Can I Change My LIC Agent ?

One of my client ask me that their LIC agent is not cooperating / assisting to them if he is in need of any query of help, so transfer my policy under your agency name. I told them it is not possible right now because LIC has not provided Agent Portability. So if you are in need of any assistant tel me if I can do so.

During the time of buying the policy, all insurance agent claims big promises like they always take care of your policy, any other services related issue or ready to serve you in case of sudden demise of a policyholder. But the reality is little different. There are many reasons for that. One of them are mostly agent do this profession as part time job. Hence all agent not committing full time to their service. And this may be possibly that policy holder may not get proper service from their agent. 

Majority of Insurance agents does not care for after sales service however, few of them take care of their clients with a hope for further policy or references. 

LIC agent is a salesman who just acts as an intermediate between the customer and LIC of India. Once the plan is sold by the agent to the customer, then you are only a customer of LIC of India and the agent has no liability towards you. So, if your agent is not assisting you in depositing LIC Premium, or some other help then you can not do any thing. 

The only exception is being that if a plan is sold to you with improper information you can withdraw your insurance policy within 15 days.

As of now there are no such rules set either by Insurance Companies or from IRDA regarding change / port of Agent.

But if your agent has died then you can write an application to the branch and ask them to assign your policies in the name of your new agent. But it is possible only if your policy becomes an Orphan Policy. 

The policy (ies) initially effected by an Individual Agent whose services were subsequently terminated or removed from LIC are qualified as Orphan Policy (ies) and are qualified as Orphan Policy for the purpose of Agent Portability Rules. Except the policies whose effecting agent is entitled to renewal commission under section 44 of the Insurance Act , 1938 and The policies falling under proviso of Rule 10 (4) of LIC of India (Agents) Rules, 1972.

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How to Avoid Insurance Claim Rejection ?

Life insurance is not just a tax saving tool, it is a serious financial product which if used correctly can be a bless for your family and dependents. We people take life insurance to safe our future from any mishappen.      

But it will be only if it get paid to our nominee on time without hassle. There are so many clauses, conditions and exceptions in insurance policies. Failure to meet any of these conditions would result in no insurance benefit being pay out. Most often, insurers rely on legal loopholes and clauses in their policy documents to avoid making payments of sums assured, but surprisingly a large number of times, the fault and blame belongs to the customers themselves.

Here are some points to ensure yourself as a customer that you always get paid.

1. Don't Conceal Information:- While taking a life insurance policy any information pertaining to your health/habits which can put an impact should disclose. Any pre-existing disease or condition or smoking/drinking habits or anything that can be linked as being as cause to your hospitalization or death will be investigated and if you have not disclosed to the company about it then sum assured & other benefits will not be given to you or your dependents/nominee. Remember your premiums are decided on this information. If there is nothing that can be held against you then the insurer will have to honor the insurance claim.

2. Accept Medical Examination: After certain age, life insurer ask for sponsored medical examination and test to get better understanding of your medical condition. These test may also help you detect diseases early, and treat them accordingly. These test will decide acceptance/rejection of policy or clear your doubts about any future rejection of claims due to concealing health information. 

3. Pay Insurance Premium On-Time: Remember Insurance company only settle claims on Active Insurance Policies. But there are number of people who do not understand that delaying premium payments result in lapsed policies. Once your policy get lapse, you are no longer covered and all your premiums paid that far will be rendered useless. Your nominee may lost their legal validity to get sum assured on death from the company. In some cases delaying your insurance premium payments lead to Late Payment Surcharge for re-reinstatement of the policy.

4. Nominee Information: Nominee is the person who will receive any and all benefits that come out of your insurance policy in your absence. Nominee should be generally that person whose livelihoods are directly depends on you being alive and well. So nominate some one is more important. If you are single than nominate your parents, if married then spouse or children. Whatever your present relationship status is, always keep nominee name update so that some benefits will to some dependents of yours. If there is no nominee then death benefits may be freeze/rejected.

5. Scrutinize the Policy Documents: Merely telling the insurance agent everything about your medical history will not qualify him to understand and explain all on the form about your medical history. Insurers decide your premium payment amount, overall coverage, and even some exclusions based on whats' filled out in your forms. No one knows better that you, and you need to make sure the insurance provider knows too. You need to take the time out of your busy schedule and check the form that all details are filled in order and truthfully. Check Clauses such as the exception list that indemnifies the insurer from any kind of liability towards you exist all over your policy documents. 

