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Women have always been strong and independent, even if society has not always recognized or given them credit for their strengths.
Financial independence makes Women feel more secure and respected irrespective of their socio-economic background.
HDFC Life has created a Special Life Insurance Product for Women. HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan is a unique Insurance cum Investment Plan designed specifically for Women to achieve their financial goals.
Table of Contents:
1.)What is HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan?
2.)Features of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
3.)Eligibility Criteria of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
4.)Benefits under the HDFC Life Smart Benefit Plan
- Maturity Benefits
- Settlement Option
- Death Benefits
5.)Funds available in the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
6.)Charges levied under the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
7.)A Grace Period, Revival & Discontinuance of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
8.)Free Look-Up Period of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
9.)Surrendering the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
10.)Advantages of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
11.) Disadvantages of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
12.) Research Methodology
13.) IRR Analysis of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
14.) HDFC Life Smart Woman Vs Other Investment Products
15.)HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan Vs. Pure Term Insurance + PPF / ELSS
16.) Final Verdict on the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
What is HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan?
It is a Unit Linked, Non-Participating, Life Insurance Plan.
Net premium allocation charges shall be invested in the fund(s) you selected and in the proportion you specify.
At the end of the policy term, you will receive your fund(s) accumulated value. You will receive benefits as per the Benefit Option selected in case you are diagnosed with certain medical conditions.
Features of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
- There are three Benefit Options – Classic, Premier, and Elite.
- Sum Assured of up to 40 times your annualized premium.
- Additional periodic cash pay-outs under the Premier and Elite Options.
- Enhanced Allocation Rate from the 11th year onwards.
- On the occurrence of specified event groups, three annual premiums are waived. The specified event groups are,
- Birth of a child with a congenital disorder or pregnancy complications.
- Diagnosis of cancer of female organs.
- Death of Spouse.
Eligibility Criteria of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
Let us look at the basic criteria needed to enter this plan at a glance below;
| Parameters | Minimum | Maximum | |
| Entry Ages for Proposer (Years) | 18 | None | |
| Entry Ages for Female Life to be Assured (Years) | 18 | 45 | |
| Entry Ages of Spouse for Elite Option (Years) | 21 | 50 | |
| Maturity Age for Female Life to be Assured (Years) | 28 | 60 | |
| Age of Risk Cessation for Spouse in Elite Option (Years) | 31 | 60 | |
| Premiums | Annual | 24,000 | 1,00,000 |
| Sum Assured | Entry Age less than 45 years | 10 x annualized premium | 40 x annualized premium |
| Entry Age equal to 45 years | 7 x annualized premium | ||
| Policy Term (Years) | 10 | 15 | |
Benefits under the HDFC Life Smart Benefit Plan
The 3 Benefit Options available in this plan are explained in detail below;
| Event Groups | ||||
| Benefit Option | 1) Pregnancy Complications or Birth of a child with a congenital disorder | 2) Diagnosis of cancer of female organs | 3) Death of the spouse | |
| Classic | Premium Waiver Benefit: Waiver and funding of 100% of your next 3 years’ premiums | Premium Waiver Benefit: Waiver and funding of 100% of your next 3 years’ premiums | Not covered | |
| Premier | Premium Waiver Benefit: Waiver and funding of 100% of your next 3 years’ premiums + Periodic cash pay-outs of 100% of your next 3
years’ premiums on the respective due dates |
Premium Waiver Benefit: Waiver and funding of 100% of your next 3 years’ premiums + Periodic cash pay-outs of 100% of your next 3
years’ premiums on the respective due dates |
Not covered | |
| Elite | Premium Waiver Benefit: Waiver and funding of 100% of your next 3 years’ premiums + Periodic cash pay-outs of 100% of your next 3
years’ premiums on the respective due dates |
Premium Waiver Benefit: Waiver and funding of 100% of your next 3 years’ premiums + Periodic cash pay-outs of 100% of your next 3
years’ premiums on the respective due dates |
Premium Waiver Benefit: Waiver and funding of 100% of your next 3 years’ premiums | |
Maturity Benefits
Your policy matures at the end of the term, and all your risk covers cease. You may redeem your balance units at the then prevailing unit price and take home the fund value.
Settlement Option
The policyholder has the option to take the Unit Fund Value in periodical instalments over a settlement period which may extend to a maximum of 5 years.
Death Benefits
In case of Life Assured’s unfortunate demise, the nominee will receive the greater of the following:
- Sum Assured less all withdrawals made during the two years immediately preceding the date of death or,
- The total fund value or
- 105%of the total premiums paid.
