In a world where businesses race to embrace the latest technological advancements, having the right tech partner can truly spell the difference between thriving and trailing. And every year, as we chase the pulse of groundbreaking trends, there’s one standout event: Dell Technologies Forum 2023.

With excitement building, I eagerly look forward to the year’s major tech event on August 24th, 2023—an annual technology convergence where ideas meet innovation. Navigating the Horizons of Tech Exploration: Embracing Insights, Innovations, and Ideas at Dell Technologies Forum 2023!

Year after year, the Dell Technologies Forum continues to mesmerize its audience with an amalgamation of forward-looking insights and next-gen solutions. As I anticipate this year’s event, my excitement grows with the promise of an even more enriching experience.

My anticipation is building up for the Keynote Session, which will be led by Alok Ohrie, President & Managing Director of Dell Technologies. This session holds the promise of unveiling the path that India’s digital transformation is set to take. Attendees will also gain valuable insights into Dell’s pivotal role in driving change across Indian organizations, alongside fostering digital inclusivity among the youth.

Adding to the significance of the event, Allison Dew, Chief Marketing Officer at Dell Technologies, will illuminate Dell’s perspective on the dynamic interplay of creativity and data-driven decision-making. Apart from that, an intriguing Fireside Chat has also been lined up between Manish Gupta, Vice President & General Manager, Dell Technologies and an industry leader. The chat will unveil strategies for nurturing innovation, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and a growth mindset.

Panel Discussion Illuminating the Role of Diversity & Inclusion in Driving Lasting Change

With panelists from Dell Technologies – Geraldine Tunnell, Senior Vice President of Global Field and Partner Marketing, and Venkat Sitaram, Senior Director & Country Head – Enterprise Segment, this conversation is set to resonate with thought-provoking insights.

Moderated by Mridu Bhandari, Anchor & Editor, CNBC-TV18, this discussion will explore the pivotal role that an inclusive culture plays in nurturing innovation and fuelling sustainability. The lineup for this year’s event holds significant promise.

Here’s a sneak peek into why this abundant source of tech knowledge is an absolute must-attend:

  • Insights into the Future of Work, understanding how to navigate innovation and collaboration in a hybrid world
  • Roadmap on building a secure and scalable edge environment, unlocking enhanced data value while simplifying the edge
  • Exploring the management of a multi-cloud environment with distributed workloads and data presenting challenges
  • Discovering how to withstand and recover from cyber-attacks and tackling even the most demanding security challenges

With even more to discover…

Well, that’s not all! Make sure not to miss the captivating discussion between Sania Mirza, and Mandira Bedi who are set to talk about the transformative journey of the tennis sensation, tracing her path from a professional athlete to a source of inspiration for insights into teamwork, diversity, and inclusion.

The buzz on Dell Technologies social media channels

What caught my attention on X [earlier Twitter], where Technica, the social media host for Dell Technologies is seen in an interesting rendezvous with the Dell leaders. The video series, named ‘Sparking Ideas with Technica’ brilliantly highlights the future of work, innovative technologies, generative AI, and masterful data management.

Their discussions illuminate the path forward and provide valuable insights into what lies ahead. These interesting videos, offer us a glimpse of the ideas that will unfold at the Dell Tech Forum 2023.

Stay in the loop about all the action at the forum by following Dell Technologies on X and Facebook using #DellTechForum and #FromIdeasToInnovation. Plus, be sure to participate in some amazing tech contests happening right now – you could snag some seriously awesome prizes!

So, go ahead and secure your spot for Dell Technologies Forum 2023. It’s your chance to hop on the transformative journey taking you #FromIdeasToInnovation.

Register Now

“India’s role in advancing digitalization and tech innovation has not only been remarkable but has also made an impact – globally.”  Wonderfully put and indeed an eye-opening insight shared by Anand Ganapathy, Vice President Enterprise, Dell Technologies India, at the Keynote Session at #DellTechForum 2022, India edition.

Once again, Dell Technologies fired on all the cylinders by presenting a promising picture of the digital future at its annual tech confluence – #DellTechForum. It was truly invigorating to look at how India is catalyzing technology innovation around the world and achieving some brilliant milestones by accelerating sustainable initiatives, bridging the digital divide, and transforming key industries like healthcare, energy, and more with technology. To mention a few glaring numbers from the session, in FY2022, India recorded a spectacular growth of 15.5% and enterprises are expected to contribute $350-400Bn to India’s dream of becoming a $1Tn digital economy.

The Keynote by Mr. Ganapathy also vividly captured Dell Technologies’ vision to pivot India’s transformation story by bringing breakthrough technologies and solutions and empowering customers and partners in a fast-evolving world. From multi-cloud to future of work, modern data center to edge solutions, and not to forget cybersecurity, Dell aims to build on the innovation momentum in our country by unleashing cutting-edge, emerging technologies.