Keep  yourself informed about all developments with your insurer. Keep yourself informed about the details in your policy documents. Stay well informed about the conditions under which you will be eligible for a claim. 

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Insurance Premium Saving Factors !

Friends asks, how to save insurance premium? What are the way to save insurance premium? How I can save insurance premium? What are the factors that affect insurance premiums? Hope many of us always thinking about this. And always ask our Insurance Agent friends. 

A Lower premium paid can yield to a good amount of savings over a period of few years. Life insurance premiums are based on number of factors and it can be quite tedious for few people to understand. Like why insurance premium of  same same are not same? Why premium of same age & same amount not same? etc..

There are some factors that many insurance companies consider when pricing their policies. Those factors can effect your life insurance premium which not in our control but we can.

There are some factors listed below which affect our life insurance premiums are:

a) Age Factor: This is factor always affects insurance premium. If you are young the rates will be lower in comparison to someone older. The death possibility or contract to life threatening disease in younger individual are very low. The insurance companies believes that a young can pay many insurance premium installments before they have to write a cheque for your family.

b) Policy Type Factor: Different type of policy charges different types of life insurance premium for the same person for same tenure and same Sum Assured. It differs the bonus amount/ Loyalty Amount payable on that policy. Like Premium of New Jeevan Anand Policy and New Endowment Policy of 21 year old person for 20 years terms are differ.  

c) Policy Tenure Factor: The policy tenure also affects insurance premium. The longer the tenure of the policy the larger the amount of benefit at the time of death as well as lower premium amounts. Short term policy are more expensive than of long term insurance policy.

d) Rider Factors: Some policy offers riders on that particular policy. If someone opt this rider than its premium amount become higher than without rider. So when you opt it think about it.

e) Medical History Factor: Every person who like have an insurance policy need to provide their health records.These records ensures that you don't have any chronic diseases or potential health issues. This keeps a check on your premium amount.  

But if a person has medical history of serious illness like cancer, heart diseases or any other then that makes them susceptible to get these from a hereditary perspective. Which increases the individuals insurance premium by larger margin than.

f) Profession Factor: Your profession/job also plays an important role in the premium you pay for the policy you want to take. Any policy holder working in the mining industry, oil And gas, fisheries or any other dangerous profession increases the premium amount.

g) Hobby Factor: Many insurers have a higher premium for people who love to takes risks for the thrill of it, like speeding cars / car race, climbing treacherous mountains or participates in other high risks activities. Thereby increasing your premium to substantially more than other.

h) Drinking / Smoking: Insurance companies ensure to ask the applicant if they are smoker or drinker. Drinking or smoking is always injurious to health. So if you are a smoker / drinker that raises red flag to insurance companies. Mostly these kind of people pays double the insurance premium than that of non-smoker/drinker. So, avoid it.

i) Gender Factor: Insurance companies ask for your gender. This does not mean insurance companies are against gender equality, But they believes that there is a different life expectancy for different genders. As per studies and statistical findings, women are believed to live 5 years more than men at the minimum resource. Therefor affecting the premium they pay for a larger period of time but at lower rate which is a plus point for the women.

How these factors affect your insurance premium is depends on the insurance company policy about the way they treat these factors and the combination of them. Every insurance policy is based on each individual and premiums are calculated on the insurance company's rules of rating.

Consider these above factors to live a health life and save money.

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Life After Life With Life Insurance

