Skip to main content

Pension plans: Undefined Returns and No Guarantee

With Irda revoking assurance, pension plans may not offer as much as other long-term products

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irda) has given in to the demands of the industry and done away with the 4.5 per cent guaranteed return on unitlinked pension plans. While the exposure draft issued by Irda on August 1 gives more flexibility to insurance companies, it also tries its best to address the need of the policyholders.

"A pension product (deferred annuity contract) shall have an assured benefit disclosed at the time of sale, where the assured benefit means an amount in absolute terms that becomes payable on the vesting date (time when the pension starts)," said the Irda circular.

The circular goes on to explain: "An assured benefit shall mean any guarantee such as providing:

i)                     a minimum return (non-zero positive return) on the premiums paid during the contract period;

ii)                   A guaranteed maturity benefit (in absolute amount) payable at the vesting date;

iii)                  A guaranteed annuity from the date of vesting." If these norms come into effect, life insurance companies will have to give either of the above mentioned guarantees —to be conveyed to the policyholder at the time of buying of the product. None of the products will give all the three guarantee options — one pension plan would carry only one of the guarantees.

For instance, if you want a minimum return on premium, the insurer will assure you a part of the premium you have paid over the policy term. It will be a percentage of the premium paid to the insurer. And, this return will be revised every year in line with the prevailing market condition and the interest rate scenario.

In fact, the return will differ from one insurer to another. And since the insurance regulator has not defined the return, the policyholder will have to shop for the best possible return being offered in the market.

The method of calculating this return is yet to be decided. The good news is, given the present higher interest rate regime, these returns can be in tandem, at least in the short term. And, insurers will have to compete with the best rates available in the market to be able to sell pension products, as no one will buy a product if less than six per cent is on offer.

At present, State Bank of India has been offering 9.25 per cent on fixed deposits of five to ten years. Long-term products like Employee Provident Fund (EPF) and Public Provident Fund (PPF) give 9.5 and 8 per cent, respectively, National Saving Certificate (NSC) also offers 8 per cent (compounded half-yearly). Even traditional insurance products return around six per cent.

Those looking at buying pension policies with guaranteed maturity benefit would be assured capital protection. For example, if you buy a pension product for 10 years and are paying a premium of `1lakh annually.

If you are supposed to get `15 lakh on maturity, this option would make sure you get at least `10 lakh or your capital.

Besides, those looking at guaranteed annuity would be assured a fixed annuity or pension of the money invested. Say, if you agree to pay `10,000 annually for 10 years, the insurer would guarantee paying `5,000 from the date of vesting.

However, policyholders will be better off buying annuity at maturity at the prevailing market rate. Reason: A guaranteed annuity at the time of buying the contract may not be in line with the likely market conditions at the time of maturity. Guaranteed annuity schemes have had a bad experience in other countries. At many places, if the scheme had assured five per cent annuity, the interest rates had gone up to as high as 12 per cent and policyholders had to suffer huge losses.

Is the new norm beneficial for policyholders? The 4.5 per cent guarantee was more comforting from policyholders' perspective, as it gave this return over and above the capital. Just assuring the capital does not help a retiree. And, most traditional products already have the capital guarantee feature. Some give the sum assured and the bonus accumulated in the year.

By not defining the payable return, Irda has given the insurers an option to invest a portion of the corpus in equity markets. Given that insurers have to give a guarantee on the product, they will have to invest most of the corpus in debt funds. But, a small portion, say 30 to 40 per cent, can be put in equities.

Another disadvantage is that annuity is taxable. Only the one-third withdrawn on maturity is tax-free. This may change after Direct Taxes Code comes into effect in 2012.

Return on premium: This option may not be able to offer more than 2-3%

Guaranteed maturity benefit: Will guarantee only the capital invested

Guaranteed annuity: May not pay in line with the likely market conditions at the time of maturity

Put aside a fixed amount in equity-linked funds, which can pay 10-12% annually in the long run (at present, equity diversified funds' one-year returns = 1.76 per cent)

Other options are long-term products like EPF, PPF

Financial planners say pension product can be just a small part of your retirement kitty

If these norms come into effect, policyholders will have to scout for the best deal being offered across insurers
 

-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

Also, know how to buy mutual funds online:

 

1) DSP BlackRock Mutual Funds:

http://prajnacapital.blogspot.com/2011/05/buying-dsp-blackrock-mutual-funds.html

 

2) Reliance Mutual Funds:

http://prajnacapital.blogspot.com/2011/06/buying-reliance-mutual-funds-online.html

 

3) Reliance Mutual Funds:

http://prajnacapital.blogspot.com/2011/07/buying-hdfc-mutual-funds-online.html

 

4) Sundaram Mutual Funds:

http://prajnacapital.blogspot.com/2011/07/buying-sundaram-mutual-funds-online.html

 

5) Birla Sunlife Mutual Funds:

http://prajnacapital.blogspot.com/2011/06/buying-birla-sunlife-mutual-funds.html

 

6) UTI Mutual Funds:

http://prajnacapital.blogspot.com/2011/06/buying-uti-mutual-funds-online.html

  

