ULIP vs. Mutual Funds: Which One Is Better for Your Financial Goals?
September 25, 2023 Mutual Fund
In the ever-evolving landscape of personal finance, the role of insurance has gone beyond its conventional purpose of safeguarding against unforeseen risks. In recent years, many individuals have started perceiving life insurance as not merely a safety net but also as an avenue for potential investment growth. This phenomenon has given rise to a debate over Unit Linked Insurance Plan i.e., ULIP vs. Mutual Funds.
Many investors are getting allured with insurance cum investment products and seek to use their insurance policies as tools for generating substantial returns. While the prospect of merging insurance and investment may seem enticing, you must recognise that insurance and investment are distinct financial instruments, each tailored to meet distinct financial objectives.
This article elucidates the intriguing world of ULIPs and Mutual Funds, highlighting their features and key differences. By shedding light on the nuances of these two financial options, we at PersonalFN, aim to equip investors with the knowledge necessary to make informed decisions that align with their financial goals.
Let’s start by understanding the meaning of ULIPs and Mutual Funds:
What Is a Mutual Fund?
A mutual fund, as its name implies, is a collective investment vehicle that pools funds from multiple investors and allocates the accumulated funds into various financial instruments, such as shares of publicly listed companies, government bonds, corporate bonds, short-term money-market instruments, other securities, or a combination of these assets.
These investment allocations align with the stated investment objectives outlined in the fund’s prospectus. This is why an equity mutual fund scheme primarily directs its investments towards a diversified portfolio of stocks, while a debt fund focuses a substantial portion of its assets on bonds.
These mutual funds are managed by a fund manager, and there may be multiple managers at the discretion of the Asset Management Company (AMC). These fund manager/s and their team/s are responsible for the day-to-day management of the fund, making decisions on when to buy or sell investments in accordance with the fund’s stated investment objectives.
To put it simply, the mutual fund pools funds from you and other investors and issues units. In this context, the price of each unit in the mutual fund is referred to as the Net Asset Value (NAV). These pooled assets are then invested in a predetermined collection of stocks or bonds, which constitute the fund’s portfolio. The allocation of the portfolio is determined by the fund manager, who takes into account the investment objectives of the scheme.
What Is ULIP?
A Unit-linked Insurance Plan (ULIP) is a financial tool that combines life insurance coverage with investment opportunities, enabling you to build wealth over the long term while also securing insurance benefits.
It allows you to invest in a variety of fund options, ranging from pure equity funds to pure debt funds and even hybrid options that blend both equity and debt components. Within this array of choices, certain ULIPs provide the flexibility to customise your asset allocation based on factors such as age and financial objectives.
Furthermore, you retain the freedom to switch between funds as per your specific requirements. The ULIPs are market-linked instruments. So, as a policyholder, you are exposed to investment risk. Hence, to make an informed decision, it is advisable to assess your risk tolerance, investment goals, and your investment horizon.
Much like mutual funds, units are allocated to you at the Net Asset Value (NAV) of the respective fund, which serves as the benchmark for calculating market-related gains or losses.
When you opt for a Unit Linked Insurance Plan, you are required to either make periodic premium payments or a lump sum payment, depending on the specific plan you select. Once your payment is received, the premium is divided into two components. The initial portion is allocated toward your life insurance coverage, while the remaining portion is allocated towards your investment portfolio. In this manner, ULIPs offer a distinctive approach that combines both investment and insurance within a single package.
What Is the Difference Between ULIP And Mutual Funds?
While these two choices may appear similar, there are numerous distinctions between ULIPs and Mutual Funds. Here are some of the key differences between ULIPs and Mutual Funds:
1. Return on Investment
ULIPs tend to yield lower returns because they invest a significant portion in debt mutual funds guarantee insurance coverage regardless of the investment plan’s performance. In contrast, the returns from mutual funds fluctuate based on the associated risk level. Equity mutual funds have the potential for higher returns, whereas debt mutual funds typically offer somewhat lower returns.
2. Lock-in Period
ULIPs primarily function as insurance products featuring a predetermined lock-in period during which the investment cannot be redeemed. The lock-in period for ULIPs is typically five years, depending on the specific characteristics of the investment scheme. In contrast, mutual funds do not have any mandatory lock-in period. However, certain categories, such as Equity-Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS), require a three-year lock-in.
3. Transparency
ULIPs are intricate products that blend risk coverage with investment components, and as such, they exhibit less transparency regarding underlying expenses and asset allocation. Mutual funds, on the other hand, tend to be more transparent, openly disclosing the fees charged and portfolio holdings.
4. Taxation Benefits
Investing in ULIPs qualifies individuals to avail of an Income Tax deduction under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, enabling individuals to claim deductions of up to Rs 1.5 lakh annually on their ULIP investments.
Conversely, mutual funds offer tax deductions only for investments in ELSS, while investments in other mutual fund schemes do not provide tax deductions. Besides, redemption from mutual funds is subject to taxation as per the applicable tax bracket.
5. Expenses
Mutual funds offer the benefit of lower costs and professional management. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has imposed a maximum Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 2.25% for mutual funds. In contrast, ULIPs cannot charge more than 1.35% of the fund value per year as fund management fees; it involves other charges like premium allocation charges, mortality charges, switching charges, etc., which can significantly surpass those of mutual funds.