One of my client asked me "why every alternate day an LIC Agent came to me and asked to buy an insurance policy? How I can buy if not able save to afford premium amount? I ask him just to imagine "you are the head of the family and only earning member. You have a good job, own flat, kids taking education in good school. But suppose unfortunately you are no more or no-more earning as now, then............. " that person silence for some time. Again I asked can you again imagine that your family can live without you as comfortable as now. They need money to fulfill their needs even in your absence... so we people come and tell you to do some for future cash requirement.
Always remember loss of an income always creates a dent in the financial plans of any family, and if that income is the only income, the damages can be very severe.
Nothing can be done to compensate for the emotional loss of the family. But we do something to take care of them financially when we are not there.
Therefore we can secure our family's financial future by buying a life insurance policy. Besides do not overlook benefits of a life insurance during your lifetime, especially if you are young. Here  I am listing some reasons for buying Life Insurance Policy.
1. Life After Life : As I illustrated above there are life after your life who need money to survive and fulfill their requirements. They are your dependent spouse, your child, your mother-father whom you love so much.
2. Supplements for your Retirement Goals: With a life insurance plan, you can ensure you have a regular stream of income every month till you survive. So, invest some money in  Pension Fund scheme.
3. Tax Saving Purpose: The premium you pay on an insurance policy is eligible for maximum tax benefit upto Rs.1.50 Lakh under section 80C. And give you a tax free return at the time of Maturity or death under section 10(D) of IT Act, 1961. So, you can save tax with insurance policies irrespective of what plan you buy. 
4. Peace of Mind: We all knows death is unavoidable. Atleast you can do this for your family to secure their financial future. Even if it is a small policy, you know that you have done all you can.
5. Forced Saving Tools: If you are not able to invest thou this investment forcefully ask you to save some money for future. If you choose a traditional or ULIP policy, you pay a premium each month, means each month savings.
6. Delay Cost More: Life insurance policy run on uncertainties. Now you are healthy so you can buy a life insurance but if you are ill your policy may be rejected. Buying life insurance early is cheaper than buying later. 
7. Helpful in Debt-dealing: If you have any home loan or car loan, you must not want your family to deal with financial liabilities during a crisis. Any outstanding debt either home loan, auto loan, personal loan or credit card outstanding will be taken care of if you have right (amount) insurance policies.
8. Fulfill Long-Term Goal: Life insurance a tool for long-term investment. It may help you to achieve your future goals such as buying home, fund for higher education of your child.

Using life insurance as an investment tool might make sense for some people in some situations - usually high net-worth individuals looking for a way to minimize income taxes. For the average person, it may fulfill their future financial needs.

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With Profit And Without Profit Plans

Many people who have their life insurance policy get notice that their plan is may be "With Profit" or "Without Profit". Some time they thought why certain plans are categorized like this. And wiling to ask their agent. Here are the answer.

An Insurance Policy can be "With" or "Without" profit. Life insurance companies from time to time declare bonus (profit share) on their plans. 

An insurance plans in which this bonus/profit share is passed on to the policy holders is called a "with profit" plan. Bonus are allotted after certain periodical valuations to the policy and are payable with the maturity amount.

But  in a "without profit" plan this bonus is not passed on to the policy holders. Therefore, the premium rate charged for a "with profit" plan is little higher than that for a "without profit" plan. 

The percentage of bonus may vary from one policy to another depending on the type, term and the premium of the respective policy, amount other considerations.

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Do You Know Why LIC is Safe !!!

In 1956, when the life insurance industry was nationalized, Parliament directed the LIC to take the message of life insurance to every part of the country. It also directed the Government to guarantee the sums assured (including any bonuses declared) under all policies issued by, as well as those taken over by, the corporation (Sec.37 of the LIC Act).

In the Symbol of LIC Logo, there are two words.."Yogakshemam Vahamyaham" writtern in Sanskrit. This was said by Lord Shri Krishna to Arjun in Kurukshetra. It means" Your Security is My Responsibility."

Here is the proof that investment in LIC is fully secure by Central Government of India. As per Section 37 of LIC Act, "The Sum Assured by all Policies issued by the Corporation including any bonuses declared in respect thereof and, subject to he provisions contained in Section 14 the amount assured by all policies issued by an insurer the liabilities under which have vested in the Corporation under this Act, and all bonuses declared in respect thereof, whether before or after the appointed, day shall be guaranteed as to payment in cash by the Central Government" 

This is the proof why LIC is the king in insurance market. Why people of India trust more on it  than any other insurance company. You can compare here Monthly Business Report of IRDA. 

This is Trust by the People, for the People because in every PUBLIC there is LIC. No other company can guarantee you about your invested money. Can any ??

Can any company guarantee you if they become failure in insurance business that company or any other agency/governement on behalf of that company will return your all investment along with accrued bonuses.

In service of last 61 years LIC has given security to your love one in your absence about taking care by returning all investment along with accrued bonuses and other loyalty addition (if offered) or by insurance amount to the right nominee/heir. 

Over the last 60 years, the corporation has not only carried out this directive in both letter and spirit but also paid to the Government thousands of crores in the form of tax and dividend.

Read also THE INSURANCE LAWS (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2015

So, have trust and go with LIC. Call your trusted LIC Agent Pradip Roy 9958781151 / 8178662909 to book new policies. 

You can Download here LIC Act.

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Funny Investment Tips

On every investment site you will get lots of ideas about investment. Adviser or Planner will come with you some unique ideas and suggestions. 

Today I came with one funny investment idea.... don't take it serious, just have fun.

