Need Expert Advice?Our Gurus Can Help
Ramalingam Kalirajan |10874 Answers |Ask -Follow
Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 16, 2025
Ramalingam Kalirajan has over 23 years of experience in mutual funds and financial planning.
He has an MBA in finance from the University of Madras and is a certified financial planner.
He is the director and chief financial planner at Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based firm that offers financial planning and wealth management advice.... more
He has an MBA in finance from the University of Madras and is a certified financial planner.
He is the director and chief financial planner at Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based firm that offers financial planning and wealth management advice.... more
Question by Deep on Jun 15, 2025
Hi Sir, I want to invest in Gold Mutual Fund, Between Axis Gold Fund and Quantum Gold Savings Fund which one is better? I heard only axis & SBI invest in physical gold & others are indirect FOF, can you suggest me if Quantum fund is ok proceed as it has o exit load & very minimal exp ratio. Please suggest sir.
Ans: You are clearly evaluating your options thoughtfully, which is very wise. Many investors ignore the small details. But you are giving importance to expenses, exit load, and gold backing. That is a good mindset to build wealth.
Let’s now look at this from a Certified Financial Planner’s 360-degree view.
Gold Mutual Funds – Basics to Know
These are not traditional mutual funds with stocks.
They invest in Gold ETFs, which in turn invest in physical gold.
Some AMC’s gold mutual funds are fund-of-funds (FoF).
That means, they don’t hold gold directly, but invest in their own ETF.
Still, the underlying asset is physical gold, held in secure vaults.
So, even fund-of-funds are not “indirect” in a bad sense.
They are structured differently, but still backed by gold.
Axis Gold Fund vs. Quantum Gold Savings Fund – Quick Comparison
Let us look at some key parameters:
1. Exit Load:
Axis Gold Fund has exit load if withdrawn within 15 days.
Quantum Gold Savings Fund has no exit load.
2. Expense Ratio:
Quantum Gold Savings Fund has a lower expense ratio than Axis.
Lower expenses mean higher returns for same gold performance.
3. Investment Approach:
Both invest in their own ETFs, which hold physical gold.
Axis Gold Fund invests in Axis Gold ETF.
Quantum Gold Fund invests in Quantum Gold ETF.
4. AMC Philosophy:
Quantum follows low-cost, conservative style.
Axis focuses on growth and active product positioning.
5. Performance Consistency:
Returns are very similar across all gold funds.
Main reason is: All depend on gold price.
Slight difference only due to cost structure.
Is Quantum Really Indirect or Less Trustworthy?
Let me be clear as a Certified Financial Planner.
Quantum Gold ETF holds physical gold in government-approved vaults.
Quantum Gold Savings Fund invests in that ETF.
So you are still getting physical gold exposure.
Just like Axis and SBI.
So, saying Axis and SBI are “more physical” is not a fair statement.
Quantum follows a transparent and cost-efficient structure.
They are not less reliable or indirect.
Which One is Better for You?
Based on your priorities:
You prefer no exit load.
You want low expense.
You are not biased toward brand names.
You understand gold funds work same in structure.
In that case, Quantum Gold Savings Fund is a very suitable choice.
But please keep these in mind:
Gold funds should not be your core investment.
Limit to 5–10% of your total portfolio.
Use it for diversification or hedging against inflation and currency risk.
Don’t invest heavily in gold expecting high returns.
Gold gives protection, not wealth creation.
Don’t Invest in Direct Plan Without Guidance
If you are considering direct plan, please be cautious.
Why not direct gold fund plans?
No expert review of portfolio.
You may ignore rebalancing when needed.
Tax implications may be miscalculated.
Overlap with other asset classes may be missed.
No help when gold prices fall sharply.
Invest through regular plan with a Certified Financial Planner.
That gives:
Timely guidance.
Proper gold allocation in your full portfolio.
Exit strategy during price surge or global changes.
Tax Rules for Gold Funds – Know Before You Invest
New rules from FY25 are:
Short-term capital gains (STCG) taxed as per your income slab.
Long-term capital gains (LTCG) also taxed as per your income slab.
Earlier LTCG on gold funds was 20% with indexation.
Now, no indexation benefit.
So you need to plan exits wisely to avoid high tax impact.
A Certified Financial Planner can time your redemptions better.
Final Word on Axis vs. Quantum
Both are decent gold funds.
But based on:
Lower expense ratio
No exit load
Clean and simple structure
Quantum Gold Savings Fund looks better for a smart investor like you.
But always invest through regular plan via a qualified expert.
Don’t decide in isolation. Consider your overall portfolio.
Also, keep an eye on global gold prices and rupee fluctuations.
These will affect returns more than AMC choice.
Final Insights
You are doing good by asking before investing.
Many jump into funds due to marketing or peer advice.