6. Risk Cover
ULIPs include built-in insurance coverage, providing a predetermined sum to the family if the policyholder passes away during the policy’s term. In contrast, mutual funds do not offer risk coverage through insurance. Individuals must purchase a separate Term Insurance Plan and pay an additional premium for such coverage if needed.
ULIP vs. Mutual Funds:
| Parameters | ULIP | Mutual Funds |
| Objective | Life cover and wealth creation. | Wealth creation. |
| Regulatory Body | Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). |
| Lock-in Period | ULIPs, being essentially insurance policies, come with specific lock-in periods determined by the insurance company. This lock-in period is generally 5 years but may differ depending on the chosen plan. Redemption of funds is not possible before this lock-in period concludes. | Mutual Funds generally do not have lock-in periods. However, certain mutual funds like Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) come with a minimum lock-in period of 3 years. |
| Tax Benefits | ULIP investments of up to 1.5 lakh per year are eligible for tax deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. | Mutual funds offer tax exemptions primarily for investments in ELSS, with other mutual funds being subject to taxes. |
| Management Expenses | The new age ULIPs come with approximately 1.35% management expenses apart from other expenses like mortality and administrative charges. | Mutual Funds expense ratio generally ranges between 0.10% to 1% of AUM and can rarely exceed up to 2.25%, as advised by SEBI. Unlike ULIPs, they do not have any other charges. |
| Payment Mode | Regular premium payments or lump sum contributions. | Investment options through Systematic Investment Plans (SIP) or lump sum investments. |
| Ideal Investment Period | Long term. | Long or mid-term, with some mutual funds suitable for short-term investments, such as Liquid Funds. |
| Risk Meter | Comparatively lower risk. | Medium to high risk for equity mutual funds. |
| Return on Investment | ULIPs have a risk profile even lower than that of equity mutual funds. However, it’s important to note that with lower risk comes lower potential returns. | In general, equity mutual funds tend to deliver superior returns compared to ULIPs. |
| Investment Options | ULIPs have limited investment options, primarily offering debt and equity variants. Consequently, investors encounter fewer choices with ULIPs. | Mutual funds offer a wide array of schemes spanning various asset classes, surpassing ULIPs in terms of investment diversity. They provide opportunities to invest in bonds, equities, international equities, commodities, gold, and more. |
| Transparency | ULIPs, despite combining portfolio allocation and risk management, tend to lack transparency in their structural aspects. | Mutual funds prioritise transparency for their investors, providing clear information about fees and asset classes where funds are allocated. |
Which Is Better? Should You Opt for a ULIP Or Mutual Funds?
The insurance component of ULIP safeguards your life, ensuring financial stability for your dependents in the event of your passing during the policy term.
Typically, as per IRDAI guidelines, the minimum sum assured (or insurance coverage) for individuals under 45 years of age must be at least 7 times the annual premium. This coverage decreases for individuals above 45 at the time of policy purchase. While ULIPs offer insurance coverage, it might not be sufficient as per these guidelines or fulfil your individual insurance requirements.
Previously, profits earned from ULIPs were not subject to taxation. However, for policies purchased after February 01, 2021, capital gains will be subject to taxation if the total annual premium amount on an aggregate basis exceeds Rs 2.5 lakh per year.
Furthermore, ULIPs come with a 5-year lock-in period, and if you surrender the policy before three years, it leads to the termination of the insurance coverage.
In contrast to mutual funds, which consolidate all expenses into an expense ratio and may charge an exit load under certain circumstances, ULIPs feature a more complex fee structure.
This structure includes:
- Premium Allocation Charges: These are often considered unjustified charges imposed by insurance companies on their ULIPs.
- Policy Administration Charges: Cover the policy servicing expenses incurred by insurance companies.
- Fund Management Charges: Fees levied by the insurance company for managing your investments.
- Switching Charges: Levied to discourage frequent fund switches.
- Mortality Charges: These cover the insurance component of the plan.
- Partial Withdrawal Charges: Encourage policyholders to avoid premature withdrawals.
- Surrender Charges: Typically apply during the initial lock-in period of 5 years.
- Guarantee Charges: Applicable only to high-NAV guarantee ULIPs, serving to secure guaranteed returns.
- Rider Charges: Levied when policyholders buy additional life insurance riders to get the most of insurance benefits.
- Service Tax: subtracted from your premium amount before your investment is allocated to market-linked instruments.
While ULIPs are marketed as vehicles to achieve financial goals like children’s education and retirement, high investment costs and low returns often make them less effective in reality.
Hence, it is advisable to steer clear of ULIPs. They need a long-term commitment with a 5-year lock-in period, limited switching options, and increasing mortality charges with age. For insurance needs, a pure-term plan offers better coverage, while for wealth creation, the right mix of debt and carefully selected equity mutual funds, based on your risk appetite and investment horizon, is a more viable option.
To maintain clarity and efficiency, it is advisable to keep insurance and investment needs separate, as ULIPs tend to have an unbalanced cost-to-benefit ratio. Hence, for insurance coverage, a pure-term plan is recommended, while mutual fund schemes offer transparency, liquidity, and competitive performance for wealth creation and achieving long-term financial goals.
To conclude:
Insurance and investment serve distinct purposes and should not be intertwined. If you require insurance coverage, it is advisable to buy term insurance without investment components. On the other hand, if you aim to invest surplus funds, consider an investment vehicle such as carefully selected equity mutual funds. We hope that this comparison between Mutual Funds and ULIPs assists you in making a well-informed decision.
This article first appeared on PersonalFN here
