What are the best short term investment plans (~5 years)? This sum of money is to fund for marriage and/or house! It could be a lump sum and/or monthly investment. Any suggestions?

Not an investment but one option is to look for short-term traded endowment policies with projected IRR around 4% . However you have to seek advice from a financial advisor if this instrument is suitable for your marriage and/or house.

Disclaimer: I own a business trading insurance policies.

Hi anon,

If you going to use the money for wedding or housing needs within the next 5 years, the best thing you can do is not to take too much risk with those monies. Maximize high interest saving accounts first, and then put the rest in a FD or a short duration endowment plan (those last 2 or 3 years, depending) and continue to save up over time. You can also consider Money Market Funds and maybe short duration bond funds, as you can do DCA over time.

I won't recommend equities as there is a lot of risk involved and the market could crash right before you need to cash out, thus destroying your capital.