I am 51 years want to park 10 L recieved from LIC. I have Nippon liquid and Axis Short term funds. Where should I keep this,in these debt fund or some other for max return and least risk . Or some balanced advantage funds?
Ans: Since you're 51 years old and the Rs. 10L is from an LIC maturity, I’ll assess this from a 360-degree perspective with low risk and reasonable return focus.
Let us structure this under simple and clear headings:
Understand the Nature of the Rs. 10L
This is a one-time amount, not a regular income.
So, capital protection is important.
Also, some growth is expected, but not with high risk.
Evaluate Your Existing Funds
Nippon Liquid Fund is very low risk.
Good for short-term parking, like few months.
Returns are around 5.5% to 6% yearly.
You can use it if you need money anytime soon.
Axis Short Term Fund is slightly better return.
Slightly higher risk than liquid fund, but still low.
Returns can be around 6% to 7% yearly.
Suitable if you are okay to stay invested for 2-3 years.
Should You Switch to a Balanced Advantage Fund?
These funds invest in both equity and debt.
They adjust the mix based on market conditions.
They give better return than debt if held for 3-5 years.
But, they carry moderate market risk.
Return range can be 8% to 10% per annum.
Not guaranteed, but historically stable.
Suitable if your risk tolerance is moderate.
Also, you must stay invested for at least 3 years.
What You Can Do Now (Allocation Suggestion)
Here is a simple, low-risk and flexible suggestion:
Rs. 2L in Nippon Liquid Fund: For immediate needs.
Rs. 4L in Axis Short Term Fund: Safe with better return.
Rs. 4L in Balanced Advantage Fund (via MFD with CFP): For better growth.
Choose an actively managed regular plan.
Avoid direct plan. They lack support and monitoring.
Regular plans offer advisor support and rebalancing guidance.
Why Not Direct Plan?
Direct plans look cheaper.
But they don’t guide you during market falls.
Many investors panic and exit early.
This leads to poor returns.
With MFD + CFP support, you stay invested longer.
Long-term behaviour matters more than cost.
Why Not Index Funds?
Index funds blindly follow the market.
No protection during market fall.
No fund manager to adjust strategy.
Active large-cap or balanced funds adapt better.
At your age, protection is more important than chasing index.
Important Tax Point
Debt funds and balanced advantage funds are taxed as per income tax slab.
If you hold for 3+ years, tax is less due to indexation benefit in earlier rules.
But now, for debt funds, tax is same as your slab.
So, choose based on your tax slab also.
But do not let tax alone decide. Safety is first.
Final Insights
Your Rs. 10L should grow slowly and stay safe.
Split into 3 buckets: short-term, mid-term, and medium-risk.
Liquid fund for liquidity.
Short-term debt for capital stability.
Balanced advantage for gentle growth.
This mix gives you flexibility, return and low risk.
Please review once a year with a Certified Financial Planner.
He/she will help you shift the mix if your goal or market changes.
No need to chase high returns. Protect capital, grow steadily.
You already took a right step by asking before investing.
That clarity helps avoid mistakes.
With this structure, your money can stay safe and still grow.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment