Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Prajna Capital

Prajna Capital


How to Extend your insurance cover on paid - up policies

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 04:32 AM PDT

Invest In Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India)

 

 


In case you are unable to pay premiums any more in your traditional or unit- linked insurance plans ( Ulips), you can use the paid- up option. Here, the policy continues to remain valid. However, its maturity amount is reduced and is also called a reduced paid- up policy.
 

One may feel the need to get the policy paid- up, if it has been mis- sold or one is unable to fulfil the long- term commitment of paying annual premiums.

Under such instances, where the policyholder finds it difficult to pay any further premiums, he can get his policy paid- up. This will not require him to pay any future premiums while keeping the policy still in force. Traditional policies usually have a premium paying term ( PPT) of 10 to 15 years, which can be a long- term financial commitment.

In the new guidelines on traditional products, a policy can get paidup after the person has stayed active with the policy for at least two years.

Financial planners opine if one doesn't want to pay premiums, it's good to get a traditional policy paid-up, whereas, it's better to surrender a Ulip. Reason: If a Ulip gets paid- up, policy administration, mortality and fund management charges will continue to be applicable and will eat into your fund value. On the other hand, traditional policies have an opaque and high charge structure. Hence, it's easier to get traditional policies paid-up as you know the maturity amount you are entitled to after a particular period of time.

What happens when the policy is paid- up? For instance, you take a 10year money- back policy with death benefit and maturity benefit of 5 lakh each, with an annual premium of 20,000. According to the plan, the insured will get the maturity benefit amount in the 20th year. After the sixth policy year, you realise your unable to make any more payments. You get your policy paid- up thereafter. After this, the insured doesn't have to pay any premiums and will get a reduced paid- up after 14 years.

However, Max Life Insurance lets such policyholders buy life cover through the extended term insurance (ETI) option. So, those customers have an option of either taking the reduced paid- up or activating the ETI option.

In addition, Kotak Life Insurance gives an option of automatic cover maintenance, which continues to give the death and maturity benefits to the insured even if he has missed two continuous premium payments on his policy.

We are also thinking on these lines, and are planning to launch an ETI option, where we can extend the sum assured to people on their paid- up policies." VViswanand, director and head product management and persistency at Max Life Insurance, says this ETI option provides flexibility to the policyholder who buys long- term savings based insurance products.  The ETI option gives flexibility while the persons policy is in a non- forfeiture mode

Here, the person can choose between the reduced paid- up option or buy life cover with the ETI option. Say for example, the policyholder here doesn't pay premiums from the seventh year ( i. e. stops paying premium after the sixth policy year) and takes the ETI option, then the ETI sum assured ( life cover) and the term will be calculated as given below.

After his policy becomes paid- up, he wishes to buy life cover through ETI option, a part of his diminished maturity benefit ( also called reduced paid-up) will be utilised to give him insurance cover for the remaining years.

For instance, he is 41 when his policy got paid- up. Now, the life insurer will have to give him an insurance cover for another 14 years ( four years of PPT- years of unpaid premiums + 10 years of maturity benefit). Which means the insurer will have to cover him till he attains the age of 55. However, the original sum assured of 5 lakh remains the same. The insured doesnt have the option to increase or ask for a lower sum assured.

Now, the life insurer will factor in the person's age and risk to health and arrive at a premium payable for that sum assured ( which is 5 lakh). "Taking the same example into consideration, we would need roughly about 28,000 to give him a cover of 5 lakh. Here, the life insurer will take this money from his cash value accumulated (which is 92,000) and refund the balance amount to him," adds Viswanand of Max Life.

Since the cash value of the policy is higher than the required premium for the ETI sum assured for a term of 14 years, an amount of 64,000 ( 92,000 - 28,000) will be paid back to the policyholder.

