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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10870 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 07, 2025

Ramalingam Kalirajan has over 23 years of experience in mutual funds and financial planning.
He has an MBA in finance from the University of Madras and is a certified financial planner.
He is the director and chief financial planner at Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based firm that offers financial planning and wealth management advice.... more
Asked by Anonymous - Jul 07, 2025Hindi
Money

Sir,Iam 29 now .I bought a policy LIC new Jeevan Anand policy 715-21-21.Is it right decision?I have to pray premium about 5000 every month for 10lakhs.

Ans: You are 29 and paying Rs?5,000 monthly for a life cover of Rs?10?lakh under a LIC Jeevan Anand endowment plan. Let us evaluate this from all angles, and see how it fits into your larger financial picture.

1. What an Endowment Policy Means for You
It combines insurance and investment in a single package.

Premium allocation is split: part for life cover, part for savings.

Returns are modest compared to pure investments.

Charges and commission reduce your effective yield.

Insight: You are paying Rs?5,000 a month purely to get Rs?10?lakh cover and a small maturity benefit after long years.

2. Ideal Use of Life Insurance
Life cover should ideally be pure term insurance.

Term plans offer high cover at low premium.

Investment benefits should come from mutual funds or other high-return assets.

Insight: Pure insurance is better handled separately from wealth creation.

3. What Jeevan?Anand Offers vs Alternatives
Jeevan?Anand Features

Provides life cover + maturity benefit

Lock-in creates discipline

Bonus may add some value at maturity

Drawbacks Compared to Alternatives

Low returns – typically 4–5% net over term

High charges reduce benefits

Poor liquidity – difficult to exit early

Better options: equity mutual funds, PPF, or hybrid funds

4. Comparing Returns and Cost
A Rs?5,000 premium for 15–20 years may give modest benefit

In contrast:

Actively managed equity or hybrid mutual funds often yield 10–12% average returns

PPF offers ~7–8% with compounding and better tax efficiency

Insight: You may be leaving higher wealth gains on the table by staying in endowment plan.

5. Liquidity and Flexibility Considerations
Insurance savings plans are illiquid, with surrender losses early.

Pure investments like mutual funds offer easy access.

If goal ingredients or needs change, mutual funds allow freedom.

Insight: Flexibility matters over your investment horizon.

6. Should You Continue or Surrender?
Evaluating Continuation

If you are okay with low returns and long-term lock-in, you may continue.

But these funds could perform poorly compared to other vehicles.

Evaluating Surrender

Early surrender may involve penalties and partial loss.

However, future premiums can shift to better investments.

You must compare surrender value vs future expected returns elsewhere.

Do this comparison with your CFP for clarity. You need to ask:

What is current surrender value?

What rate of return can the premium earn elsewhere?

Based on honest growth estimates, do you gain more by staying or surrendering?

7. Transitioning to Better Alternatives
If you choose to redirect your premiums, here’s an approach:

Use a term insurance plan for Rs?50–100?lakh cover.

Invest the difference (approx Rs?5,000) into:

Actively managed equity mutual funds – growth over 10+ years

Or PPF if risk is unwanted and you want compounding benefit

Use regular plan (not direct) via an MFD with CFP credential
– Ensures fund review, rebalancing, and guidance
– Avoids trial-and-error and emotional investing

8. Integrating into Your Overall Plan
Here is how your new financial setup could look:

Component Allocation Rationale
Term Insurance Cover Replace LIC’s cover High coverage, low premium
Equity Mutual Fund SIP Rs?5,000 monthly To replace endowment returns
PPF / Debt Funds (optional) Additional safety For tax-friendly stability

If you also have other investment goals, consider allocating more to broader SIPs actively managed.

9. Why Actively Managed Funds Over Index or Direct
Index funds passively follow markets, including weak stocks

Direct (no-advice) plans feel cheaper but lack guidance

Actively managed regular plans include:

Expert-led security selection

Ability to move in/out of sectors based on conditions

Periodic performance review

Support through life changes or investment rebalancing

You benefit from fund handling and review support, especially as goals and market cycles shift.

10. Tax Efficiency and Withdrawal
Equity funds taxed: LTCG above Rs?1.25 lakhs at 12.5%; STCG at 20%.

PPF is tax-free on maturity.

Use appropriate funds for horizons and tax plans.

CFP guidance helps with tax-efficient switching and withdrawals.

