ULIPs are a mix of investment and insurance
At almost every investor mind a question is generally cropped up: “What is the difference between a ULIP and a Mutual Fund?”
The reason, perhaps for the wide extent of confusion, lies largely in the way ULIPs have been sold by agents. As just another mutual fund.
Unit Linked Insurance Policies (ULIPs) as an investment avenue are closest to mutual funds in terms of their structure and functioning.
As is the case with mutual funds, investors in ULIPs is allotted units by the insurance company and a net asset value (NAV) is declared for the same on a daily basis.
Similarly ULIP investors have the option of investing across various schemes similar to the ones found in the mutual funds domain, i.e. diversified equity funds, balanced funds and debt funds to name a few.
Generally speaking, ULIPs can be termed as mutual fund schemes with an insurance component.
And as you would be aware about Mutual Fund, it is a body corporate that pools the money from individual/corporate investors and invests the same on behalf of the investors /unit holders, in various investment avenues like equity shares, Government securities, Bonds, Call money markets etc., as per the pre-specified objective and distributes the profits earned from such investment.
In India, Mutual Funds are registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
ULIPs vs Mutual Funds
ULIPs
Mutual Funds
Investment amounts
Determined by the investor and can be modified as well
Minimum investment amounts are determined by the fund house
Expenses
No upper limits, expenses determined by the insurance company
Upper limits for expenses chargeable to investors have been set by the regulator
Portfolio disclosure
Not mandatory*
Quarterly disclosures are mandatory
Modifying asset allocation
Generally permitted for free or at a nominal cost
Entry/exit loads have to be borne by the investor
Tax benefits
Section 80C benefits are available on all ULIP investments
Section 80C benefits are available only on investments in tax-saving funds
ULIPs are a mix of investment and insurance. But very long term investment, not even medium term.Insurance companies themselves admit, that if your investment horizon is anything less than 7 years, don’t even consider a ULIP.
Charge structure in a ULIP is vastly different from a mutual fund.
ULIPs invest for the long term, as they expect investors to stay for the long term. And the purpose of a ULIP is also different build assets through a pension plan, retirement plan or child plan. All of which, need very long term investing, say 10-15 years or even more.
ULIP investors also have the flexibility to alter the premium amounts during the policy’s tenure.
For example an individual with access to surplus funds can enhance the contribution thereby ensuring that his surplus funds are gainfully invested; conversely an individual faced with a liquidity crunch has the option of paying a lower amount (the difference being adjusted in the accumulated value of his ULIP).
The freedom to modify premium payments at one’s convenience clearly gives ULIP investors an edge over their mutual fund counterparts.
In mutual fund investments, expenses charged for various activities like fund management, sales and marketing, administration among others are subject to pre-determined upper limits as prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India. Insurance companies have a free hand in levying expenses on their ULIP products with no upper limits being prescribed by the regulator, i.e. the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.
Mutual fund houses are required to statutorily declare their portfolios on a quarterly basis, albeit most fund houses do so on a monthly basis. Investors get the opportunity to see where their monies are being invested and how they have been managed by studying the portfolio.
*There is lack of consensus on whether ULIPs are required to disclose their portfolios. While some insurers claim that disclosing portfolios on a quarterly basis is mandatory, others state that there is no legal obligation to do so.
ULIPs also allow you to switch from debt to equity within the same scheme, at no extra charge. So if you want to get the benefits of long term investment and risk cover in one single product, ULIP is the product for you.
So it is not an issue, of whether a mutual fund is better or a ULIP. It is about your need.
Both can co-exist in your basket of needs.
So identify your needs with a financial planner and then pick the product suitable for you.
ULIPs are a mix of investment and insurance
At almost every investor mind a question is generally cropped up: “What is the difference between a ULIP and a Mutual Fund?”
The reason, perhaps for the wide extent of confusion, lies largely in the way ULIPs have been sold by agents. As just another mutual fund.
Unit Linked Insurance Policies (ULIPs) as an investment avenue are closest to mutual funds in terms of their structure and functioning.
As is the case with mutual funds, investors in ULIPs is allotted units by the insurance company and a net asset value (NAV) is declared for the same on a daily basis.
Similarly ULIP investors have the option of investing across various schemes similar to the ones found in the mutual funds domain, i.e. diversified equity funds, balanced funds and debt funds to name a few.
Generally speaking, ULIPs can be termed as mutual fund schemes with an insurance component.
And as you would be aware about Mutual Fund, it is a body corporate that pools the money from individual/corporate investors and invests the same on behalf of the investors /unit holders, in various investment avenues like equity shares, Government securities, Bonds, Call money markets etc., as per the pre-specified objective and distributes the profits earned from such investment.
In India, Mutual Funds are registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
ULIPs vs Mutual Funds
ULIPs
Mutual Funds
Investment amounts
Determined by the investor and can be modified as well
Minimum investment amounts are determined by the fund house
Expenses
No upper limits, expenses determined by the insurance company
Upper limits for expenses chargeable to investors have been set by the regulator
Portfolio disclosure
Not mandatory*
Quarterly disclosures are mandatory
Modifying asset allocation
Generally permitted for free or at a nominal cost
Entry/exit loads have to be borne by the investor
Tax benefits
Section 80C benefits are available on all ULIP investments
Section 80C benefits are available only on investments in tax-saving funds
ULIPs are a mix of investment and insurance. But very long term investment, not even medium term.Insurance companies themselves admit, that if your investment horizon is anything less than 7 years, don’t even consider a ULIP.
Charge structure in a ULIP is vastly different from a mutual fund.
ULIPs invest for the long term, as they expect investors to stay for the long term. And the purpose of a ULIP is also different build assets through a pension plan, retirement plan or child plan. All of which, need very long term investing, say 10-15 years or even more.
ULIP investors also have the flexibility to alter the premium amounts during the policy’s tenure.
For example an individual with access to surplus funds can enhance the contribution thereby ensuring that his surplus funds are gainfully invested; conversely an individual faced with a liquidity crunch has the option of paying a lower amount (the difference being adjusted in the accumulated value of his ULIP).
The freedom to modify premium payments at one’s convenience clearly gives ULIP investors an edge over their mutual fund counterparts.
In mutual fund investments, expenses charged for various activities like fund management, sales and marketing, administration among others are subject to pre-determined upper limits as prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India. Insurance companies have a free hand in levying expenses on their ULIP products with no upper limits being prescribed by the regulator, i.e. the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.
Mutual fund houses are required to statutorily declare their portfolios on a quarterly basis, albeit most fund houses do so on a monthly basis. Investors get the opportunity to see where their monies are being invested and how they have been managed by studying the portfolio.
*There is lack of consensus on whether ULIPs are required to disclose their portfolios. While some insurers claim that disclosing portfolios on a quarterly basis is mandatory, others state that there is no legal obligation to do so.
ULIPs also allow you to switch from debt to equity within the same scheme, at no extra charge. So if you want to get the benefits of long term investment and risk cover in one single product, ULIP is the product for you.
So it is not an issue, of whether a mutual fund is better or a ULIP. It is about your need.
Both can co-exist in your basket of needs.
So identify your needs with a financial planner and then pick the product suitable for you.
