What Makes ULIP A Flexible Investment Option
- It’s better to bend than to break, this proverb correctly be used to define flexibility. Flexibility refers to adjusting to the changes and the challenges that life throws at you.
- Being flexible helps you to tackle and adapt to the changing environment quickly. This ensures that you are ready all the time and can quickly cover lost ground. Flexibility in ULIPs makes them one of the most versatile investments possible.
- Flexibility is a vital trait to possess, be it life or investment.
- What is Meant by Flexibility in Investment?
- You are not the only one that should possess the trait of flexibility. Your investment must also be flexible. The more flexible an investment is, the more it will benefit you.
- The world is becoming more and more dynamic, and to cope with such an environment you need an investment that is not rigid and can allow you to customize.
- An investment must cover the following things to be called ‘flexible’
- 1. Freedom to Switch Between Assets
- An investment should give you an opportunity to switch between the assets you invest in. At the start of an investment, you are given options to choose from many asset classes, these can be equity, fixed instruments, real estate, etc.
- It is natural that in a long-term investment, you would not want to stay invested in one fund throughout. As you move on with your goals, you might need to shift your funds as well. A flexible investment will help you do so.
- 2. Invest Anytime
- A flexible investment gives you the option to invest as you like and not only a single time. Different people have different professions and have different payment capabilities.
- For example, if you are a salaried individual, you would prefer to pay regularly. On the other hand, if you have a seasonal business, you would like to pay upfront for the whole policy.
- A flexible investment considers these and gives you options to invest at your convenience.
- 3. Withdraw Money when Needed
- Withdrawal facilities go a long way in determining the flexibility of an investment, especially when the investment is for the long term. A flexible investment allows premature withdrawal.
- The ability to withdraw from your funds is necessary to meet emergencies as they do not come with notice and can occur anytime. To cater to such obstacles, you can need funds.
- Withdrawing money from your fund will make sure that you do not have to borrow or take a loan from the bank.
- 4. Term of Investment
- The term of an investment describes the period for which you will be invested in a particular instrument or option. A flexible investment allows you to choose the term you want, instead of having a fixed tenure.
- A different individual can possess different goals. Every goal requires a different time. Thus, investment tenure should be flexible so that you can align your term with the wealth goal you want to achieve.
- Investment Flexibility in Unit Linked Insurance Plans
- Unit Linked Insurance Plans or simply ULIPs are one of the most flexible investment plans in India. This is one investment that you can use for almost all important financial goals in your life. Whether you want to invest safely to build a specific corpus in five years or want to have a great retirement in 30, ULIP can do it all.
- The flexibility concept in Unit Linked Insurance Plans looks something like the following:
- a) Choose the Asset Class
- b) Fund allocation
- c) In terms of choosing the premium payment term
- d) The benefits to be received
- e) Systematic Withdrawal
- 1. In Terms of Choosing the Funds
- Most of the investments invest in one or two assets in which you have no freedom to choose. ULIP plans, on the other hand, offer you multiple asset classes that you can invest in. Some of the options offered include:
- – Equity
- – Debt
- – Balanced Funds
- – Liquid Funds
- You have the full freedom to choose where to invest in.
- 2. Fund Allocation
- In ULIPs it is not necessary that you have to select one fund to invest in. You are given the flexibility to invest in more than one fund at a time. Yes, ULIP allows you to allocate your money to different funds.
- You can choose to allocate different proportions of your premium to different funds. For example, 50% to equity, 50% to debt.
- 3. In Terms of Choosing the Premium Payment Term
- The premium payment term or the PPT is the duration for which you are required to pay your premiums. ULIPs provide you with multiple ways in which you can pay your premium.
- You can choose one of the following ways
- – Regular Payment
- – Monthly
- – Quarterly
- – Yearly
- – Limited Payment
- – Single premium Payment
- 4. Benefits to be Received
- There are two major benefits that are present in the ULIP plan. These are
- – Maturity Benefit
- – Death Benefit
- The majority of the investments present in the market provide these benefits in a lump sum, especially the death benefit.
- But with ULIP, you can receive your benefits in lump sum as well as in instalments.
- 5. Systematic Withdrawal
- You can partially withdraw your funds before your policy matures in ULIP. However, you can make use of partial withdrawal only when the lock-in period of the policy is completed and you have attained the age of 18.
- Flexibility of Invest 4G
- Invest 4G, a ULIP offered by the trusted name of Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance offers all these flexibilities to you and much more.
- Invest 4G | Buy ULIP Online
- Here we look at other benefits it offers:
- 1. Transparency
- ULIP is the most transparent investment option currently in the market. It shows you how your premium is allocated, in which assets it is allotted and in what proportion.
- It also shows you the full list of charges that are deducted along with the amount as well.
- 2. Bonus Additions
- In Invest 4G, you are rewarded for staying invested in the policy in the form of bonus additions.
- It offers the following bonuses
- a. Loyalty Additions
- b. Wealth Boosters
- These additions occur after 5 years of commencement of the policy. A % of your fund value is added to your existing fund as a bonus.
- 3. Tax Benefits
- ULIP offers you tax benefits as well. Invest 4G faces no additional tax on switching of the funds. Thus, you incur zero tax liability for switching from equity to debt or debt to equity. Other investments do incur taxes on the same.
- Other tax benefits are present in ULIP too, these are
- a. You can avail of a deduction of up to Rs 1.5 lakh towards the premium that you pay for your policy.
- b. It is also eligible for exemption u/s 10(10)D
- 4. Wealth Creation
- ULIP is perfect for investors which have a long-term horizon in mind. With ULIP, you can create a huge corpus for yourselves in the long run.
- Invest 4G provides you with 4 portfolio management strategies that help you minimize the risk and maximize the returns of ULIPs.
- You have the flexibility to choose any of the 4 strategies.
- a. Systematic Transfer Option (STO)
- b. Return Protector Option (RPO)
- c. Auto Funds Rebalancing (AFR)
- d. Switch Option (SSO)
- These strategies work in a pre-defined manner and help in the creation of wealth. These make sure the policy works in the way you want, without too much involvement.
- 5. Goal Protection Feature
- This is another defining feature of the Invest 4G ULIP. If you opt for this feature then-
- a. Your policy will continue to run even after your death
- b. The remaining premium will be waived off and are taken care of by the company
- c. At the end of the policy, your family will receive the maturity benefit
- This feature ensures that the ultimate goal gets fulfilled and the family does not have to worry about the premiums.
- Flexibility in ULIP plans can make your money work harder if invested right. All you need is to find a way to keep your money invested for another few years. Another aspect of ULIP flexibility you should aim to use is portfolio management strategies. These strategies are extremely helpful in managing your investment risk when you invest in equity funds.
- So, why not take advantage of these features to grow your money higher.
- Disclaimer: This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their caution and not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature. Readers should research further or consult an expert in this regard.
Source: CanaraHsbcLife