SBI Life Insurance: How can I exit with minimal loss?

Ans: The SBI Life Retire Smart is a Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP) marketed as a pension plan. It invests your premium in equities and debt-oriented funds managed by SBI Life, aiming to provide retirement benefits in the form of an annuity. This review will help you determine if the SBI Life Retire Smart Plan is a good investment for your retirement.

Key Features of SBI Life Retire Smart Plan

This ULIP is designed as a retirement plan and differs from conventional ULIPs. Key features include predefined investment strategies and maturity benefits. For example, if you start this plan at 35 with a 25-year term, paying Rs 1,00,000 annually, your premium will be invested in three different funds under the "Advantage Plan" strategy.

Fund Options and Allocation Strategy

The Retire Smart Plan offers a predefined asset allocation strategy, named the "Advantage Plan." This strategy invests more in high-risk, high-return equity funds in the early years and reallocates to safer funds as the policy matures. This approach aims to balance growth potential with stability over time.

Death Benefits

The death benefit is the highest of the fund value plus terminal addition or 105% of the total premiums paid. Terminal addition is 1.5% of the fund value on the date of death. The nominee can receive the death benefit as a lump sum or use it to purchase an annuity. However, the death benefit does not include a sum assured, making the risk cover minimal.

Maturity Benefits

The maturity benefit is the highest of the fund value plus terminal addition or 101% of the total premiums paid. While the policy guarantees 101% of the premiums paid, the actual return is subject to market performance. The guaranteed maturity benefit may not be sufficient given the potential for higher returns in long-term equity investments.

Analysis of Returns

Guaranteed Returns: If the policy generates an annual return of 4%, the effective annual rate of return (IRR) is approximately 3.62%. After deducting charges, the actual return is even lower.
Higher Returns Scenario: If the policy generates an annual return of 8%, the IRR is around 7.4%. After charges, the actual return is less than 7.4%. Given the 25-year investment horizon, this return is not attractive considering the equity risk.
Comparison with Alternatives

PPF vs. SBI Life Retire Smart

PPF Investment: Investing Rs 1,00,000 annually in PPF for 25 years could provide substantial returns. Assuming the current PPF interest rate of 7.1%, the corpus at the end of 25 years would be approximately Rs 68.7 lakhs.
Tax Benefits: PPF offers tax benefits under section 80C and has the EEE (Exempt-Exempt-Exempt) status. The returns are risk-free and backed by the government.
ELSS vs. SBI Life Retire Smart

ELSS Investment: Investing in ELSS funds could yield an annual return of around 12%. Over 25 years, Rs 1,00,000 invested annually could grow to approximately Rs 1.33 crores, after accounting for 10% long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax.
Flexibility: ELSS investments offer greater flexibility and the potential for higher returns compared to ULIPs. Additionally, ELSS investments provide tax benefits under section 80C.
Surrender and Reinvest Strategy

Considering the low returns and high charges of the SBI Life Retire Smart Plan, it is advisable to surrender the policy after the 5-year lock-in period. You can then reinvest the proceeds into mutual funds.

Reinvestment in Mutual Funds: By investing in diversified mutual funds, you can achieve better returns. Equity mutual funds, in particular, offer significant growth potential over the long term.
Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP): During retirement, you can opt for an SWP from your mutual fund investments. SWPs provide regular income by allowing you to withdraw a fixed amount periodically, ensuring a steady cash flow.
Pros and Cons of SBI Life Retire Smart

Pros:

Offers both insurance and investment benefits.
Provides a predefined investment strategy for risk management.
Cons:

High charges for premium allocation and policy administration.
Limited flexibility in fund selection.
Minimal risk cover and guaranteed returns.
Verdict

The SBI Life Retire Smart Plan may not be the best choice for retirement planning. The guaranteed returns are low compared to potential returns from PPF and ELSS. For conservative investors, PPF plus a term insurance plan is a better option. For those with higher risk tolerance, ELSS plus a term insurance plan offers greater growth potential.

Overview

You have an SBI Life Insurance Policy Retire Smart - LP with a sum assured of Rs 10 lakhs, paying an annual premium of Rs 1 lakh since March 2019. With five premiums paid, the current fund value is Rs 5.70 lakhs. You have the option to close the policy after 5 years without penalty. Considering your age of 74 years, the decision should focus on maximizing your retirement funds.

Assessment of Current Situation

Premiums Paid: Rs 5 lakhs
Current Fund Value: Rs 5.70 lakhs
Policy Tenure Completed: Almost 5 years
Your fund has grown modestly, providing a return slightly above the total premiums paid. Given your age and the need for a stable income, it's crucial to evaluate options that ensure financial security and better returns.

Decision After 5 Years

1. Surrender the Policy

After completing 5 years, you can surrender the policy without incurring any penalty. This would be a strategic move considering the limited growth observed in your fund value.

