LIC Jeevan Vriddhi – Guaranteed returns to compete with bank fixed deposits  

March 5, 2012

Jeevan Vriddhi is designed to attract money from the tax-savers who are desperately seeking avenues to park up to Rs1 lakh. While there are other similar plans in the market, it is LIC’s product that will command attention because of its muscle power

Raj Pradhan

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has launched Jeevan Vriddhi, a single premium traditional plan offering guaranteed maturity sum assured (SA) along with loyalty addition (if any) after completion of policy term which is 10 years. The guaranteed maturity SA will depend on the age of policyholder from eight to 50 years; it reduces with age.

The insurance component is fixed at five times the premium excluding extra premium (based on one’s health) and service tax. In short, the plans works like bank fixed deposits along with insurance thrown in to make it an insurance product. For younger persons, it would almost double your money in 10 years. With interest rates at its peak today, LIC is willing to offer good returns, but it is for the exact same reason the plan is available only for a maximum of 120 days.

The minimum premium is Rs30,000, for an SA of Rs150,000. If the policyholder dies during the term, the nominee will get Rs150,000. If the policyholder survives till maturity, the guaranteed benefit will depend on the policyholder’s age at the time of taking the policy.

For example, if the policyholder would have paid single premium of Rs30,000 (excluding service tax), for a child of eight the maturity amount will be Rs59,538. If the person is aged 35, the maturity amount will be Rs57,385. The return on investment (excluding mortality charges) will be approximately 7% p.a. in this case. If someone is 50 at the time of entry, the plan will give Rs47,467 after 10 years.

Advantages of Jeevan Vriddhi

•  Rate of return – For a 10 year policy term LIC’s endowment plan gives about 5% return on investment (excluding mortality charges). Jeevan Vriddhi plan will give approximately 7% (age 35 years) and hence a good option.
•  Loan – The product offers loan after completion of one policy year, which will be 70% of the surrender value. Unfortunately, the rate of interest will be 10.25% p.a. instead of 9% p.a., which LIC is offering for most of the other plans.
•  Surrender value – The guaranteed surrender value will be available after completion of one policy year; it will be 90% of single premium excluding any extra premium. LIC may pay special surrender value which will be discounted value of the guaranteed maturity SA as on the date of surrender.
•  Loyalty addition – Depending upon the company experience the policy may pay loyalty addition. This is non-guaranteed and considering the decent guaranteed returns offered by the plan, it will be prudent to not have high expectations of the loyalty addition.
•  Rebates for higher single premium – For single premium of Rs50,000 to Rs99,000, the increase in guaranteed maturity SA will be 1.25%; premium of Rs1 lakh and above, the increase will be 3%.

Disadvantages of Jeevan Vriddhi

•  While the plan will offer surrender value after one year, the special surrender value is not guaranteed to be paid. The guaranteed surrender value will be much less than what a person can get from premature withdrawal of bank fixed deposits.
•  The policy term is fixed and so is SA. This is not a product for someone looking for high insurance cover or longer policy term.
•  The death benefit is five times the premium excluding extra premium that may be payable if the person is not in good health. This could lead to issues with tax exemption. The product is better suited for those who are considered as ‘standard’ health.