With this, the #DellTechForum raised the bar of my expectations right at the beginning. And leaving me completely enraptured was the second Keynote session by Tian Beng, Senior Vice President & General Manager – Channels, Asia Pacific & Japan, Dell Technologies, which deep-dived into what forms the cornerstones of Dell’s roadmap for future innovation.

The tech giant envisions making some phenomenal tailwinds by delivering digitally enhanced experiences across:

  • Multi-cloud: Dell’s pioneering ‘multi-cloud by design’ approach, APEX as-a-Service, and the newly-launched software-driven storage innovation, defining new horizons in the multi-cloud era.
  • The Future of Work: Relentless innovation across Dell’s entire PC portfolio, particularly Latitude and Alienware, Dell Optimizer expansion, modern connectivity solutions, and display innovation with new OLED systems and form factors.
  • The Edge: From tablets and laptops built for harsh environments to high-powered workstations to purpose-built edge gateways, a broad portfolio of Dell’s edge products and solutions catering to varying business needs across verticals.

Modern Cyber Resilience: Dell’s new paradigms such as Zero Trust, a cyber recovery plan, and a trusted ecosystem of partners and supply chain to accelerate secure innovation for customers.

Next up was the Fireside Chat where industry leaders shed light on the top tech trends revolutionizing the business landscape and reshaping the future. And equally enlivening was meeting women pioneers reimagining business leadership roles in the Women in Technology session.

However, the most outstanding moments from the day for me were the Breakout Tracks that reflected Dell’s unwavering commitment to steer its customers’ transformation journey forward. Be it empowering business for the multi-cloud future, equipping the workforce with intelligent and secure technologies, unlocking real business value with next-gen solutions, or innovating modern, intelligent and scalable security solutions, Dell is constantly pushing the boundaries to redefine tech modernization for enterprises.

What grabbed my attention next was an exclusive Partner Track, designed for Dell’s top and emerging partners, that showcased monumental milestones, strategic channel priorities, and the roadmap for future impact.

But I had no idea more was coming my way to keep me hooked completely! It is indeed enthralling how Dell is continually pushing the envelope for startups in India and this time, they came up with the unique Startup Café, where top 10 B2B startups presented new-age technology solutions. Dell Designathon, a one-of-a-kind, 24-hour challenge, was another brilliant stroke which promoted design innovation in the Indian startup community.

Like every year, I was really looking forward to the Celebrity Chat, and this time, it was the ‘God of the Offside’, Sourav Ganguly, sharing inspirational words on the value of adaptability, the secret of resilience, and setting new benchmarks for the next generation.

But what garnered the limelight was the Celebrity Talk with the timeless icon of Indian Cinema and a global star, Anil Kapoor on innovation, building grit, and breaking the barriers of performance.

With this, my experience at the #DellTechForum 2022 turned out to be incredible! I’m glad to have witnessed some never-before-seen ideas, perspectives, and innovations that will transform the way we lead our lives forever.

Catch all the action that unfolded at the #DellTechForum at Dell Technologies’ India Twitter handle. Watch out for the event recaps and track all the details with #DriveInnovationForward and #DellTechForum.

Technology is changing at a super-fast pace, it goes on to prove that the only thing that is constant in life is change. I still recollect my early days in a technology services company where we used mainframes, COBOL, and other such technologies that now seem alien to many of us 🙂 Cloud technology, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and many such trending technologies did not even exist back then. Yes, I am referring to the year 2002-2003. Hop on to my LinkedIn to get a glimpse of how things on the technological front have changed, for good 🙂

Fast-forward now, the burgeoning product industry has completely taken over yesteryears growing IT services industry. As per reports,  the global AI market, which was valued at around $93.5 billion in 2021, is expected to grow at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 38.1 percent from 2022 to 2030. The fast-changing technology trends are a signal to enterprises, entrepreneurs, as well as job seekers that you either evolve with time or perish!

Source

This is the basic premise on which Techproof Me: The Art of Mastering Ever-changing Technology by A. Siddharth Pai is built. The emergence of no-code [or low-code] has lowered the barrier to entry into technology. Non-technical founders can also make a mark in the technology industry; all they need is someone who can shape their idea into a viable product. Leading investors also resonate with the same thoughts, which is why it is imperative for organizations and individuals to keep up with the changing technological trends.

About A. Siddarth Pai

A. Siddarth Pai is the co-founder of Siana Capital and VC fund manager for deep-science and deep-technology startups that have social impact. He has close to three decades of experience working in US and Europe. He moved back to India in 2002. He has led some of the most innovative technology-sourcing transactions and advised & completed over $20 billion in transaction value. You can find out more about A. Siddarth Pai from his LinkedIn profile.

