A guide to systematic withdrawal plans

Date : 18/07/2020
Read: 8 mins

Systematic withdrawal plans can make a good addition to a retirement portfolio. Here’s why…

If you are one of those people who invests in mutual funds, you will be familiar with Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) and how they work. While SIPs enable long-term wealth creation, Systematic Withdrawal Plans are just the opposite. These plans work on the premise that wealth has already been created.

Under the systematic withdrawal plan, an investor tells the AMC (Asset Management Company) to redeem a certain amount at a fixed date, and credit a fixed sum into his or her bank account at predetermined intervals, for instance, say every month.

As such, it is ideal for retired people to meet living requirements, as per their lifestyles.

Systematic withdrawal plan simplified

The above is made possible, as basically, a systematic withdrawal plan is a service offered by a mutual fund, whereby a specific pay-out is made to an investor (shareholder) at fixed intervals.

The preferred interval could be annually, half-yearly, quarterly or monthly.

Here is an example of a clearer understanding:

Let’s say, at the end of your career, you invest Rs. 5 lakhs in a mutual fund scheme, and set up a monthly SWP for Rs. 10,000. (i.e. Rs. 10,000 is transferred to your account every month.)

How the systematic withdrawal plan scheme works: Each month, units worth Rs 10,000 will be redeemed from the total number of units you hold (with the Rs. 5 lakhs invested), and Rs. 10,000 will be transferred to you.

Remember, the number of units you hold in the beginning is calculated by dividing the total money in your systematic withdrawal plan by the Net Asset Value (NAV) of the fund.

For the purpose of easier calculations, let’s assume the NAV is Rs. 100 when the systematic withdrawal plan becomes operational. Thus, on the investment of Rs. 5 lakhs, you hold 5,000 units (Rs. 5,00,000 ÷ Rs. 100)
In the first month of withdrawal, units worth Rs. 10,000 will be redeemed for the transfer. This works out to 100 units (Rs. 10,000 (units) ÷ Rs 100 = 100 units)
This means you now hold 4,900 units, against the original 5,000
In the second month, let’s assume the NAV increases to Rs. 101 (due to market dynamics). Now, your remaining 4,900 units will be worth Rs. 4,94,900 (4900 units x Rs. 101) after the first withdrawal of Rs. 10,000
But the chain must continue, so this time 99 units will have to be redeemed, (Rs 101 NAV x 99 units = Rs. 10,000 or units worth Rs. 9,999)
Your outstanding units in the fund will reduce accordingly. In five months, your total withdrawal will be Rs 50,000, and the portfolio will be valued at Rs 4.5 lakhs. However, the effective value will be worth more

This process continues for as long as the systematic withdrawal plan runs or till your holdings are redeemed entirely. If your expected annual rate of return is higher than your annual withdrawal (say 9% returns and 7% withdrawals), then the SWP can run permanently.

Note: This example is merely to illustrate the principle of systematic withdrawal plan, and it assumes the market is on an upward swing. This may not be the case in the real world. In a rocky market, a systematic withdrawal plan can eat into the principal, which is why financial planners usually recommend systematic withdrawal plans in balanced funds as these are less volatile than pure equity funds.

In other words, if a retired person starts a systematic withdrawal plan at 60, his or her monthly expenses could be taken care of till the person is 70-71.

Should you invest in a systematic withdrawal plan?

Dabbling in the capital markets often involves exposing your hard-earned money to market volatility. The idea behind a SIP or systematic withdrawal plan is that you, as an investor, are shielded from this volatility.

What systematic withdrawal plans ensure is that investments and withdrawals are both made in a controlled manner, rather than investing a lump sum amount, which could be risky.

For example, if you make an investment of Rs. 10 lakhs in a mutual fund, but a market crash brings down the fund’s NAV by 30%, it would result in a substantial loss; you would have to wait for recovery before making redemptions.

Similarly, in the case of redemption, if you redeem all the money at once, there is a great risk of losing further appreciations.

As stated earlier, the systematic withdrawal plan goes a long way – though not entirely – in cushioning you via controlled withdrawals, which come in two forms – the Fixed Withdrawal and the Appreciation Withdrawal.

In the case of Fixed Withdrawals, mutual fund units of a fixed value are sold at predetermined intervals, say every month, and the amount is credited to your bank account.

In case of Appreciation Withdrawal, what is redeemed is any gain you make from the time of investment.

Is a systematic withdrawal plan taxable?

The tax implications of a systematic withdrawal plan is similar to the usual redemption of units of a mutual fund, which are redeemed on a first in, first out (FIFO) basis. This means the units purchased first are redeemed first.

This is a tax-efficient way to enjoy an investment, though the actual taxes to be paid will depend on the tenure and nature of the fund.

Debt funds and equity funds are taxed differently
Taxation rules on equity and equity-oriented funds are simple: a holding period of over 12 months is long-term, while less than that is short-term;
There is no tax on long-term capital gains for equity-oriented funds; i.e., if such investments are redeemed/withdrawn after 12 months, capital gains tax is zero currently
However, if such investments are sold before 12 months, there is a short-term capital gains tax at a flat rate of 15%
For debt funds, the short-term capital gains tax tenure is three years, and the tax is as per the investor’s slab.
Debt mutual funds qualify for long-term capital gains tax if held for three years at 20% with the inflation indexation benefit on the original investments.

Pre-mature withdrawals

It is possible to withdraw from a systematic withdrawal plan before a year has passed. However, you may have to pay exit loads*. While some mutual funds have removed the exit load on withdrawals up to 15-20% in the first year, liquid funds (debt mutual funds that invest in short-term, minimum-risk market instruments such as treasury bills, government securities etc.) do not have exit loads. Apart from capital gains, this is another fee you must watch out for.

*Exit loads: This is a fee that mutual fund companies charge an investor when they leave a scheme or company (as an investor)

The benefits of systematic withdrawal plans

Systematic withdrawal plans are considered an ideal avenue for steady post-retirement income. It is useful when there is no regular income and the retired person is wholly reliant on investments. Additionally, a systematic withdrawal plan amount can be increased if you get a good appreciation over and above the investment, after about two-three years.

A systematic withdrawal plan can also help if you require liquidity, as it permits you to access your money precisely when you need.

Although it ensures a regular income and saves on taxes in the long-term, you cannot open a systematic withdrawal plan on a scheme where there is an ongoing SIP.

Effect of market fluctuations on systematic withdrawal plans

If the market goes into a tailspin, NAVs of mutual funds also fall. Investing through the SIP or systematic withdrawal plan route implies choosing an option irrespective of market conditions. This basically means that there is little to worry about if the NAV slides; over the long-term, the volatility usually averages out.

Last words

It is often recommended that systematic withdrawal plan investments be made in balanced funds, as usually, these are less volatile than pure equity funds.

Related: Tax Benefits after Retirement

Potential investors in systematic withdrawal plans also need to be mindful of the fact that a fund’s exit load may also apply to it. It can be in the range of 0.25-2%, if applicable and depending upon holding period.

However, some funds have removed the exit load on systematic withdrawal plans if investors withdraw up to 15-20% in the first year. This has been done to encourage people to start investing in this instrument.

It is best to talk to a financial planner before taking the plunge – especially if one is a beginner – simply because no two individuals’ requirements can be the same.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for general information purposes only and should not be construed as investment or insurance or tax or legal advice. You should separately obtain independent advice when making decisions in these areas.