When Mr. Gupta retired from service in March 2018, he was not having any idea where to invest the retirement corpus for the benefit of his family.
Immediate financial goal for Mr. Gupta was daughter’s marriage & a monthly cash flow for the rest of his life.
After seeing the good balance in his bank, the relationship manager called him and offered free retirement planning support. She explained him that the FD returns will come down in future and Unit Linked Policies are better tax free options for the retired life.
Mr. Gupta was brain washed and sold 2 ULIP policies for which he should pay premium of 4 Lakhs for 4 more years! From where he will pay this future premium is a question in front of him now?
Relationship Manager?
Please deal with bank relationship managers at your own risk. Many customers are getting such exclusive relationship managers! Banks are recruiting fresh MBAs and training them to increase their fee income. These relationship managers are getting incentives based on the revenue they generate for the bank.
Banks were considered to be the safest place to keep your money! Not anymore. Relationship managers are verifying your bank account and then talking to you to get that money invested in revenue earning instruments. Since, these employees are getting incentives based on the commission generated through such sales, they will be selling such toxic products to the customers. It is good for the bank, not for you.
Wealth Manager?
If you have a big amount in the bank, you will get a Wealth Manager. It is one step above the normal relationship manager. They are nothing but glorified agents of all wrong products. They will recommend you the Debt Funds of a ULIP for debt allocation, Portfolio Management Service (PMS) for equity investments. They will not recommend the time tested PPF for debt and a long term SIP in equity mutual funds for equity. They will not recommend you a term policy even if you are the sole breadwinner of the family and have an outstanding home loan. Instead they will recommend you to go for an endowment policy of 5 Lakhs! What will happen to your family, in case of an untimely death? Will this 5 lakhs is sufficient to run the family?
Product of the Month!
Banks are offering traditional insurance policies/ULIPs etc. Relationship managers are having ‘Product of the month’ – a contest to push a product when there is an offer of extra commission/overseas trip from the manufacturer. If you happen to invest in such products, you will be a loser in most cases. Please note that in such sales, asset allocation is not happening, it is only asset destruction!
Financial Advice from bank? Joke of the year!
The advisor should understand the customer’s needs and then see the suitability of the products to match those needs. A bank, which is having a tie up with one insurance company cannot offer the right advice, but will push only their products. As long as these managers are getting incentives and foreign trips based on the commission income, they will sell such products only.
How to manage such managers?
As far as possible, avoid banks for such investments. Use banks for only banking services. There are only 3 services you should use from the bank.
- Savings Bank
- Recurring deposit (RD)
- Fixed Deposit (FD)
If you are opting for any other services other than these, there are chances for misselling.
Mutual funds through bank?
Of late banks are selling mutual funds also. They suggest Systematic Investment plan (SIP) of mutual funds. Please note that they will be selling you the regular plan of mutual funds. You need not invest through them in mutual funds. You can invest in direct plan of mutual funds through the mutual fund websites and gain more.
If you are investing 10,000 per month in mutual fund SIPs, you can gain extra of around 15 Lakhs by investing in direct plans. Then why to invest through banks?
Bank Locker?
Banks are demanding investments in ULIP policy, if you want a locker. You can manage this situation by investing in a small FD. It is much better than joining an insurance policy where you have to pay annual premium.
So next time, when the relationship manager is offering a tea in the bank premises, run away. It will be a costly tea for you!
Will it be prudent and cheap to buy a Mediclaim Policy
of a health insurance company through a Bank than buying it directly from the health insurance company?
Hi Subrata
It would be better to buy it online as companies are offering some discount when you purchase it online.
Sound advice, Sir. Better to make your own tea or have tea at a tea shop. Free tea always comes with strings attached.
Thank you Melvin. Is it better to go for online medical policies OR thru agents especially when you have to file claims do you not need the support of an agent?