11. How This Helps Your Long-Term Goals
Shifting to pure investments can boost corpus over time

Increased returns compound powerfully over 10–15 years

Term insurance ensures your family is protected

You get flexibility without locking up funds

The overall plan fits into a future where savings and protection are clearly separated

12. Next Practical Steps
Check surrender value of existing LIC plan

Compare with projected returns from MF or PPF

If it's better to exit, get help from CFP to reinvest intelligently

Adjust your SIP portfolio over time for goal alignment

Keep reviewing every year with CFP support to stay on track

Final Insights
The LIC endowment policy provides low growth with high lock-in.

A better structure separates risk cover from wealth creation.

Aim for strong returns via actively managed investments with regular reviews.

Term insurance + SIPs in equity/PFFP offers stronger, flexible financial build-up.

Make decisions based on returns, liquidity needs, and future goals.

Your premium can be put to much better use through strategic investments.
Consult your CFP for surrender analysis and structured redirection.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.
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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10870 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 25, 2024

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I am single and retired with no family or loan commitments. with my enough funds in dividend funds for my routine monthly expenses, I have taken a Health Insurance for Rs.10 lacs with Royal Sundaram and life insurance term plan for Rs.50 lacs and Traditional insurance plan from LIC for Rs. 25 lacs on various named policies out of which except yearly premium of Rs.50,000 all policy payment terms were over. (policies like Jeevan Tarang, Jeevan Amrut etc) To cover this Rs.50000 insurance premium, I am getting survival benefit from Jeevan Tarang policy every year; only the date will differ which I could manage with my credit card payment. Can you please advise me whether the health insurance cover is okay and Life cover is okay; or should I take extra cover. Though I do not require to leave a legacy, I may also surrender the policy, in case of need. please advise
Ans: Financial Overview
Current Status

You are single and retired.

No family or loan commitments.

Insurance Policies

Health insurance: Rs. 10 lakhs with Royal Sundaram.

Life insurance term plan: Rs. 50 lakhs.

Traditional insurance plans from LIC: Rs. 25 lakhs.

Annual insurance premium: Rs. 50,000.

Appreciating Your Efforts
You have a well-structured plan.

Health and life insurance cover your needs.

Insurance Review
Health Insurance

Your health insurance cover is Rs. 10 lakhs.

Consider increasing it to Rs. 20 lakhs.

This ensures better protection against rising medical costs.

Life Insurance

Your life cover is Rs. 50 lakhs.

Since you have no family commitments, this is sufficient.

Traditional Insurance Plans
Jeevan Tarang and Jeevan Amrut

These plans provide survival benefits.

Use these benefits to pay your annual premium.

Surrender Option

Consider surrendering these policies if needed.

The surrender value can be reinvested in mutual funds.

Investment Strategy
Mutual Funds

Actively managed funds can offer higher returns.

Consider SIPs in large-cap and balanced funds.

PPF and NPS

Continue with PPF and NPS investments.

They offer safety and tax benefits.

Disadvantages of Index Funds
Lower Returns

Index funds mimic the market.

They often yield lower returns compared to actively managed funds.

Lack of Flexibility

Index funds have less flexibility.

Actively managed funds adapt to market conditions.

Disadvantages of Direct Funds
Lack of Guidance

Direct funds lack professional advice.

Regular funds provide support through MFDs with CFP credentials.

Higher Risk

Direct funds can be riskier.

Professional guidance helps mitigate risks.

Emergency Fund
Maintain Liquidity

Keep an emergency fund.

Ensure it's equivalent to 6-12 months of expenses.

Liquid Mutual Funds

Consider liquid mutual funds for this purpose.

They offer better returns than savings accounts.

Action Plan
Increase Health Cover

Increase your health insurance to Rs. 20 lakhs.

Review Traditional Policies

Consider surrendering LIC policies.

Reinvest the proceeds in mutual funds.

Continue SIPs

Increase SIP contributions.

Focus on large-cap and balanced funds.

Maintain Emergency Fund

Keep a sufficient emergency fund.

Use liquid mutual funds for better returns.

Final Insights
Your current insurance and investment strategy is commendable.

Consider increasing your health cover for better protection.

Reevaluate traditional policies and focus on mutual funds.

Maintain an emergency fund for financial stability.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP

Chief Financial Planner

www.holisticinvestment.in

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DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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