• Fixed deposit VS life insurance – where should I invest?

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    There are many financial and insurance products available in the market wherein you can invest and receive higher returns on your investments. Among the products available in the market, fixed deposit (FD) and life insurance (LI) are the two most popularly used investment products. Although life insurance is an insurance product, many people use life insurance as an investment product. On the other hand, fixed deposit is a purely investment product wherein you can invest for varying tenures. However, both life insurance and fixed deposits serve your different needs.

    Know about fixed deposit & Life Insurance

    Fixed deposits are investment products. You can invest in fixed deposits for fixed tenures as per your convenience and get attractive returns on your investments at maturity. Normally, banks do not allow you to withdraw your deposits before a given maturity date. But, with prior notification to bank, you can withdraw your fixed deposits. These deposits allow you to invest for a minimum period of 7 days to a maximum period of 10 years.

    On the other hand, life insurance is an insurance product which you buy from a particular insurance provider/company by paying a specific amount of money as premiums. A life insurance policy provides an assured amount of sum to a nominated individual upon the death of the insured person. Life insurance policies are normally divided into two types - whole life insurance and term life insurance policies. You can buy these policies for different tenures based on your requirements. Not only these policies provide risk coverage, you can also use these policies to pay off your medical bills, fund children's education and plan for your retirement.

    Benefits of investing in fixed deposits

    Fixed deposits are savings products offered by banks and you can enjoy a wide range of benefits by investing in them. Mentioned below are some of the major benefits you can enjoy by investing in fixed deposits:

    • Fixed deposits encourages you to save for a fixed tenures.
    • It provides you higher interest rates on your savings compared to the interest you receive by investing in a normal savings account.
    • You can get assured returns on your investments provided you don't withdraw them prematurely.
    • In case your cash flow squeezes, you can withdraw your fixed deposits to meet your emergency financial needs.
    • Fixed deposits enable you to choose your interest payment options. You can receive it either at maturity or annually or monthly based on the term you chose.
    • FD comes with flexible investment tenures. You can choose your investment tenures as per your convenience that normally ranges from 7 days to 10 years.
    • You can invest in multiple fixed deposit accounts provided you have different goals of investments.
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    Benefits of buying life insurance

    Like fixed deposits, life insurance has its own set of benefits. It comes with the following benefits:

    • Life insurance policyholders can avail tax benefit under section 80C and 80D of the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961.
    • Life insurance provides risk coverage and takes care of your near and dear ones even in your absence.
    • Life insurance coverage lasts for longer duration, more than the premium paying period.
    • You can choose from a wide range of plans such as term plan, whole life plan, senior citizen plan, retirement plan etc. as per your requirements.
    • It offers asset protection as well as access to cash.

    Fixed Deposit Vs Life Insurance - which is best for you?

    Fixed deposit is always a better option to invest as it is purely designed for your investment and savings related needs. If your intention is to save and invest for the future, it is advisable you invest in fixed deposits. Listed below are some of the major differences between fixed deposits and life insurance.

    • Fixed deposit is a purely investment product whereas life insurance is an insurance product. Investment is something that helps you save for the future whereas insurance is something which you purchase for risk protection and protect your family in our absence.
    • Fixed deposits are best for both short and medium term investments whereas life insurance plans are designed for long term investments. You can invest for a period of as low as 7 days in fixed deposits unlike a life insurance plan wherein you need to invest for at least 10 years.
    • You can invest a minimum amount of Rs. 1000 in bank fixed deposits whereas in case of life insurance, the minimum premium is different for different plans based on the insured individual's age, gender, policy term and premium payment condition.
    • Fixed deposits offer fixed returns on investments and it is mentioned in the beginning when you open your deposit. But, investment in Unit Linked Life Insurance Plans is subject to market risk. The fund value you receive by investing in these plans are affected by the prevailing market condition.
    • Fixed deposits add to your habit of savings whereas life insurance plans are purchased out of caring and fear that your near and dear ones may face some risks in future.
    • Both fixed deposits and life insurance policies can be withdrawn. You can withdraw your fixed deposits at any time by sending a notification to your concerned bank whereas a lock in period of 3 and 5 years is application to regular life insurance and ULIP plans respectively.

    Even if you don't get any tax benefit for investing in fixed deposits, it is an ideal product to invest in if you want to get fixed returns on your investments. So, if you want to earn on a regular basis, a fixed deposit account can be the perfect choice. Invest in fixed deposits and get income in the form of interest. Fixed deposit is the most preferred choice of investment among senior citizens.

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    FAQs:

    1. Can I get risk coverage with my fixed deposit account?

      2. No, fixed deposit account does not provide risk coverage. But, you can get assured returns on your investments with your FD account.

