Part 2: Single Premium ILPs (Pays a single lump sum from at the start)
Now this type of ILP usually involves big amount right at the start but pays 1 time only. There're pros and cons to such policy as well.
Pros:
1) No breakeven point: The moment the fund price rises above your purchase price, you are already earning and that could be the next day after you injected the intial funding
2) There are SP ILPs that comes with monthly or yearly dividends feature, something that I uber like, therefore apart from the initial fund, I'm getting regular top ups from my dividend payouts as well, forming a compounding factor. Thereby helping to gain more from both fund price appreciation and dividend payouts. You can choose to receive dividends in cash instead of reinvesting, but what's the point? Do you need that meagre amount now?
3) Can choose to provide insurance cover against your own death, but usually that amount is fixed at a certain percentage e.g. 125% of the invested sum which is unlike Recurring Premium ILP which I've shared above.
4) Unlike Recurring ILP which is a long term investment vehicle, SPILP is ideal vehicle for people who are looking for short to mid term investment period as well e.g. only wish to invest for 2-5yrs.
Cons:
1) If your SPILP doesn't have dividend feature and if you injected the fund only at the start without any topping up, dollar cost averaging will be absent. e.g. You buy 100K units at S$1.5/unit at the start without subsequent top ups, it will forever be at S$1.5/unit without dollar cost averaging, therefore if the fund price constantly fluctuates below S$1.5/unit, you'll forever be losing money.
1a) To further elaborate on the importance of top ups and dollar cost averaging: With top ups, if you constantly buy at low price intervals, your average unit price will be naturally lowered as well thus giving yourself more room for profit when the fund truly performs.
2) Minimum initial lump sum is at least S$5000, subsequently top ups are the same at S$500/top up. Some people may find it hard to cough out 5K in a shot.
3) If you bought 1 with insurance coverage, upon surrendering your policy, all necessary cost will be deducted before returning the net amount to you. e.g. Your avg unit price = S$1.25, you sell at S$1.27, cost of insurance = S$0.05 for every S$1000 insured. You might still be losing money in this case if you didn't sell high enough.
In summary:
Dollar Cost Averaging is essential to mitigate risk in any type of ILPs and to allow more room for growth.
Short and mid term investors can ideally go for SP ILP while long term investors can opt for either RP or SPILP
Both ILPs have the option to go for minimal coverage if your focus is fully on wealth growth. (5x Annual Premium Value for RPILP and 1% of Total Invested Premium for SPILP)
If the slightest risk will make you lose your sleep, go for endowments.
If you totally have no time to manage your investment or lack the discipline to, go for endowments.
If you want a hybrid vehicle for kids and can take some risk, consider RP ILP, if not, endowment.
ILP is a slow growth vehicle due to the risk diversification nature. Therefore you cannot compare its growth with that of a blue chip or other stocks and derivatives which are also a naturally higher risk investment compared to ILP.
Less risk, lesser gains, that's the bottomline.
We all are driven by the need to plan proper for ourselves and our young ones in order not to jeopardize anyone financially if anything is to happen, therefore I can understand that some people may simply take up insurance plans that many others have taken or recommended thinking it's the best for you as well, unaware that the nature of that product may not be suitable for your agenda. Therefore, if you have any further questions about ILP and endowments or the plans you are about to take up, feel free to drop me a note here, a PM, or my email at
[email protected]
Hope I didn't miss out anything, time to prepare for my routine jog and fly back before my lil girl wakes up.