When a person opts for this ETI option to buy himself an extended sum assured/ life cover, his policy is technically converted into a single premium policy. As mentioned above, the person will get a 5 lakh cover for 28,000 premium paid. Hence, in case that person dies on or before he attains the age of 55 years, he will be paid a death benefit of 5 lakh. Whereas, he gets nothing on survival after 55 years of age. On the other hand, had he taken the reduced paid- up option, he would have got a reduced maturity amount plus bonuses accumulated at that time.

If a person misses two annual premium payments on his traditional policy, the automatic cover maintenance kicks in at this time. This allows the person to either revive the plan or continue the policy as paidup." Hence, the person gets two full years, to decide if he wants to make the policy paid- up or not. However, the flip side to the ETI option, as the whole idea of long- term savings is lost if the policy is exchanged for an extended sum assured.

Happy Investing!!

We can help. Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India)

Leave your comment with mail ID and we will answer them

OR

You can write back to us at PrajnaCapital [at] Gmail [dot] Com

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

Invest in Tax Saving Mutual Funds ( ELSS Mutual Funds ) to upto Rs 1 lakh and Save tax under Section 80C.

Invest Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

These links can be used to Purchase Mutual Funds Online that are regular also (Investment, non-tax saving)

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Application Forms from all AMCs

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Applications

These Application Forms can be used for buying regular mutual funds also

Some of the best Tax Saving Mutual Funds available ( ELSS Mutual Funds )

  1. ICICI Prudential Tax Plan Invest Online
  2. HDFC TaxSaver Invest Online
  3. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund Invest Online
  4. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund Invest Online
  5. Birla Sun Life Tax Relief '96 Invest Online
  6. IDFC Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund Invest Online
  7. SBI Magnum Tax Gain Scheme 1993 Invest Online
  8. Sundaram Tax Saver Invest Online
  9. Edelweiss ELSS Invest Online

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

Best Performing Mutual Funds

    1. Largecap Funds Invest Online
      1. DSP BlackRock Top 100 Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Focused Blue Chip Fund
      3. Birla Sun Life Front Line Equity Fund
    2. Large and Midcap Funds Invest Online
      1. ICICI Prudential Dynamic Plan
      2. HDFC Top 200 Fund
      3. UTI Dividend Yield Fund
    1. Mid and SmallCap Funds Invest Online
      1. Reliance Equity Opportunities Fund
      2. DSP BlackRock Small & Midcap Fund
      3. Sundaram Select Midcap
      4. IDFC Premier Equity Fund
    1. Small and MicroCap Funds Invest Online
      1. DSP BlackRock MicroCap Fund
    1. Sector Funds Invest Online
      1. Reliance Banking Fund
      2. Reliance Banking Fund
    1. Tax Saver MutualFunds Invest Online
      1. ICICI Prudential Tax Plan
      2. HDFC Taxsaver
      3. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund
      4. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund
    2. Gold Mutual Funds Invest Online
      1. Relaince Gold Savings Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund
      3. HDFC Gold Fund

Leave Travel Tax Benefits

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:56 AM PDT

Invest In Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India)

 

 

There are leave travel benefit concessions that are available for a salaried employee. It is important that the conditions related to the Leave Travel concession and its eligibility for a deduction is considered carefully. This will ensure that the individual is able to plan their trip and then the benefits are taken into their tax calculations which will result in a benefit at the end of the day. Here is a look at some of the main conditions related to the leave travel benefit.

 

Nature of receipt

The first thing to consider is the fact that the employer provides an employee with the leave travel benefit in their salary structure. The amount has to be given under this specific head and it cannot be given as some other head but then be considered as a leave travel and then benefits taken on this income.

 

Under the normal working of a payment to a salaried employee this will be taxable however if there is some amount that can be considered as being tax free according to the workings then this will be reduced from the amount received and the net figure would be the amount that would be taxable. The tax benefit can be taken twice is a block of four years. This period of 4 years is decided by the tax authorities so the salaried individual has to look at that specific time period and then make their decisions about how they will go about the process. The current block is from 2010 to 2013 which covers the period January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2013. This is important for the current year because if the benefit has not been taken then it should be used by the end of December.