Funds available in the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
You can invest and buy units in any of the following 4 funds designed to meet your risk appetite. You can choose either all or a combination of the following funds based on your preference:
| FUND OPTION | ASSET ALLOCATION | RISK | ||
| Money Market, cash & deposits | Govt Sec, Fixed Income, Bonds | Equity | ||
| Income Fund | 0-20% | 80-100% | – | Moderate |
| Balanced Fund | 0-20% | 0-60% | 40-80% | Moderate to High |
| Blue Chip Fund | 0-20% | – | 80-100% | Very High |
| Opportunities Fund | 0-20% | – | 80-100% | Very High |
Charges levied under the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
Premium Allocation Charge:
The Premium Allocation Rate represents the proportion of your premiums invested to buy units for your policy.
| Year | Premium Allocation Rate |
| Year 1 – 10 | 97.50% |
| Year 11 – 15 | 102.50% |
Fund Management Charge (FMC):
Fund management charge of only 1.35 % per annum charged daily, of the fund’s value. 0.50% p.a. of the fund value for the Discontinuance Fund, charged daily.
Policy Administration Charge:
This charge is a percentage of the annualized premium. 0.40% per month inflating from the 6th year onwards at 5.5% p.a. subject to a maximum of Rs. 500 or 0.5% of premium per month, whichever is lower.
Mortality & other Risk Benefit Charges:
The Mortality Charge and other risk-benefit charges are charged for the entire duration of the policy term. The amount of the charge taken each month depends on your age and level of coverage.
Miscellaneous Charge(s):
Any Policy alteration request initiated by the Policyholder will attract a charge of Rs. 250 per request.
Partial Withdrawal Charge (If applicable):
A Partial Withdrawal request from the Policyholder will attract a charge of Rs 250 per request. However, if the request is executed through the Company’s web portal, the Policyholder will be charged Rs. 25 per request
Switching Charge (If applicable):
A Fund Switch request from the Policyholder will attract a charge of Rs. 250 per request. However, if the request is executed through the Company’s web portal, the Policyholder will be charged Rs. 25 per request.
Premium Redirection charge:
A Premium Redirection request initiated by the Policyholder will attract a charge of Rs. 250 per request. However, if the request is executed through the Company’s web portal, the Policyholder will be charged Rs. 25 per request.
Discontinuance Charge:
This charge depends on the year of discontinuance and your annualized premium. There is no charge after 5th policy year.
Inference from the charges:
Fund Management Charges, Premium Allocation Charges, Policy Administration Charges, and all risk benefits charges are guaranteed for the entire duration of the policy term.
All other charges are levied based on a certain service request by the policyholder. So, at the end of the day, you will feel the pinch. This in turn reduces the potential yield.
A Grace Period, Revival & Discontinuance of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
Grace period:
This plan has a grace period of 30 days for the policyholder to pay their due premiums.
Revival:
You have the option to revive a discontinued policy within three consecutive years from the date of your first unpaid premium.
Discontinuance:
Discontinuance of Policy during the lock-in-Period (5 years) –
For other than single premium policies, the fund value after deducting the applicable discontinuance charges shall be credited to the discontinued policy fund, and the risk cover and rider cover, if any, shall cease.
Discontinuance of Policy after the lock-in-Period (5 years) –
The policy shall be converted into a reduced paid-up policy with the paid-up sum assured i.e., the original sum assured multiplied by the total number of premiums paid to the original number of premiums payable as per the terms and conditions of the policy.
Free Look-Up Period of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
In the case you disagree with any of the terms or conditions of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan, you have the option of returning the policy within 15 days from the date of receipt of the policy.
The Free Look-Up Period for policies purchased through distance marketing or online will be extended up to 30 days.
Surrendering the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
In case of Single premium policies –
The policyholder has the option to surrender at any time during the lock-in period. Upon receipt of the request for surrender, the fund value, after deducting the applicable discontinuance charges, shall be credited to the discontinued policy fund. On completion of the lock-in period of 5 years, the fund value as of date shall be payable.
In case of other than single premium policies –
Surrender of the policy before the lock-in period – The policy shall continue to be invested in the discontinued policy fund and the proceeds from the discontinuance fund shall be paid at the end of the lock-in period of 5 years.
Surrender of the policy after the lock-in period – The policyholder has the option to surrender the policy at any time after the lock-in period. Upon receipt of the request for surrender, the fund value as of the date of surrender shall be payable.
Advantages of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
- You can enjoy the enhanced allocation rate of 102.5%p.a. from the 11th policy year.
- The plan waives charges on 12 partial withdrawals or switches, within one year from the date of childbirth.
- Apart from waiver of premium, you receive periodic cash pay-out on the occurrence of specified events groups.
- Settlement option can be exercised for Maturity benefit.
Disadvantages of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
- The lock-in period is 5 years.
- No policy loans are available for this product.
- Only Elite Plan Option has added benefits.
- No rider can be opted for under this plan.
- There are no Free Switches or Free Partial Withdrawals.
