If you’re looking to turn ₹2 lakh a year (for 5 years) into a retirement-ready corpus without committing to an annuity, HDFC Life Sampoorn Nivesh Plus is a straightforward way to do it. It’s a ULIP—so your money goes into market-linked funds, there’s a 5-year lock-in, and you have life cover along the way.
The kicker: you can withdraw the entire fund value at maturity (no compulsory pension purchase), and you can switch across funds anytime.
Below is everything you need to decide—which funds to pick today, what they’ve returned lately, how much this plan costs, and what to expect if markets cool off.
What exactly is Sampoorn Nivesh Plus?
- Type: Unit Linked, Non-Participating life plan (investment risk borne by policyholder)
- Lock-in: 5 years, partial withdrawals allowed thereafter
- Fund menu: 10 active funds spanning large-cap, diversified, mid-cap-tilt, flexi, balanced/debt, and dynamic-asset mixes
- Switching: Free switches allowed (no switch charge)
- Payout: Take the full fund value at the end of the chosen term; no annuity compulsion
- Charges: Fund management charge (FMC) capped at 1.35% p.a. of fund value; Discontinued Policy Fund at 0.50% p.a. (charged daily in NAV)
The fund menu (focus on the equity growth options)
Among the 10 options, these seven are the equity engines most people shortlist:
- Equity Plus Fund (large-cap oriented, rules-based guardrails)
- Diversified Equity Fund (broad-based, across market caps)
- BlueChip Fund (large-cap tilt; stability first)
- Opportunities Fund (mid-cap tilt; higher growth, higher swings)
- Discovery Fund (predominantly mid-cap, concentrated on potential leaders)
- Equity Advantage Fund (diversified equity with small debt sleeve)
- Flexi Cap Fund (can shift across large/mid/small caps)
Note: You can blend any of these and rebalance over time as your needs (or markets) change.
Recent performance: 1-year & 2-year (to set expectations)
How to read this: Mid-caps (Opportunities, Discovery) led the pack in the latest 1–2 years, large-cap/blended funds (BlueChip, Equity Plus, Diversified, Advantage) still posted strong double-digits. Flexi Cap is new but off to a fast start.
For longer tenors (5- and 10-year), the same fact-sheet pages show steady double-digit CAGRs for the large-cap and diversified funds; mid-cap-tilted funds show higher long-term returns with higher volatility.
What should you pick right now?
Market backdrop (late-2025): After a big two-year run, mid/small caps look rich. If you invest today and we get a correction plus a sideways patch, you want a core that *holds up* while still giving you growth.
A clean, three-fund mix that fits most investors today:
- 40% BlueChip Fund – large-cap ballast; typically falls less and recovers earlier in dull markets
- 30% Diversified Equity Fund – broad exposure, reduces stock/sector concentration risk
- 30% Flexi Cap Fund – the “opportunity catcher” that can pivot across themes (manufacturing, power equipment, datacentre ecosystem, platforms, etc.)
Why this works:
- Keeps ~70% in steadier, time-tested large/diversified sleeves
- Leaves 30% flexible for new leadership and sector rotations
- Easy to rebalance annually back to target weights
If you specifically want extra mid-cap spice, swap 10–15% from BlueChip into Opportunities—but do it gradually (see Entry plan below).
Entry plan (if you’re worried about buying at a peak)
- Stage in: Park new money in the plan’s Bond option and do a 3–6 month STP (Systematic Transfer Plan) into your chosen equity mix.
- Rebalance annually: Bring weights back to target (use ±5% bands).
- Book partial gains tactically: If mid-caps drop >20–25% from a peak, you can increase Opportunities/Discovery, if they run too hot, trim them back to core.
- All switches are permitted inside the plan. There’s no switch fee.
Costs and what they mean for returns
FMC (the big one): 1.35% p.a. is embedded in the NAV—so the fact-sheet returns you saw are net of FMC. Good news: you don’t have to subtract it again.
Other charges: Policy administration/mortality etc. apply as per brochure, overall, Sampoorn Nivesh Plus is competitively priced among ULIPs with a robust fund lineup.
Tax treatment (in one minute)
ULIPs issued on/after 1 Feb 2021: Maturity is tax-free only if total annual ULIP premiums ≤ ₹2.5 lakh (and the 10× sum-assured condition). Above that threshold, gains are taxed like equity LTCG under Sec. 112A. Death benefits remain tax-exempt.
So a ₹2 lakh × 5-year plan stays within the ₹2.5 lakh limit—maturity proceeds remain tax-exempt (subject to law and conditions in force at that time).
Who should choose what?
- First-time ULIP buyer / cautious about drawdowns: Stick to the BlueChip + Diversified + Flexi mix (40/30/30).
- Comfortable with volatility / wants a mid-cap engine: Add Opportunities up to 10–15% within the same total equity budget; trim elsewhere.
- Near goal (age 58–60): Begin a 2–3 year glide: move 20–30% into Balanced/Dynamic Advantage to protect the corpus from late-cycle shocks.
HDFC Life Sampoorn Nivesh Plus is a flexible ULIP where the outcome depends on the funds you pick, how long you stay invested, and the discipline with which you continue contributions. The recent returns show the power of equity-oriented funds, but they also underline the reality that markets can swing. If you want growth with insurance cover, and you’re ready to commit for the long term, this plan can be a serious wealth-building tool. Take your time to match fund choices with your risk appetite — and remember, consistency and patience are what make these numbers work in real life.
