Hey everyone,
Wanted to share my recent experience and get your feedback on whether this made sense or if I could have approached it differently.
Around a year ago I contacted my Wealth RM for an IDFC Private upgrade. She explained that to qualify, I’d need to increase my relationship value with investments.
I ended up investing ₹9 lakh in total:
Year 1
Final Year (2055)
👉 Essentially, it’s a 31-year policy: heavy lock-in the first 2 years, then ~31K annually + a 10L maturity at the end.
I need to pay 2nd year premium before 6th Sept 2025.
Plan: Use AMEX Platinum Card, fees 0.75–0.85% + GST (~₹5,000).
In return, I’d get:
So at least I’d offset part of the cost via CC rewards.
Total Premiums Paid (First 2 Years):
Total Survival Benefits (First 2 Years): Aka Cashback
Net Outflow:
₹10,33,750 − ₹4,36,946 = ₹5,96,804
Paid-Up Survival Benefit
= Survival Benefit × (No. of premiums paid ÷ No. of premiums payable)
= ₹1,86,946 × (2 ÷ 12)
= ₹31,157.66 annually
👉 I will receive this from 07/08/2026 to 07/08/2054
Paid-Up Maturity Benefit
= Maturity Benefit × (No. of premiums paid ÷ No. of premiums payable)
= ₹60,00,000 × (2 ÷ 12)
= ₹10,00,000 at the end in 2055
So, even if I stop paying after 2 years, the policy continues with reduced benefits: ~31K per year + 10L in 2055.
One big mistake: I assumed the policy could be cancelled in the 2nd year before paying the second year policy my RM said it can be cancelled, and trusted my RM’s word. didn't double check how stupid of me.
When I tried to cancel last month, HDFC Life told me the 30-day lock-in isn’t valid here and the policy cannot be cancelled after issuance.
So now I have to continue into Year 2 minimum.
👉 Just one missed detail has cost me big.
Would love to hear your perspectives 🙏
Wanted to share my recent experience and get your feedback on whether this made sense or if I could have approached it differently.
Around a year ago I contacted my Wealth RM for an IDFC Private upgrade. She explained that to qualify, I’d need to increase my relationship value with investments.
What Happened
I ended up investing ₹9 lakh in total:
- ₹4 lakh in Mutual Funds (withdrew after a month, no P/L)
- ₹5 lakh + GST in an HDFC Click 2 Achieve Life Policy (pushed by my RM, he even paid the GST for Year 1)
Policy Structure (31 Years)
Year 1
- Premium paid: ₹5,22,500 (incl. 4.5% GST) - paid via Infinia received just 5,000 RP
- Cashback: ₹2,50,000
- Premium paid: ₹5,11,250 (incl. 2.25% GST)
- Cashback: ₹1,86,946
- Annual Survival Benefit: ₹31,157.66 every year
Final Year (2055)
- Maturity Benefit: ₹10,00,000
👉 Essentially, it’s a 31-year policy: heavy lock-in the first 2 years, then ~31K annually + a 10L maturity at the end.
Payment Strategy (Upcoming)
I need to pay 2nd year premium before 6th Sept 2025.
Plan: Use AMEX Platinum Card, fees 0.75–0.85% + GST (~₹5,000).
In return, I’d get:
- ₹10K Taj voucher
- 40K MR points (redeemable for Amazon Pay or should i use some other cc of mine?
So at least I’d offset part of the cost via CC rewards.
Illustration (Excel-style)
Total Premiums Paid (First 2 Years):
- Year 1: ₹5,22,500
- Year 2: ₹5,11,250
- Cumulative: ₹10,33,750
Total Survival Benefits (First 2 Years): Aka Cashback
- Year 1: ₹2,50,000 - already received
- Year 2: ₹1,86,946 - once i pay for 2nd year 5,12,500 in 7 working day i will get 1,86,946
- Cumulative: ₹4,36,946
Net Outflow:
₹10,33,750 − ₹4,36,946 = ₹5,96,804
Paid-Up Scenario (if I stop after 2nd year)
Paid-Up Survival Benefit
= Survival Benefit × (No. of premiums paid ÷ No. of premiums payable)
= ₹1,86,946 × (2 ÷ 12)
= ₹31,157.66 annually
👉 I will receive this from 07/08/2026 to 07/08/2054
Paid-Up Maturity Benefit
= Maturity Benefit × (No. of premiums paid ÷ No. of premiums payable)
= ₹60,00,000 × (2 ÷ 12)
= ₹10,00,000 at the end in 2055
So, even if I stop paying after 2 years, the policy continues with reduced benefits: ~31K per year + 10L in 2055.
Total Policy Payout
- Annual payouts (Year 3–31): ~₹13,40,518
- Maturity in 2055: ₹10,00,000
- Total: ~₹23,40,518
Things I’m Not Sure About
- Is my understanding of the surrender value and net profit accurate if I pay 2 years and exit in Year 3? (I asked HDFC Life by email they only shared me 31,157.66 amount.)
- Did it make sense to lock such large funds just for the IDFC Private upgrade, or should I have taken another route? - If I could go back, honestly, I wouldn’t have taken the upgrade, it doesn’t feel worth it.
What I Missed (Important Lesson)
One big mistake: I assumed the policy could be cancelled in the 2nd year before paying the second year policy my RM said it can be cancelled, and trusted my RM’s word. didn't double check how stupid of me.
When I tried to cancel last month, HDFC Life told me the 30-day lock-in isn’t valid here and the policy cannot be cancelled after issuance.
So now I have to continue into Year 2 minimum.
👉 Just one missed detail has cost me big.
Would love to hear your perspectives 🙏