Finance

Investment Strategies: How Should I Invest The Proceeds From My Employee Provident Fund?

Posted Vinaya HS

A friend asked,

I’m in the midst of changing jobs and have opted to withdraw the savings in my Employee Provident Fund. It’s a decent sum — around Rs 300,000 — and I wish to keep this money safe. Is there a way I can achieve this and yet earn a steady income?

My immediate answer was a fixed deposit with periodic interest payouts, but my friend has been investing in tax-saving fixed deposits and was looking to diversify. My next suggestion was the Post Office Monthly Income Scheme. And, in case you don’t need the monthly income, automatically roll that amount into a Recurring Deposit.

What would you suggest?

7 thoughts on “Investment Strategies: How Should I Invest The Proceeds From My Employee Provident Fund?”

  1. Hi Vinaya,

    One very good and efficient way of getting a steady return and capital appreciation at the same time is using the SWP (Systematic Withdrawal Plan) of Mutual Fund. And in case he doesn’t require the money immediately he can either directly use STP (Systematic Transfer Plan) or keep re-investing the withdrawn amount in Debt Funds, which surely give better returns than FD/RD.

    Whats your view on this ?

    -Ashutosh

  2. Ashutosh,

    Good idea. But I did some research on SWPs and find that there are two withdrawal options a) fixed amount each month irrespective of your portfolio increasing or decreasing in value, and b) capital appreciation each month (if there is any).

    So, there’s no guarantee that you’ll have a payout each month while still preserving your portfolio’s value.

    With the MIS, however, you have a guaranteed income each month while your capital is preserved (and receives a 5% bonus upon maturity).

  3. Dear Vinaya- Post office MIS schemes are good. I suggest you invest in it and during maturity I believe you also get bonus too. Let me check and tomorrow I will keep you posted.
    BTW, you should not have closed your PF. You have transferred it to you new employer and PF is a very good tool during old age as Pension and interest free.

    OR Choose a good mutual fund like HDFC Equity/Prudence Fund or HSBC Equity or DSP Black Rock top 100 or IDFC premier or ICICI Infrastructure Fund. Vision is qually distrubute the amount in 2/3 funds for next 3 years.

    Also I suggest since the amount is huge, complete this year savings of 1Lac on PPF, LIC, ELSS and balance amount can go to MIS or MF’s
    Good luck Sir!

  4. If the new company offers EPF then I suggest to get the account transferred and continue with EPF instead of withdrawing now and investing elsewhere.
    Remember for the amount that you choose to put in PF the company matches the contribution (up to a max number though) and is helpful in later stage of life… Afterall very few give you 8.5% guaranteed returns.

  6. Vinaya- Their no nightmares. Ensure that the new employer is efficient enough to apply for a transfer and would take 2/3 months for the transfer. Follow up with your HR regularly.

  7. Hi Vinaya,

    Have you made some changes on your website ? Earlier I use to get auto notification when someone replied to any comment I had made on a post. Now thats not happening.

    Thanks
    Ashutosh

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