Please:
Keep gold exposure limited to 5–10%.
Use only regular mutual fund route.
Review gold holding once a year.
Invest only if long-term horizon is more than 3 years.
With these steps, your investment will stay aligned with your goals.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
Let’s now look at this from a Certified Financial Planner’s 360-degree view.
Gold Mutual Funds – Basics to Know
These are not traditional mutual funds with stocks.
They invest in Gold ETFs, which in turn invest in physical gold.
Some AMC’s gold mutual funds are fund-of-funds (FoF).
That means, they don’t hold gold directly, but invest in their own ETF.
Still, the underlying asset is physical gold, held in secure vaults.
So, even fund-of-funds are not “indirect” in a bad sense.
They are structured differently, but still backed by gold.
Axis Gold Fund vs. Quantum Gold Savings Fund – Quick Comparison
Let us look at some key parameters:
1. Exit Load:
Axis Gold Fund has exit load if withdrawn within 15 days.
Quantum Gold Savings Fund has no exit load.
2. Expense Ratio:
Quantum Gold Savings Fund has a lower expense ratio than Axis.
Lower expenses mean higher returns for same gold performance.
3. Investment Approach:
Both invest in their own ETFs, which hold physical gold.
Axis Gold Fund invests in Axis Gold ETF.
Quantum Gold Fund invests in Quantum Gold ETF.
4. AMC Philosophy:
Quantum follows low-cost, conservative style.
Axis focuses on growth and active product positioning.
5. Performance Consistency:
Returns are very similar across all gold funds.
Main reason is: All depend on gold price.
Slight difference only due to cost structure.
Is Quantum Really Indirect or Less Trustworthy?
Let me be clear as a Certified Financial Planner.
Quantum Gold ETF holds physical gold in government-approved vaults.
Quantum Gold Savings Fund invests in that ETF.
So you are still getting physical gold exposure.
Just like Axis and SBI.
So, saying Axis and SBI are “more physical” is not a fair statement.
Quantum follows a transparent and cost-efficient structure.
They are not less reliable or indirect.
Which One is Better for You?
Based on your priorities:
You prefer no exit load.
You want low expense.
You are not biased toward brand names.
You understand gold funds work same in structure.
In that case, Quantum Gold Savings Fund is a very suitable choice.
But please keep these in mind:
Gold funds should not be your core investment.
Limit to 5–10% of your total portfolio.
Use it for diversification or hedging against inflation and currency risk.
Don’t invest heavily in gold expecting high returns.
Gold gives protection, not wealth creation.
Don’t Invest in Direct Plan Without Guidance
If you are considering direct plan, please be cautious.
Why not direct gold fund plans?
No expert review of portfolio.
You may ignore rebalancing when needed.
Tax implications may be miscalculated.
Overlap with other asset classes may be missed.
No help when gold prices fall sharply.
Invest through regular plan with a Certified Financial Planner.
That gives:
Timely guidance.
Proper gold allocation in your full portfolio.
Exit strategy during price surge or global changes.
Tax Rules for Gold Funds – Know Before You Invest
New rules from FY25 are:
Short-term capital gains (STCG) taxed as per your income slab.
Long-term capital gains (LTCG) also taxed as per your income slab.
Earlier LTCG on gold funds was 20% with indexation.
Now, no indexation benefit.
So you need to plan exits wisely to avoid high tax impact.
A Certified Financial Planner can time your redemptions better.
Final Word on Axis vs. Quantum
Both are decent gold funds.
But based on:
Lower expense ratio
No exit load
Clean and simple structure
Quantum Gold Savings Fund looks better for a smart investor like you.
But always invest through regular plan via a qualified expert.
Don’t decide in isolation. Consider your overall portfolio.
Also, keep an eye on global gold prices and rupee fluctuations.
These will affect returns more than AMC choice.
Final Insights
You are doing good by asking before investing.
Many jump into funds due to marketing or peer advice.
Please:
Keep gold exposure limited to 5–10%.
Use only regular mutual fund route.
Review gold holding once a year.
Invest only if long-term horizon is more than 3 years.
With these steps, your investment will stay aligned with your goals.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
Asked on - Jun 17, 2025 | Answered on Jun 17, 2025
Sir, I invest through zerodha coin which. offers only direct plans, I checked for regular plans where its showing expense ratio 0.21% for the same fund, whereas in Geojit 0.15% Trail commission is written in each year. Its difficult for me to undestand the impact on my return.
Can you please help me understand If I choose regular plans via other platforms instead of Zerodha coin, will they recommend me to exit if gold prices fall sharply or during uncertain Global changes?
Im planning it for long so How can I proceed with direct plan in coin & reviewing it externally or getting financial guidance for redemption & tax implication etc?
Ans: Many investors get confused between direct plans vs. regular plans, especially when they see small differences in expense ratio.
