Systematic investment plan (SIP) is an excellent mode of mutual funds investment. You can invest in small amounts regularly. With SIP, you can invest on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis. It is the most popular mode of mutual funds investment option among young investors. It instils financial discipline by forcing you to set aside a fixed sum of money on a regular basis.

1.Why investors stop SIPs?

Many investors decide to stop their SIP and exit mutual funds when the stock markets fall. You should actually increase your SIP amount and buy more fund units when the stock markets fall. Investing in SIPs with a long-term horizon mitigates market risk and volatility. However, many investors do not think this way, and they stop their ongoing SIPs.

Stopping SIPs is not advisable. However, if you still want to stop SIPs, the following are the steps:

2.Online SIP cancellation

• Log in to the mutual fund account and click on ‘cancel SIP’. The SIP will be cancelled within 30 days.
• If invested through an agent, then you have to cancel SIP through the agent’s portal.

3.Cancelling ECS

If you have activated ECS for SIP payments, then you should inform the bank through which payments are made to deactivate the ECS and then inform the mutual fund house. A SIP would be terminated when the ECS payments are not made for a certain number of times.

• Inform the mutual fund house and the bank from which the payments are made.
• Fill the appointment form issued by the asset management company (AMC). You have to mention the date from which you like to discontinue the SIP.
• Submit the form to the AMC. It may take up to 21 days to discontinue a SIP.
• If you have submitted post-dated cheques for SIP payments, then unused cheques would be returned.

4.Pausing SIP

There are times when you fall short of money due to various financial commitments. An emergency may arise which requires you to divert funds from SIP. In situations like these, you can pause SIP investment for a while. Investors are allowed to pause their SIP up to three months, a final call would be made by the AMC.

Stopping SIPs is not a good idea. However, if you have decided to stop your SIP, then you may choose to follow any one of the above-mentioned steps. You should be aware of the fact that the AMCs are not supposed to impose any penalty on stopping SIPs.