Kotak Assured Savings Plan
A plan that offer guaranteed returns and financial protection for your family.
Kotak Guaranteed Savings Plan
A plan that offers long term savings and insurance in one premium.
Our representative will get in touch with you at the earliest.
In this policy, the investment risk in the investment portfolio is borne by the policyholder.
Ref. No. KLI/22-23/E-BB/492
ULIP offers an advantage over PPFs. Understand the difference between ULIP and PPF and decide which one to invest in based on your financial goals.
In the last decade, India’s investment market growth has been exponential. Today, with the growth of technology, investing has become much more accessible and, at the same time, much more secure. These days, most people use investment as an opportunity to save taxes, create wealth, and have a financially protected future. Some of the best tax-saving options that you get in India include ELSS (Equity Linked Saving Scheme), ULIP (Unit Linked Insurance Plan), PF (Provident Fund), MFs (Mutual Funds), PPF (Public Provident Fund), and so on.
With so many investment options available, it is tough to pick the right one. This article will discuss which investment option is better: a single premium ULIP or PPF. To understand the difference between ULIP and Traditional plans like PPF lock in period, you need to understand what these actually are and then decide on investing per your financial goals.
A Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP) is a unique 2-part investment offering that enables you to use the benefits of life insurance and investment in a single plan. One part of the premium paid is used towards life insurance, while the other part is invested into different funds that are managed individually. The funds include equity, debts, bonds, stocks, or a hybrid investment. In addition, you can use a ULIP Calculator, via which you can easily calculate a rough estimate of the return you will get at maturity and after all the deductions. These online ULIP calculators, however, are just for a rough prediction. The actual value depends on how you manage your ULIP funds portfolio (No ULIP calculator can predict an accurate return).
The Public Provident Fund (PPF) is a scheme provided by the Government of India and launched in 1968. It is known for its safe investing options. PPF lock in period is quite popular among Indians as a stable investment option with a decent interest rate wherein all the returns are tax-free. You can use any PPF calculator to calculate the return after reaching the maturity period. The PPF calculators will tell you the amount you make from investing in such a fund. Also, while using the PPF calculator, you will understand why traditional investment tools are a safe investment option. However, these funds are highly rigid, and you don’t get much freedom of choice if you invest in PPF. For example, PPFs have a minimum lock-in period of 15 years.
It is highly advised to check the basic difference between ULIP and traditional plans to understand their benefits and choose the best plan based on your financial goals.
Criteria |
ULIP |
PPF |
Returns |
Varied returns wherein an individual can manage portfolios of funds. |
Fixed interest and returns (Decided by the Government annually). |
Lock-in Period |
Minimum 5-year lock-in period. |
15-year maturity period. |
Tax Benefits |
Tax exemption on investment of up to ₹2,50,000/annum. Additional taxes are applicable above this amount under the IT act. |
Tax saving options are available under the Income Tax Act. |
Liquidity options |
Funds may be available after completion of the Lock-in period. It varies based on policy guidelines. |
Partial withdrawal is allowed - you can make a partial withdrawal only after 7 years. |
Consider these factors before opting for a ULIP or PPF.
ULIP combines the benefits of life insurance and investing into a single policy, whereas PPF is merely a savings scheme with no insurance coverage.
PPF offers fixed annual returns, and the interest rate is set by the Indian government at the start of each fiscal year. The PPF lock in period has an interest rate of 7.1% for the fiscal year 2022-23. ULIP, on the other hand, does not provide any set interest. The amount you receive as maturity or the death benefit received by your dependents will be determined by the current market performance.
Under Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act of 1961, ULIP and PPF lock in period returns are tax-free. However, ULIPs issued after February 1, 2021, will be considered capital gains if the yearly premium paid exceeds Rs. 2.5 Lakh and such policies will be taxed at 10% at maturity.
In this case, ULIPs outperform PPF. You can make a partial withdrawal from your ULIP after the five-year lock-in period is up. The same is true for seven years in PPF. In addition, after 15 years, you can withdraw the entire amount from your PPF.
After comparing ULIPs and PPFs, the investor can decide whether to invest in ULIPs or PPFs. Before investing in any financial instrument, consider your financial needs. In the long run, ULIPs generate decent returns despite some risks. Furthermore, ULIP provides the benefits of both life insurance coverage and investing in a single plan. If you are unsure, you may always seek expert advice from a financial counsellor before making any final decisions about your assets.
In this policy, the investment risk in the investment portfolio is borne by the policyholder.
Ref. No. KLI/22-23/E-BB/521