 

Leave benefit also for his family

One point that is important as far as the overall tax benefit is concerned is that the tax benefit is available for the individual who is salaried and is also extended to his family who is travelling with him. This means that the expense on the tickets of his entire family would be available as a deduction. The key part here is the definition of a family and the good part is that the term here is quite wide. On one side it includes the spouse as well as children of the individual salaried so this is quite clear. However only 2 children are covered for the benefits. There is however an addition to the list and this will include parents, brothers and sisters of the individual or any one of them.

 

The addition of the other close members of the family will be possible only when they are wholly or mainly dependent on the individual. The test of dependence is very important especially when it comes to the parents and siblings so this needs to be kept in mind when the planning is being undertaken.

Any place in India

The most important component of the entire exercise is that the benefit is available only when the leave is for going to any place in India. This clearly means that international travel will not get the same benefits as the travel within the country. The exemption is restricted to the actual expenses included on air fare, rail fare or bus fare only. Other expenses like scooter or taxi charges or even staying expenses at the place where the travel has been taken would not be covered. The exemption is however allowable only for the shortest route to the place visited in India. This means that the individual has to be careful about the manner in which this is taking place and hence only tickets for Indian destinations would be eligible.

Happy Investing!!

We can help. Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India)

Leave your comment with mail ID and we will answer them

OR

You can write back to us at PrajnaCapital [at] Gmail [dot] Com

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

Invest in Tax Saving Mutual Funds ( ELSS Mutual Funds ) to upto Rs 1 lakh and Save tax under Section 80C.

Invest Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

These links can be used to Purchase Mutual Funds Online that are regular also (Investment, non-tax saving)

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Application Forms from all AMCs

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Applications

These Application Forms can be used for buying regular mutual funds also

Some of the best Tax Saving Mutual Funds available ( ELSS Mutual Funds )

  1. ICICI Prudential Tax Plan Invest Online
  2. HDFC TaxSaver Invest Online
  3. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund Invest Online
  4. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund Invest Online
  5. Birla Sun Life Tax Relief '96 Invest Online
  6. IDFC Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund Invest Online
  7. SBI Magnum Tax Gain Scheme 1993 Invest Online
  8. Sundaram Tax Saver Invest Online
  9. Edelweiss ELSS Invest Online

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

Best Performing Mutual Funds

    1. Largecap Funds Invest Online
      1. DSP BlackRock Top 100 Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Focused Blue Chip Fund
      3. Birla Sun Life Front Line Equity Fund
    2. Large and Midcap Funds Invest Online
      1. ICICI Prudential Dynamic Plan
      2. HDFC Top 200 Fund
      3. UTI Dividend Yield Fund
    1. Mid and SmallCap Funds Invest Online
      1. Reliance Equity Opportunities Fund
      2. DSP BlackRock Small & Midcap Fund
      3. Sundaram Select Midcap
      4. IDFC Premier Equity Fund
    1. Small and MicroCap Funds Invest Online
      1. DSP BlackRock MicroCap Fund
    1. Sector Funds Invest Online
      1. Reliance Banking Fund
      2. Reliance Banking Fund
    1. Tax Saver MutualFunds Invest Online
      1. ICICI Prudential Tax Plan
      2. HDFC Taxsaver
      3. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund
      4. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund
    2. Gold Mutual Funds Invest Online
      1. Relaince Gold Savings Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund
      3. HDFC Gold Fund

Advice for financial planning

Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:00 AM PDT

Invest In Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India)

 

 

SEEKING expert advice, particularly while making a financial decision, doesn't necessarily compromise your own abilities to handle money matters. In fact, whoever isn't approaching a financial adviser for ideas in such situations, considering it needless expense, is probably making a mistake.

Although there's no fixed rate of fees for financial planners or advisers, it always pays to have a fair idea of what sort of advice should cost how much.