    2. What is the minimum tenure of investment in a fixed deposit account?

      3. You can invest in a fixed deposit account for a minimum tenure of 7 days.

    3. Can I withdraw my fixed deposits in case I have an urgent financial need?

      4. Yes, you can withdraw your fixed deposits to meet your emergency expenses by giving prior notification to your bank.

    4. Can I get tax benefits by purchasing life insurance?

      5. Yes, you can get tax benefits under section 80C and 80D of the Indian Income Tax Act, 1961 by purchasing life insurance policies.

    5. What is the basic difference between fixed deposit and life insurance?

      6. Fixed deposit is an investment product meant for savings while life insurance is an insurance product primarily designed for risk coverage and savings.

    6. Can I take loan against my FD?

      7. Yes, you can take loan against your FD.

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    Fixed deposit VS life insurance – where should I invest? Reviews

    Write a Review
    • ICICI Bank Fixed Deposit
      "Customer centrice & User friendly app"
      0.5 4.0/5 "Great!"
      I am doing Fixed Deposit with ICICI BANK and its been around 5years. They haven't been paying good interest and its more or less same like other banks as I used to hold my salary account with ICICI, I have decided to be with one bank. There is no locking period and its flexible. They do give good support and the app is user friendly. Even deposit account can be opened through i-mobile or net banking itself.
      Was this review helpful? 0
      , nasik
      Reviewed on Oct 15, 2019
    • SBI
      SBI Fixed Deposit
      "Good"
      0.5 3.0/5 "Satisfactory"
      I had a Fixed Deposit in State Bank of India, I have completed the tenure before 3months ago. I have no issues with the customer service. They are given me 7% interest rate for 2years. There is no profit and processing fee. I got an online access, where I can check the interest rate anytime on the YONO app or else SBI online.
      Was this review helpful? 1
      , tirupati
      Reviewed on Oct 15, 2019
    • SBI Fixed Deposit
      "Interest charges are good. "
      0.5 3.0/5 "Satisfactory"
      I have invested some money through FD. My salary account is in SBI so i have a zero ATM charges and the limit is not actually set by SBI. They do have short term FDs which is pretty good. I have invested the money of Rs. 60000 and the interest rate is 10.01% for the tenure period of 16 months. There is no lockin period. There is no hassle to getting the money back.
      Was this review helpful? 7
      , kolkata
      Reviewed on Oct 01, 2019
    • Dena Bank Fixed Deposit
      "Good plan for senior citizen"
      0.5 2.0/5 "Expected more"
      I have invested the money in Dena bank through Fixed deposit and the growth is not that much good. They are not taking any hidden charges. Only because of the Government undertaken bank, i have selected them. They are providing a interest rate of 6% per annum. I have invested the money of Rs. 2 lakhs. There is a lockin period of 1 year.
      Was this review helpful? 3
      , new delhi
      Reviewed on Sep 24, 2019
    • Axis Bank Fixed Deposit
      "Interest should be increased for FD"
      0.5 3.0/5 "Satisfactory"
      I have opt for fixed deposit for the tax saving purpose because I have chosen five years tenure with AXIS Bank, still its going on. Only once I Invested my money it has the locking period of five years. I have option to check my transactions through mobile app. But I have concern about the interest rate is very lesser for this FD.
      Was this review helpful? 5
      , hyderabad
      Reviewed on Sep 19, 2019
    • SBI Fixed Deposit
      "FD process should be simpler"
      0.5 1.0/5 "Really Bad"
      I had fixed deposit with SBI then I withdrawn the amount, I done Rs. 3 lakhs of investment on my daughter name then I taken the liquidity to purchase the land, at the time I struggled a lot to take that money because the process was difficult to withdrawn the money after seven months of tenure.
      Was this review helpful? 15
      , madurai
      Reviewed on Sep 03, 2019
    • Union Bank of India Fixed Deposit
      "Not good"
      0.5 3.0/5 "Satisfactory"
      I had a Fixed Deposit with Union Bank of India and its closed 18 to 19 months due to personal reasons. I am doing investment but my experience is not good with FD account. In my home town, there is no other banks so just decided to go with this bank. The returns are good.
      Was this review helpful? 7
      , bangalore
      Reviewed on Aug 28, 2019
    • HDFC Bank Fixed Deposit
      "Good to go with HDFC"
      0.5 5.0/5 "Blown Away!"
      I have one FD with HDFC, I deposited Rs. 1 lakh, I was opt for 45 days of tenure. Finally I got 6.25% of interest for 45 days. It won't cover the tax, if we need tax benefits we should go for five years term. I can track the details through netbanking, on the maturity date the amount credits automatically in the account. Even the notification can customized.
      Was this review helpful? 8
      , bangalore
      Reviewed on Aug 27, 2019
    • HSBC Bank Fixed Deposit
      "wrong calculation of interest rates"
      0.5 0.5/5 "Unacceptable"