One smart man gets married  with well educated lady. That person always looking about proper & best investment Plan. After few days his wife come with an intelligent investment idea. She told her husband that after small calculation I can tell you where should invest your valuable savings.

Be honest ......

Just do some calculation step by step as given below...

Step 1:
Choose any number (your Lucky No.) from given below list of numbers...

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9.

Step 2 :
Now Multiply by 3 to the Selected Number.

Step 3 :
Now Add 3 with the Result.

Step 4 :
Again Multiply it by 3 with the Result.


You will get Two Digit Number. Add both number. 

Now this number will advise you where you should invest your hard earned money from the given below list of best trusted investment option.

1.   Invest in Property
2.   Invest in Gold
3.   Invest in Bank Fixed Deposit
4.   Invest in Business
5.   Invest in Shares
6.   Invest in P. P. F. 
7.   Invest in N. S. C.
8.   Invest in Tax Saving Plans
9.   Handover to your Wife
10. Invest in Mutual Funds
11. Any Other Govt. Deposits 

Hope you have got it. You are wise and willing to invest now then follow above steps and enjoy a happy life. Getting any doubts do it again.  Have Fun....

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Register and Get Facility with LIC eService Portal

LIC has comes up with some new features with Lic’s e-service. You can register your policies at LIC portal with some simple steps and save lots of time.

Lic’s e-service is an initiative is to provide you with on demand service within a few clicks! You can now have many of the functionalities that were available only at branch office, Now it will be online at your fingertips. To avail this facility you have to get register as customer on LIC portal.

How to get Register on LIC Portal:

First you have to visit www.licindia.in  , click on the tab “New User “ , select your own USER ID & Password and provide all the other necessary information . Now you are a registered customer portal user.

LIC’s e-services portal for customers has come up with a lot of new facilities. Now if you register you can avail the following benefits: 

1.  Online Payment Facilities:

This facility provided to pay renewal premium dues, payment, repayment and loan interest due of loan through net banking, debit card, credit card, BHIM, UPI

2.   POLICY Schedule:

First page of policy bond which constitutes policy schedule will be displayed.

3.   Policy Status :

Basic detail of policy will be displayed such as plan, term, sum assured, date of commencement, first unpaid premium etc.

4.  Bonus Status :

     Total bonus accumulated under the policy will be displayed.

5.  Loan Status :

Present loan position will be displayed such as total loan outstanding under the policy, due up to which loan interest paid etc.

6.  Claim Status:

This option will display date of survival benefit (if any) or maturity benefit due under the policy during the policy term.

7.  Revival Quotation:

Revival quotation will be provided in case of lapse  policies.

8.  Premium Due Calendar:

Detail of premium due during the year (month wise) will be displayed.

9.  Premium Paid Certificate:

Individual policy – it provides history of premium paid under a single policy during the financial year.

Consolidated – it provides history of premium paid under all the registered own life policies of the user.

10. Claim History:

 This option will provide details of any claim paid under the policy with NEFT/  Cheque details, date of payment and amount of payment.

11.  Policy bond/proposal form image;

 Scanned image of the policy bond as well as proposal form will be displayed for enrolled  policies.

12.  Grievance registration:

Facility to register a complaint /grievance with insurer.

In future the benefits will further be enhanced. If you face any problem in registering, you may contact us/your Agent or to your nearest LIC Branch.

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Tax Relief For Agents

LIC agents main earning is commission. So, Income Tax Department allows some relief to favour Insurance agent. But this relief is for small commission earning agent. If commission earned from LIC insurance business is below Rs.60,000/- p.a. and if no separate books of accounts maintained then the entitlement for deduction is as follows:

i) On First Year Commission - deduction is 50%  

ii) On Renewal Commission - deduction is 15%

The LIC Commission after claiming deduction was mentioned above will be included and can be disclose with other source of income for tax purpose.

The benefit of Adhoc deduction will not be available to agents who have earned total commission of income more than Rs.60,000/- during the year.

