One-time Investment Plans

One-time investment plans are the best high-return investments to park spare money. If kept for a decent period, the investment can accrue a significant corpus that helps the investor fulfil their future goals. Let us learn more about the various best one-time investment plans in this article.

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Disclaimer: #The investment risk in the portfolio is borne by the policyholder. Life insurance is available in this product. The maturity amount of Rs 1 Cr. is for a 30 year old healthy individual investing Rs 10,000/- per month for 30 years, with assumed rates of returns @ 8% p.a. that is not guaranteed and is not the upper or lower limits as the value of your policy depends on a number of factors including future investment performance. In Unit Linked Insurance Plans, the investment risk in the investment portfolio is borne by the policyholder and the returns are not guaranteed. Maturity Value: ₹1,05,02,174 @ CAGR 8%; ₹50,45,591 @ CAGR 4%. *Tax benefits and savings are subject to changes in tax laws. All plans listed here are of insurance companies’ funds.

What are One-time Investment Plans?

A one-time investment plan is a type of payment option within a financial product wherein you invest a Lump Sum/Single Pay of money for a specific time.

It is a best investment plan for investors with a high-risk tolerance and surplus money that is not required to fulfil immediate financial commitments.

Best One-time Investment Plans in India

The best one-time investment plan is decided depending on time and principal amount.

Let us learn the top one-time investment plans in India in 2024 from the table below:

Types of One-time Investment Plans	Ideal Investment Period	Right Time to Invest	Tax Benefits On Investment Amount	Tax Benefits on Maturity Amount	Risk Factor
Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP)	5 years to earn tax benefits 10-15 years for retirement planning	Start early to gain from the power of compounding money	Tax deductions u/Sec 80C of the IT Act	Tax benefits u/Sec 10(10D) of the IT Act	Medium to High
Equity Funds	5 years and Above 3 years for ELSS Scheme	If lump sum spare money available for long term	ELSS: Tax deductions on investment amount u/Sec 80C of IT Act Other Funds: No tax benefits on investment	Tax benefits on returns at the end of 1 year holding period	High
Debt Funds	3 years & Above	Allows investing for less than 5 years Investing for more than 3 years lowers tax implications	N/A	Indexation benefits on returns at end of a 3-year holding period	Low
Liquid Funds	3 years or less if it's not a SIP	When the best investment plan for the long term is not yet decided	N/A	Attracts lower tax due to indexation benefits if holding for 3 years or more	Medium
Fixed Deposits (FDs)	7 days to 10 years Depending on your investment horizon	when you want to averse market-volatility risks	N/A	N/A	Lowest
5-Year Tax Saving FDs	Minimum 5 years to gain tax benefits	When extra funds are available to reap the benefits of fixed returns with tax benefits	Tax benefits u/ Section 80C of the IT Act	Tax benefits on returns u/ Sec 10(10D) of the IT Act	Lowest
Public Provident Fund	Minimum 15 years for stable corpus with high returns	As a safe investment for the retirement period	Tax deductions u/Section 80C of the IT Act, 1961	Tax-free returns	Lowest
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)	Up to 21 years of SSY account or till the girl child gets married	Gives tax benefits while creating a corpus for the education of the girl child	Tax deductions u/Section 80C of the IT Act, 1961	Interest earned and Maturity amount is Tax-free	Lowest
National Pension Scheme (NPS)	Till the age of 60-70 years	A good one-time investment plan tax benefits and create a retirement corpus	Tax benefits u/Section 80C and 80CCD of the IT Act, 1961	Taxable	Low
Gold Assets	Depends on the investor	Safe to invest any time with huge inflation-linked returns	N/A	N/A	Lowest

People Also Read: SIP Calculator

Top 10 One-Time Investment Plans in India

The features of the best one-time investment plans are listed as follows:

Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIP)
- Best investment plan for life coverage and market-linked investment options, with taxability features
- Low risks involved as compared to equity funds
- Flexibility to switch fund portfolios during this one-time investment plan
- Provides a range of options with equity and debt funds
- A partial withdrawal facility is available
- Tax deduction benefits on investment amount u/ Section 80C of the IT Act
- Tax benefits on returns u/Section 10(10D) of the IT Act, 1961
Equity Funds
- Are less riskier than directly investing in equity shares
- Best performing mutual funds are managed by experienced professionals
- Allows diversified investment portfolio
- ELSS are the best one-time investment plans providing high returns with market-linked investments as well as tax-benefits
- Tax deductions allowed under Section 80C of the IT Act, 1961
*Trad plans with a premium above 5 lakhs would be taxed as per applicable tax slabs post 31st march 2023
All savings are provided by the insurer as per the IRDAI approved insurance plan. Standard T&C Apply
Debt Funds
- Government securities, AAA/ AA rated corporate bonds are the best Debt-based one-time investment plans
- Least riskier when compared to equity and hybrid funds
- Best debt-based funds provide good returns and steady gains
- Attracts less tax on returns as withdrawing the funds before 36 months is considered a Short-Term Capital Gain (STCG)
- STCG attracts higher tax rates on aggregate as compared to Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG)
Liquid Funds
- Best investment plan for 1 year or less with high liquidity
- A one-time investment plan with low risk as it invests in high-rated debt assets with a short maturity period
- Offer stable returns due to investment in low-risk debt instruments
- the low expense ratio, which means a lower cost of investing these funds
- Easy to switch money from liquid funds to another fund
- Qualify for Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG) tax if investing for more than 3 years
Fixed Deposits
- Most popular and trusted one-time investment plan
- Guaranteed returns for a specific tenure
- Fixed interest rates that are not linked to market variations
- Offers higher interest rates for senior citizens
- Best investment plan with the lowest market risk
- Automatic renewal and partial withdrawal facilities
5-Year Tax-Saving Fixed Deposits
- One-time investment plan with tax benefits and guaranteed returns
- Tax deductions on the investment amount under Section 80C of the IT Act, 1961
- Fixed tenure of 5 years
- Premature withdrawal of amount not allowed
- Fixed rates of interest give surety of returns
- Provides higher interest rates for senior citizens
*Trad plans with a premium above 5 lakhs would be taxed as per applicable tax slabs post 31st march 2023
All savings are provided by the insurer as per the IRDAI approved insurance plan. Standard T&C Apply
Public Provident Fund (PPF)
- GOI’s best long-term investment plan
- Provides guaranteed returns, unaffected by market fluctuations
- Long tenure of a minimum of 15 years, which is extendable for an indefinite period by a block of 5 years
- Tax benefits on investment under Section 80C of the IT Act are available with this one-time investment plan
- Provides tax-free returns
- Fixed interest rates, periodically revised by the Central Government
- Loan facility of up to 25% of the deposits from 3rd Financial Year of joining the PPF plan
- A nomination facility is available
Gold Assets
- A hedge investment against inflation
- Low correlation with other best investment options
- A highly liquid one-time investment plan that can be easily bought or sold
- Performs as a haven asset during economic and geopolitical uncertainties
- The most convenient one-time investment for investing in a lump sum amount
- Gold prices are volatile in the short term, but price trends are always on the rise
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY)
- A government-backed long-term deposits-linked savings scheme for girl child
- Best one-time investment plan to create a corpus for education, marriage and other expenses for the girl child
- A high-interest rate of 7.6%, which is periodically revised by the government
- Tax benefits under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961
- Withdrawals allowed when the girl child attains maturity age or for higher education/ marriage expenses
- Tax-free maturity benefit
National Pension Scheme (NPS)
- Government-backed best savings plan for retirement planning
- Two types of investment choices: Active Option & Auto Option
- Tax benefits u/Section 80C and Section 80CCD of the IT Act, 1961
- Flexibility of investment frequency and amount
- Low fund management charges of 0.01% of total Assets Under Management (AUM)
- Offers the benefit of inflow of pension after retirement

*All savings are provided by the insurer as per the IRDAI approved insurance plan. Standard T&C Apply

Advantages of One-time Investment Plans

Listed below are the key advantages that your best one-time investment plan should offer:

Capital Growth from Idle Money

Investing money in a one-time investment plan is better than keeping the money idle or investing in low-return accounts.
Hassle-free Investments

In the one-time investment plans, the investors need not delay their premium payments for a later period or stress over the investment dates.
Aligns With Your Investment Goals

One-time investment plans give sufficient returns as per your financial timeline. You can reap the maturity benefits when requiring funds for your child’s education, marriage, or purchase of land.
High One-time Investment Returns

If started early, the lump sum investment plans provide higher returns with the power of compounding money.
Transaction Charges are Low

The one-time investment plan is a convenient way to invest your money, payment in a lump sum is associated with low fees.
Taxability Benefits

ELSS and ULIP Plans are the best one-time investment plans that provide tax benefits to investors. Other types of one-time investment plans offer indexation benefits that attract lower taxes.

Disadvantages of One-time Investment Plans

Listed below are some of the disadvantages of one-time investment plans:

No disciplined investment

In a one-time investment plan, there is no association of investment discipline as you pay in single pay or whenever lump sum money is available.
Risk of investing in Low Returns Investment Plans

It may happen that the one-time investment plan turned out to be attracting low returns. On the other hand, this amount could have been diversified across different best investment plans.
May Suffer Losses in Market Fluctuations

Due to the market unpredictability, the investor may wind up purchasing higher units of the one-time investment plan during high prices and later witness a drop in prices. No alternatives are available to purchase units in the middle of your investment tenure.
No Flexibility of Investment

One-time investment plans do not offer the flexibility to invest and withdraw the amount as per market speculations.
No Liquidity of Funds

The funds of a one-time investment plan are not the most ideal alternatives if you are going to need your reserves in the near time.

