Endowment Plans vs Money Back Policies

Difference Between Endowment Plans and Money Back Policies

Confused between endowment & money-back plans? Discover key differences, benefits & choose the right life insurance for your financial goals.

Written by : Knowledge Centre Team

2025-09-01

4610 Views

12 minutes read

Endowment plans and money-back plans are two distinct kinds of life insurance policies that consist of twin advantages of life insurance and savings coverage. Moreover, there are further supplementary tax advantages that come with these plans.

 When you contemplate buying a life insurance policy for the first time, these two options are the most fundamental ones that cross your mind. Various similarities between these two products make the selection process difficult. Many people get confused when deciding on which one to choose from, an endowment plan vs. money money-back plan. In this blog, we will discuss the life insurance polices in detail.

Key Takeaways

  • Endowment plans offer disciplined long-term savings with a lump sum maturity payout and life cover.
  • Money-back plans provide periodic returns during the policy term along with full life cover.
  • Choose endowment plans if your goal is to build a large corpus for long-term needs like retirement or education.
  • Go for a money-back plan if you need regular cash flow for short-term financial commitments.
  • Endowment plans generally come with lower premiums and higher maturity benefits than money-back policies.

What is an Endowment Plan?

An endowment plan is essentially a life insurance policy that presents life insurance coverage to the insured person and enables them to save funds periodically over the policy's tenure. When the person insured outlives the Term of the policy, the insured person will receive an accumulated amount at the time of maturity.

Advantages of Buying an Endowment Plan

Endowment plans combine insurance coverage with disciplined savings. If you want to build a financial safety net while ensuring a lump sum payout, then this plan is a great option for you. Here are the main benefits:

  • Maturity Benefit- If you outlive the policy term, the amount assured and any accrued bonuses or rewards are paid at the end of the policy period. This payout can help you achieve major financial goals like buying a home or funding your child’s education.
  • Death Benefit- In the event of your untimely demise, the sum assured, along with any bonus, is paid to the nominee. This ensures your family remains financially secure even in your absence.
  • Wealth Accumulation- Endowment policies help accumulate wealth over the long term. The disciplined savings approach ensures that you create a financial cushion while covering life’s uncertainties with insurance protection.

What is a Money Back Plan?

In a money-back plan, you will receive a portion of the amount assured at frequent periods, as a return on investments, rather than receiving the lump sum at maturity. If you survive the policy term, then, in that case, it becomes similar to an endowment policy but comes with the advantage of recurrent and explicit payouts.

Advantages of a Money-Back Plan

If you are looking for an insurance plan that offers both life cover and periodic payouts, a money-back plan can be a smart choice. It helps you meet short-term financial needs while ensuring long-term protection for your family. Here are some key benefits you can expect:

  • Regular Payouts During the Policy Term- You receive a fixed portion of the sum assured at regular intervals throughout the policy duration. This provides you with steady cash flow to meet ongoing expenses or invest in short-term goals. The remaining amount, along with any bonuses, is paid at maturity.
  • Full Death Benefit-  In case of your unfortunate demise during the policy term, your nominee will receive the full sum assured, regardless of any payouts. This ensures your family remains financially secure in your absence.
  • Supports Short-Term Financial Goals- A money-back plan is designed to help you achieve specific short-term goals, like paying off EMIs, planning a vacation, or managing school fees. It keeps you financially prepared and offers insurance protection throughout the term.
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Did You Know?

According to the guidelines of IRDAI, policies like term insurance and unit-linked plans are ineligible for loans. 

Source: The Hindu

 

iSelect Guaranteed Future Plus

Difference Between Endowment and Money Back Plan

 Both endowment plans and money-back policy fulfil the purpose of a whole life insurance plan, but there are some differences between them

Hence, to assist you in making an informed decision between endowment vs. money back plan, here are some important points to consider:

  • Term and maturity benefit- In an endowment plan, the amount guaranteed and suitable rewards are paid to you at the time of maturity. There are no provisions for making payments during the endowment plan.

    On the other hand,  under a money-back policy, you will receive a portion of the sum assured at the pre-decided periods during the policy term. In addition to this, you i will also receive the remaining sum assured upon maturity.

  • Mortality benefits- The endowment policy will give the amount guaranteed and appropriate bonuses if the insured person departs during the policy's tenure. However, in a money-back plan, in case of the policyholder's death, the entire sum assured is paid to the dependents of the insured person, irrespective of the premium instalments paid.

    This is the special feature that differs between an endowment and a money-back plan, and this is what makes a money-back plan a bit more expensive.

  • Suitability- An endowment plan is most beneficial for individuals looking to save funds for attaining all their long-term economic goals, like purchasing a house, funding their kid's higher education fees, or for retirement.

    On the contrary, a money-back policy is suitable for individuals who will need a steady revenue stream to fulfil all their short-term economic goals, like paying EMIs, household expenses, children's school fees, and many more.

  • Risk- The risk associated with endowment plans is relatively low compared to a money-back policy. Also, the survival and mortality advantages are higher in an endowment plan and at a lower premium instalment.

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Endowment Plan vs. Money Back Plan At a Glance 

Both endowment plans and money-back policies serve the dual purpose of insurance and savings. Let's understand with the help of the table.

FeatureEndowment PlanMoney Back Plan
Maturity Benefit

Full sum assured plus bonuses paid at the end of the policy term. No interim payouts.

Periodic payouts during the policy term. The remaining sum is paid at maturity.

Death Benefit

Full sum assured plus bonuses paid to the nominee in case of the policyholder's demise.

Full sum assured paid to the nominee, regardless of earlier payouts received.

Payout Frequency

Single lump sum at the end of the policy term.

Multiple payouts during the policy term at fixed intervals.

Best Suited For

Long-term goals like buying a house, retirement, or children’s higher education.

Short-term goals like EMIs, school fees, or household expenses.

Risk & Premium

Lower premium, low risk, higher maturity/death benefit.

Slightly higher premium due to frequent payouts and full death cover.

 

Endowment Plan vs. Money Back Plan: The Final Verdict

After all the points on money back vs. endowment plan, you must have understood that both endowment plans and money-back policies come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. However, according to various modern-day investors, an endowment policy is considered slightly better than a money-back policy.

You may consider the most comprehensive endowment plans offered by Canara HSBC Life Insurance. Choose the plan and safeguard your family against all unforeseen financial risks.

Glossary

  1. Endowment plan: A combination plan of life insurance and investment with a death benefit and an assured lump sum if you survive.
  2. Surrender value: The accumulated amount the insurer pays to the policyholder upon termination of the plan mid-tenure before maturity.
  3. Cash Value: The amount that builds up in a life insurance plan over time and is available to withdraw as a loan. 
  4. Credit Check: It is the inquiry and search of your credit history to check whether you can repay your debts.
  5. Collateral: A valuable asset you agree to give to somebody if you cannot repay the borrowed money.
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Uncertain About Insurance

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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