Choosing the Best ULIP Plan: Key Steps, Benefits

Table of Content
What Are ULIP Plans & How Do They Work?
A ULIP is a dual investment strategy that provides a life insurance policy and a market-linked investment opportunity within the same plan. You can grow wealth while ensuring financial protection for your family.
A portion of the premium you pay in a ULIP plan goes towards life coverage, while the other portion is invested in different equity, debt or hybrid funds. This way, your investment is converted into units, and their Net Asset Value (NAV) fluctuates with market performance.
On maturity, you receive the total fund value, and in case of death, your nominee gets the higher of the fund value or the sum assured. Professional fund managers are responsible for managing ULIPs that aim to generate long-term growth for investors.
Therefore, ULIP funds provide the dual benefit of insurance security and returns based on market performance, enabling you to grow your investment in the long run.
How to Choose the Best ULIP Plans Step by Step
Planning to buy a suitable ULIP? Here is a step-by-step guide to choosing the best ULIP plan:
Step 1: Define Your Financial Goals
Define your financial objectives clearly before selecting a plan. ULIPs are goal-based, which makes it essential to select a plan with a clear financial purpose to avoid mismatched outcomes. Then, match the plan to your timeline and required corpus.
For example, saving for a child’s education in 15 years suits a ULIP with higher equity exposure. However, retirement over 25 years favours an equity-heavy option.
Step 2: Assess Your Risk Appetite
Risk appetite is the level of investment risk you are comfortable with. You can be either risk-loving, risk-neutral or risk-averse, depending on which you select a ULIP. It offers three main investment fund options, which are equity (high risk), debt (low risk), and balanced/ hybrid (moderate risk).
Generally, younger investors prefer investing in equity because of the high return, while those nearing retirement may prefer debt funds because of the low risk. Therefore, honestly assess your ability to bear risk before selecting a ULIP.
Step 3: Understand ULIP Charges and Costs
ULIPs have charges such as premium allocation charge, fund management charge, policy administration charge, switching charge, surrender charge, partial withdrawal charge, mortality charges and miscellaneous charges. These are deducted from your investment and vary by insurer and plan. You must keep in mind that a plan with lower charges increases your long-term corpus. Therefore, always review the benefits and compare two to three plans before selecting.
Step 4: Review Available Fund Options
ULIP funds include equity (stock-focused, high risk, long-term growth), debt (bonds and money markets, low risk, stable returns), and balanced (mix of equity and debt for moderate risk). You can split premiums across multiple funds to match your goals and risk levels. It is better to diversify your investment portfolio to reduce risk and use fund-switching options to adapt to market changes.
Step 5: Understand the Lock-in Period and Liquidity
According to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), all ULIPs have a 5-year lock-in period during which partial withdrawals are not possible. They are ideal for long-term investors, not for short-term liquidity needs. So, assess whether you can block funds for 5 years before selecting a ULIP to avoid future financial burdens.
Step 6: Read Policy Documents Thoroughly
Always read the complete policy terms and conditions carefully before selecting a plan. You must have a thorough idea of the policy features, inclusions, exclusions, surrender clauses, charges and riders#.
This is because having an idea of these details prevents you from selecting the wrong plan. Also, in financial products, transparency builds trust and ensures you are making the right investment decisions for yourself.
Step 7: Analyse Historical Fund Performance
Analysing past data is not a guarantee of the future, but it can be a useful benchmark to assess the fund's performance. It is better to review either a 3-year or a 5-year performance, especially for equity and balanced funds.
Furthermore, checking fund fact sheets, rankings, and consistency will help you select a ULIP. You can use IRDAI-approved or insurer-provided performance charts to make an informed comparison of different ULIPs before selecting.
Step 8: Check Applicable Tax Benefits
ULIP premiums qualify for a tax deduction up to Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961*, up to a maximum of ₹1.5 lakhs annually. Moreover, maturity proceeds are tax-free under Section 10(10D) of the Income Tax Act, 1961* if premium thresholds are met. These two tax benefits make ULIPs an attractive investment option for salaried and self-employed individuals, offering investment and tax-saving options.
Step 9: Evaluate Additional Features and Riders
While selecting the best ULIP option, look for optional riders such as waiver of premium, accidental death, or critical illness coverage. These additional features will enhance your financial security and give you peace of mind. Choose a ULIP that allows customisation so you can include benefits to match your personal needs and safeguard your future.
ULIPs Lock-in Period and Charges
ULIPs have a fixed lock-in period of 5 years, meaning no withdrawals or surrenders are allowed during this time. This promotes long-term investment discipline in individuals to fulfil their financial goals. However, you can withdraw a partial amount in case of an emergency after the minimum lock-in period is over.
The key charges in a ULIP include the following:
Fund management
Policy administration
Switching charges
Premium allocation
These charges are deducted from your fund value. Therefore, always review these costs carefully before choosing the ULIP to ensure they align with your goals.
What is NAV in ULIPs?
In ULIPs, Net Asset Value or NAV is the price of one unit in a fund. Your premium buys units at the prevailing NAV, which changes daily based on charges and market performance. The value of your ULIP depends on the units held and their NAV. Furthermore, tracking NAV helps you monitor your investment’s growth over time.
For example, if the NAV of your ULIP equity fund is ₹25 and you hold 1,000 units, your fund value is ₹25,000. If the NAV rises to ₹28, your fund value increases to ₹28,000, reflecting market performance.
Eligibility Criteria to Buy ULIPs
Not only do you need to know how to choose the best ULIP plan, but being familiar with the eligibility criteria is equally crucial. The eligibility criteria for buying ULIP in India are given below:
Citizenship and Age: ULIPs are available to Indian citizens between the ages of 18 and 65 years.
