When you invest in a ULIP, you pay a fixed premium for the amount of coverage you choose. The premiums paid are used to fulfil the investment as well as the insurance purpose. When it comes to saving money and making financial decisions, it is normal for people to choose products that have relatively more benefits. Unit-Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs) can be a good choice because they offer many advantages in a single investment and can give significant ULIP plan returns ULIPs can help people reach their financial goals by assisting them in building wealth and getting insurance at the same time.
First of all, you should know precisely how ULIPs work. As an investor, you can choose between an equity fund, a debt fund, or a balanced fund for your ULIP investment plan. You can also choose to switch between the available options during the plan duration. Fund managers are in charge of your investments in your ULIP Plan. Depending on the type of fund, they can invest in debt or equity instruments. Also, it’s essential to know that ULIPs have a lock-in period of 5 years and that their performance or ability to generate returns is tied to the markets, and thus, is prone to vulnerabilities.
Know Your Risk Appetite
Before investing in a ULIP plan, you should know how much you like to take risks and how much money you have to spend. You can choose between low-risk and high-risk funds depending on how much risk you are willing to take. A lot of the money is invested in stocks, which makes your ULIP returns better. On the other hand, you can get steady returns from investments like market securities and debts with less risk. You can also choose between funds with 40–60% invested in stocks and the rest in conservative funds. This may give you a medium-risk return.
Understand Premium Payment Options
Insurance providers offering ULIPs may also offer different kinds of premium payment options. The most common ones are limited premium payment and regular premium payment, with the option to pay annually, half-yearly, quarterly, or monthly. You may choose a payment type that fits your financial situation. With a limited premium payment option, you can pay your premiums over a certain number of years, like 5 or 7. Or, you can choose to pay the amount in instalments over the policy’s life.
ULIP Charges
There are a number of charges associated with ULIPs. List down all ULIP charges. Before investing in a ULIP, it’s important to know how to determine the ULIP charges that come with it. Initially, ULIP plans often don’t get enough attention because they may have high fees, such as allocation, switching, administration, surrender, etc. Consider these ULIP charges as part of your costs and decide if you’re still willing to buy a ULIP plan. Some policies do not charge fees like fund switching fees or return of mortality fees.
You Have the Flexibility of Switching Funds
An investor’s willingness to take risks may change over time. If you’ve bought a ULIP plan, you may use the ability to switch funds to try to get the best returns. If your risk tolerance goes up a lot and you want to switch funds quickly, you may be able to invest in funds that are likely to give you a better return. So, if you choose a ULIP plan, keep track of the number of free switches, how much each switch costs and how many different kinds of switches the policy gives you.
Are You Ready For Long-Term Commitment?
A common misconception about ULIPs is that investors only have to pay a premium for a short time, usually 5 years, until the lock-in period. This is why many investors choose to step back once the lock-in period is over. ULIP plans, in reality, may need to be invested in for a long time to get the returns you want. But there are several reasons why you shouldn’t give up your ULIP policy after the lock-in period. If you give up the policy after the lock-in period, you may lose more than you put in because the charges can’t be spread out over a short-term policy.
Growing your wealth is essential if you want to ensure your family has a safe future, and ULIP plans are one of the ways to do this. Remember to confirm your tax benefits as applicable under Indian law. These vary depending on the plan you choose, the tax regime you follow, and more. Now that you have the list, make sure you know the facts before you invest and pick a good ULIP plan for good ULIP plan returns.
Also Read: Milla Jovovich net worth: How did she make her Money
Leave a Reply