There can be a mutually agreed fixed fee, which is negotiable. There can also be a fee as percentage of the size of the portfolio or quantum of the asset. This percentage can be as low as 0.05 per cent, 1 per cent or as high as 2.5 to 3 per cent, even higher in some cases. Some financial planners or advisers also ask for management mandate (at least partially) for the asset/wealth/funds along with planning mandate.

There can be conflicts of interests in such cases and one should take adequate precaution and care. Sebi too is addressing this issue of conflicts of interests by way of stricter, stronger and wider disclosure norms.

There are times when an individual voluntarily offers both advisory and management mandates to his adviser to feel relaxed. That may not be wise.

One also should be doubly sure that one's financial planner is the person who has done the certification and is thus an authorised professional who has learnt strategies and has that indepth knowledge to understand how a common man's financial mess must redistributed.

You may come across individual financial advisers or organised sector institutes offering financial advisory services. In both cases, it is advisable to stay away from 'know-all' advisers and those who aren't coming up with enough alternatives.

You should be clear in your mind that you need a planner who would actually help you achieve your own financial goals.

But the individual fund or asset owner would have to be very particular on his part about certain things.

The whole idea of seeking professional help would be defeated unless you can communicate fully to your adviser the facts about your assets, liabilities, incomes, expenditures, habits, ambitions, aspirations, financial goals, crises and so on. You need to be crystal clear to get the best results.

And that's not just once or at the beginning of your association with your adviser. You must keep him posted all through it. Further, whenever there is a change in your income-expense level, plans and aspirations, you must keep your financial planner in the loop.

Happy Investing!!

We can help. Call 0 94 8300 8300 (India)

Leave your comment with mail ID and we will answer them

OR

You can write back to us at PrajnaCapital [at] Gmail [dot] Com

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

Invest in Tax Saving Mutual Funds ( ELSS Mutual Funds ) to upto Rs 1 lakh and Save tax under Section 80C.

Invest Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

Tax Saving Mutual Funds Online

These links can be used to Purchase Mutual Funds Online that are regular also (Investment, non-tax saving)

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Application Forms from all AMCs

Download Tax Saving Mutual Fund Applications

These Application Forms can be used for buying regular mutual funds also

Some of the best Tax Saving Mutual Funds available ( ELSS Mutual Funds )

  1. ICICI Prudential Tax Plan Invest Online
  2. HDFC TaxSaver Invest Online
  3. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund Invest Online
  4. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund Invest Online
  5. Birla Sun Life Tax Relief '96 Invest Online
  6. IDFC Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund Invest Online
  7. SBI Magnum Tax Gain Scheme 1993 Invest Online
  8. Sundaram Tax Saver Invest Online
  9. Edelweiss ELSS Invest Online

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

Best Performing Mutual Funds

    1. Largecap Funds Invest Online
      1. DSP BlackRock Top 100 Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Focused Blue Chip Fund
      3. Birla Sun Life Front Line Equity Fund
    2. Large and Midcap Funds Invest Online
      1. ICICI Prudential Dynamic Plan
      2. HDFC Top 200 Fund
      3. UTI Dividend Yield Fund
    1. Mid and SmallCap Funds Invest Online
      1. Reliance Equity Opportunities Fund
      2. DSP BlackRock Small & Midcap Fund
      3. Sundaram Select Midcap
      4. IDFC Premier Equity Fund
    1. Small and MicroCap Funds Invest Online
      1. DSP BlackRock MicroCap Fund
    1. Sector Funds Invest Online
      1. Reliance Banking Fund
      2. Reliance Banking Fund
    1. Tax Saver MutualFunds Invest Online
      1. ICICI Prudential Tax Plan
      2. HDFC Taxsaver
      3. DSP BlackRock Tax Saver Fund
      4. Reliance Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund
    2. Gold Mutual Funds Invest Online
      1. Relaince Gold Savings Fund
      2. ICICI Prudential Regular Gold Savings Fund
      3. HDFC Gold Fund

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