Soumendra Nath Thakur
21-10-2024
Abstract:
This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the financial impact of an insurance policy with a 15-year term, specifically focusing on the relationship between premium contributions and insurer payouts, as well as comparing these to alternative investment options like fixed deposits. The policy in question involves a 7-year premium payment period, followed by a 9-year gap before payouts commence, with the insurer providing 126.94% of the annual premium as payouts for the final 7 years, alongside a Rs. 14,000 bonus. The findings reveal that the insurance policy primarily serves to return the premiums paid, with modest gains only occurring in the final two years.
A comparative analysis with fixed deposits at a 7.1% interest rate shows that investing the total premiums paid would result in significantly higher returns. By the end of the 15-year term, the cumulative payout from the policy, including the bonus, falls short of what could have been earned from a fixed deposit. While the policyholder would receive a total of Rs. 34,972 from the insurer’s payouts, a fixed deposit investment would yield Rs. 21,089.66 more by the same maturity date.
Ultimately, the study concludes that the financial growth offered by this insurance policy is minimal. The primary benefit is the life insurance coverage provided, rather than substantial financial returns. The research highlights that alternative investment options, such as fixed deposits or Public Provident Fund (PPF), offer better financial growth and greater protection against inflation. Therefore, for those seeking financial growth, these alternatives are more attractive than the insurance policy under analysis.
Keywords: Insurance premiums, financial returns, fixed deposits, Alternative investments, Inflation impact, Smart Income Plus, IRDAI,
Description:
The insurance premium payment term is 7 years, during
which annual premium payments of Rs. 18,434 (including applicable taxes) are
made. After the final premium payment in the 7th year, there is a 2-year gap
before the insurer begins annual payouts to the insured. For the remaining 7
years of the total 15-year insurance coverage, the insurer will pay out an
amount equivalent to 126.94% of the respective annual premiums paid, along with
an additional bonus Rs.14,000+. The final payout will occur in the 15th year
(Maturity Date:
Policy Details:
• Policy No. C******205
• Policy Issue Date:
• Maturity Date:
• Policy Term: 15 Years
• Premium Paying Term: 7 Years
• Policy Status: Active Paid Up
• Annual Premium Amount: Rs. 18,434
• Total Premiums Paid to Date: Rs. 129,038
• Last Premium Amount (including Tax): Rs. 18,405 on
• Last Premium Due Date:
• Last Premium Payment Date:
• Maturity Date:
• Policy Option: Regular Income
• From the Policy Issue Date (
• As of now, there has been no payout from the insurer on
• This implies that the first payout will occur after 9
years from the policy issue date (
Therefore, the difference lies in the context and interpretation of the percentage increase:
1. Percentage Calculation: When we say that Rs. 23,400 is 126.94% of Rs. 18,434, this reflects a straightforward percentage calculation without considering the time factor or interest rate. It simply shows how much Rs. 23,400 exceeds Rs. 18,434 in percentage terms.
2. Simple Interest Rate: In contrast, when considering the annual simple interest rate for the same principal payment of Rs. 18,434 over 9 years, which leads to a payout of Rs. 23,400, the rate calculated is approximately 2.99% per annum. This reflects a different method of calculating interest that does not account for compounding effects.
3. Compound Interest Calculation: Additionally, the calculation of the annual compound interest rate—where the principal payment of Rs. 18,434 grows to a total payout of Rs. 23,400 over 9 years—results in an interest rate of approximately 2.66% per annum. This calculation accounts for the effect of compounding over time, emphasizing how interest accumulates.
In summary:
• The second and third statements explore the growth of the principal amount over time through different interest calculation methods—simple and compound—highlighting how the nature of interest calculations impacts the resulting rates."
Mira, aged 47 years opts for Insurance Plan for a Policy Term of 15 years and Premium Payment Term of 7 years and Pays an annualised premium of Rs. 18,434 p.a., Receives Guaranteed Annual Payout for 7 years commencing from the end of 9th policy year.
At the end of 9th Policy Year, he received Guaranteed Payouts of 126.94% of annualised premiums is Rs. 23,400 each, for the next 7 years.
The 26.94% gain on each premiums of Rs.18,434 in completion of 9 years (Gain = Rs. 23,400 - Rs. 18,434) is Rs. 4,996, and so for 7 premiums the total gain (4,996 x 7) is Rs. 34,972. Therefore, total premiums paid in 7 years is Rs. 1,29,038 and total payouts in 7 years will be Rs. 1,63,800 excluding bonus of Rs. 14,000+
Payout period:
To calculate the percentage of simple gains for each annual premium over the payout period, we first need to clarify the information and assumptions:
1. Annual Premium Amount: The insured pays an annual
premium of Rs. 18,434 for 7 years.
2. Total Premiums Paid: Rs. 18,434 × 7 = Rs. 1,29,038.
3. Final Payout Amount: Rs. 23,400 per year for 7 years
starting after 9 years from the first premium payment.