      HSBC staff wrongly pre closed my fixed deposit .. and calculated the interest rates wrongly and when asked them for clarification never got back .. even after following up with them repeatedly for more than 3 months.. would highly recommend not using their services.
      Was this review helpful? 4
      , visakhapatnam
      Reviewed on Aug 24, 2019
    • SBI Fixed Deposit
      "Excellent"
      0.5 5.0/5 "Blown Away!"
      I do have a Fixed deposit account with SBI and it was carried out by Mom and even I have account for my daughter. Its still running and they have Google application separately to access online. The returns are good. I am doing monthly investment and it was opened quite a long may be 4 years.
      Was this review helpful? 9
      , ahmedabad
      Reviewed on Aug 23, 2019
    • ICICI Bank Fixed Deposit
      "Good"
      0.5 5.0/5 "Blown Away!"
      I just opened a Fixed Deposit with ICICI BANK and have not done any survey on this. I am account holder with them so it was easy to do FD account even they are providing 7% interest rate. The process is very user friendly and never faced any hassle. I could access this account via online.
      Was this review helpful? 6
      , new delhi
      Reviewed on Aug 21, 2019
    • Post Office Fixed Deposit
      "Good for future"
      0.5 3.0/5 "Satisfactory"
      In post office rate of interest is higher for the fixed deposit when compared to the bank, I invested Rs. 5000 on monthly basis its comes in a year Rs. 60,000 after 5 years I got Rs. 3.75,000 I got Rs. 75,000 extra. The service is not comfortable if we have any relative who working there it would supportive or else difficult.
      Was this review helpful? 17
      , burdwan
      Reviewed on Aug 09, 2019
    • SBI Fixed Deposit
      "Good for future saving"
      0.5 5.0/5 "Blown Away!"
      I have FD with SBI, I have opt for one year term there is no such limitation for depositing the money. The interest rate is good for the FD, the online banking is convenient to take liquidity. They resolve the queries on time. Its most safe and secured.
      Was this review helpful? 4
      , visakhapatnam
      Reviewed on Aug 08, 2019
    • SBI Fixed Deposit
      "Average"
      0.5 4.0/5 "Great!"
      I have selected state bnak of indis fixed deposit amount 1 lakhs , Tenure 5 years and Rate of interest 8 percentage after renewal fixed deposit 6 percentage is very less .while document directly bank . Customer service is not good and responsive.
      Was this review helpful? 8
      , kochi
      Reviewed on Aug 05, 2019
    • Kotak Fixed Deposit
      "Excellent Banking"
      0.5 5.0/5 "Blown Away!"
      I activated FD account with Kotak, I have been maintaining this account since when I opened saving account, I converted Rs. 5000 for one year. They are providing interest around 7.6% per annum, the online netbanking and mobile app is very convenient for deposit to FD.
      Was this review helpful? 5
      , mumbai
      Reviewed on Aug 03, 2019
    • ICICI Bank Fixed Deposit
      "Good"
      0.5 4.0/5 "Great!"
      I have invested my FD with ICICI BANK and also have a 3in1 account with them. The interest rate is pretty good. Recently started before 6months, I can do premature withdrawal and also have selected a locking period of 3 years. The customer service is good and overall am satisfied with this bank.
      Was this review helpful? 4
      , mumbai
      Reviewed on Aug 01, 2019
    • Post Office Fixed Deposit
      "Safe and Secured"
      0.5 4.0/5 "Great!"
      My Post office branch is located in own campus hence there is no queue. I opened the fixed deposit, I made one time investment for five years its has tax exemption. They are providing 7% of interest for per annum. I believe it has online access as well.
      Was this review helpful? 13
      , bangalore
      Reviewed on Aug 01, 2019
    • SBI Fixed Deposit
      "Too much good scheme"
      0.5 5.0/5 "Blown Away!"
      Chosen my fixed deposit from State bank of India. I have invested the money of Rs. 57000 and SBI is a most popular bank all over the India and offering all the facilities compared to bank. Since i have a salary account with them, its easy to transfer the money. They are providing the interest rate of 6.5%.
      Was this review helpful? 7
      , kolkata
      Reviewed on Jul 31, 2019
    • Union Bank of India Fixed Deposit
      "Good Investment"
      0.5 4.0/5 "Great!"
      Union of India fixed deposit is same as other investment. Being an existing customer I have opt for one year of fd, the online banking feature is good to open and closing the account, they was no charges for the liquidity of fund before the maturity.
      Was this review helpful? 3
      , mumbai
      Reviewed on Jul 29, 2019
    • SBI Fixed Deposit
      "Good investment plan"
      0.5 4.0/5 "Great!"
      Chosen my fixed deposit from state bank of India because the given rate of interest is high. They are not deducting any service charges. I have invested the money of Rs. 1 lakhs and there is no lockin period and i have chosen the plan for 1 year and they are giving a interest rate of 6.75%.
      Was this review helpful? 11
      , bangalore
      Reviewed on Jul 25, 2019
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