Need and Importance, Scope of Performance Management

Performance management is a much broader system as it is linked with the processes of planning, implementing, reviewing and evaluating, for augmenting growth and productivity at both the individual and organizational level.

Need

  • Appraisal data can be used to spot flight risks, underutilized, high performing employees or low performing employees who are consistently below standards.
  • Employees and Managers to set goals and track progress with shared tracking tools.
  • Goal tracking throughout the year leads to improved productivity and improved productivity. Managers and employees can work more collaboratively ensuring expectations are set and met.
  • Collect data and allows leadership to make informed, data-based decisions.
  • Automated reminder emails encourage employees to take notes on their accomplishments all year long allowing for improved communication throughout the year and more well-informed appraisals.

Importance

Increases Employee Retention

Performance management also encourages organizations to reward and recognize their employees. Lack of recognition is a big reason some employees leave a job and look for another. They want to be appreciated for their hard work. In addition to the clarity, the ability to share feedback, and the additional training when needed, rewards and recognition can play an important role in employee retention.

Provides the Opportunity for Exchanging Feedback

A lack of communication in a relationship is grounds for trouble, and this includes working relationships. Quite often, management speaks to employees about their performance, but employees do not very often get a chance to voice concerns or frustrations. Effective performance management provides an avenue through which both the employer and the employee exchange feedback. In addition to gaining insight, employees often feel much more valued when they can voice their thoughts.

Provides Clarity in the Organization

It is a common problem that many employees are unsure of what exactly their role entails, what is expected of them, and who they are to report to. Through performance management, the company can make all of this very clear. A lack of understanding often leads to a lack of productivity. Therefore, by providing clarity for employees, the result will often be increased productivity and confidence.

It Provides a Look into the Future

By consistently monitoring and managing workplace performance, leaders can see potential future problems. Like with any type of issue, early detection is key. The earlier problems are confronted the less effect that they will likely have.

Helps Create Development and Training Strategies

As mentioned above, the earlier a problem is detected, the better. One of these problems could be that employees do not know how to perform certain processes correctly. If this continues, the organization might fall apart due to oversight. However, with performance management, this would probably be detected. The organization could then create training programs to change the issue into an opportunity for improvement.

Scope of Performance Management

Recognising and Promoting Performance Culture: It is very important that the employees become used to performing better. If the organisation follows performance culture, every employee would be performance oriented and there are minimal chances of dissatisfaction, errors, and wastages among the employees.

Planning Performance Development Activities: To bridge the gaps between standard and actual performance, performance development activities are planned in the organisation. These activities are in the form of on-the-job training, management games, case studies, outbound training etc.

Planning Performance of all Constituents: Performance management activities involve continuous improvement of all the processes and people in the organisation. So, after setting the performance standards, to get the desired results, it is imperative to mould the behaviour and performance of the employees in a particular way so that it generates the preferred output.

Identifying Performance Parameters: When any organisation decides to go for performance management activity, it is very important to decide the parameters of performance, because when the parameters are clear and set, both, the employer and the employees can better understand their role in the activity and can reach to the goal effectively and efficiently.

Creating Ownership: This is one of the most important aspects in the entire performance management initiative. Until and unless the employees feel that they are the owners of their organisation and their smallest leap of step is going to affect the organisation in either a positive or negative way, they will not behave in an expected manner.

Identifying Competencies/Competency Gaps: When we are in the process of moulding the behaviour of the employees, it is important that we understand the competency gaps if any. Gaps are nothing but a space between standard competencies and expected competencies. Once it is identified that there are gaps, these can be healed with the help of training and development programmes.

Setting Performance Standards: Once the parameters are set, the next step is to identify the performance standards. Performance standards are nothing but analysing and finalising the expected level of performance. This is decided in advance so that gaps, if any, can be corrected at the earliest.

Performance Management Process

Step 1: From the business plan, identify the requirements and competences required to carry it out.

Step 2: Draw up a performance agreement, defining the expectations of the individual or team, covering standards of performance, performance indicators and the skills and competences people need.

Step 3: Draw up a performance and development plan with the individual. These record the actions needed to improve performance, normally covering development in the current job.