4. Total Payout Period: 7 years (payout years).
5. Total Gain from Each Annual Premium: Rs. 23,400 - Rs.
18,434 = Rs. 4,966 per year.
Calculate Simple Gain Percentage
The percentage gain for each annual premium can be
calculated as follows:
Percentage Gain = (Gain/Premium Paid) × 100
Using the numbers:
• Gain = Rs. 4,966 (Total gain per premium)
• Premium Paid = Rs. 18,434
Percentage Gain = (4,966/18,434) × 100 ≈ 26.96%
Summary Table
Payout Annual_Payouts
Annual_%Gain Total_Balance %Gain on Rs. 18,434 (7yrs)
1 23,400 26.96% 23,400 26.96%
2 23,400 26.96% 46,800 26.96%
3 23,400 26.96% 70,200 26.96%
4 23,400 26.96% 93,600 26.96%
5 23,400 26.96% 1,17,000 26.96%
6 23,400 26.96% 1,40,400 26.96%
7 23,400 26.96% 1,63,800 26.96%
Explanation:
• Annual_Payouts: This column shows the fixed
annual payout amount that the insurer provides after the initial 9 years.
• Annual_%Gain: The percentage gain for each annual
payout is calculated, reflecting a consistent gain of approximately 26.96%
relative to the annual premium paid.
• Total_Balance (Rs.): This column reflects the
cumulative total of payouts received after each payout year, indicating how
much the insured has accumulated over the years.
• %Gain on Rs. 18,434 (7yrs): This percentage highlights
the gain from the annual payouts based on the initial premium amount of Rs.
18,434.
Premiums Paid and Payout Table:
Balance
with
Years Dates Pemiums(Rs) PayOut(Rs) Bonus Total_Balance Interst
(7.1%). Inflaton@7%
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
74789.26
Explanation of Premiums Paid and Payout Table:
It is only in the 15th and 16th year that the payout exceeds the total premiums paid, with the insurer covering an additional Rs. 49,162, including a bonus of Rs. 14,400. This suggests that the majority of the payouts are simply a return of the premiums, with limited financial gain coming in the last two years from the total premiums paid by insured.
• Comparison of Cumulative Annual Inflation of Paid
Premiums:
The 'Inflation@7%' column represents the cumulative impact
of inflation on the premiums paid over the policy term, calculated at an
assumed average annual inflation rate of 7%. This inflation-adjusted column
shows how the real value of the premiums erodes over time, accumulating to a
total loss of Rs. 74,789.26 by the end of the 15th year. Given the historical
average inflation rate in
• Comparison to Market Returns: By the end of the 16th year, the total amount paid out by the insurer—including the bonus—will not exceed the returns that would have been earned on the premiums had they been invested in a standard fixed deposit (FD) account at an interest rate of 7.1% (a typical rate offered by Indian banks). Based on FD interest, the total accumulation on Rs. 129,038 would surpass the payouts and bonus from the insurer by Rs. 21,089.66.
• Conclusion: This suggests that, financially, the insurance policy offers little benefit beyond the basic return of premiums and a small bonus. In comparison, a Public Provident Fund (PPF) or senior citizen FD account would yield significantly better returns. The minimal financial advantage, combined with the limited bonus and payout structure, implies that the policy’s true value lies in the insurance coverage rather than providing meaningful financial growth.
Conclusion:
The insurance policy's financial structure and impact become evident through a detailed analysis of the premium contributions over seven years, compared to the eventual payouts by the insurer. The policyholder consistently contributes Rs. 18,434 annually for seven years, totalling Rs. 129,038 by the end of the ninth year. However, when compared to investing this amount in a fixed deposit account with a 7.1% interest rate, the balance would grow to Rs. 182,699.37 by the end of the same period, far surpassing the insurer's total payouts of Rs. 23,400 annually.
The insurer’s financial contribution appears relatively modest, as the majority of payouts essentially function as a return of the premiums, with only a small bonus added toward the end. It is only during the 15th and final years of the policy that the payouts marginally exceed the total premiums paid, offering a modest gain. However, this gain pales in comparison to the returns that could have been achieved through low-risk investment alternatives such as fixed deposits or the Public Provident Fund (PPF), both of which provide substantially higher returns over the same period.
When factoring in inflation, the policy’s financial benefits appear even less attractive. The cumulative inflation-adjusted loss significantly erodes the real value of the premiums paid, diminishing the policyholder's purchasing power over the policy term. Despite a nominal gain in the final years, the inflationary pressures and opportunity cost of choosing this policy over more lucrative, low-risk investments further diminish its financial appeal.
In conclusion, the policy's real value lies in the life insurance coverage it provides, rather than any significant monetary growth. The analysis shows that while the policy may offer some security, its financial utility is limited, with alternative investments offering better returns and greater protection against inflation. Ultimately, the policy serves more as a means of insurance protection rather than a tool for financial growth.
#Insurancepremiums, #financialreturns, #fixeddeposits, #alternativeinvestments, #Inflationimpact, #SmartIncomePlus, #IRDAI