Let us now answer only your follow-up question, and show you clearly why investing through an MFD with CFP credentials in regular plans is more useful for long-term gold investment — especially when market timing and redemptions matter.
Expense Ratio Confusion – Clarified
Zerodha Coin offers only direct plans.
You saw 0.15% trail commission on Geojit or other platforms.
Regular plan shows 0.21% expense ratio.
Difference seems small — just 0.06% per year.
But actual difference in benefit is not just about cost. It is about the value of ongoing review, risk management, and tax efficiency.
Let us understand why.
What You Miss in Direct Plans
When you choose direct plans through Coin:
No one alerts you when gold prices peak suddenly.
No expert tells you when to switch partially to equity if your gold allocation exceeds 10%.
You have no help when global uncertainty or dollar fluctuations impact gold.
You also miss proper planning for tax-efficient redemptions.
You may miss rebalancing if gold outperforms other asset classes.
These mistakes can cost you 2–3% or more in returns.
A good Certified Financial Planner will not only help in fund selection but also:
Review your asset allocation yearly.
Help you redeem in parts when gold price rises sharply.
Alert you on macro changes — like inflation, currency impact, or gold policy shifts.
Avoid panic during fall — and even help you buy more when required.
Reduce tax hit by phased redemption.
Ensure your gold holding does not exceed ideal allocation in the portfolio.
But Is 0.06% Difference Really Worth It?
Yes, because with regular plan:
You’re not alone in decision making.
You don’t invest emotionally.
You don’t make panic exits.
You avoid tax shocks by proper planning.
In long-term gold investment, getting exit timing wrong or ignoring asset rebalancing can hurt much more than 0.06% annually.
What You Get with Regular Plan via MFD-CFP
Yearly review of gold’s place in your full portfolio.
Guidance during gold price shocks (up or down).
Support during currency or inflation shifts.
Exit timing and tax planning.
Portfolio alignment with long-term goals.
Also, if your portfolio includes other equity or debt funds, a CFP will see overlaps and make adjustments.
That’s why even small trail commission adds big value — by reducing bigger risks.
Direct Plan with Zerodha Coin – What to Do if You Still Continue
If you still want to go with Coin and direct plans:
You must hire a Certified Financial Planner separately.
They will charge flat fee for yearly guidance.
You’ll still have to review gold performance and tax events on your own platform.
You may need to maintain Excel sheets, monitor gold pricing, macro signals, tax slabs, etc.
If you are financially knowledgeable and very disciplined, you may try this.
But it will require time, effort, and no emotional bias.
Finally
Don’t go by just lowest expense ratio.
Go by who protects your money when you are emotionally weak or unaware.
In that way, regular plans through MFDs with CFP give much more advantage.
You get:
Human guidance
Asset review
Tax smart exits
Behaviour coaching
Risk alerts
All these protect your long-term gains far better than cost savings in direct plans.
Use regular plan. Review yearly with Certified Financial Planner.
This is the most peaceful, profitable path for gold fund investors like you.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
Let us now answer only your follow-up question, and show you clearly why investing through an MFD with CFP credentials in regular plans is more useful for long-term gold investment — especially when market timing and redemptions matter.
Expense Ratio Confusion – Clarified
Zerodha Coin offers only direct plans.
You saw 0.15% trail commission on Geojit or other platforms.
Regular plan shows 0.21% expense ratio.
Difference seems small — just 0.06% per year.
But actual difference in benefit is not just about cost. It is about the value of ongoing review, risk management, and tax efficiency.
Let us understand why.
What You Miss in Direct Plans
When you choose direct plans through Coin:
No one alerts you when gold prices peak suddenly.
No expert tells you when to switch partially to equity if your gold allocation exceeds 10%.
You have no help when global uncertainty or dollar fluctuations impact gold.
You also miss proper planning for tax-efficient redemptions.
You may miss rebalancing if gold outperforms other asset classes.
These mistakes can cost you 2–3% or more in returns.
A good Certified Financial Planner will not only help in fund selection but also:
Review your asset allocation yearly.
Help you redeem in parts when gold price rises sharply.
Alert you on macro changes — like inflation, currency impact, or gold policy shifts.
Avoid panic during fall — and even help you buy more when required.
Reduce tax hit by phased redemption.
Ensure your gold holding does not exceed ideal allocation in the portfolio.
But Is 0.06% Difference Really Worth It?
Yes, because with regular plan:
You’re not alone in decision making.
You don’t invest emotionally.
You don’t make panic exits.
You avoid tax shocks by proper planning.
In long-term gold investment, getting exit timing wrong or ignoring asset rebalancing can hurt much more than 0.06% annually.
What You Get with Regular Plan via MFD-CFP
Yearly review of gold’s place in your full portfolio.
Guidance during gold price shocks (up or down).