Step 4: Manage performance continually throughout the year, not just at appraisal interviews done to satisfy the personnel department. Managers can review actual performance, with more informal interim reviews at various times of the year.

  1. High performance is reinforced by praise, recognition, increasing responsibility. Low performance results in coaching or counselling.
  2. Work plans are updated as necessary.
  3. Deal with performance problems, by identifying what they are, establishes the reasons for the shortfall take control action (with adequate resources) and provide feedback.

Step 5: Performance review. At a defined period each year, success against the plan is reviewed, but the whole point is to assess what is going to happen in future.

Components

  1. Establishing Performance: This stage involves the establishment of the performance objectives, competence requirements and performance related agreements with the employees and their supervisors.
  2. Performance Planning: This step involves agreeing objectives and competence requirements and agreeing upon performance related action plans, performance improvement and personal development plans.
  3. Acting: This involves carrying out various activities required to achieve objectives and plans and observing developments in the overall performance.
  4. Monitoring and Evaluating Performance: This involves checking on the progress in achieving performance objectives and evaluating the performance and achievements accomplished.
  5. Rewarding: This step involves recognizing the contribution in terms of performance accomplishments and achievements by compensation and rewards.
  6. Identifying Performance Problems: It involves identification of the bottlenecks and roadblocks of performance and also areas of improvement.
  7. Performance Development Planning: It involves planning of developmental activities so as to enhance capabilities of people and contribute to the overall performance improvement.

Pre-Requisites of Performance Management

Performance management is an ongoing process in organisations. In order to make the organisation successful and progressing, it is very important to have it going in the organisation continuously. And when this happens regularly it comes in the form of periodic reviews.

Pre-Requisites

  • A commitment towards recognition of high performance. Rewards and recognitions should be built within the framework of performance management framework.
  • Should attract very high levels of participation from all the members concerned in an organization. It should be a participative process.
  • Top management support and commitment is very essential for building a sound performance culture in an organization.
  • Clear definition of the roles for performing a given job within the organizational framework which emanates from the departmental and the organizational objectives. The system should also be able to explain the linkages of a role with other roles.
  • Proper organizational training should be provided to the staff members based on the identification of training needs from periodic evaluation and review of performance. This will motivate the employees for a superior performance.
  • Open and transparent communication should prevail which will motivate the employees for participating freely and delivering high performance. Communication is an essential pre requisite for a performance management process as it clarifies the expectations and enables the parties in understanding the desired behaviors or expected results.
  • Identification of major performance parameters and definition of key performance indicators.
  • Organizational vision, mission and goals should be clearly defined and understood by all levels so that the efforts are directed towards the realization of the organizational ambitions.
  • Consistency and fairness in application.

Tax Treatment

a) Salary income is chargeable to tax on “due basis” or “receipt basis” whichever is earlier.

b) Existence of relationship of employer and employee is must between the payer and payee to tax the income under this head.

Tax treatment in respect of contributions made to and payment from various provident funds are summarized in the table given below:

Particulars Statutory provident fund Recognized provident fund Unrecognized provident fund Public provident fund
Employers contribution to provident fund Fully Exempt Exempt only to the extent of 12% of salary* Fully Exempt
Deduction under section 80C on employees contribution Available Available Not Available Available
Interest credited to provident fund
See Note
Fully Exempt Exempt only to the extent rate of interest does not exceed 9.5% Fully Exempt Fully Exempt
Payment received at the time of retirement or termination of service Fully Exempt Fully Exempt (Subject to certain conditions and circumstances) Fully Taxable (except employee’s contribution) Fully Exempt

Specified Employee

The following employees are deemed as specified employees:

1) A director-employee

2) An employee who has substantial interest (i.e. beneficial owner of equity shares carrying 20% or more voting power) in the employer-company

3) An employee whose monetary income* under the salary exceeds Rs.50,000

Pension Schemes

Pension plans are a good way to secure your finances post-retirement. In India, there are several pensions plans available, and you can choose to invest in the one that you are most comfortable with.