Detailed Review

It is a known fact that you need not learn to code in order to make it big in the technology industry. There are a number of successful examples that prove the earlier point. With the lowered barrier to entry, it becomes important for businesses and individuals to unlearn, learn, and re-learn things that matter in the field of technology. Remember, no one talks about COBOL, mainframes, and other such ailing technologies anymore 🙁

It is all about the Cloud, DevOps, AI, ML, Metaverse, and other such areas that are shaping the future of technology. Digital technologies have become an indispensable part of every business, irrespective of whether you own a Mom & Pop store or you own a large technology-led business. The disruption that has been caused by the growing spread of digital technologies has forced a lot of businesses to undergo positive changes 🙂 Siddarth Pai has witnessed these changes, and this book narrates every bit of it; from his own lens!

The book is divided into three distinct sections that are further divided into chapters. Each section has 5 chapters. The best part about every chapter is that Siddarth delves into the technology and business processes in a manner that can be well-understood even by the non-technical audience. Every chapter comprises of hacks that can be applied in your business in order to become technologically resilient. Since I also come with close to 18 years of experience, I could co-relate with the thoughts that are narrated by the author.

As per the author, individuals in the technology business must play either of the roles listed in SOLE [Soldier, Founder, Leader, and Empath]. Of all the chapters, my personal favorite is Chapter 7: How A Business Process Based On Old Thought Made Its Way Into The Tech Revolution. This is where the author talks a lot about the gig economy and how it has opened up opportunities for individuals from different walks of life. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this particular chapter since I am also a product of the growing gig economy 🙂 The author has cited super-meaningful examples of Uber, Lyft, Dunzo, Swiggy, and more in this particular chapter. Believe it or not, each one of us is a part of the gig economy; either as a user/consumer or a contributor.

The author has also deep-dived into the changing landscape of new-age marketplaces, AI, GPT-3 [Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3], deep learning, Blockchain, etc.

Closing Thoughts

The learnings from every chapter can be used to further tech-proof your business. In case you are a working professional, the learnings from the book will help you in navigating the ever-changing tides in the world of technology. Believe me, I have personally experienced the changes!

All in all, I liked the content and could resonate with every word written in it. It is a must-read for anyone that wants to stay super-relevant in this fast-changing and the rapidly-evolving world of technology…

 

 

Currently, majority of hiring managers rely on the traditional resume-based recruitment process. They believe that resumes are the most effective tool for making top-of-funnel decisions. Resumes are useful for highlighting past achievements and experience, but they are ineffective at identifying values and behaviour.

As a result, they not only prevent many talented individuals from being discovered, but they also jeopardise the employer’s ability to hire the best candidates. As a result, rather than relying solely on resumes, they have adopted data-driven approaches to talent acquisition, including talent assessment tools.

Source

Using AI-powered talent assessment tools, organisations can gain valuable insights into candidates and gain a competitive advantage in hiring the right talent.

Since 2000, MeritTrac – India’s largest end-to-end testing and assessment provider in the private sector has been providing provide assessment and examination management services to corporate organisations, educational institutes, and government agencies. Few months back, MeritTrac Services announced the launch of TalentNext – a revolutionary next-gen assessment management system with content expertise across domains to help deliver secure and seamless assessments. This unified modular platform ensures centralized visibility for efficient data-driven hiring and recruitment decisions.

Today, we have a chat with Sujatha Kumaraswamy, CEO – MeritTrac regarding the offerings, EdTech, online employee assessments, and much more. Let’s get started with the Q&A….

What are the key trends driving the growth of AI in HR?

While 2021 was a year for reimagining HR, 2022 will be all about pushing boundaries of HR capabilities. The economic and organisational turmoil has been continual rather than intermittent. It started with a switch to a fully remote working environment and continued through lockdowns. In the current year, it’s critical to be aware of HR trends and understand how to use them to create change and add greater business value.  

Businesses are increasingly counting on AI-enabled tools in their recruitment and hiring processes. While many people are interested in AI, an increasing number of business leaders are curious about how AI-powered capabilities might help them enhance the efficiency and outcomes of their hiring processes.

Here are a few emerging AI hiring trends to keep in mind as recruiters prepare for a candidate’s market in 2022:

  • Artificial Intelligence-based hiring will break new records in objectively pre-screening candidates and shortlisting the best prospects for the job. HR experts can also proctor a candidate’s activity and assess competency and trust scores from afar. This will continue to be a developing field as systems get more complex.
  • AI will also be used by businesses to reduce prejudice and boost diversity and inclusion. They will focus on building more ethical AI to boost candidate engagement and fully utilise the capabilities of AI. The requirement for various evaluations will be determined by HR departments. They will actively eliminate procedures and queries that are superfluous. More weight will be given to the questions that are the most relevant.
  • By assessing people’s talents, weaknesses, and learning preferences, AI will also make assessment-based interventions easier. As a result, organisations will be able to better plan their hiring processes and fine-tune talent while reducing the influence of bias and human mistake.
  • Using machine learning algorithms and insights to make decisions, AI-assisted recruiting will help to reduce biases, resulting in more objective and fair hiring processes. AI-assisted recruitment is progressing toward objective pre-screening of candidates that reduces confirmation bias. AI can also be used at various levels during interventions to establish the most effective learning medium for a person and to provide learning modules that ensure maximum retention.
  • Data is generated by AI-powered technologies for both the recruitment process and internal HR operations. When it comes to recruitment decisions, objectivity goes a long way. Algorithm-based forecasts can now help businesses avoid bias and offer more reliable outcomes. Automation will aid organisations in identifying the best individuals and facilitating cross-functional movement on a holistic basis.

The industry is seeing a rising importance of business and technology enablers like virtualisation and AI. How do you see these emerging technologies impact EdTech?

The goal is to replicate the in-person hiring experience online while also improving tools and assessment processes to ensure that only the best candidates are hired. Due to the nature of the tools and platforms used, remote hiring has mandated the use of technology, which is one of the best ways to reduce hiring stereotypes.

We must track and analyse capabilities and candidate-to-role matches with maximum accuracy as HR services go online. This progress in assessment has been made possible by AI-enabled technology. On the assessment-backed learning front, it can identify a person’s most effective learning medium and guarantee that learning modules are changed in such a way that the student retains the most information.

How has the adoption of end-to-end assessment solutions in India evolved over the last few years?

The establishment of an end-to-end recruitment strategy was needed due to the increased demand for hiring operations as well as higher candidate expectations. To keep up with the changing business environment, the assessment sector anticipates an increased need for a smart end-to-end recruitment platform.

An end-to-end assessment solution caters to a multi-stage recruiting processes in which the best candidate is chosen based on their talents, qualities, and other essential features that are most suitable and compatible for the role. An end-to-end assessment consists of six stages:

  1. Preparing
  2. Sourcing
  3. Screening
  4. Selecting
  5. Hiring
  6. Onboarding

Though the concept of end-to-end assessment has been around for a while, its popularity has skyrocketed in the aftermath of the pandemic. 

There is a lot of buzz about Metaverse in Education [or EdTech]. What are some of the ways in which you see EdTech being transformed by Metaverse?

During the pandemic, many people found it difficult to teach and learn due to restrictions and lockdowns. However, we now have the Metaverse to live, learn, study, and interact in a 3D simulated environment.

Artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and machine learning are interwoven into the metaverse. This makes it easier for students to ask inquiries and gather information at any time. It also comprehends queries and simultaneously responds to several questions.

Are resumes dead, even for highly experienced professionals? If yes, what is the way forward for the HR & recruitment industry?

According to professionals interviewed by HR Dive, recruiters still rely on resumes, even if they wish they didn’t.. Because applicant tracking systems still demand them in some form, and client companies still consider them the standard by which to evaluate and sort through applications, these pages remain a cornerstone of the process.

Recruiters and employers, on the other hand, are already looking beyond the CV. Recruiters can get a snapshot of a prospect just as readily as they can peruse a resume by looking at social media profiles, personal blogs, and online portfolios.

One of the big changes that 2020 ushered in for the entire industry was the shift to an online-based paradigm. Companies with a strong digital presence are more likely to attract top talents today, as more and more job seekers resort to the internet for job searches.

When working for a company with an internet presence, an HR professional might expect to identify and interview a larger pool of candidates. The recruiting process will become more straightforward and efficient as technology progresses.

There are a lot of platforms targeting E2E assessment. What sets MeritTrac solution apart from other such solutions in the market?

MeritTrac has launched an all-in-one evaluation platform for the future generation. TalentNext is a modular assessment ecosystem that blends the power of enormous information with a cutting-edge platform to revolutionise end-to-end recruitment intelligence and college hiring. It was created specifically to bring the disparate parts of the employment ecosystem together.

It’s one-of-a-kind in that it unifies the disparate parts of the hiring ecosystem onto a single platform that offers end-to-end assessment solutions. There’s no need to be overly concerned about different hiring platform options. TalentNext serves as a one-stop-shop for all recruitment assessment needs. It offers consolidated visibility, time savings in the hiring procedure, process autonomy, and provides actionable insights, as well as round-the-clock specialised assistance.

Some of the key features of TalentNext are:

  1. Highly customizable – You can choose online, offline, or a mix of both assessments on the go
  2. Virtual Interviews – It is easy to schedule synchronous/asynchronous video interviews and discussions with next-generation tools
  3. Advanced Analytics – It has a detailed dashboard with reports delivering actionable insights. Proctored assessments and Plug & Play are some other features of TalentNext.

Can you please touch upon how AI, analytics, cloud, etc. will transform the interview and assessment industry?