Support during currency or inflation shifts.
Exit timing and tax planning.
Portfolio alignment with long-term goals.
Also, if your portfolio includes other equity or debt funds, a CFP will see overlaps and make adjustments.
That’s why even small trail commission adds big value — by reducing bigger risks.
Direct Plan with Zerodha Coin – What to Do if You Still Continue
If you still want to go with Coin and direct plans:
You must hire a Certified Financial Planner separately.
They will charge flat fee for yearly guidance.
You’ll still have to review gold performance and tax events on your own platform.
You may need to maintain Excel sheets, monitor gold pricing, macro signals, tax slabs, etc.
If you are financially knowledgeable and very disciplined, you may try this.
But it will require time, effort, and no emotional bias.
Finally
Don’t go by just lowest expense ratio.
Go by who protects your money when you are emotionally weak or unaware.
In that way, regular plans through MFDs with CFP give much more advantage.
You get:
Human guidance
Asset review
Tax smart exits
Behaviour coaching
Risk alerts
All these protect your long-term gains far better than cost savings in direct plans.
Use regular plan. Review yearly with Certified Financial Planner.
This is the most peaceful, profitable path for gold fund investors like you.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
Asked on - Jun 18, 2025 | Answered on Jun 18, 2025
Sir to proceed with regular plan, I need to select a MFD channel or advisor, I have shortlisted few of the options 1. Scripbox 2. Et money 3. fundsindia
for External Fin advisor 1. FinCart 2. FinAtoZ
can you please help me decide which one to go with and usually how the advisory service they provide like guidance, redemption, tax planning, and adjusting in different market conditions, do they send me the information & alerts as per their convenience or is it I can choose to personally interact and listen to their advice?
want to understand about both the online platform & options like fincart and open to hear any suggestions apart from the ones I shortlisted before I decide one.
Ans: Choose a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) who is also an MFD with 20+ years’ experience. Avoid asset-thin models like platforms focused only on transactions. Choose someone who offers goal-based guidance, market-time adjustments, tax help, and most importantly, long-term relationship, not just automation. Between platforms and advisors, prefer one who personally interacts, not just sends automated alerts.
Suggestion: Go with a trusted CFP-led firm that prioritises your interest—not AUM volume.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
Suggestion: Go with a trusted CFP-led firm that prioritises your interest—not AUM volume.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
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.
MoneyReply
You may like to see similar questions and answers below
Ramalingam Kalirajan |10874 Answers |Ask -Follow
Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Aug 21, 2024
Ramalingam Kalirajan |10874 Answers |Ask -Follow
Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Feb 06, 2025
Ramalingam Kalirajan |10874 Answers |Ask -Follow
Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 21, 2025
Ramalingam Kalirajan |10874 Answers |Ask -Follow
Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Nov 24, 2025
Latest Questions
Mayank Chandel |2569 Answers |Ask -Follow
IIT-JEE, NEET-UG, SAT, CLAT, CA, CS Exam Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025
Mayank Chandel |2569 Answers |Ask -Follow
IIT-JEE, NEET-UG, SAT, CLAT, CA, CS Exam Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025
Asked by Anonymous - Nov 18, 2025Hindi
Sir I passed class 12th from Maharashtra board (PCMB + English) I scored 48 in chemistry 52 in physics and 46 in biology I have a marksheet from Nios board which consists only one subject biology in which I scored 58 marks , My question is am I eligible for admission in mbbs ( govt college ) if I score good in Neet 2026 ??? Can I combine state board (PCB)marksheet + Nios ( biology marksheet) to fullfill 50% PCB aggregate score ?? I am from general Ews category please resolve my query
Ans: I recommend appearing for all 5 subjects through NIOS
Asked on - Dec 08, 2025 | Answered on Dec 08, 2025
Am I ineligible for mbbs?? Will they reject me?
Ans: Might be as you gave PCMB already from MS board. There is not concrete answer in counselling brochure.
Mayank Chandel |2569 Answers |Ask -Follow
IIT-JEE, NEET-UG, SAT, CLAT, CA, CS Exam Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025
Mayank Chandel |2569 Answers |Ask -Follow
IIT-JEE, NEET-UG, SAT, CLAT, CA, CS Exam Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025
Mayank Chandel |2569 Answers |Ask -Follow
IIT-JEE, NEET-UG, SAT, CLAT, CA, CS Exam Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025
Anu Krishna |1746 Answers |Ask -Follow
Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Dec 08, 2025
Ramalingam Kalirajan |10874 Answers |Ask -Follow
Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025
Samraat Jadhav |2499 Answers |Ask -Follow
Stock Market Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025
Ramalingam Kalirajan |10874 Answers |Ask -Follow
Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025
Radheshyam Zanwar |6737 Answers |Ask -Follow
MHT-CET, IIT-JEE, NEET-UG Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025
