Understanding the meaning of Investment is important as it will help you make informed choices. People invest with the intention of allowing their money to grow. The wealth generated can be used to fulfil various financial goals like repayment of loans, purchase of other assets, etc....Read More
: In Unit Linked Policies, the investment Risk in the investment portfolio is borne by the policyholder.
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Investment Plans are essentially financial instruments that help create sustainable wealth for the future. Various investment plans in India enable us to invest our savings into different money-market products in a disciplined and periodic manner to achieve our financial goals.
Overall, investment plans provide the much-needed advantage of maximizing our savings through systematic, long-term investments and create wealth for the future. The first step towards having the investment plan in India is to assess your risk profile and financial needs, and then choose an investment plan that aligns with your needs. Some of the investment options in India include:
These investment plans and many others require you to conduct thorough research and then choosing investment schemes that provide long-term sustainable gains, tax-saving benefits, and capital appreciation. Several investment plans in India can work for you.
Risk and return are two important concepts to consider when evaluating investment plans. Risk refers to the potential for loss of capital, while return is the gain or loss on an investment over a period. In general, investment plans with higher potential returns also carry a higher level of risk. For example, stocks tend to have a higher potential return than bonds, but they also tend to be more volatile and therefore carry a higher level of risk. It is important to understand your risk tolerance and consider both the potential return and the potential risk of an investment before deciding.
If you prefer short-term investments, a locking period of even 3 years can seem like a long time. However, there are many investment plans of 12 months that can also help you steer clear of market risks. Here are some prime investment schemes for short-term you can consider:
A common variation of short-term investment plans is 3-year investment schemes, and these are best suited for those who want high returns in a short span of time. Here are a few options you can take into account:
Although 5 years is a long time, a 5-year investment plan in India is typically considered as a short-term investment with low market risks. However, the returns of a 5-year investment scheme are much higher compared to other short-term investments. So, here are some options you can evaluate:
Investment plans such as ULIPS, online savings plans, and Equity Linked Savings Schemes (ELSS) provide opportunities for wealth accumulation through market-linked returns. At the same time, these investment plans also offer significant tax saving benefits4 under Section 80C of the Indian Tax Act 1961. Under these two sections, both the premiums payable and the insurance payouts are tax-deductible, and Tax exempted, respectively.
While choosing between the best investment plans with high returns, considering the risk associated with these investment plans is crucial. For investment plans, their risk can be depicted as the possibility or probability of the asset either performing below-expectation or experiencing a permanent loss of value.
Based on the associated risk, thus, different investment plans are broadly classNameified into three categories, as depicted below:
There are several popular investment options available in India, some of which include:
| Sr. No. | Scheme/Instrument | Functions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Public Provident Fund (PPF) | This is a long-term investment option offered by the Indian government with a maturity period of 15 years.PPF offers tax benefits and a fixed rate of interest. |
| 2 | National Savings Certificate (NSC) | This is another government-backed investment option with a maturity period of 5 or 10 years. The National Savings Certificate (NSC) also offers tax benefits and a fixed rate of interest. |
| 3 | Equity-linked savings scheme (ELSS) | These are mutual funds that invest primarily in equity shares of companies. ELSS tax-saver funds offer tax benefits under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. |
| 4 | Fixed deposits (FDs) | Fixed Deposits (FDs) are offered by banks and other financial institutions and offer a fixed rate of interest for a fixed period of time. |
| 5 | Real estate | Property investments are considered one of the most popular investment options in India, it is considered as a long-term investment option and has the potential for high returns. |
| 6 | Gold | It is considered as a safe haven asset, and gold investments have always been a popular investment option in India. |
| 7 | Life Insurance | Life insurance is also considered among the best investment options, as it ensures financial protection to your family/nominee in the unfortunate event of your death. Another advantage of investing in a life insurance policy tax benefits on premiums paid and Section 10 (10d) benefits on the payout received. |
As the name suggests, low-risk investment plans are those in which the element of risk is approximately zero. In other words, low-risk investment plans tend to provide stable and reliable, growth of value, but minimal losses. Given below is the list of top investment options that can be taken into consideration.
Sukanya Samriddhi Account is gaining popularity as one of the best investment plans in India for the girl child. If you have a girl child, this Yojana aims to facilitate corpus creation for the girl child. You can open a Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana account at both commercial banks and post offices. Furthermore, you can avail of significant tax savings4 under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act 1961.