Benefits of Surrendering the Policy:

Avoid Future Charges: ULIPs like this have various charges, including premium allocation, policy administration, and fund management fees, which can eat into returns.
Better Investment Opportunities: You can reinvest the proceeds in more lucrative and less costly investment options.
2. Reinvest in Mutual Funds

After surrendering the policy, consider reinvesting the proceeds into diversified mutual funds. Mutual funds typically offer better returns compared to ULIPs due to lower costs and more focused investment strategies.

Recommended Investment Strategy:

Diversified Equity Funds: Suitable for potentially higher returns, balancing risk with growth opportunities.

Balanced Funds or Hybrid Funds: These funds invest in a mix of equities and debt, offering a balance between growth and stability.

Debt Funds: For conservative investments, providing stable returns with lower risk.

3. Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) for Regular Income

Once reinvested in mutual funds, you can set up a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) to ensure a regular income. This is particularly beneficial for retirees, offering a steady cash flow while keeping the remaining funds invested for potential growth.

Advantages of SWP:

Regular Income: Fixed amount at regular intervals (monthly, quarterly).
Tax Efficiency: Only the capital gains portion of the withdrawal is taxed.
Flexibility: You can adjust the withdrawal amount based on your needs.
Steps to Implement the Plan:

Surrender the Policy: Contact SBI Life to process the surrender after completing the 5-year term. Ensure you understand the procedure and any documentation required.

Evaluate Mutual Fund Options: With a Certified Financial Planner, choose a mix of mutual funds suited to your risk tolerance and income needs.

Set Up SWP: Once the funds are invested, set up an SWP to provide a regular income.

Conclusion

Considering the limited growth in your current ULIP and your age, surrendering the SBI Life Retire Smart Plan after 5 years is a prudent decision. Reinvesting the proceeds into mutual funds and opting for an SWP can provide better returns and a steady income stream, ensuring financial stability in your retirement years. Always consult a Certified Financial Planner to tailor the strategy to your specific financial situation and goals.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

Ans: You have built a strong base. You have raised your sons well. They live independently. You and your wife now want a peaceful and enjoyable retired life. You have created wealth with discipline. You have no home loan. You live in your own house. This gives strength to your cash flow. Your savings across equity, mutual funds, and bank deposits show good clarity. I appreciate your careful preparation. You deserve a happy retired life with travel and comfort.

» Your Present Position
Your current financial position looks very steady. You hold direct equity of around Rs 2.5 Cr. You hold equity mutual funds worth Rs 50 lakh. You also have Rs 50 lakh in bank deposits and other secured savings. Your two rental properties add more comfort. You earn around Rs 40,000 per month from rent. You also live in your owned house in Delhi NCR. So you have no rent expense.

Your total net worth crosses Rs 5.5 Cr easily. This gives you a strong base for your retired life. You plan to spend around Rs 24 lakh per year for all expenses, including travel. This is reasonable for your lifestyle. Your savings can support this if planned well. You have built more than the minimum needed for a comfortable retired life.

» Your Key Strengths
You already enjoy many strengths. These strengths hold your plan together.

You have zero housing loan.

You have stable rental income.

You have children living independently.

You have a balanced mix of assets.

You have built wealth with discipline.

You have clear goals for travel and lifestyle.

You have strong liquidity with Rs 50 lakh in bank and secured savings.

These strengths reduce risk. They support a smooth retired life with less stress. They also help you handle inflation and medical costs better.

» Your Cash Flow Needs
Your yearly expense is around Rs 24 lakh. This includes travel, which is your main dream for retired life. A couple at your stage can keep this lifestyle if the cash flow is planned well. You need cash flow clarity for the next 30 years. Retirement at 56 can extend for three decades. So your wealth must support you for a long period.

Your rental income gives you around Rs 4.8 lakh per year. This covers almost 20% of your yearly spending. This reduces pressure on your investments. The rest can come from a planned withdrawal strategy from your financial assets.

You also have Rs 50 lakh in bank deposits. This acts as liquidity buffer. You can use this buffer for short-term and medium-term needs. You also have equity exposure. This can support long-term growth.

» Risk Capacity and Risk Need
Your risk capacity is moderate to high. This is because:

You own your home.

You have rental income.

Your children are financially independent.

You have large accumulated assets.

You have enough liquidity in bank deposits.

Your risk need is also moderate. You need growth because inflation will rise. Travel costs will rise. Medical costs will increase. Your lifestyle will change with age. Your equity portion helps you beat inflation. But your equity exposure must be managed well. You should avoid sudden large withdrawals from equity at the wrong time.

Your stability allows you to keep some portion in equity even during retired life. But you should avoid excessive risk through direct equity. Direct equity carries concentration risk. A balanced mix of high-quality mutual funds is safer in retired life.

» Direct Equity Risk in Retired Life
You hold around Rs 2.5 Cr in direct equity. This brings some concerns. Direct equity needs frequent tracking. It needs research. It carries single-stock risk. One mistake may reduce your capital. In retired life, you need stability, clarity, and lower volatility.

Direct funds inside mutual funds also bring challenges. Direct funds lack personalised support. Regular plans through a Mutual Fund Distributor with a Certified Financial Planner bring guidance and strategy. Regular funds also support better tracking and behaviour management in volatile markets. In retired life, proper handholding improves long-term stability.

