How does Bonus Accumulation in a Savings Plan?

How Does Bonus Accumulation Affect Savings Plan Returns Over Time?

Bonus accumulation in a savings plan is a slow burner, gradually increasing your returns. The longer you stay invested, the more your savings grow.

 

2025-07-12

138 Views

4 minutes read

Periodic bonuses in a savings plan are not a new concept, and with so many policies and plans in the market, finding the best investment in India can become tedious work. Here’s the truth: the most secure way to get a lucrative return in the long run is via bonus accumulation. 

Bonuses not only add extra value to the returns but also compound with the original investment. The power of compounding is known to all, as it leads to a larger payout at maturity. If you would like a significant rise in your corpus in the coming years, signing up for a savings scheme with a periodic bonus is a must. 

Key Takeaways

  • Bonus accumulation plays an essential role in enhancing your savings over time.

  • The compounding effect adds extra value to the base for calculating future bonuses, eventually leading to larger overall returns. 

  • If you are a long-term policyholder, you have more chances of benefiting from the accumulated bonuses.

  • There are two main types of bonus accumulations: reversionary bonus and terminal bonus.

  • The choice of saving scheme falls on your shoulders, so be wise and select the one with a bonus accumulation feature. 

What are Bonuses and their Types in Saving Schemes?

Bonuses are like an additional incentive that the insurer pays to the policyholder to encourage investment. It enhances the plan and promotes an increase in the overall return. These annual bonuses compound each year, increasing the base value for the following year and maximising the bonus for the next cycle. Interesting, right? The bonuses are announced annually and can be of two main types:

  • Reversionary Bonus: This is concerned with the annual bonus that accumulates throughout the policy and keeps compounding over the years. It becomes a section of guaranteed benefits that you receive when the policyholder dies or the policy matures. The reversionary bonus is calculated as a percentage of the sum assured.

  • Terminal Bonus: Usually discretionary, this bonus is paid out once at maturity and showcases the insurer's performance throughout the policy’s tenure. It’s like a reward to the policyholder for keeping the policy until its maturity date.

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Factors Influencing Bonus Accumulation in a Savings Plan

To know whether the best investment in India that you have for yourself has a good bonus accumulation, you must know what it is dependent on. There are a few factors that exponentially impact the accumulation of bonuses in your savings portfolio. 

  1. Policy Tenure: Bonus accumulation works best for the policies with the longer tenure because the more times you get your annual bonus, the more it adds up to the basic principal of the next bonus. Therefore, it particularly depends on what plan you have and for how long you are going to pay your premiums for it. 
  2. Insurer Performance: Now, some saving schemes do not have promising bonus structures, while others do. Why? The reason is that it also depends on the performance of the insurance provider. For example, Canara HSBC Life Insurance has a strong financial track record and ensures policyholders get consistent and rewarding bonuses.
  3. Type of Plan: Not all savings plans have bonus schemes; only the participating ones, called with-profits policies, allow policyholders to receive a share of the insurer’s profits. These shares are credited to their plan in the form of bonuses. Therefore, it is essential to select a participating life insurance policy.
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Did You Know?

Life insurance policies often have higher returns because of periodic bonus accumulation, eventually increasing wealth over time. 

 

Source: IRDAI

 

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How to Choose the Right Savings Plan?

If you are in search of the best investment in India, the network is huge. However, the search only needs an open eye and careful consideration. Here are a few steps to help you easily comprehend the savings plan of your choice:

  1. Always compare the bonus structures of each savings plan to understand which one benefits the most. It is usually the one with the compound structure. 

  2. Go with the most flexible one so you can customise it according to your needs. If you have specific requirements, then a flexible plan with a good return is a must.

  3. Understand the terms and clauses of all savings schemes and evaluate policy tenure to determine whether it meets your longevity needs and covers the needs that ought to be. 

Our Top-Selling Insurance Plans

We bring you a collection of popular Canara HSBC life insurance plans. Forget the dusty brochures and endless offline visits! Dive into the features of our top-selling online insurance plans and buy the one that meets your goals and requirements. You and your wallet will be thankful in the future as we brighten up your financial future with these plans.

Conclusion

If you have made up your mind to get savings schemes and increase your profits, selecting a participating life insurance policy is your best bet. Secured returns and a savings structure that has a compound effect with increasing profits allow you to beat inflation upfront. It is that one door that can lead you directly to financial paradise. Go buckle up and get yourself the best life insurance in India with a bonus accumulation structure now!

Glossary

  1. Bonus: An additional sum that the insurer adds to your policy periodically or one time, depending on its type.  
  2. Compounding: An interest-on-interest concept of reinvesting the bonus for one year to generate more bonuses for the following year.
  3. Maturity Benefit: The total sum payable by the insurer at the time of policy maturity.
  4. Terminal Bonus: A one-time bonus is paid at the end of the policy term at the insurer's discretion. 
  5. Policy Tenure: The length of time for which the policy is active and for which the insurer covers the policyholder. 
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Uncertain About Insurance

FAQs

An accumulated bonus in life insurance refers to the additional sum that is added to the value of your policy. The bonus compounds annually and is paid upon maturity of the policy or the policyholder's death. 

 

The bonus that is payable during the time of maturity is called the reversionary bonus, which is the total accumulated amount of the annual bonuses saved each year. 

 

The compound interest allows money to grow exponentially by adding the bonus to the initial savings and, in turn, offering the next bonus based on the new principal amount. It creates a ripple effect, and the longer you keep investing, the more the return is.

 

The participating life insurance policies add a bonus of the first year to the principal of the next year, creating an even larger bonus for the following year. 

 

No. The maturity amount received from a life insurance policy, including the sum assured and bonuses, is generally tax-exempt under ITA Section 10 (10D)

 

Disclaimer - This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited or any affiliated entity. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the blog or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in the blog for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. You should consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific circumstances before taking any action based on the content provided herein.

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