As more employees work from home, it’s more critical than ever to track and analyse productivity and verify integrity with as much precision as possible. This has been made possible by AI-enabled advancements in evaluation technology.

AI/analytics-based recruitment is making progress in objectively pre-screening prospects and shortlisting the most meritocratic candidates for the final interview. It has enabled remote auto-proctoring tools that record every activity of the candidate and deliver an examination score as well as a trust score to the examiner or recruiter. This includes recognising typing patterns, detecting eye movement, recording ambient sound, and so on, and will continue to evolve as systems advance.  

By detecting people’s strengths and limitations, learning preferences, and tailoring learning and assessment paths for them, AI will enable assessment-backed interventions. All of these help firms build talent in order to achieve the following long-term goals:

  • To reduce the impact of prejudice and human error.
  • To generate consistent outcomes that accurately forecast future behavior and performance.
  • To evaluate each candidate equally and fairly

A variety of tools are now available to track and measure people’s progress and performance on a regular basis. These inputs should be used and incorporated into the organisation’s overall evaluation framework in order to create a comprehensive personnel profile and report. This may have unintended consequences in terms of career advancement, cross-functional migrations, and so on.

There are still many organisations (large-scale) that prefer F2F assessments. What can be done to bring that paradigm shift in their thought process as far as recruitment & assessment is concerned

The world is progressing fast thanks to digital transformation. We need to change all the traditional methods to streamline our daily operations and functions. This process has already started in almost all fields.

It also impacts the behaviour of individuals. The first step towards increasing efficiency of organisational processes is from hiring and onboarding. More and more organisations are understanding this and adopting technology in their HR function.

As per your experience, what has been the most pivotal point that changed the field of Education? Also, where do you foresee the future to be?

In the previous decade, India’s educational system has seen significant modifications. Online classrooms and experiential learning have revolutionised the way students interact with educational material. The educational landscape as a whole has shifted considerably, with online learning and hybrid classrooms becoming the norm at all levels of schooling.

According to IBEF, the Indian education sector was worth US$ 91.7 billion in FY18, and higher education is expected to be worth US$ 35.03 billion by 2025. In addition, India has more school-aged children than any other country in the planet, with almost 250 million! After the United States, India is the second-largest e-learning market.

Despite the fact that the education industry remains unclear, significant steps are being taken to streamline the process and make education accessible to students from all cultural and social groups. There has also been a favourable shift toward equality and diversity. Things are only going to get better from here, with technology providing solutions at a breakneck pace.

Content is the new king! As per your experience, how will content [text, audio, and video] shape the future of online assessment [and/or EdTech]?

Interactivity is key in any mode of learning. It is applicable for assessment too. It is the duty of an educator to stimulate each sense of a student in order to help him/her acquire knowledge and skills.

Online assessment systems are able to adopt all the forms of content to test the capabilities of candidates. 

Lastly, many EdTech platforms are witnessing a significant dip in the demand for online education. Can you please share some tips for EdTech entrepreneurs and how they can still stay relevant by adopting the Hybrid Education model?

With decreasing valuations, stalled fundraising rounds, and uncertain investor confidence, the reopening of schools and colleges has sparked a crisis in the EdTech sector. In a radically changed post-pandemic scenario where students are returning to school and colleges, companies are trying to resort to brick-and-mortar tuition centers and adopting a hybrid offline and online education model.  In both business and school, hybrid is the new normal. 

Learning will be taught from everywhere in the future, rather than from just schools. Schools are focusing on deploying the optimal combination of digitally connected educational solutions, which EdTech companies may help them with. This will improve the quality of education while also expanding access to it.

In accordance with worldwide trends, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasises the importance of EdTech interventions in the digitisation of schools and instructors. 

As a result, EdTech firms may lead the sector by working with schools to ensure educational continuity and streamline digital learning. A hybrid approach is the next natural step of the education ecosystem, given the repeated nature of pandemic waves and India’s ever-increasing acceptance of new technology.

The EdTech ecosystem can provide good education for everybody through the continuous, future-fit evolution of its varied tools and services.

We thank Sujatha for her time and sharing insights about assessments, AI, ML, and more. If you have any questions for Sujatha or the MeritTrac team, do leave them in the comments section…

When it comes to investing in the markets, certain investors hold certain beliefs that largely influence their investment decisions. SIP or systematic investment plans are not immune to this practice as well.

Several investors, especially new investors hold certain beliefs towards SIP investments that may not be always true. In this blog, we will try to bust a few SIP mutual fund myths for you, so that you can make an informed investment decision.

Source

Common Myths Of SIPs

Following are some of the SIP myths that are prevalent among novice investors:

Stopping SIP investments during a market correction

Several investors commit the mistake of pausing, or worse, stopping their SIP investments as soon as the stock markets correct. However, this is actually completely opposite of what an investor is expected to do during a market correction.

