The year 2020 is going to be hard to forget. (Also, hard to memorize, for kids taking their board exams 50 years later).

The Covid-19 pandemic has, in many ways, unveiled the world and all the supposed safety we thought it brings. It has pulled the reins of economies around the globe, locked down countries far and wide, and made people lose their jobs.

January 2020 was the time when news about this virus started floating. Back then, none of us could’ve foreseen the extent to which this little virus could damage our finances. And this isn’t even its final form yet. Many financial experts believe that the worst is, however, to come.

International Monetary Fund’s Vitor Gaspar believes that the economic aftermath of a global lockdown can be worse than the 2008-09 financial crisis.

We’re amidst a lot of uncertainty in every sense of the word. Therefore, it has become all the more important to actively look for relevant investment plans that can secure your future.

You should keep in mind that although this pandemic is unprecedented for us, markets aren’t alien to crises. If you skim through history, you’ll find that markets have survived various disasters, falling and flying through them. So, even while there’s a cloud of insecurity around everything, investments should not take a back seat.

There are many investment opportunities that you can look into, just by sparing a little chunk of your income. Let’s look at some such future-proof investment ideas for you, during this pandemic. 

Keep an emergency corpus handy

Make it a practice to put a chunk of your monthly salary in an emergency fund. Once you have paid pending bills and EMIs and have enough money to sustain you throughout the month, the leftover money should be used wisely. It can also act as a fund for rainy days, should you need it.

SIPs

SIPs or Systematic Investment Plans are some of the best investment plans to opt for, with or without a pandemic. SIPs are a kind of monthly investment in your preferred mutual fund scheme.

Think of SIPs from a long-term point of view where this corpus of money is only going to benefit you after a set duration of months/years. With SIP comes a disciplined approach of investing a staggering amount of money.

ULIPs

ULIP or Unit Linked Insurance Plan is a two-in-one package that acts as an insurance policy and an investment at the same time. The insurance could be for anything, for health, retirement, children, education, and more. ULIP is a long-term investment plan where you can reap the benefits of the insurance as and when the need pops up, and the rest sum of money can be invested in mutual funds, stocks market, bonds, or anything that the account holder likes.

So, ULIPs offer insurance protection for life but also high returns on your investment. The crisis that we’re in has opened our eyes to the importance of having a reliable health insurance plan. While there are many options to choose from, Aviva offers two ULIP programs, Aviva Affluence * and Aviva i-Growth, *  which are based entirely on your goals. Not to mention, the money you invest in ULIPs will have tax saving benefits. Investing in a ULIP in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic can be a strategic win.

^* In this policy the investment risk in the investment portfolio is borne by the Policyholder. The linked Insurance Products do not offer any liquidity during the first five years of the contract. The policyholder will not be able to surrender/withdraw the monies invested in linked Insurance Products completely or partially till the end of the fifth year.

UIN: 122L111V02          UIN:122L106V03

Invest in prospering stocks

“The stock market is on sale, we haven’t seen an opportunity like this since 2008”. This is what Ric Edelman, an investor, recently said about the ongoing pandemic and its ramifications on the global economy.

Edelman means that this is perhaps the best time to put your money down on stocks that have rallied since the virus broke out. These stocks include those in the Health and Pharma sector, especially the shares of those companies who are in the race to develop a potential vaccine or drug for the novel coronavirus. The stock of companies making PPE kits, masks, sanitizers, and other personal safety & hygiene products has gone up due to their demand. On the contrary, stocks of travel companies, hotels, and airlines have plummeted and even crashed. So, choose wisely, and invest in a stock that is more likely to sustain during the pandemic.

Towards a financially secure future...

The world post-COVID will not be the same as we know it. Work from home will become the new norm, as many companies like Google and Twitter are already looking to offer permanent WFH options to their employees.

While we have been forced to stay indoors, the ongoing lockdown has been a blessing in disguise. Family time and personal time have increased during this period, as they have recreational activities. People are paying more attention to their health and are continually learning new things- be it an original recipe, reading a new book, or doing something that they wanted to do but could not find the time. While we may be practicing social distancing, the lockdown has brought us closer, made us more empathetic, and made us reconnect with ourselves.

This is the perfect time to get a hold on your finances, assets, and liabilities and start saving more money. The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of having a fool-proof financial plan as a cushion to fall back upon when such emergencies re-appear. The time is now or never.

If the pandemic has prompted you to look for an insurance or a savings plan, Aviva Life Insurance’s investment plans with high returns are the ones to go for. Aviva offers insurance and investment plans apt to safeguard your present and your tomorrow. Fight the coronavirus war better with ULIP and attractive insurance plans with Aviva.

While self-educating yourself on your finances is a great thing, it is always beneficial to speak to a financial advisor/expert before sealing the deal. We, at Aviva, offer valuable assistance on-call for their services. Reach out to us to know more!

 

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