Pension plans provide financial security and stability during old age when people don’t have a regular source of income. Retirement plan ensures that people live with pride and without compromising on their standard of living during advancing years. Pension scheme gives an opportunity to invest and accumulate savings and get lump sum amount as regular income through annuity plan on retirement.

According to United Nations Population Division World’s life expectancy is expected to reach 75 years by 2050 from present level of 65 years. The better health and sanitation conditions in India have increased the life span. As a result number of post-retirement years increases. Thus, rising cost of living, inflation and life expectancy make retirement planning essential part of today’s life. To provide social security to more citizens the Government of India has started the National Pension System.

There are different kinds of pension plans which you can check below:

  • Plans that are sponsored by an insurer where the investment is solely in debt and are best suited for conservative investors.
  • Plans that are unit-linked and invest in both equity and debt.
  • The National Pension Scheme, which invests either 100% in government securities, 100% in debt securities (other than government securities), or a maximum of 75% in equity.

Schemes

Life Annuity

These schemes pay an amount called annuity to the retiree for their lifetime. If the annuitant dies and chooses the option ‘with spouse’, then the spouse receives the pension amount.

Annuity certain

In this scheme, the annuitant is paid the annuity for a certain number of years. The annuitant can pick this period, and in case of their death, the beneficiary receives the annuity.

Pension Plans with and without cover

Pension plans with cover include life cover, which means that if the policyholder dies, the family members are paid a lump sum. This amount may not be considerable. The without-cover plan, as the name suggests, does not have life cover. If the policyholder passes away, then the nominee gets the corpus. At present, the immediate annuity plans are without protection, while the deferred plans are with cover.

Guaranteed Period Annuity

Regardless of whether the holder survives the duration, this annuity option is given for periods such as five years, ten, fifteen, and twenty years.

Immediate Annuity

In this type of scheme, the pension begins right away. As soon as you deposit a lump sum amount, your pension starts. This is based on the amount the policyholder invests. You can choose from a range of annuity options. Under the Income Tax Act of 1961, the premiums of the immediate annuity plans are tax exempt. Post the death of the policyholder, it is the nominee who is entitled to the money.

National Pension Scheme

The Government of India introduced a pension scheme in 2004 for those who wanted to build up their pension amount. Your savings will be invested in the debt and equity markets, based on your preference. It allows you to withdraw 60% of the funds at the time of retirement, and the remaining 40% goes towards purchasing an annuity plan.

Pension Funds

The government body, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), has authorised six companies to operate as fund managers. These plans offer comparatively better returns at the time of maturity and remain in force for a substantial amount of time.

Deferred Annuity

With a deferred annuity plan, you can accumulate a corpus through a single premium or regular premiums over the policy term. The pension begins once the policy term gets over. This deferred annuity plan has tax benefits wherein no tax is charged on the money invested until you plan to withdraw it. This scheme can be bought by either making regular contributions or by a one-time payment. This way, it works for you whether you want to invest the entire amount at one time or want to invest systematically.

Annuities, Types of Annuities

One of the reasons annuities have so many different features is that they are actually contracts between an annuity holder also known as an annuitant and an insurance company. Contracts have different provisions, different costs, different payouts, etc. The upside is an annuity can be personalized to fit your needs. The downside is the vast array of options can seem overwhelming to potential annuitants.

Annuities are contracts issued and distributed (or sold) by financial institutions where the funds are invested with the goal of paying out a fixed income stream later on. They are mainly used for retirement purposes and help individuals address the risk of outliving their savings. Upon annuitization, the holding institution will issue a stream of payments at a later point in time.

Fixed, variable and fixed indexed are the main types of annuities. Knowing what level of risk you’re comfortable with will help guide you through your annuity choices.

Interest-rate risk is a factor in determining the calculation of your payments. Low risk yields predictable payment amounts. Higher risk could boost your expectations.

Type Interest Risk Reward
Fixed Preset/guaranteed Low Predictable
Variable Tied to investment portfolio Higher Potentially higher or lower
Fixed Indexed Preset minimum. Can change according to index like stock market Medium Won’t sink below set level.

