How can I increase my lock in period of Elss fund from 3 years to 6 years without selling and re-buying as I become automatically disciplined in the span of lock in period?
Ans: Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS) funds have a mandatory lock-in period of 3 years. This lock-in period helps to inculcate discipline among investors. But if you wish to extend this period to 6 years, it requires a bit of strategic planning. Let’s explore how you can achieve this without selling and re-buying the units.
Benefits of Extending the Lock-In Period
Before we discuss the strategies, let’s understand the benefits of extending the lock-in period.
Points to Consider:
Enhanced Discipline: A longer lock-in period can help you stay invested longer, leading to potentially higher returns.
Power of Compounding: Staying invested longer allows your investment to benefit from compounding, which can significantly enhance your wealth.
Mitigating Market Volatility: A longer investment horizon helps you ride out market volatility, reducing the impact of short-term fluctuations.
Strategy 1: Setting a Personal Lock-In Period
One effective way to extend your lock-in period is by setting a personal lock-in goal.
How to Implement:
Mental Discipline: Decide that you won’t withdraw your funds for 6 years, even though you have the option to do so after 3 years.
Goal Setting: Align this extended period with your financial goals, such as planning for a child’s education or saving for a down payment on a home.
Benefits:
This approach requires no formal process, keeping things simple.
It aligns with your goal of becoming more disciplined over time.
Strategy 2: Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) Delay
Another method is to avoid starting a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) immediately after the 3-year lock-in period ends.
Steps to Follow:
Wait Before Withdrawing: Delay setting up an SWP for an additional 3 years, thus extending your effective lock-in period.
Automated Discipline: By not setting up an SWP immediately, you automatically extend your commitment to staying invested.
Advantages:
This approach does not require any changes to your current investment.
It gives you the flexibility to plan withdrawals according to your financial needs in 6 years.
Strategy 3: Investing in Tranches
If you wish to stagger your investments, you can do so by investing in tranches over time.
How This Works:
Monthly Investments: Continue investing monthly in the ELSS fund. Each investment will have its own 3-year lock-in period.
Layered Lock-In: By continuing investments, each tranche locks in for 3 years, but your total investment gradually extends to 6 years or beyond.
Key Advantages:
This strategy naturally extends your overall investment horizon.
It allows you to keep adding to your corpus while staying disciplined.
Strategy 4: Commitment to a Specific Goal
Link your ELSS investment to a specific long-term goal that is at least 6 years away.
Implementation Steps:
Identify a Goal: Whether it’s a child's higher education, a wedding, or any other long-term financial goal, set this as your target.
Stay Committed: This goal will motivate you to avoid redeeming your investment until the target date, effectively extending your lock-in period.
Benefits:
Helps you stay focused on the bigger picture.
Provides a strong reason to keep your investment untouched.
Understanding the Risks and Benefits
While extending your lock-in period can be beneficial, it’s important to understand both the risks and rewards.
Risks to Consider:
Market Risks: The longer you stay invested, the more exposed you are to market risks. However, a long-term horizon generally reduces this risk.
Liquidity Constraints: By extending the lock-in period, you limit your access to these funds, which could be a challenge in case of emergencies.
Benefits:
Higher Returns Potential: A longer investment period increases the chances of higher returns due to the power of compounding and reduced impact of market volatility.
Better Goal Alignment: Extending your lock-in helps align your investment with long-term goals, ensuring that you stay disciplined and focused.
Final Insights
Extending the lock-in period of your ELSS fund from 3 years to 6 years without selling and re-buying can be done effectively through various strategies. Whether you choose to set a personal lock-in goal, delay your SWP, invest in tranches, or link your investment to a specific goal, the key is to stay disciplined and committed. By understanding the benefits of a longer investment horizon and aligning your strategy with your financial goals, you can enhance your wealth creation journey.
What You Should Do:
Implement one or more of the strategies mentioned above to extend your lock-in period.
Keep in mind your long-term financial goals to stay motivated and disciplined.
Regularly review your investment strategy with the help of a Certified Financial Planner to ensure it remains aligned with your objectives.
By taking these steps, you can enjoy the benefits of a longer investment horizon and potentially achieve greater financial success.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in