Why? Let’s understand. SIP investments help to average out the cost of investment through a concept known as rupee cost averaging. Falling markets may be an opportune time to invest more due to the low prices.

SIP is an investment product

Another common blunder committed by investors is that they assume that SIP is an investment product in itself. However, it is merely a way of investment or an investment facility that allows individuals to invest in mutual funds in a systematic manner.

So, you do not invest in SIP. Instead, you invest in the markets through SIP mode of investment.

One must invest through SIP only in equity funds

Another common myth that must be busted is the delusion an investor lives in – invest via SIP investment mode only in equity mutual funds. However, they cannot be more wrong. An investor can invest in both debt funds and equity funds through SIP mutual funds.

If you wish to achieve a short-term investment goal in planned manner, SIP in debt funds makes sense.

SIP mutual funds ensure promising returns

Nobody would say no to promising high returns on their investments. Several investors live in the dark that investing in mutual funds through SIP mode of investments eliminates the risk of investments and hence promises assured returns to investors.

However, they cannot be more wrong. Though, SIP investments tend to work in the favour of investors when invested for a prolonged duration, investments in mutual funds are market-linked. This means that one cannot expect assured returns on SIP
investments.

Heavy penalty is charged when you discontinue your SIP investments

Unlike popular belief, an investor is not levied heavy penalties in case they miss their SIP investments or default on their SIP instalments.

However, one must be careful that if they miss 3 successive SIP investments, the fund house might cancel your SIP investments. What’s more, the bank might charge some penalty in such cases.

Conclusion

Now that we have helped you provide a clear picture of SIP investments, hope that it will help you make the right decision. You can always avail of the services of a financial advisor if you are stuck at any investment step. Happy investing!

Investors new to the investing world often build a perception towards SIP mutual funds that it is ideal only for equity investments. However, they cannot be more wrong. SIP or systematic investment plan can prove to be beneficial for debt funds as well.

Source

In this blog, we will understand how SIP in debt mutual funds can turn to be valuable to investors. Let’s begin by quickly recalling what SIP investment is.

What is an SIP?

SIP is an investment tool offered to investors that allows them to invest in mutual funds in a systematic and disciplined manner. Under the SIP mode of investment, an investor allocates a predetermined sum of money towards their desired mutual fund schemes at regular intervals for a defined period.

SIP investments are quite flexible in nature – an investor has the liberty to choose the investment amount, investment date, periodicity of intervals, investment duration, type of investment, type of SIP, etc. What’s more – anyone can invest in SIP mutual funds as the minimum investment amount to invest in mutual funds through SIP is just Rs 100 per month. 

SIP in debt mutual funds

Investors aware with the workings of SIP investments are well-versed with the fact that in order for their assets to grow in value, their SIP investments have to be exposed to some level of volatility. Different types of mutual funds have different levels of volatility linked to them.

The NAV or net asset value of debt mutual funds often witness a stable rise in their prices over time. This is truer for debt funds that have a short investment duration or Macaulay’s duration. This is why conservative investors with a low-risk appetite often consider this investment option to ensure that their investment portfolio is not exposed to high levels of risk.

Conservative investors looking to invest in relatively safer investment option can consider investing in debt funds through SIP mode of investment. Another reason why an investor may prefer debt funds over equity mutual funds is that it is easier to predict returns on your investments on these safe investment avenues. This will help individuals to plan their investments in a better way.

An investor can also consider using an SIP calculator to understand the future returns on their investments. 

How can SIP investment in debt funds be beneficial for investors?

Debt mutual funds can be an ideal investment option for investors with a low risk profile and low investment horizon of say 1 to 3 years. Several investors also consider allocating their assets to debt funds to help them balance their long-term debt allocation in their investment portfolio.

Investors with a short-term investment horizon looking to invest in debt funds might consider to first evaluate their investment needs and determine the right investment amount required to reach their financial goals.

As mentioned above, this can easily be achieved through SIP return calculator. All one needs to do is enter certain investment details such as investment duration, desired investment corpus to achieve a particular financial goal, and the estimated average returns on their debt funds.

Finally click on enter. An voila, the calculator will do all the complex calculations for you and provide you with the minimum investment amount you must invest to reach a particular corpus in the desired duration. Happy investing!

A ULIP plan is an insurance plan with an investment element that helps you build up a corpus for your future. A ULIP policy can be used for a number of reasons ranging from travel, retirement, home renovation or purchase, child’s higher education, marriage, and more. This is one of the reasons why ULIP insurance is considered apt for goal-based investments.

Image Source

Not only does it offer features that help multiply your money, but it also offers additional advantages, such as ULIP taxation benefits, life cover and financial protection to your loved ones, among other things.

