranks for NIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | OPEN Category show 8622 & 26186 (for Home State), consider adjusting them to 8300 & 23000 (on a safer side).
If the Female Category rank is 34334 & 36212, adjust it to 31000 & 33000.
Follow this approach for Other State candidates and different categories.
Pro Tip: Adjust your expected rank slightly lower than the previous year's cutoffs for realistic expectations during JoSAA counseling.

Can This Method Be Used for JEE April & JEE Advanced?
Yes! You can repeat the same steps after your April JEE Main results to refine your admission possibilities.
You can also follow a similar process for JEE Advanced cutoffs when applying for IITs.

Want to Learn More About JoSAA Counseling?
If you want detailed insights on JoSAA counseling, engineering entrance exams, preparation strategies, and engineering career options, check out EduJob360’s 180+ YouTube videos on this topic!

Hope this guide helps! All the best for your admissions!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know more on 'Careers | Health | Money | Relationships'.

...Read more

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |4447 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Apr 19, 2025

Listen
Career
Hello, my jee mains 2025 sc rank is 7402 Can I get mechanical engineering in iiest shibpur?
Ans: Esteemed Pritam, You have not specified whether you are a resident of the Home State (WB) or the Other State (OS). In any case, there is an 85% likelihood that you will get ME in IIEST-Shibpur. Conversely, ensure that you have backups and satisfy the utmost number of options. In order to produce a predetermined schedule of NITs/GFTIs/IIITs to which your rank will qualify for admission, here is, How to Predict Your Chances of Admission into NIT or IIIT or GFTI After JEE Main Results – A Step-by-Step Guide.

Providing precise admission chances for each student can be challenging. Some reputed educational websites offer ‘College Predictor’ tools where you can check possible college options based on your percentile, category, and preferences. However, for a more accurate understanding, here’s a simple yet effective 9-step method using JoSAA’s past-year opening and closing ranks. This approach gives you a fair estimate (though not 100% exact) of your admission chances based on the previous year’s data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Check Your Admission Chances Using JoSAA Data
Step 1: Collect Your Key Details
Before starting, note down the following details:

Your JEE Main percentile | Convert the Percentile to AIR, based on the Formula available in Google.
Your category (General-Open, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD categories)
Preferred institute types (NIT, IIIT, GFTI)
Preferred locations (or if you're open to any location in India)
List of at least 3 preferred academic programs (branches) as backups (instead of relying on just one option)
Step 2: Access JoSAA’s Official Opening & Closing Ranks
Go to Google and type: JoSAA Opening & Closing Ranks 2024
Click on the first search result (official JoSAA website).
You will land directly on JoSAA’s portal, where you can enter your details to check past-year cutoffs.
Step 3: Select the Round Number
JoSAA conducts five rounds of counseling.
For a safer estimate, choose Round 4, as most admissions are settled by this round.
Step 4: Choose the Institute Type
Select NIT, IIIT, or GFTI, depending on your preference.
If you are open to all types of institutes, check them one by one instead of selecting all at once.
Step 5: Select the Institute Name (Based on Location)
It is recommended to check institutes one by one, based on your preferred locations.
Avoid selecting ‘ALL’ at once, as it may create confusion.
Step 6: Select Your Preferred Academic Program (Branch)
Enter the branches you are interested in, one at a time, in your preferred order.
Step 7: Submit and Analyze Results
After selecting the relevant details, click the ‘SUBMIT’ button.
The system will display Opening & Closing Ranks of the selected institute and branch for different categories.
Step 8: Note Down the Opening & Closing Ranks
Maintain a notebook or diary to record the Opening & Closing Ranks for each institute and branch you are interested in.
This will serve as a quick reference during JoSAA counseling.
Step 9: Adjust Your Expectations on a Safer Side
Since Opening & Closing Ranks fluctuate slightly each year, always adjust the numbers for safety.
Example Calculation:
If the Opening & Closing Ranks for NIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | OPEN Category show 8622 & 26186 (for Home State), consider adjusting them to 8300 & 23000 (on a safer side).
If the Female Category rank is 34334 & 36212, adjust it to 31000 & 33000.
Follow this approach for Other State candidates and different categories.
Pro Tip: Adjust your expected rank slightly lower than the previous year's cutoffs for realistic expectations during JoSAA counseling.