Fixed Annuity

This is the option with the least risk and the most predictability. Fixed annuities come with a guaranteed, set interest rate that doesn’t vary beyond the terms of the contract. While other investments might soar or dive, the fixed annuity is steady. Sometimes, however, the interest rate will reset after a predetermined number of years.

Types of fixed annuities

An equity-indexed annuity is a type of fixed annuity, but looks like a hybrid. It credits a minimum rate of interest, just as a fixed annuity does, but its value is also based on the performance of a specified stock index usually computed as a fraction of that index’s total return.

A market-value-adjusted annuity is one that combines two desirable features the ability to select and fix the time period and interest rate over which your annuity will grow, and the flexibility to withdraw money from the annuity before the end of the time period selected. This withdrawal flexibility is achieved by adjusting the annuity’s value, up or down, to reflect the change in the interest rate “market” (that is, the general level of interest rates) from the start of the selected time period to the time of withdrawal.

Variable Annuity

A variable annuity comes with more risks and potentially higher rewards. The interest rate of variable annuities is tied to an investment portfolio. Payments from variable annuities can increase if the portfolio does well, but they can also decrease if the investments lose money.

With a variable annuity, the insurer invests in a portfolio of mutual funds chosen by the buyer. The performance of those funds will determine how the account grows and how large a payout the buyer will eventually receive. Variable annuity payouts can either be fixed or vary along with the account’s performance.

People who choose variable annuities are willing to take on some degree of risk in the hope of generating bigger profits. Variable annuities are generally best for experienced investors, who are familiar with the different types of mutual funds and the risks they involve.

Various Income Tax Savings Schemes

Tax saving is a benefit you can avail for selective investment options and expenses. You anyways need to invest money to achieve your financial goals. Investments which save tax can help you in two ways:

  • Invest more and have more disposable income
  • Grow your investment faster

  • Make an investment of Rs 1.5 lakh under Sec 80C to reduce your taxable income. Additional deduction of Rs 50,000 can be claimed by investing in NPS under 80CCD (1b)
  • Buy Medical Insurance, maximum deduction allowed is Rs. 1,00,000 (Rs 50,000 for self and family if senior citizen and Rs 50,000 for senior citizen parents) under Section 80D.
  • Claim deduction up to Rs 50,000 on Home Loan Interest under Section 80EE

The most popular tax-saving options available to individuals and HUFs in India are under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, Section 80C includes various investments and expenses you can claim deductions on – up to the limit of Rs. 1.5 lakh in a financial year.

Investment Returns Lock-in Period
5-Year Bank Fixed Deposit 6% to 7% 5 years
Public Provident Fund (PPF) 7% to 8% 15 years
National Savings Certificate 7% to 8% 5 years
National Pension System (NPS) 12% to 14% Till Retirement
ELSS Funds 15% to 18% 3 years
Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP) Varies with Plan Chosen 5 years
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) 7.60% N/A
Senior Citizen Saving Scheme (SCSS) 7.40% 5 years

Financial Objectives in Retirement Planning

Retirement planning, in a financial context, refers to the allocation of savings or revenue for retirement. The goal of retirement planning is to achieve financial independence.

Without a judicious retirement plan in place, you run the risk of outliving your savings and not being able to maintain the desired lifestyle in your retirement years. You also run the risk of not being able to accumulate enough corpus for your dependant’s owing to unfortunate and uncertain events like death, disability etc.

Retirement planning helps you determine how much to save today for retirement; how to invest your savings to get the desired returns; how to protect your assets and provide for in case of unfortunate events and how to make judicious use of retirement income post retirement.

The process of retirement planning aims to:

  • Assess readiness-to-retire given a desired retirement age and lifestyle, i.e., whether one has enough money to retire
  • Identify actions to improve readiness-to-retire
  • Acquire financial planning knowledge
  • Encourage saving practices

Modeling and limitations

Retirement finances touch upon distinct subject areas or financial domains of client importance, including: investments (i.e., stocks, bonds, mutual funds); real estate; debt; taxes; cash flow (income and expense) analysis; insurance; defined benefits (e.g., social security, traditional pensions). From an analytic perspective, each domain can be formally characterized and modeled using a different class representation, as defined by a domain’s unique set of attributes and behaviors. Domain models require definition only at a level of abstraction necessary for decision analysis. Since planning is about the future, domains need to extend beyond current state description and address uncertainty, volatility, change dynamics (i.e., constancy or determinism is not assumed). Together, these factors raise significant challenges to any current producer claim of model predictability or certainty.

