CANARA HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life has come up with three unit-linked products — Stay Smart Plan, Retire Smart Plan and Saral Bima Plus. These products conform to IRDA’s strictures capping ULIP charges at 3% of the gross yield for 10-year policies, and 2.25% for those with a term of over 10 years. Fund management charges cannot exceed 1.35% for all policies. The Stay Smart Plan, which offers life cover till the age of 99 years, specifies a minimum premium of Rs 25,000, while the death benefit will be higher of the fund value or the sum assured. The second plan, catering to retirement needs, comes with two options – pure pension or pension with life cover. Under the Saral Bima Plus, targeted at the semi-urban and rural segment, life cover is offered on the basis of a ‘Declaration of Good Health’. The minimum premium payable is Rs 6,000, while the maximum is Rs 1 lakh p.a. The sum assured is five times the annual premium.
Taurus Tax Shield has seen a turnaround in performance since 2007, but still remains a volatile offering… The fund has seen a turnaround in its performance since 2007 and has delivered impressively during market rallies since then. The portfolio is also more diversified. It contained its downfall to an average level in 2008 but is still one of the most volatile offerings in this category. Bold investors can look at this fund. Strategy The fund manager invests across the market capitalisation and sectors. The selection of stocks is made on the basis of long-term business prospects and value creation. Fund Insight Launched in March 1996, the fund was a laggard with just two annual outperformances. Concentrated stock bets and high exposure to mid and small caps led to it being hit harder during market downturns. The number of stocks in the portfolio never exceeded 20 and it was not rare to see the top 5 holdings account for around 60 per cent of the portfolio. After b...