Can This Method Be Used for JEE April & JEE Advanced?
Yes! You can repeat the same steps after your April JEE Main results to refine your admission possibilities.
You can also follow a similar process for JEE Advanced cutoffs when applying for IITs.

Want to Learn More About JoSAA Counseling?
If you want detailed insights on JoSAA counseling, engineering entrance exams, preparation strategies, and engineering career options, check out EduJob360’s 180+ YouTube videos on this topic!

Hope this guide helps! All the best for your admissions!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know more on 'Careers | Health | Money | Relationships'.

...Read more

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |4447 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Apr 19, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 19, 2025Hindi
Listen
Career
What IIIT OR NIT can I get with 77.92 percentile in jee mains 2025( OBC category female)
Ans: Here is, How to Predict Your Chances of Admission into NIT or IIIT or GFTI After JEE Main Results – A Step-by-Step Guide.

Providing precise admission chances for each student can be challenging. Some reputed educational websites offer ‘College Predictor’ tools where you can check possible college options based on your percentile, category, and preferences. However, for a more accurate understanding, here’s a simple yet effective 9-step method using JoSAA’s past-year opening and closing ranks. This approach gives you a fair estimate (though not 100% exact) of your admission chances based on the previous year’s data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Check Your Admission Chances Using JoSAA Data
Step 1: Collect Your Key Details
Before starting, note down the following details:

Your JEE Main percentile | Convert the Percentile to AIR, based on the Formula available in Google.
Your category (General-Open, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD categories)
Preferred institute types (NIT, IIIT, GFTI)
Preferred locations (or if you're open to any location in India)
List of at least 3 preferred academic programs (branches) as backups (instead of relying on just one option)
Step 2: Access JoSAA’s Official Opening & Closing Ranks
Go to Google and type: JoSAA Opening & Closing Ranks 2024
Click on the first search result (official JoSAA website).
You will land directly on JoSAA’s portal, where you can enter your details to check past-year cutoffs.
Step 3: Select the Round Number
JoSAA conducts five rounds of counseling.
For a safer estimate, choose Round 4, as most admissions are settled by this round.
Step 4: Choose the Institute Type
Select NIT, IIIT, or GFTI, depending on your preference.
If you are open to all types of institutes, check them one by one instead of selecting all at once.
Step 5: Select the Institute Name (Based on Location)
It is recommended to check institutes one by one, based on your preferred locations.
Avoid selecting ‘ALL’ at once, as it may create confusion.
Step 6: Select Your Preferred Academic Program (Branch)
Enter the branches you are interested in, one at a time, in your preferred order.
Step 7: Submit and Analyze Results
After selecting the relevant details, click the ‘SUBMIT’ button.
The system will display Opening & Closing Ranks of the selected institute and branch for different categories.
Step 8: Note Down the Opening & Closing Ranks
Maintain a notebook or diary to record the Opening & Closing Ranks for each institute and branch you are interested in.
This will serve as a quick reference during JoSAA counseling.
Step 9: Adjust Your Expectations on a Safer Side
Since Opening & Closing Ranks fluctuate slightly each year, always adjust the numbers for safety.
Example Calculation:
If the Opening & Closing Ranks for NIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | OPEN Category show 8622 & 26186 (for Home State), consider adjusting them to 8300 & 23000 (on a safer side).
If the Female Category rank is 34334 & 36212, adjust it to 31000 & 33000.
Follow this approach for Other State candidates and different categories.
Pro Tip: Adjust your expected rank slightly lower than the previous year's cutoffs for realistic expectations during JoSAA counseling.

Can This Method Be Used for JEE April & JEE Advanced?
Yes! You can repeat the same steps after your April JEE Main results to refine your admission possibilities.
You can also follow a similar process for JEE Advanced cutoffs when applying for IITs.