Thanks to the many types of ULIP plans available in the market, ULIPs are one of the best options for goal-oriented people. Here’s how:

  1. It offers flexible investment options

The latest ULIP options in the market offer many flexible features that can suit any risk appetite and align to any and every kind of goal. ULIP plans these days offer a wide variety of funds like equity, debt, and balanced funds. So, you can buy a ULIP plan and invest as per your unique goals in life.

For instance, if you are saving for your child’s higher education and have a large time horizon, you can invest in equity funds. Such long-term investments will distribute the risks, and equity funds will offer you higher returns.

ULIP plans also allow you to switch from one fund to another. So, if you start the policy by investing in equity funds and later on, move to debt or balanced funds if you want. Moreover, you can do so free of cost. Every goal requires a unique investment strategy; a ULIP policy offers this benefit with a variety of fund options.

  1. It helps you save systematically

ULIP insurance plans inculcate the habit of periodic savings that is essential for goal-based investment. A ULIP allows you to pay the premiums in monthly, yearly, or half-yearly instalments. This lets you save for a future need at a pace that you are comfortable with, without having to compromise with your present needs and expenses.

Moreover, ULIP taxation benefits allow you to reduce your tax output and save more. The premiums paid towards a ULIP plan are tax-deductible under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The money you save in tax can be further contributed to your goal.

The maturity benefits also offer tax benefits under Section 10(10D) of the Act, subject to specific conditions and limits.

  1. It offers high returns

As stated above, a ULIP scheme can offer you varied options for investment, such as equity, debt, and balanced funds. Based on your goals and investment capacity, you can select a fund of your choice and earn suitable ULIP returns.

For instance, equity funds can offer high returns at high risk. Debt funds can offer low risk and comparatively lower returns. Lastly, balanced funds can offer moderate risk and moderate returns.

Investing in a combination of these funds, depending on your financial goal, can help you grow the value of your investment fund over the policy term and beat inflation.   

  1. It eliminates the need for debt

A ULIP plan is an excellent way to grow your money and cater to different goals. It helps you streamline your money for a future goal, so you do not feel the need to take on debt to fulfil your needs.

It also instils financial discipline as you invest your money towards a future goal instead of spending on unnecessary items.

  1. It covers short term and long-term goals

A ULIP policy can be used for short term as well as long term needs. ULIP plans have a lock-in period of only five years, post which you can withdraw your funds. This makes it easy to use a ULIP for a wide range of goals.

For instance, if you are saving for a relaxed retired life, you can choose a ULIP plan with a long policy term of 25 years. However, if you are saving for a child’s marriage or higher education expenses, you can invest for a shorter term of 10 to 15 years. 

What is the best ULIP to buy?

The best ULIP to buy would depend on your requirements and investment strategy. However, generally speaking, the following aspects can help you pick out a suitable plan:

  1. Pick a plan with flexible features: A flexible plan can help you alter your investment strategy as per your goal. For instance, if you are saving for retirement, you can start by investing in equity funds and slowly move to debt funds as your retirement age nears. Look for a ULIP that allows you to switch from one fund to another without any additional costs.
  2. Look for a plan that offers additions: Additions help you grow your fund’s value and maximise your savings. Some insurance companies offer loyalty, maturity, and booster additions throughout the policy term that help boost your earnings.
  3. Opt for a credible ULIP provider: Investments always carry some amount of risk. Hence, it is important to invest in a ULIP plan offered by a trustworthy insurance company. This will ensure that you have a good customer experience. Even in the future, it will enable a  hassle-free claim settlement.

To sum it up

ULIP plans are ideal for goal-oriented people as they enable disciplined savings and offer optimal returns. These plans can help you reduce your tax output, eliminate the need for debt, save for a wide range of needs, and secure your loved ones’ future in your absence.

They are multipurpose plans that can be altered to your preferred risk and investment strategy. So, no matter the goal you are saving for, make sure to add a ULIP plan to your investment portfolio soon enough. You can check out the ULIP plans of Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance and start goal-based investing for short term as well as long term needs.

To enable better financial wellbeing in the future, Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP) is among the most popular investments in India. This is because a ULIP plan helps you achieve your long-term financial goals. A ULIP policy combines insurance along with investment.

Image Source

However, several factors need to be considered before you buy a ULIP. These include your investment risk appetite, ULIP fund management charges, premium payment options, duration of investment, and flexibility of the ULIP policy.

Before you look for a  ULIP to buy, it is important to understand the concept of ULIP.

What is ULIP?

A ULIP policy is an investment tool where the policyholder can get the benefit of insurance as part of an investment policy. ULIP insurance aims to provide wealth creation along with a life cover. The concept of ULIP is that the insurance company puts a portion of your investment towards life insurance and the rest into a fund that is based on equity, or debt, or hybrid as the case may be.

Your investments are looked after by fund managers for which you incur ULIP fund management charges that, as per the IRDAI regulations, cannot exceed 1.5%. Amongst the most important features of ULIP are the tax benefits it provides, which we will unravel in detail.