In case gross commission earned by an Agent from LIC exceeds Rs.60,000/- per annum  then, he will be not entitled for claiming deduction referred above. He has to maintain books of accounts as required under the Income Tax Act. The following books and documents are recommended to be maintained :

1) Cash Book

2) Bank Book

3) Ledger Book

4) Journal Book

5) Vouchers And Bills

6) LIC Commission Statement

7) TDS Certificates Received from LIC

8) Bank Pass Book, Cheques Book, Deposit Voucher

9) All Other Connected Documents 

Also Read : deduction U/S 57 For LIC Agents

LIC Agents are entitled to claim all expenses incurred for generating LIC Commission such as :

a) Salary to Staff

b) Rent for Office Premises, in case own office then maintenance for the same

c) Fuel Expenses and maintenance for maintaining vehicles.

d) Books, Publications, Periodicals expenses connected to business

e) Printing And Stationery

f) Electricity Expenses

g) Travelling / conveyance Expenses

h) Telephone / Mobile / Internet Expenses

i) Postage Expenses

j) Depreciation Expenses on Vehicles, Computers and Other Office Equipment

k) Gifts, Diaries, Calenders Expenses etc.

l) Staff Welfare Expenses

m) Any Other Expenses related to generate commission.

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How To Make Claim in Insurance ?

What is Claim in Insurance?

Let’s talk about claim. Claim is the demand that the insurer (i.e. LIC of India) should redeem the promise made in the contract. Then the insurer settle the claim after satisfying himself that all the conditions and requirements for settlement of claim have been complied with.

Types of claims:-

An insured person can make claim according to condition complied to contract between Insurer & Policyholder. Claim can be made against Maturity; Death or by Surrendering a policy.

In Money Back Policy, LIC or other Insurance company also pays Survival Benefit Payment before the date of maturity.

How to Make Claims and what are the documents required for?

(A)Maturity Claims:-

When Life Insurance Policy is maturing, the insurance company will usually send intimation prior to due date at least two to three months in advance of the date of maturity with maturity amount payable details.

Policy holder should contact his servicing branch to know about claim procedures & sets of documents required. The Insurance Company asks for following documents:

(          1)Maturity Claim Form No. 3825

(          2)Original Policy Bond

(          3)Discharge Voucher with witness sign

(          4)NEFT Details with cancelled Cheques

(B)Death Claims :-

When a person with life insurance policy dies, claim intimation should be sent to the insurance company as early as possible. The Assignee or the Nominee under the policy can do this with the help of his agent or relative.

The claim intimation should contain information like Date, Place and Cause of Death. The Insurance Agent should help the Insured Person Family or Assignee to deal with the Insurance Company. The Insurance company will respond and ask for the following document :

(       1)Maturity Claim Form No. 3825

(       2)Certificate of Death

(       3)Original Policy Bond

(       4)Discharge Voucher with witness signature

(       5)NEFT Details with cancelled Cheques

*If the policy has been assigned in favour of any other person or entity like any Loan provider company – the claim amount will be paid to the assignee who will give discharge.

(C) Surrender of Policy : - Please visit post How to Surrender LIC Policy?

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How to Surrender an LIC Policy ??

Why we are thinking to surrender the policy while we take it to secure future from financial Problem or Unexpected other risk. Some time we take to save tax U/s.80C also.

REASON TO SURRENDER : 

There may be so many reasons to get it surrender. Might be you are not satisfy with the term & conditions or having some financial problem.

But before going to surrender your policy bond,  you need to check that does your policy has surrender values.

All endowment or money back insurance plans accrue a surrender value after certain (lock-in) period.

Generally insurance policies acquire surrender value completions of three years of your policy. This may varies than the amount of premium paid.

Remember Term Insurance / Health Insurance policies are pure protection plans and do not accrue any surrender value.

Once you have decided to surrender your policy, here is how you go.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS : -

I.   Original Policy Bond / Certificate

II.  Photocopy of last premium payment receipts

III. Photocopy of latest unit balance (in-case of market linked plan)

IV.  Application for surrender value or LIC SurrenderRequest Letter

V.   LIC Form No. 3510/5074

VI.  LIC NEFT Mandate Form

VII. One Cancelled Cheques / Photocopy of Passbook (NEFT/RTGS Purposes)

All forms are self explanatory, fill all the forms accordingly and have some revenue stamps may require. With the above documents visit your home /servicing branch (office from where policy bond is issued). You can find it on your policy bond or on policy receipts. Only Policy holders can surrender the Policy Bond.

After verification all documents LIC officer will issue an Acknowledgement Receipts for the same. Surrendered process may take 15-20 days and the amount (Surrender Value) will be credited into your bank account directly.

POINTS TO REMEMBER : -

1. Surrender values are payable only after three full annual premium paid.

2. Surrender of policy is not recommended since the surrender value would always be proportionately low.

3. And When you decide again to go for an LIC Policy that would be with higher premium because of your    

    higher age .

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