Public Provident Fund (PPF) is one of the best investment options in India, considering the array of benefits it provides. If you are a salaried individual, PPF can offer many advantages. While the interest income on PPF is not taxable, you can also avail of tax deductions under Section 80C of the income tax 1961.
Generally regarded as one of the best plans for investment, post office monthly income scheme is most suitable for-risk-averse individuals who are looking for low-risk investment plans with decent returns. Here, you must understand that while the income from post office monthly income schemes is fully taxable, the monthly income plans do not attract Tax Deduction at Source (TDS.)
An undertaking of the Indian government, a senior citizen scheme that enables savings – SCSS, is widely regarded as one of the best investment options in India for a variety of reasons.
First, the scheme offers significant financial security for senior citizens. Secondly, the interest rate for this scheme is decided by the government every quarter. You can open an SCSS account at post offices and any nationalised banks.
Tax saving fixed deposits (FDs) are considered by many as one of the best investment scheme and investment plans in India because it provides significant tax savings4 benefits under Section 80C and can help you lower your overall tax liability.
Sovereign Gold Bonds(or SGBs) are issued by the Reserve Bank of India and backed by the Indian government. Essentially, SGBs are securities that serve as an alternative to holding physical gold and are denominated in units of gold (grams). At the time of maturity, you can redeem these bonds in cash, which makes SGBs, one of the best investment options in India.
Savings and Income plans and protection plans are two categories of life insurance that come under the low risk category. There is no identifiable investment component in such life insurance plans, i.e. these insurance plans do not offer market-linked returns. Instead, these life insurance plans serve as a robust financial safety net for your family and efficient protection against life’s uncertainties.
Bonds are certificates of your lending money to the issuer at the said interest rate. The interest on each bond could be paid to you regularly, and in the end, the face value is returned. Alternatively, you can also sell the bond before expiry if you need it. Bonds are regarded as one of the best investment options in India because of their relative safety.
As the name suggests, high-risk investment plans are suitable for investors whose primary focus is on having long-term capital growth. Meanwhile, most high-risk investment plans tend to incur substantial fluctuations but provide opportunities to create significant possible returns in the long-term. Examples of high-risk investment plans include:
Equities offer risk-taking investors the chance to achieve their financial goals. While every asset is essential in its peculiar way, equities have a proven track record over the long-term, vis-à-vis other assets. In an equity investment, thus, you can buy a share of the ownership in a company, which entitles the investor to the gains and losses of the business.
ULIPs or unit-linked insurance plans are generally regarded as one of the best investment options in India because they offer both life insurance and investment returns benefits. Not just this, they also offer you option to move your money between high risk, medium and low risk. This is so because it allows you to invest your money in a mix of various fund options. While part of the premium amount is allocated to a variety of fund options (based on your investment objectives and risk profile), the remaining portion is used to provide the much-needed insurance coverage.
Overall, ULIPs are essentially life insurance plans that offer an additional feature of investing your money in different money-market linked assets based on your goals. Thus, ULIPs are another route to invest in a professionally managed portfolio of equities or bonds. The benefit of investing in a bond fund through ULIP is that as per the prevailing tax laws, you may enjoy tax deduction under section 80C subject to fulfilling conditions therein.
ULIPs offer a clear classNameification of risk categories, where you can pick up the higher risk fund for the long-term goals. You can gradually shift to lower-risk investments as your investment nears maturity.
A mutual fund is formed when money is collected from different investors and invested in a company’s stocks or bonds. Typically, a mutual fund is shared by thousands of investors and is managed collectively to earn the highest possible returns. The person driving the mutual fund is a professional fund manager.
Mutual funds offer diversified investment with lower investment corpus in any or multiple asset classNamees. For example, you can invest in a pure equity fund, a debt fund or a hybrid fund investing in both stocks and bonds.
Mutual funds may offer various risk category funds based on the type of stocks or bonds they are investing into. Index funds are considered the safest fund category among equity funds, whereas Gilt funds are the safest bet among the debt categories.
