Why Agents Push ULIPs
Bank relationship managers and insurance agents aggressively push ULIPs because the first-year commission on a ULIP can be as high as 15% to 30%. In contrast, they earn exactly 0% commission if you invest in a Direct Mutual Fund.
- Premium Allocation Charge: A portion of your premium is deducted upfront before it's even invested in the market.
- Fund Management Charge (FMC): ULIPs charge up to 1.35% every year just to manage the fund, compared to a Direct Index Fund which charges 0.1%.
- Lock-in: ULIPs have a strict 5-year lock-in period. If you surrender early, your money is moved to a low-return discontinuation fund and subjected to severe surrender penalties.