7) SBI Mutual Funds:

http://prajnacapital.blogspot.com/2011/06/buying-sbi-mutual-funds-online.html

 

8) Edelweiss Mutual Funds:

http://prajnacapital.blogspot.com/2011/06/buying-edelweiss-mutual-funds-online.html

 

9) IDFC Mutual Funds:

http://prajnacapital.blogspot.com/2011/06/buying-idfc-mutual-funds-online.html

Popular posts from this blog

ICICI Pru Mutual Fund Dividend

ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund has announced dividend under the following schemes: Scheme Dividend ( Rs /unit) ICICI Pru Capital Protection Oriented Ser V Plan B-D 0.03611325 ICICI Pru Capital Protection Oriented Ser V Plan B Direct-D 0.03611325 ICICI Pru Balanced Advantage Direct-DM 0.06 The record date has been fixed as February 08, 2017. ------------------------------ ------ Invest Rs 1,50,000 and Save Tax upto Rs 46,350 under Section 80C. Get Great Returns by Investing in Best Performing ELSS Funds Top 4 Tax Saver Mutual Funds for 2017 - 2018 Best 4 ELSS Mutual Funds to invest in India for 2017 1. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund 2. Invesco India Tax Plan 3. Tata India Tax Savings Fund 4. BNP Paribas Long Term Equity Fund Invest in Best Performing 2017 Tax Saver Mutual Funds Online Invest Best Tax Saver Mutual Funds Online Download Top Tax Saver Mutual Funds  Application Forms For further information contact  SaveTaxGetRich on 94 8300 8300 ------------------------------ ------ Leave y...

Hidden Bank Fees

  What Banks Hide From Customers Imagine after a peaceful and exciting holiday you receive your bank statement with steep charges. You then rush to your bank and start confronting staff members and to your dismay, you come to know that the high end debit card was charged very heavily. Wouldn't this cause damage to your finances? So remember, the world outside is full of deceptive and double cheating people. Unethical practices are always used by company sales person in order to meet the target. Credit card companies, mutual funds and bank institutions always play dirty tricks to lure customers and the practices are rampant. So here's how you should be careful while dealing with your banks: High End Debit Card Charges While opening an account with a bank you opt for a debit card with minimal charges. But later on when you upgrade your card and opt for high end debit card the annual charge rise by a good amount. Though such a card has slew of features but it all comes at a high ...

Partial withdrawal from PPF

  Public Provident Fund (PPF) account has a lock in period   If you opened a PPF account to meet your retirement needs,, think twice about withdrawing from this fund before retirement. But provided it's an emergency here are the rules. Public Provident Fund (PPF) account has a lock in period before which you cannot withdraw your money.   The partial withdrawal is allowed after the completion of 6 financial years . This means that you will be allowed a partial withdrawal from 1 April 2017. The maximum partial withdrawal allowed is the least of the following: 50 percent of the account balance at the end of fourth financial year, 31 March 15 50 percent of the account balance of the end of previous financial year, 31 March 17.   There's a loan option available on your PPF account between the fourth and the sixth financial year. You can obtain a loan of up to 25 per cent of the balance in your account. However, this will attract interest of 2 percent more than the prevailing ...

Updating a minor PAN card upon becoming adults

  Updating a minor's PAN card once they become adults A PAN card issued in the name of a minor does not contain the minor's photograph or signature, and therefore, cannot be used as a valid proof of identity. Once a minor PAN card holder turns 18, the relevant changes must be made in the PAN records. A new card is then issued bearing a photograph and signature. Application The applicant is required to fill up the "Request for new PAN card andor changes or correction in PAN data" form. The form can be filled up online by accessing NSDL's Tax Information Network website and clicking on the online PAN application tab. Information The applicant must mention the existing PAN number in the application and check the `photo mismatch' and `signature mismatch' boxes, and submit the online form. The form must also be printed out, signed by the applicant, and submitted along with two photographs. Documents Identity and address proof in the form of a copy of the app...

Perpetual SIP - Its Advantages

Retail investors have taken a fancy to investing in mutual funds through systematic investment plans (SIPs). As per industry estimates, Rs 4,000 crore flows into SIPs every month. One way to take advantage of SIPs in a true long-term manner is to opt for a perpetual SIP 1. What is a perpetual SIP? In an SIP , you make periodic investments in a mutual fund scheme of your choice generally every month for a pre defined tenure. While signing up an SIP mandate , you have the option to leave the end-date column blank. If the column is blank, it means the investor has opted for a perpetual SIP . Most fund houses assume this SIP will continue till December 2099 unless you give a written communication to stop it. However, some fund houses require you to tick the `perpetual option'. 2. What are the advantages of perpetual SIPs? Registering an SIP involves a lot of paperwork and it takes time. It is observed that many investors skip their SIP instalments when they go for short-tenure option...
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Invest in Tax Saving Mutual Funds Download Any Applications
Transact Mutual Funds Online Invest Online
Buy Gold Mutual Funds Invest Now