Before you invest in top-rated ULIP plans, it is important to be aware of the three major types of ULIPs:

  • Equity Funds: Such ULIPs invest most of their funds in equity and equity-based assets such as stocks of different companies.
  • Debt Funds: The premiums for this ULIP plan are invested debt or money market instruments, government bonds, securities, and likewise.
  • Balanced Funds: Premiums here are invested in a combination of equity and debt market instruments.

You can seamlessly switch your ULIP plans/funds based on your financial goals and risk appetite.

Additionally, some insurers have introduced newer ULIP plans with minimal charges and unique features. The features of ULIP for these new-age plans include removal of return on mortality charges, on maturity, as well as premium allocation charges.

This category seeks to remove the negative bias against ULIPs and increase awareness towards modified customer-centric changes. Greater awareness about existing policies will help you buy a suitable ULIP for yourself. To know which  ULIP to buy, it is important to be aware of crucial factors such as insurance objectives and investment goals and compare ULIP policies.       

How does a ULIP Policy work?  

To find an apt ULIP in India, you must first know how they work to help you achieve your financial goals. When an individual invests in a ULIP plan, they need to pay a fixed premium for the selected cover amount. The insurer pools money from all the policyholders and invests them based on the funds that they chose.

The total corpus from the invested money is divided into ‘Units,’ each with its specific face value. At any point in time, the value of each unit is termed as the Net Asset Value (NAV). As the value of underlying assets increase or decrease, its effect is reflected in the NAV. Fund managers manage the investment based on the fund type and investment preferences.

It is important to note that as per the IRDAI, the lock-in period for ULIPs is 5 years, and its performance or ability to generate returns is linked to the markets. In keeping with the terms and conditions of the ULIP insurance, if an individual partially withdraws from the corpus, the corresponding number of units is sold. They are also levied with some policy changes in the form of units.   

Tax Benefits of Buying ULIP

Aside from the insurance and investment benefits, ULIPs also offer income tax exemption for a maximum of Rs. 1.5 lakhs under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. While investors can choose to invest a higher amount, the tax deduction that they can claim is limited to Rs. 1.5 lakhs.

However, if the ULIP is discontinued before two years, the policyholder cannot avail of the tax benefits under Section 80C. You can use a ULIP calculator to see how much premium is required for your plan, as well as for checking the ULIP returns.

Apart from this, the death benefit payable to the nominee is completely exempt from taxation under Section 10(10D) of the Indian Income Tax Act.

Budget 2021 Taxation Changes: ULIP Capital Gains Tax on Maturity Pay-out

Additionally, it is important to note that the Finance Bill 2021 has proposed certain revisions for the tax deductions and exemptions for ULIPs:

  • As proposed by the Finance Minister, policies bought on or after 1st February 2021 where the unit premium paid is more than Rs. 250,000 would attract ULIP capital gains tax. ULIPs will be considered a ‘capital asset’ with the gains or losses chargeable to income-tax under the head ‘capital gains’ in the year of receipt. 
  • For premiums below Rs. 250,000, the said budget proposes an exemption restricted to aggregate policies whose combined premium is up to Rs. 250,000
  • For policies purchased before 1st April 2012, the premium to sum assured should not exceed 20% for the proceeds to be tax-free.

Simply put, the maturity benefit is taxable as Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) if the total annual premium paid exceeds Rs. 2.50 lakhs. If the annual premium is below Rs. 2.50 lakhs, then the maturity pay-outs are exempt from taxation under Section 10 (10D).

While the revision might sound discouraging, if policyholders are investing within Rs. 250,000 annual premium limit, the gain in terms of tax-saving remains highly attractive. 

Additionally, ULIPs still remain an attractive investment solution in comparison to its direct competitor, the Equity Mutual Funds. With ULIPs, you get life cover, and the premium paid, and death benefits are exempt from taxes. This makes ULIPs a viable investment avenue despite the taxation changes.

An ideal ULIP plan in India is flexible to changing financial needs and grows with you. It is also an affordable policy that offers life insurance for family protection, saves and invests for future goals, and provides tax benefits.

Conclusion

A ULIP is a powerful financial product that enables you to secure the financial future of your family while adding to your wealth through investments. However, to buy a ULIP that suits your needs, it is important to analyse your risk appetite and take investment decisions accordingly.

Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance offers Wealth Secure Plus that offers a perfect savings solution to save for the crucial stages of your life, such as children’s education, their marriage, your retirement, and so much more.

Some critical features of the plan include full life cover up to 100 years of age, small monthly premiums to start, attractive boosters and additional pay-outs, and long-term plus short-term plan offerings. More importantly, we offer unlimited fund changes with all our ULIP plans, understanding the fact that your goals and risk appetite might change.