Monte Carlo method

The Monte Carlo method is the most common form of a mathematical model that is applied to predict long-term investment behavior for a client’s retirement planning. Its use helps to identify adequacy of client’s investment to attain retirement readiness and to clarify strategic choices and actions. Yet, the investment domain is only a financial domain and therefore is incomplete. Depending on client context, the investment domain may have very little importance in relation to a client’s other domains e.g., a client who is predisposed to the use of real estate as a primary source of retirement funding.

There are various kinds of needs and life-events, some of which are listed below:

  • Retirement Corpus
  • Buying a Home
  • Post Retirement payout
  • Job Transition
  • Parenthood
  • Children’s Education
  • Children’s Marriage
  • Insurance
  • Tax planning

Introduction to Retirement Planning, Purpose & Need, Life Cycle Planning

Retirement planning is the process of determining retirement income goals, and the actions and decisions necessary to achieve those goals. Retirement planning includes identifying sources of income, sizing up expenses, implementing a savings program, and managing assets and risk. Future cash flows are estimated to gauge whether the retirement income goal will be achieved. Some retirement plans change depending on whether you’re in, say, India, United States or Australia.

Retirement planning is the process of setting retirement income goals and the actions and decisions necessary to achieve those goals. Retirement planning includes identifying sources of income, estimating expenses, implementing a savings program, and managing assets and risk.

Retirement planning is ideally a life-long process. You can start at any time, but it works best if you factor it into your financial planning from the beginning. That’s the best way to ensure a safe, secure and fun retirement. The fun part is why it makes sense to pay attention to the serious and perhaps boring part: planning how you’ll get there.

Purpose

Money works for you

In the younger days, everyone runs after their 9-5 jobs. Everyone works to earn money and have a good living. However, retirement days are the days where one cannot work any longer. Therefore, it is the time when the money one earned should do all the work.

Stress-free life

This is the most significant outcome of retirement planning. Retirement planning helps to lead a peaceful and stress-free life. With having investments that earn regular income during retirement leads to a worry-free life. Retirement is the age where one has to relax and reap the benefits of all the hard work.

Inflation beating returns

Investing in retirement will help in earning inflation-beating returns. Holding money in a bank savings account will not generate high returns. In other words, the interest earned will not be enough to lead an uncompromised retirement. Therefore, proper investment planning will help one to generate significant returns in the long term. Also, it is important to start investing early. This helps in averaging out the impact of market volatility.

Cost-saving

Planning for retirement at a young age will help in reducing the cost. For example, in an insurance policy the premium amount to be paid will be lesser when the policyholder is younger. While getting insurance during retirement becomes costly.

Need

  • Best time to fulfil life aspirations.
  • One cannot work forever.
  • Start planning early and diversify investments.
  • The average life expectancy is increasing.
  • Relying on one source of income is risky, e.g., pension.
  • Do not depend on children.
  • Higher complications, e.g., medical emergencies.
  • Contribute to the family even during retirement.

Life cycle Planning

Stages of Retirement Planning:

  1. Young Adulthood: Those who are entering an adult life may not have a lot of money to invest, but they can have enough time to let investments mature. It makes a critical and valuable piece of retirement saving. Such investments can make up a large piece of investments with regards to the principle of compound interest. Compound interest allows interest to be calculated on interest the more time you have, the more interest you will earn.
  2. Early midlife: This age can bring in a lot of financial stress in terms of mortgages, student loans, and insurance premiums. Therefore, it may be difficult to save in this period.
  3. Later midlife: When time is running out to make up for the difference in the actual savings and retirement plans, you will have the last opportunity to fill the gap. Since you will have higher wages and most of your debts would be fulfilled, you can have a larger sum available for investment.

