SIP – Different Types of Systematic Investment Plans in India

Mutual funds now are a household name and building a mutual fund portfolio is synonymous with wealth creation. As the mutual fund industry continues to grow leaps and bounds, SIPs are considered one of the key growth drivers for this industry.

SIPs help the investors to invest in a systematic and disciplined manners.

Online SIP investments starting with Rs 500 per month (for few schemes min SIP amount is as low as Rs. 100 per month); digital distribution and hassle-free onboarding of investors, all have resulted in making an investment for SIPs most favoured investment option.

To stay relevant with times and improvise their offerings, AMCs now offer many different types of SIP so that investors can choose the most suitable type of SIP for investment best suited to their individual needs and profile. Here are the different types of SIP investment available for investors-

1. Regular SIP

One of the simplest and easiest forms of SIP investment is a regular SIP, wherein you invest a fixed amount at regular intervals. The time interval can be monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly or semi-annually. You can also choose daily or weekly SIPs, though it is not recommended in most cases. When you make your first SIP payment, you are required to choose your desired time interval, amount of the SIP and the tenure of the SIP. In a regular SIP, you cannot change the amount during the tenure of the investment.

If you are a salaried employee, choosing a monthly SIP, usually in the first ten days of the month, once your salary is credited to your bank account is highly recommended.

2. Step-up SIP

Without a doubt, SIPs help brings about financial discipline in your life. Over time, as your earnings increase, it is important to increase your investments as well so as to keep them aligned with your income level and financial goals. A step-up SIP, also termed as a top-up SIP, is an automated solution to increase your SIP contribution either by a fixed amount or a fixed percentage after a specific time. Using Step-up SIPs will help you reach achieve your goals faster and also help in long-term wealth creation.

3. Flexible SIP

For investors with irregular income, even after being well aware of the benefits of SIPs, the biggest reason for not starting a SIP is not being able to keep up with the fixed periodic investments. A flexible SIP is a perfect solution for such investors as it gives the flexibility to start, pause, decrease or increase your SIP. Depending on your flow of funds, you can change the SIP amount seven days before the SIP date. In case, there is no intimation of change, then the default amount entered is deducted for the SIP.

4. Perpetual SIP

Normally, when you choose a regular SIP, it has a fixed tenure, with a starting date and an end date. But, if you are unsure about how long you want to continue the SIP, you can opt for a perpetual SIP. In case of a perpetual SIP, you leave the end date column blank and you can redeem your SIP once you have reached your financial goal. If you opt for a perpetual SIP, then it is important that you monitor the returns of your investment, to keep a track of the fund’s performance over time.

5. Trigger SIP

A trigger SIP is for seasoned investors, who have sound knowledge of the financial markets and are accustomed to tracking the market performance daily. Using a trigger SIP, an investor can choose an index level, a particular event or NAV to start the SIP. An investor can set trigger points for upside and downside conditions and can redeem the amount on achieving the pre-specified target. Investors can oscillate their investments between debt and equity schemes within the same fund house. A trigger SIP is recommended only for investors who have a thorough understanding of financial markets.

6. SIP with Insurance

Insurance is an important part of financial planning. In order to make mutual fund offerings more lucrative, certain fund houses offer free insurance cover if you opt for SIPs with a longer duration. The initial cover is usually ten times the first SIP and gradually increases over time. This feature is only for equity mutual fund schemes. The term insurance offered is just an add-on feature and does not impact the performance of the fund.

7. Multi SIP

The multi-SIP enables starting SIP investment in multiple schemes of a fund house through a single instrument. This facility can help investors to build a diversified portfolio. Investors can start SIP in various schemes using a single form and payment instruction, thereby reducing the paperwork involved.

CONCLUSION

Over the last few years, SIP returns have earned investor confidence and are the most preferred investment option of retail investors. If you are unsure on how to choose the right SIP for you and want correct guidance, then consult our expert financial advisors at IndiaNivesh for best-suited SIPs for investments.