As the name suggests, medium or moderate risk investments comprise investment plans that serve as diversified or balanced investments. Investment plans with a moderate risk profile provide not only the potential for growth but also willingness to accept a certain level of market volatility. Most medium risk investment plans help diversify your investment portfolio through a mix of equity and debt instruments to generate stable returns without taking any huge risks. Examples of medium risk investment plans include:
Every one of us has a set of goals that we strive to achieve in our lifetime. In today’s day and age, however, we cannot rely on our savings only.It is through investment plans that we can create a robust financial portfolio to realise these goals. To fulfil your goals of affording a home or securing your retirement financially, it is crucial that you identify the best investment plan that will help you grow your money over time. Therefore, you need to have a goal and a tentative timeline to achieve in mind before you start investing in any of the best investment plans with high returns. Remember, once you have a goal in sight, you need to start investing as soon as possible – doing so will help you streamline the process.
If you are a salaried or self-employed individual, you must remember that you cannot achieve your goals with only your savings – you need to maximize your savings and create wealth through investment plans. To build wealth, you must invest your money in some of the best investment options with high returns. If you do not invest, the chances are that you will miss out on opportunities to maximize your financial worth and wealth-building potential. While you have the risk of losing money through investment plans, you have a much higher potential to gain significantly – provided you invest wisely and on time.
| Sr. No. | Scheme/Instrument | Functions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Public Provident Fund (PPF) | Contributions to PPF are eligible for tax deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, up to a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh per financial year. The interest earned and maturity amount are also tax-free. |
| 2 | National Savings Certificate (NSC) | Investments in NSC are eligible for tax deductions under Section 80C, up to a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh per financial year. The interest earned is taxed as per the investor's income tax slab. |
| 3 | Equity-linked savings scheme (ELSS) | Investments in ELSS are eligible for tax deductions under Section 80C, up to a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh per financial year. Any long-term capital gains (over 1 year) are taxed at 10% while short-term capital gains (less than 1 year) are taxed as per the investor's income tax slab. |
| 4 | Fixed deposits (FDs) | Interest earned on fixed deposits is taxed as per the investor's income tax slab. However, senior citizens are eligible for a higher interest rate and are also eligible for a tax deduction of up to Rs 50,000 under Section 80TTB of the Income Tax Act. |
| 5 | Real estate | Taxation on real estate transactions depends on the nature of the transaction, and the holding period of the property. For example, short-term capital gains (less than 2 years) are taxed as per the investor's income tax slab, whereas long-term capital gains (over 2 years) are taxed at 20% after indexation. |
| 6 | Gold | Investment in gold is taxed as per the investor's income tax slab. Short-term capital gains (less than 3 years) are taxed as per the investor's income tax slab, whereas long-term capital gains (over 3 years) are taxed at 20% after indexation. |
| 7 | Life Insurance | Premium paid for a life insurance policy is eligible for tax deductions under Section 80C investment options of the Income Tax Act, 1961, up to a maximum of Rs 1.5 lakh per financial year. The death benefit payable to the nominee are also tax-free under section 10 (10D). |
Here is how you can choose the right investment plans from the best investment options in India:
To purchase the insurance + investment plans in India, you need to produce the following documents as proof for KYC verification:
• Passport
• Voter’s ID
• Job card issued by NREGA duly signed by an officer of the State Government
• Aadhaar Card
• National Population Register containing details of name, address and Aadhaar number
• Or any other document as notified by the Central Government
• PAN Card/Form 60
• Utility Bill (Not more than two months old) of any service provider (electricity, telephone, postpaid mobile connection, piped gas, water)
• Property or Municipal Tax Receipt
• Pension or family pension payment orders (PPOs) issued to retired
• Employees by Government Department or PSUs, if they contain the address
• Letter of allotment of accommodation from employer issued by State or Central Government departments, statutory or regulatory bodies, PSUs, scheduled commercial banks, financial institutions and listed companies
For Salaried Individuals (Any one)
• Bank statement showing salary credit for latest 3 months
• Latest 2 years Income Tax Returns
• Latest year Form 16
For Self Employed (Any one)
• Latest 2 years Income tax returns not filed in same year along with Computation of income
• If computation of income not available: Latest 3 years Income tax returns not filed in same year
• CA certified Audited balance sheet and profit loss account for latest 2 years
• Form 26 AS
The following investment options can be considered among the best investment plans in India:
The investment plans with potentially high returns in India are equities and large-cap mutual funds. Before you invest in these investment plans, however, it is advisable that you consult your financial advisor and seek their help in investing and managing your investment portfolio.
Many investment plans, including ULIP plans, allow you to go for automatic investments of your choice. While in ULIP, it happens with the help of automatic transfer of money from one fund to other, other investment plans automatically allocate your money into your investment account and ensure that your money is not lying idly in your bank savings account but is already put to work of accumulating returns. automatic investments help reduce discretionary spending and enable us to achieve our financial goals much faster.