The level of emphasis on retirement planning varies throughout different life stages. During the youth, retirement planning only means setting aside enough funds for retirement. During the middle of the career, it might change to setting specific income/asset targets and taking the necessary steps to realise them. Once you reach retirement, decades of savings will pay out.

Pre & Post-Retirement Strategies

The most important part of Retirement planning is ‘Investing’. Investing for retirement has to be very effective. There are several investment avenues that you can opt for retirement planning.

You have spent years accumulating your retirement fund. What is the best way to draw it down. Your retirement fund may consist of a collection of the following:

  • Personal Pensions
  • Company Pensions
  • AVC
  • Deferred pensions
  • Paid up pensions
  • Retirement Bonds

There is no right or wrong solution to retiring your fund. Only your solution. Everyone is different with a different set of needs, assets and objectives. We provide a bespoke solution to all of our clients to ensure that you receive the best solution for your specific situation, be it maximum tax-free lump sum or highest possible life time pension.

Pre

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): Exchange traded funds are considered to be one of the popular securities amongst investors. An Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is a type of investment that is bought and sold on stock exchanges. It holds assets like commodities, bonds, or stocks. An exchange traded fund is like a mutual fund, but unlike a Mutual Fund, ETFs can be sold at any time during the trading period. Moreover, ETFs helps you to build a diverse portfolio.

Bonds: Bonds are one of the most popular retirement investment options. A bond is a debt security where the buyer/holder initially pays the principal amount for buying the bond from the issuer. The issuer of the bond then pays the holder an interest at regular intervals and also pays the principal amount at the maturity date. Some of the bonds provide good 10-20% p.a.-rate of interest. Also, there is no tax applicable on bonds at the time of investment.

Real Estate: It’s the most preferred retirement investment options amongst investors. It is an investment made in the real estate, i.e. house/shop/site, etc. It’s considered to give good stable returns. To make an investment in real estate, one should consider good location as the key point.

Equity Funds An equity fund is a type of Mutual Fund that invests mainly in stocks. Equity represents ownership in firms (publicly or privately traded) and the aim of the stock ownership is to participate in the growth of the business over a period of time. The wealth you invest in Equity Funds is regulated by SEBI and they frame policies & norms to ensure that the investor’s money is safe. As equities are ideal for long-term investments, it is one of the best retirement investment options.

New Pension Scheme (NPS) New Pension Scheme is gaining popularity in India as one of the best retirement investment options. NPS is open to all but, is mandatory for all government employees. An investor can deposit a minimum of INR 500 per month or INR 6000 yearly, making it as the most convenient for Indian citizens. Investors can consider NPS as a good idea for their retirement planning because there is no direct tax exemption during the time of withdrawal as the amount is tax-free as per Tax Act, 1961. This scheme is a risk-free investment as it’s backed by the Government of India.

Post

Bank Fixed Deposits: Most people consider the Fixed Deposit investment as a part of their retirement investment options because it enables money to be deposited with banks for a fixed maturity period, ranging from 15 days to five years (& above) and it allows to earn a higher rate of interest than other conventional Savings Account. During the time of maturity, the investor receives a return which is equal to the principal and also the interest earned over the duration of the fixed deposit.

Reverse Mortgage As a part of the post- retirement investment options, a reverse mortgage is a good option for senior citizens who need a steady flow of income. In a reverse mortgage, stable money is generated from the lender in lieu of the mortgage on their homes. Any house owner who is 60 years of age (and above) is eligible for this. Retired people can live in their property and receive regular payments, until the death. The money receivable from the Bank will depend on the valuation of property, its current price and well as the condition of the property.

Annuity An annuity is an agreement aimed at generating steady income during retirement. Where a lump sum payment is made by an investor to obtain a certain amount instantly or in future. The minimum age entry for any investor in this scheme is 40 years and the maximum is up to 100 years.

Senior Citizen Saving Schemes (SCSS): As part of the post- retirement investment options, an SCSS is designed for retired people who are above 60 years old. SCSS is available through certified banks as well as the network post offices spread across India. This scheme (or SCSS account) is up to five years, but, upon the maturity, it can be subsequently extended for an additional three years. With this investment, tax exemption is eligible under Section 80C.

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