Factors Affecting One-time Investment Plan Decisions

Before you decide to invest in a one-time investment plan, it is crucial to analyse the factors mentioned in the list below:

Choice Your Plan Wisely

Settling on an inappropriate one-time investment plan may prompt your money into misfortunes, which is something nobody wants. Choose your plan wisely to make the most out of your investments.
Gain Information on Market Valuation

Primarily, you must gain an understanding of the investment market by researching online, from books, and consulting financial experts. Before you choose the one-time investment plan, make sure you do your investment calculations and historical performance trend analysis of the fund.
Estimate Returns and Liquidity

Now, before you choose your one-time investment plan, decide in prior if you want to go forward with a long-term best investment plan or a short-term best investment plan. Specifically, when it comes to investing in funds a little homework is of no harm.
Patience is the Key

Once you have decided on the one-time investment plan, it is important to be patient enough, not panic, or make any rash decisions during market speculations. Generally, the market cycle takes time to perform. Do not invest in a one-time investment plan if you are expecting immediate results.
Make Your Money Grow

Money lying inactive in your financial balance is a loss to an open door to profit. You ought to invest that cash cleverly in the best one-time investment plan to receive great returns in time.

Wrapping It Up

With a plethora of one-time investment plans available in the market, there is no shortcut to avail of the best. So take out a little time from your hectic schedule and choose the best investment plan for you that leaves you with no regret.

FAQ's

How to invest Rs. 10,000 at a one-time?
To start early investing in the following best one-time investment plans is a good way to build a strong investment portfolio:
- Equity-based Mutual Funds
- Debt-based Mutual Funds
- Liquid Funds
- Fixed Deposits (FDs)
- Gold Assets
- Government Schemes: PPF, EPF, and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
Which is better PPF or SIP?

The choice of the best investment plan among Public Provident Funds (PPF) and Systematic Investment Plans (SIP) depends on your financial goals, investment horizon, and risk appetite.
If you are looking for a safe, long-term investment option with guaranteed returns, PPF is a good choice. However, if you have a stronger risk appetite to gain higher returns over the long term, then SIPs may be a better option.
Can I invest only one time?

No, you can invest in the best investment plans with flexible options of a lump sum or periodic instalments. In one-time investment plans, Single Pay is allowed. While through a SIP, you can invest in periods of monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and yearly instalments.
Is a one-time investment better than SIP?

A one-time investment or SIP is better for you depending on your investment goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon.
A lump sum investment in a mutual fund is beneficial if you have a large sum of money that you want to invest in one go to take advantage of potential market gains.
SIPs allow you to invest small amounts of money at regular intervals and help you average out the cost of your investment over time. This reduces the impact of market volatility on your investment.

†Policybazaar does not endorse, rate or recommend any particular insurer or insurance product offered by any insurer. This list of plans listed here comprise of insurance products offered by all the insurance partners of Policybazaar. The sorting is based on past 10 years’ fund performance (Fund Data Source: Value Research). For a complete list of insurers in India refer to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India website, www.irdai.gov.in

Past 10 Years' annualised returns as on 01-12-2024

^The tax benefits under Section 80C allow a deduction of up to ₹1.5 lakhs from the taxable income per year and 10(10D) tax benefits are for investments made up to ₹2.5 Lakhs/ year for policies bought after 1 Feb 2021. Tax benefits and savings are subject to changes in tax laws.

*All savings are provided by the insurer as per the IRDAI approved insurance plan.

Tax benefit is subject to changes in tax laws. Standard T&C Apply
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^^The information relating to mutual funds presented in this article is for educational purpose only and is not meant for sale. Investment is subject to market risks and the risk is borne by the investor. Please consult your financial advisor before planning your investments.

#The investment risk in the portfolio is borne by the policyholder. Life insurance is available in this product. The maturity amount of Rs 1 Cr. is for a 30 year old healthy individual investing Rs 10,000/- per month for 30 years, with assumed rates of returns @ 8% p.a. that is not guaranteed and is not the upper or lower limits as the value of your policy depends on a number of factors including future investment performance. In Unit Linked Insurance Plans, the investment risk in the investment portfolio is borne by the policyholder and the returns are not guaranteed. Maturity Value: ₹1,05,02,174 @ CARG 8%; ₹50,45,591 @ CAGR 4%

¶Long-term capital gains (LTCG) tax (12.5%) is exempted on annual premiums up to 2.5 lacs.

**Returns are based on past 10 years’ fund performance data (Fund Data Source: Value Research).