Want to Learn More About JoSAA Counseling?
If you want detailed insights on JoSAA counseling, engineering entrance exams, preparation strategies, and engineering career options, check out EduJob360’s 180+ YouTube videos on this topic!

Hope this guide helps! All the best for your admissions!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know more on 'Careers | Health | Money | Relationships'.

...Read more

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |4447 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Apr 19, 2025

Listen
Career
Hi Sir, My son got 88 percentile in session 2. Pl suggest what engg college can be applied with this score.
Ans: Tarun Sir, Here is, How to Predict Your Son's Chances of Admission into NIT or IIIT or GFTI After JEE Main Results – A Step-by-Step Guide.

Providing precise admission chances for each student can be challenging. Some reputed educational websites offer ‘College Predictor’ tools where you can check possible college options based on your percentile, category, and preferences. However, for a more accurate understanding, here’s a simple yet effective 9-step method using JoSAA’s past-year opening and closing ranks. This approach gives you a fair estimate (though not 100% exact) of your Son's admission chances based on the previous year’s data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Check Your Admission Chances Using JoSAA Data
Step 1: Collect Your Son's Key Details
Before starting, note down the following details:

His JEE Main percentile | Convert the Percentile to AIR, based on the Formula available in Google.
His category (General-Open, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwD categories)
His Preferred institute types (NIT, IIIT, GFTI)
His Preferred locations (or if you're open to any location in India)
List of at least his 3 preferred academic programs (branches) as backups (instead of relying on just one option)
Step 2: Access JoSAA’s Official Opening & Closing Ranks
Go to Google and type: JoSAA Opening & Closing Ranks 2024
Click on the first search result (official JoSAA website).
You will land directly on JoSAA’s portal, where you can enter your details to check past-year cutoffs.
Step 3: Select the Round Number
JoSAA conducts five rounds of counseling.
For a safer estimate, choose Round 4, as most admissions are settled by this round.
Step 4: Choose the Institute Type
Select NIT, IIIT, or GFTI, depending on your preference.
If your son is open to all types of institutes, check them one by one instead of selecting all at once.
Step 5: Select the Institute Name (Based on Location)
It is recommended to check institutes one by one, based on your preferred locations.
Avoid selecting ‘ALL’ at once, as it may create confusion.
Step 6: Select Your Son's Preferred Academic Program (Branch)
Enter the branches your son is interested in, one at a time, in your preferred order.
Step 7: Submit and Analyze Results
After selecting the relevant details, click the ‘SUBMIT’ button.
The system will display Opening & Closing Ranks of the selected institute and branch for different categories.
Step 8: Note Down the Opening & Closing Ranks
Maintain a notebook or diary to record the Opening & Closing Ranks for each institute and branch your son is interested in.
This will serve as a quick reference during JoSAA counseling.
Step 9: Adjust his Expectations on a Safer Side
Since Opening & Closing Ranks fluctuate slightly each year, always adjust the numbers for safety.
Example Calculation:
If the Opening & Closing Ranks for NIT Delhi | Mechanical Engineering | OPEN Category show 8622 & 26186 (for Home State), consider adjusting them to 8300 & 23000 (on a safer side).
If the Female Category rank is 34334 & 36212, adjust it to 31000 & 33000.
Follow this approach for Other State candidates and different categories.
Pro Tip: Adjust your son's expected rank slightly lower than the previous year's cutoffs for realistic expectations during JoSAA counseling.

Can This Method Be Used for JEE April & JEE Advanced?
Yes! You can repeat the same steps after your April JEE Main results to refine your admission possibilities.
You can also follow a similar process for JEE Advanced cutoffs when applying for IITs for your son.

Want to Learn More About JoSAA Counseling?
If you want detailed insights on JoSAA counseling, engineering entrance exams, preparation strategies, and engineering career options, check out EduJob360’s 180+ YouTube videos on this topic!

Hope this guide helps! All the best for your Son's admissions!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know more on 'Careers | Health | Money | Relationships'.

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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