For further details, you can refer to the HDFC Life Smart Woman Policy Brochure
Research Methodology
Though this plan is specifically designed for Women, it is a Unit Linked Insurance Plan. Only they offer special benefits for the specified event groups. So, let us calculate what would be the return of the fund value received at maturity. Comparing the return with other investment options will also make the picture crystal clear on whether HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan is worth investing in or not.
IRR Analysis of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
The Assumptions for Comparison:
| Female | 35 years old |
| Sum Assured | Rs. 10 Lakhs |
| Policy Term | 15 years |
| Premium paying term | 15 years |
| Annual premium | Rs. 1 Lakh |
A 35-year-old female buys the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan for a Sum Assured of Rs. 10 Lakhs for an annualized premium is Rs. 1 Lakh. The policy term & the premium paying term is 15 years.
At the assumed rate of 4% & 8% return at the worst and best-case scenario respectively, the maturity value at the end of the policy term would be Rs. 16.52 Lakhs & Rs. 22.99 Lakhs respectively. These assumed rates of returns are not guaranteed and they are not the upper or lower limits of what you might get back, as the value of the policy is dependent on several factors including future investment performance.
| At 4% p.a. | At 8% p.a. | ||||
| Age | Year | Annualized premium / Maturity benefit | Death benefit | Annualized premium / Maturity benefit | Death benefit |
| 35 | 1 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 36 | 2 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 37 | 3 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 38 | 4 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 39 | 5 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 40 | 6 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 41 | 7 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 42 | 8 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 43 | 9 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 44 | 10 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 45 | 11 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 46 | 12 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 47 | 13 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 48 | 14 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 49 | 15 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 50 | 16,52,560 | 22,99,093 | |||
| IRR | 1.20% | 5.17% | |||
The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) for the Worst case & Best-Case scenarios are 1.20% & 5.17% respectively. Accumulating wealth in the long run at these rates is impossible.
The corpus accumulated may not be sufficient enough to fulfil your financial goals. If you want to be an Independent Woman Financially, then investing in the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan couldn’t be relied upon.
HDFC Life Smart Woman Vs Other Investment Products
The benefit illustration analysis above clearly shows the feasible return of the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan. To attain financial independence, you need to invest in better-yielding instruments.
Let us assume the same metrics as in HDFC Life Smart Women for a Comparative IRR Analysis. Here, we have chosen Rs. 10 Lakhs as Sum Assured, but having an adequate life cover is recommended.
The Assumptions for Comparison:
| Pure Term Policy | |
| Sum Assured | Rs. 10 Lakhs |
| Policy Term | 15 years |
| Premium paying term | 15 years |
| Annual premium | Rs. 5000 |
| Balance amount | Rs. 95,000 |
HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan Vs. Pure Term Insurance + PPF / ELSS
The premium for pure term insurance is Rs. 5000. So, the balance amount of Rs. 95,000 could be invested as per your choice. This could be a risk-free debt instrument like PPF or an Equity instrument like ELSS.
| Term Insurance + PPF | Term insurance + ELSS | ||||
| Age | Year | Term Insurance premium + PPF | Death benefit | Term Insurance premium + ELSS | Death benefit |
| 35 | 1 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 36 | 2 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 37 | 3 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 38 | 4 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 39 | 5 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 40 | 6 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 41 | 7 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 42 | 8 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 43 | 9 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 44 | 10 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 45 | 11 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 46 | 12 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 47 | 13 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 48 | 14 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 49 | 15 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 | -1,00,000 | 10,00,000 |
| 50 | 25,76,533 | 37,22,405 | |||
| IRR | 6.51% | 10.71% | |||
After paying the premium, the balance is invested in either PPF/ELSS for wealth accumulation. Down the lane, the accumulated corpus at the end of 15 years would help you to fulfil your financial goals.
The IRR for the Pure Term Insurance + PPF combo is 6.51% which is similar to any debt instrument return. The IRR (Post tax) for Pure Term Insurance + ELSS combo is 10.71%. This is far better than the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan & also has an inflation-beating return making it a worthy long-term investment.
Final Verdict on the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan
It is a unique Investment cum Insurance Plan specifically designed for a woman. During critical moments, the plan assures you peace of mind by waiving and funding your premiums. So that as you overcome that particular situation & continue to grow.
But our in-depth analysis has made it evident that the HDFC Life Smart Woman Plan is not a good long-term investment. Instead of relying upon the HDFC Life Smart Women Plan to tackle the situation, you can invest separately to build the required corpus. Meanwhile having an adequate life cover is also a must which can be achieved by taking up any Pure Term Policy. Having your Insurance and Investment separate will help you sustainably achieve your financial goals.
Being a woman, Financial Independence is essential to navigate life’s challenges & to achieve your financial goals. To attain Financial Independence and to make the RIGHT Financial and Investment decisions, consult with your Financial Planner.
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