You can choose to make partial/systematic withdrawals from your investment plans. Herein, you can redeem a fixed amount at a particular frequency. You may also choose to withdraw a lumpsum amount by making a redemption request, based on your requirement. Most investment plans have minimum withdrawal amounts and some even have a minimum lock in period specified in their respective disclosure documents.
You can choose to make systematic withdrawals from your investment plans. Most investment plans have minimum withdrawal amounts specified in their respective disclosure documents. Thus, you can redeem a fixed amount from your investments at a pre-decided frequency.
The primary purpose of all investment plans and income funds is to provide a regular and steady income to you (as an investor.) or to provide a lumpsum amount at the end of policy term. In ULIPs and in some other investment options, there is an array of funds that once can choose from when it comes to Investing money. The risk, however, depends on the nature of fund chosen and market situations.
Experts advise that gold should be an indispensable part of your diversified investment portfolio, because the price of gold increases, in response to instances wherein the value of paper investments, such as bonds and stock tends to decline. While gold prices can sometimes be volatile in the short term, gold has always maintained its valuation over the long term.
Here is how you can start investing in your early 20s:
Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIPs) are often considered as one of the investment plans in India. The biggest reason is that these plans offer a complete flexibility to transfer your money from high risk to low risk funds, without surrendering the plan. Moreover, the ULIP plans offer both life coverage and significant investment returns. Moreover, the ULIPs also provide comprehensive tax-saving benefits on both premium paid and insurance proceeds under Section 80C and 10(10D), respectively. Under a ULIP plan, a portion of the premium paid is invested in market-linked equity and debt instruments, while the remaining issued to provide insurance coverage.
Different investment categories in India are follows:
The different modes of investment or asset classNamees are as follows:
A Fixed Deposit (FD) is a type of bank savings/investment account, which promises to pay a fixed rate of interest to you (as an investor). In return, you agree not to access or withdraw your invested funds for a specific period. For FD investments, the interest is only payable at the end of the investment period. Furthermore, since the investment tenure and the rate of interest are fixed, you can quickly determine the interest you will earn once the tenure of any fixed deposit investment culminates.
Provident Fund is a compulsory, government-managed retirement savings scheme. Under the Provident fund, employees agree to contribute a portion of their savings each month towards their pension fund. In time, the saved amount gets accrued, and you can withdraw the amount as a lump sum, either at the end of your employment or at retirement. The amount from your Provident Fund savings serves as a source of substantial income post-retirement.
Here are a few tips to save money from your salary:
When you invest in a Fixed Deposit account, you have the flexibility to choose an investment tenure (or “term”). When you select a term, you commit to put your money away (in your FD account) for the complete tenure and avoid accessing or withdrawing it for the period mentioned above. To get maximum returns from your fixed deposit investments, it is prudent that you invest your savings for the maximum possible tenure (FD terms usually range anywhere from one month to five years.)
If you plan to retire by the age of 55, then you need to have savings that are at least 15 to 20 times your annual income. For instance, if your yearly income is Rs10 lakhs then your savings and investments should be close to Rs 1.5 to 2 crores.
Those who want to double their money in 5 years can consider the following investment plan in India:
Every investment plan in India comes with some amount of risk, especially in cases where the returns are entirely dependent on the market fluctuations. However, savings accounts, fixed deposits, public provident funds, recurring deposits, post office schemes, and non-equity mutual funds are some of the low-risk and some of the best investment scheme in India.
Systematic Investment Plans, popularly known as SIPs, are one of the best investment schemes you can consider. A SIP allows you to invest a fixed small amount in mutual funds at regular intervals, helping you build a financial corpus for the future.
Here are some examples of some of the best investment scheme for short-term:
Here are some examples of long-term investment plan in India:
An average person should have at least 15 to 20 times their annual income in savings so they can manage both household and emergency expenses efficiently.
Anyone above the age of 18 years can and should invest in a savings plan in India. The sooner you start investing, the better as you can accumulate a large sum over time and get higher returns.
Some of the investment plan in India come with the option for partial withdrawal, which means that the policyholder can withdraw a part of the fund during the plan’s tenure.
Today, paying premiums for an investment plan is as easy as it gets as all you need to do is visit the insurance company’s website and you can pay the premium online. However, if you wish to pay the premium by cash or cheque, you can visit the insurer’s office or branch near you.
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