Many people think direct funds save cost. But the value of advisory support through a CFP gives higher net gains over long periods. Direct plans also create more confusion in asset allocation for retirees.

» Mutual Funds as a Core Support
Actively managed mutual funds remain a strong pillar. They bring professional management and risk controls. They handle market cycles better than index funds. Index funds follow the market blindly. They do not help in volatile phases. They also offer no risk protection. They cannot manage quality of stocks.

Actively managed funds deliver better selection and risk handling. A retiree benefits from such active strategy. You should avoid index funds for a long retirement plan. You should prefer strong active funds under a disciplined review with a CFP-led MFD support.

» Why Regular Plans Work Better for Retirees
Direct plans give no guidance. Retired investors often face emotional decisions. Some panic during market fall. Some withdraw heavily during market rise. This harms wealth. Regular plan under a CFP-led MFD gives a relationship. It offers disciplined rebalancing. It improves long-term returns. It protects wealth from poor behaviour.

For retirees, the difference is huge. So shifting to regular plans for the mutual fund portion will help long-term stability.

» Your Withdrawal Strategy
A planned withdrawal strategy is key for your case. You should create three layers.

Short-Term Bucket
This comes from your bank deposits. This should hold at least 18 to 24 months of expenses. You already have Rs 50 lakh. This is enough to hold your short-term cash needs. You can use this for household costs and some travel. This avoids panic selling of equity during market downturn.

Medium-Term Bucket
This bucket can stay partly in low-volatility debt funds and partly in hybrid options. This should cover your next 5 to 7 years. This helps smoothen withdrawals. It gives regular cash flow. It reduces market shocks.

Long-Term Bucket
This can stay in high-quality equity mutual funds. This bucket helps beat inflation. This bucket helps fund your travel dreams in later years. This bucket also builds buffer for medical needs.

This three-bucket strategy protects your lifestyle. It also keeps discipline and clarity.

» Handling Property and Rental Income
Your properties give Rs 40,000 monthly rental. This helps your cash flow. You should maintain the property well. You should keep some funds aside for repairs. Do not depend fully on rental growth. Rental yields remain low. But your rental income reduces pressure on your investments. So keep the rental income as a steady support, not a primary source.

You should not plan more real estate purchase. Real estate brings low returns and poor liquidity. You already own enough. Holding more can hurt flexibility in retired life.

» Planning for Medical Costs
Medical costs rise faster than inflation. You and your wife need strong health coverage. You should maintain a reliable health insurance. You should also keep a medical fund from your bank deposits. You may keep around 3 to 4 lakh per year as a buffer for medical needs. Your bank savings support this.

Health coverage reduces stress on your long-term wealth. It also avoids large withdrawals from your growth assets.

» Travel Planning
Travel is your main dream now. You can plan your travel using your short-term and medium-term buckets. You can take funds annually from your liquidity bucket. You can avoid touching long-term equity assets for travel. This approach keeps your wealth stable.

You should plan travel for the next five years with a budget. You should adjust your travel based on markets and health. Do not use entire gains of equity for travel. Keep travel budget fixed. Add small adjustments only when needed.

» Inflation and Lifestyle Stability
Inflation will impact lifestyle. At Rs 24 lakh per year today, the cost may double in 12 to 14 years. Your equity exposure helps you beat this. But you need careful rebalancing. You also need disciplined review with a CFP-led MFD. This will help you manage inflation and maintain comfort.

Your lifestyle is stable because your children live independently. So your cash flow demand stays predictable. This makes your plan sustainable.

» Longevity Risk
Retirement at 56 means you may live till 85 or 90. Your plan should cover long years. Your total net worth of around Rs 5.5 Cr to Rs 6 Cr can support this. But you need a proper drawdown strategy. Avoid high withdrawals in early years. Keep your travel budget steady.

Do not depend on one asset class. A mix of debt and equity gives comfort. Keep your bank deposits as cushion.

» Succession and Estate Planning
Since you have two sons who are settled, you can plan a clear will. Clear distribution avoids conflict. You can also assign nominees across accounts. You can also review your legal papers. This gives peace to you and your family.

» Summary of Your Retirement Readiness
Based on your assets and cash flow, you are ready to retire. You have enough wealth. You have enough liquidity. You have enough income support from rent. You also have good asset mix. With proper planning, your lifestyle is comfortable.

You can retire now. But maintain a disciplined withdrawal strategy. Shift more reliance from direct equity into professionally managed mutual funds under regular plans. Keep your liquidity strong. Review once every year with a CFP.

Your wealth can support your travel dreams for many years. You can enjoy retired life with confidence.

» Finally
Your preparation is strong. Your intentions are clear. Your lifestyle needs are reasonable. Your assets support your dreams. With a balanced plan, steady review, and mindful spending, you can enjoy a comfortable retired life with your wife. You can travel the world without fear of running out of money. You deserve this peace and joy.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment