INSURANCE SCHEMES or INSURANCE SCAMS

On Saturday we conducted a Financial Planning workshop which was attended by over 30 young and middle age employees of an organization. Though it was not really surprising when we got to know that none of them have enrolled to Systematic Investment Plan as SIPs are still understood by very few, but it was very disheartening to know that almost everyone had some investment linked insurance policy and none of them knew about Term Insurance. Though the better part was that they wanted to learn the right things. We will speak in detail about that workshop in our later post.

This just shows that how much Indians lack in financial literacy and how these insurance company’s virus have spread to almost every investor in India. Mind you these are not INSURANCE SCHEMES but these are INSURANCE SCAMS. We just can’t imagine how people can play with other innocent people’s money. For most of the Indians, it is not just their hard earned savings but it is career of their kids or their bread and butter for their golden years. The Insurance Agents who talk to you about some ULIPs or Endowment are none better than BUTHERS. They just kill and feel happy that they have earned today.

Must Read:

Understand how to plan for Kids Future

Stop Fooling Investors

Let me give you a real time example of Mr. Average Indian who landed up in my office after investing in BHARTI AXA ULIP.
He had asked his agent that he can invest only Rs.10000/- in a year. The agent agreed and took Rs.10000 worth of cheque but filled the form as Half Yearly without the knowledge of the investor. Surprisingly, the investor did not know the same until he landed up in my office with the policy papers.

I then spoke to the Agent over phone acting as relative of Mr. Average Indian, who is also interested in taking this policy and following is what he told me:

1. Bharti AXA is a big company and we all know about Bharti. They are guaranteeing you a return of Rs.112000/- after 3 years if you invest Rs.20000/- a year. Wow!! A return of 34% a year. If I keep getting this high return over next 20 year, my investment of Rs.20000/- a year would become Rs.2,73,84,441/-. For god sake, why the hell we all are working so hard. Put all your money in BHARTI AXA.

2. I asked them how do you get such return when bank is giving only 8% return. He said sir my company is Delhi based and they are investing in Common Wealth Games to be held in Delhi and hence they will generate this return…. Believe me guys, I can never imagine such a reply.

3. Then as usual, as any ULIP guy tells.. you need to invest only for 3 years. The NAV is low and hence you get more units… bla bla bla..

4. When I asked him about Allocation charges, he said that there are no allocation charges.

5. He also tells me that company is giving you a guarantee of 160% of first year premium after 20 years.

Now let me tell you the correct picture.

a. The total deduction from the first year premium of Rs.20000/- is RS.20000. Not only that, the service tax on such charges which are roughly Rs.2000 plus, shall be deducted from second years premium. This amounts to 110% charges for the first year premium. Please read the illustration

b. Indians like the word guarantee. So 160% of first year premium is Rs.32000/- which they will give after 20 years. Now it is less than 2.5% p.a. return. Even if you keep your money in savings bank, you will land up getting Rs.39000/- plus. In PPF it becomes Rs.93000 plus and in diversified equity fund giving 12% return, it would become close to Rs.2 lacs. Do you call it a guarantee?

c. Now this policy is taken in the name of a minor child. Please tell me any one who would want to be benefitted financially if his son/daughter were to die.

Please click on the sheet(illustration) which is attached here and take a look..

Avoid Insurance as an Investment and understand what you need rather than what they want to sell.

Please share this article with your friends; some insurance agent must be targeting them.

Tagged as: Insurance Mis-selling, Mis-Selling, Must Read