Policy Selection: Buyers must select a payment mode (monthly, yearly, etc.) and a policy term.
Document Submission: KYC documents like PAN card and Aadhaar card are mandatory. Some insurers may review income and occupation.
Eligibility Confirmation: Always confirm eligibility requirements with your chosen ULIP provider before applying.
Reasons to Purchase ULIPs
One of the biggest reasons to purchase a ULIP is that it offers flexibility to pay premiums. Here are some of the other reasons to purchase ULIPs:
Benefits of Liquidity
ULIPs allow partial withdrawals after the end of the 5-year lock-in period. This makes them suitable for planned expenses like a child’s education or home renovation. Also, the convenience of flexibility gives better access to funds than many traditional plans, ensuring you can meet life goals without disrupting your long-term investment strategy.
ULIPs are Transparent
ULIPs offer complete clarity on charges and fund performance from the beginning of the investment. Regular fund updates empower you to make informed decisions, while transparent policies build trust.
This transparency ensures you can control your investment according to your financial needs. Hence, knowing exactly how your money is managed and how it is performing over time gives you control over your investments.
Low Surrender Charges
Low surrender charges act as a safety net if your financial needs change or you cannot pay the premium anymore. This way, if you exit the policy early, you will not be penalised with a high surrender charge. With the flexibility of low surrender charges, your financial stress will reduce, ensuring your plan stays aligned with your changing needs.
Life Coverage
ULIPs provide the dual advantage of life cover and investment growth depending on market performance. Your family remains financially protected against uncertainties, regardless of market conditions. This built-in insurance ensures peace of mind, making ULIPs a 360° financial safety solution that protects and grows your wealth in the long run.
Customised Plans
ULIPs let you switch between different funds, which are equity, debt, and hybrid, at any time, adapting to market trends or personal financial goals. Moreover, you have the flexibility of redirecting premiums and top-ups, allowing you to customise your plan as your circumstances change. This ensures your ULIP continues to meet financial objectives.
Savings for the Future
ULIPs are considered to be suitable as long-term investment avenues because they promote discipline through regular contributions. The 5-year lock-in is one of the main reasons to encourage regular contributions and stop you from making impulsive withdrawals. Furthermore, structured investing ensures steady progress towards life goals, making ULIPs a built-in commitment to secure financial stability.
Conclusion
ULIPs combine life insurance protection with market-linked returns, helping you invest with discipline while building wealth for goals like retirement, child education, or legacy planning. They offer flexibility, transparency, and tax benefits, making them a well-rounded long-term investment option.
If you want an income and investment solution to secure your family’s future, ULIPs are worth considering. Along with knowing how to choose the best ULIP plan, review policy documents carefully, understand charges, lock-in period, and fund options to select one that matches your risk profile and financial goals.
FAQs on How to Choose the Best ULIP Plan
Is ULIP a good choice?
How to choose the best ULIP?
Which is better, ULIP or term plan?
Is ULIP good for 10 years?
How do I know which ULIP fund type suits my risk profile?
Yes, investing in ULIPs is a good option because it offers the dual benefits of life insurance and market-linked investment growth. They are suitable for long-term goals, such as investment or education plans. Also, they offer tax benefits and provide the flexibility of switching funds.
You can select the best ULIP plan by understanding your financial goals and ability to bear risk. Then you can compare fund options, check charges and review historical performance of the fund before investing. Choose a plan with transparency, flexibility and strong fund management that aligns with your long-term financial goals.
A term plan offers pure life coverage at a low cost. Whereas a ULIP combines life insurance with investment. This indicates serving different financial objectives. So, select the plan that will be the best to serve your financial purposes and make your investment portfolio stronger for the long run.
Yes. ULIPs perform best over the long term, and a 10-year horizon gives you investment time to overcome market volatility and reduce risk. This duration allows the compounding effect to work, increasing the chances of achieving higher returns while enjoying life coverage throughout the term.
To know which type of ULIP suits your risk profile, assess your risk tolerance and financial goals. Therefore, moderate investors should go for balanced funds and consider their age, income stability, and comfort with market fluctuations before selecting their ULIP fund type.
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HDFC Life
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We at HDFC Life are committed to offer innovative products and services that enable individuals live a ‘Life of Pride’. For over two decades we have been providing life insurance plans - protection, pension, savings, investment, annuity and health.
* Tax benefits & exemptions are subject to the conditions of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and its provisions. Tax Laws are subject to change from time to time. Customer is requested to seek tax advice from his Chartered Accountant or personal tax advisor with respect to his personal tax liabilities under the Income-tax law.
#Riders / Add-Ons can be availed upon payment of additional premium.
The Unit Linked Insurance products do not offer any liquidity during the first five years of the contract. The policyholders will not be able to surrender or withdraw the monies invested in Unit Linked Insurance Products completely or partially till the end of fifth year.
Unit Linked Life Insurance products are different from the traditional insurance products and are subject to the risk factors. The premium paid in Unit Linked Life Insurance policies are subject to investment risks associated with capital markets and the NAVs of the units may go up or down based on the performance of fund and factors influencing the capital market and the insured is responsible for his/her decisions. HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited is only the name of the Insurance Company, The name of the company, name of the contract does not in any way indicate the quality of the contract, its future prospects or returns. Please know the associated risks and the applicable charges, from your Insurance agent or the Intermediary or policy document of the insurer. The various funds offered under this contract are the names of the funds and do not in any way indicate the quality of these plans, their future prospects and returns.
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