Recently, the market has been flooded by new generation ULIPs. Know the pros and cons of investing in a unit linked insurance plan. A Unit Linked Insurance Plan, or ULIP in their short form, are insurance policies which offer you the potential of life cover along with wealth creation. When you invest in a ULIP, a part of your premium is dedicated towards your life cover while the remainder is assigned to your chosen fund which can be a combination of equity, debt or hybrid fund. The returns of the investment depend on the performance of the fund chosen during the time of inception.
Benefits of ULIPs
Here are the key benefits of a ULIP scheme:
Life Cover - With ULIPs, you have the option to select the amount of life cover you desire. Under base ULIP schemes, the amount of life covered offered is ten times of your annual premium amount. Many ULIPs also offer as much as 40 times of your annual premium or even higher.
Investment Funds - ULIPs come with the freedom to select the investment funds. You can choose between equity, debt and a combination of both, called a balanced fund. Equity funds primarily invest in stocks of companies, debt funds invests in government securities and bonds. Balanced funds invest in both equity and debt portfolios.
Liquidity - New generation ULIPs offer liquidity in the form of partial withdrawal. Partial withdrawal allowed after first five policy years help you to withdraw a part of the invested money. Partial withdrawals can be utilised to take care of immediate expenses such as, your child’s 10th, 12th standard or graduation fees, going on a family vacation, in case of emergencies, etc. Also, partial withdrawals are free of cost.
Financial Goals - ULIPs are designed for long term investment. It can help you achieve your long-term financial goal. ULIPs can be utilised for wealth creation, retirement planning or saving for your child’s education.
Best 5 ULIPs to Invest
ICICI Pru Signature - This is a savings and protection oriented unit linked insurance plan which offers life cover to secure your family along with flexible investment options to help you achieve your financial goals.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Age at entry | Minimum entry age: 0 years Maximum entry age: 60 years |
| Age at maturity | For policies other than Whole Life: Minimum maturity age: 18 years Maximum maturity age: 75 years For Whole Life option: Maturity age: 99 years |
| Death Benefit | Death Benefit = A or B or C whichever is highest where, A = Sum Assured, including Top-up Sum Assured, if any B = Minimum Death Benefit C = Fund Value including the Top-up Fund Value, if any Minimum Death Benefit will be 105% of the total premiums including Top-up premiums, if any received up to the date of death. |
| Maturity Benefit | The maturity benefit payable will be the Fund Value including the Top-up Fund Value, if any. |
| Wealth Boosters | Wealth boosters are added at the end of every 5th policy year starting from the end of 10th policy year till the end of your policy term. Each Wealth Booster will be equal to 3.25% of the average of the Fund Values including Top-up Fund Value, if any. |
| Partial Withdrawal Benefit | You can make unlimited number of partial withdrawals as long as the total amount of partial withdrawals in a year does not exceed 20% of the Fund Value in a policy year. |
HDFC Life Click 2 Wealth - This is a unit linked, non-participating, life insurance plan that offers market linked returns along with provides valuable financial protection for you and your family.
| Parameters | Invest Plus | Premium Waiver Option | Golden Years Benefit Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age at Entry | Life Assured: 0 years (30 days) to 60 years | Life Assured: 0 years (30 days) to 60 years Proposer: 18 years to 65 years | Life Assured: 0 years (30 days) to 60 years |
| Age at Maturity | 18 years to 75 years | 18 years to 75 years | 99 years |
| Maturity Benefit | The Fund Value is payable on maturity. The Fund Value will be calculated by multiplying balance units in your fund by the then prevailing unit price. | ||
| Death Benefit | The death benefit shall be: On Death of Life Assured - Highest of: - Total Sum Assured less an amount of Partial withdrawals made, if any, where Total Sum Assured is Basic Sum Assured plus any additional Sum Assured in respect of Top-ups. - Fund Value - 105% of Total Premiums paid | ||
| Rider Options | HDFC Life Income Benefit on Accidental Disability Rider - A benefit equal to 1% of Rider Sum Assured per month for the next 10 years, in case of an Accidental Total Permanent Disability. HDFC Life Critical Illness Plus Rider - A lump sum benefit equal to the Rider Sum Assured shall be payable in case you are diagnosed with any of the 19 Critical Illnesses and survive for a period of 30 days following the diagnosis. |
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Bajaj Allianz Life Future Wealth Gain (Wealth Plus Variant) - This is a unit linked endowment life insurance plan which offers higher insurance cover along with periodic loyalty additions.
| Parameter | Details | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age at Entry | 0 years | |||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum Age at Entry | 60 years If more than one rider is chosen under the policy, the maximum age at entry shall be restricted to 50 years. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Minimum Age at | 18 years | |||||||||||||||||||
| Minimum Age at Maturity | 75 years | |||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum Age at Maturity | The death benefit payable will be, higher of: a. Regular Premium Prevailing Sum Assured plus Top up Sum Assured, if any, or b. Fund Value as on date of receipt of intimation of death The death benefit is subject to the Guaranteed Death Benefit of 105% of the total premiums paid, till the date of death. |
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| Death Benefit | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rider Benefits | The insurer will allocate Loyalty Additions to the Regular Premium Fund Value as percentage of one Annualized Premium at the end of every 5 policy year starting from the 10th policy year. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fund Boosters | Fund Booster will be added to the Regular Premium Fund Value at maturity as mentioned below:
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PNB MeTLife Mera Wealth Plan - This is an individual, unit-linked, life insurance plan which rewards you for staying invested with a life cover.
| 1234 | 5678 |
|---|---|
| Entry Age | Maximum (years): Single Pay - 60 5 Pay - 54 10 Pay - 60 for policy terms <= 25 years/55 for policy terms > 25 years Regular Pay - 60 Minimum (years): 0 (30 days) |
| Maturity Age | Minimum: 18 Maximum: 74 for 5 Pay and 80 for other Premium Payment Type options |
| Death Benefit | In case of death of the policyholder, the death benefit will be higher of: ● Fund Value ● The Basic Sum Assured less all Partial Withdrawals, made during two-year period immediately preceding the date of death of the Insured or ● 105% of total premiums paid excluding partial withdrawals made during two-year period immediately preceding the date of death of the Insured Where, Sum Assured = Multiple * Annualized Premium (or Single Premium, as applicable) |
| Loyalty Additions | These additions will be allocated at the end of every policy year, starting from the end of the sixth policy year. The loyalty additions are defined as a percentage of average daily fund values for each fund during that same policy year. |
| Maturity Benefit | The maturity benefit payable will be equal to total fund value as on the maturity date. You will have the option to receive the maturity benefit as a lump sum or as a structured payout through the Settlement Option. |
| Partial Withdrawals | Partial withdrawals are available only after the completion of 5 policy anniversaries or on attainment of age 18 by the Life Assured, whichever is later. |
Max Life Online Savings Plan (Variant 1) - This is a unit linked non participating individual life insurance plan which offer life cover along with suitable returns.
| Criteria | Specification | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age at Entry | 18 years | ||||
| Maximum Age of Life | Variant 1: 60 years Variant 2: 54 years | ||||
| Maximum Maturity Age | Variant 1: 85 Years (Only for >= 10 Pay variants) 70 Years (Applicable for >= 5 Pay variants) Variant 2: 64 years | ||||
| Death Benefit |
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How ULIPS are one of the best Tax-Saving instruments?
You can save tax by investing in a ULIP. Here’s how
Premiums paid towards a ULIP are eligible for tax deductions as per Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Maturity and death benefit is tax free as per Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
