If you are looking for short-term investment options, consider the following factors first:
A. Investment Objective: Your goal should be clear to decide the amount and type of investment. Say, your child will reach Class 12 in four (4) years from now and you want to save money for his fees to study engineering or management or medical.
B. Risk Appetite: Are you comfortable taking risks? Market-linked investment plans come with some amount of risk. Fund managers try their level best to ensure your principal amount is not only safe but also grows over time.
C. Financial Requirements: When do you need the money? Are you comfortable if the investment is locked in for five (5) years? Do you have other contingency funds in case of an emergency? Do you require periodic interest inflows, or can the interest be reinvested to grow the corpus further?
D. Sum Assured: If you are opting for tax-saving plans to avail tax benefits under section 80C, then you can look at Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs) that offer tax benefits, life cover as well as returns on investment. If the financial return on investment is not a primary objective, you can explore top health insurance plans that give you financial protection during hospitalization and save tax as well. The best health insurance plans with comprehensive coverage should accommodate hospitalization costs and also give away lumpsum amounts for terminal illnesses.
Once you have defined your investment plans as recommended above, it is time to evaluate different financial instruments. These 5 (five) investment options are the most popular and therefore you can look at them as safe bets to park your hard-earned money. These are also some of the best tax-saving investments in India:
1. Equity Linked Savings Scheme (ELSS)
ELSS has the shortest lock-in period amongst all 80C category financial products. ELSS is a robust investment option for growth as almost 65% of the amount is allocated to equities and the rest goes to fixed income securities.
2. Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs)
ULIPs provide the best of both worlds. Some portion, called mortality charges, of your investment goes towards life insurance and the rest is invested in equity or debt instruments depending on your investment goals and time horizon.
Systematic withdrawals after five years help tide over temporary financial setbacks. Invest 4G by Canara HSBC Oriental Bank of Commerce Life Insurance goes one step further. When the policy terminates, the deducted mortality charges are added to the fund value. In case of untimely demise, the savings contributions can continue without interruption.
Additionally, the ULIP provides automatic portfolio management for aggressive investors and bonus additions for long-term investors. These strategies will help you manage your portfolio without looking into it regularly. Bonus additions help grow your ULIP’s fund value faster.
3. National Savings Certificate (NSC)
NSC is a safe investment backed by the Government of India. Offered at Post Offices, NSC currently generates an annual 6.5% rate of interest. NSC is not a wealth creator and does not deliver inflation-beating returns.
But its safety and accessibility make it an attractive buy. The lock-in period is for 5 years. NSCs can be pledged as collateral to avail loans from Banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs). This instrument is popular because of its availability across the breadth and length of the nation.
4. Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS)
Retirement planning is essential. A government-backed investment option exclusively designed for senior citizens. Retired citizens can invest their retirement benefits into this scheme and also avail tax benefits under section 80C. The maximum amount that can be invested is lower of retirement benefits and Rs.15Lakhs.
| Retirement Benefit | Maximum Amount | Investible Amount |
| Rs.10Lakhs | Rs.15Lakhs | Rs.10Lakhs |
| Rs.25Lakhs | Rs.15Lakhs | Rs.15Lakhs |
Say, Surendra retires and takes home Rs.10Lakhs towards retirement benefits. The maximum amount that he can invest in SCSS is only Rs.10Lakhs. In the next scenario, if Surendra’s retirement benefit is Rs.25Lakhs, he can invest up to Rs.15Lakhs. The tenure of investment is generally 5 (five) years, extendible by another 3 (three) years.
Learn these 5 reasons you should buy a retirement and pension plan.
5. Tax Saver Fixed Deposits (FDs)
If you are looking for a risk-free investment along with monthly or quarterly interest pay-outs, 5-year tax-saving FDs are a good match. These FDs are offered by most scheduled commercial banks. Some banks also allow opening such FDs using Net Banking. You can enjoy the advantage of the power of compounding if you opt for re-investment of interest until the maturity of the deposit.
These 5 (five) options have benefits and advantages unique to each product but all of them are eligible for tax deduction under section 80C of the Indian Income Tax Act. You must evaluate each option against your personal financial goals and opt for the most appropriate one.
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