Retirement Planning: Steps To Plan For Retirement In India

Did you know? A report by The Economic Times revealed that every 2 in 5 Indians do not invest for their retirement¹! Such figures depict the lack of foresight for ensuring financial independence during retirement years. However, it is essential to realise that having a reliable plan for your retirement in place is non-negotiable.

If you feel you are one of them, or even if you have a retirement plan in place, it is recommended that you read this blog till the end. It will discuss what retirement planning is, its importance, its steps, and some tips that can help you do it effortlessly.

What Is Retirement Planning?

The basic idea of retirement planning is to save and invest for your future needs so you have a considerable amount in hand when you retire. It may not seem urgent when you start earning, but delaying this may lead you to a more uncertain financial future once you hang your boots. Thus, staying organised early in such cases is always recommended.

In India, retirement planning often includes schemes like the National Pension System (NPS) or the Employee Provident Fund (EPF). Besides these, it involves personal savings and investments such as fixed deposits, real estate, and mutual funds.

Importance Of Retirement Planning

If you are wondering what is the importance of retirement planning, here are some reasons why you should do it:

1. Prepare For Medical Emergencies

Over time, as you age, your medical needs can increase. This often leads to incurring unexpected expenses. That is exactly where a good, well-planned retirement corpus would provide you with a considerable level of liquidity to manage hospital bills and treatments. This will further allow you to focus on your health without financial stress.

2. Remain Financially Independent

Once you experience financial freedom, returning to being dependent on your family for your personal expenses becomes difficult. This is exactly what having a retirement plan would help. It will allow you to maintain your financial independence by covering your expenses with the funds you would have saved over time.

3. Support Your Family

A well-structured retirement plan can not just help you but also benefit your loved ones, as some retirement plans may even come with a life insurance component. Thus, it can allow you to contribute to their goals and dreams while ensuring they are financially secure if something unfortunate happens to you.

Advantages Of Retirement Planning

There are various ways in which retirement planning can help you. Here are some of its advantages:

1. Secure Life Expectancy

With life expectancy in India averaging around 67.74 years, your retirement can span over a decade or more². Thus, having an adequate amount of funds in your retirement plan becomes essential. It will ensure you a steady income during this period, thus helping you manage expenses and maintain your lifestyle. It is recommended that you start early, in your 20s, 30s, or 40s, and make a significant difference in building a substantial corpus for your retirement, even if it seems a far away goal in your early years of career.

2. Manage Rising Medical Costs

Healthcare expenses often increase as you age. While your health insurance may cover some costs, having a retirement plan would ensure you have additional funds for medical emergencies. This will further minimise the financial burden on your head in your retirement years.

3. Tax Benefits

Retirement plans offer tax-saving opportunities. Premiums paid for these plans are eligible for deductions of up to INR 1.5 lakh under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961. This allows you to maximise your tax savings while securing your future.

How Much Do You Need To Retire?

Determining how much money you need to retire is not a one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on factors like:

• Anticipated lifespan
• Medical expenses
• Lifestyle
• Inflation

A commonly used guideline is the "30x rule," which suggests you should aim to have 30 times your annual income saved for retirement. However, this can vary based on your individual circumstances.

For example, your current annual expenses are INR 6,00,000, and you plan to retire at 60. Now, let's assume you expect to live until 85, and you want to maintain your current lifestyle. Here’s how you can estimate your retirement corpus:

Annual Expenses: INR 6,00,000

30x Rule: 30 × INR 6,00,000 = INR 1,80,00,000

This is the amount you would need to save to maintain your current lifestyle through retirement. Lastly, inflation adjustment: if it is 6% annually, you would need to increase your expenses each year. Over 25 years, this would grow your expenses significantly.

How Do Retirement Plans Work?

Retirement plans help you save and invest money over time to build a corpus for your post-retirement needs. These plans typically involve regular contributions during your working years, which grow through investments. Upon retirement, you receive payouts in the form of a lump sum, regular income, or both.

Some plans also offer tax benefits during the fund accumulation phase. In fact, it may include life insurance to provide financial security to your family in case of an untimely event.

Types Of Retirement Plans

Retirement plans in India offer various options to ensure financial stability post-retirement. Here are some popular types of retirement planning:

1. Immediate Annuity Plans

These plans provide regular monthly payments shortly after a lump sum investment. The payouts begin within a year, making immediate annuity plans ideal for those nearing retirement in need of an immediate income source.

2. Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS)

A government-backed scheme, SCSS is designed for individuals aged 60 and above (or 55–60 years under specific conditions). It allows investments ranging from INR 1,000 to INR 15 lakh for an initial tenure of five years. It is further extendable by three years. Moreover, its current interest rate of 8.2% per annum. This makes it ideal for ensuring a secure and regular income.

3. National Pension System (NPS)

National Pension Scheme (NPS) is a market-linked investment plan open to individuals aged 18–70. It offers exposure to equities, government bonds, debt funds, and alternative assets, catering to moderate-to-high-risk appetites. The account matures at 60 years, and tax benefits of up to INR 2 lakh make it an attractive option for long-term retirement planning.

Stages Of Retirement Planning

Retirement planning is a lifelong process that evolves through different stages. Each stage requires specific actions to build and secure a financially comfortable future.

Early Career Stage (Ages 20–35)

This is the foundation stage for retirement planning. At this point, you:

• Begin saving early to benefit from the power of compounding.
• Allocate a portion of your income to long-term investments such as mutual funds or NPS.
• Make an emergency fund to handle unexpected expenses.

Mid-Career Stage (Ages 36–50)

In this stage, income typically increases, and so do your financial responsibilities. Thus, you must focus on:

• Reviewing your retirement goals and adjusting savings based on your desired lifestyle.
• Diversifying investments into equity, fixed income, and real estate for balanced growth.
• Maximising contributions to retirement accounts like EPF and PPF.

Pre-Retirement Stage (Ages 51–60)

At this stage of life, you must focus on consolidating your retirement corpus. Some major actions to do this include:

• Reducing high-risk investments and focusing on safer options like fixed deposits, SCSS, or bonds.
• Estimating post-retirement expenses, including healthcare and inflation-adjusted costs.
• Ensuring adequate insurance coverage for health and life.

Retirement Stage (Age 60 and Beyond)

After retirement, the focus shifts to managing income and expenses efficiently. Here are key steps that may help:

• Opt for income-generating plans such as annuities or dividend-paying funds.
• Maintain an emergency fund to handle unexpected medical or personal expenses.
• Periodically review your financial portfolio to ensure it aligns with changing needs.

Step-By-Step Guide To Retirement Planning

Figuring out how to make a retirement plan all by yourself can be overwhelming. Here are the key steps of retirement planning that would make the process easier for you:

Step 1: Set Your Retirement Date

First things first, start by deciding the age you wish to retire. This target will guide your savings and investment strategies. You must consider factors such as your desired lifestyle, financial needs, and health.

Step 2: Define Your Retirement Goals

Now, it is time for you to figure out the kind of lifestyle you wish to have post-retirement. To do so, you must outline your aspirations, such as travel, hobbies, or starting a passion project. It is recommended that you try being specific. It will help you estimate the financial resources needed.

Step 3: Understand Your Post-Retirement Expenses

There are various kinds of expenses that you must take into account. This majorly involves evaluating your anticipated costs for housing, healthcare, and daily living. Also, do not forget to include potential changes like reduced commuting expenses and increased medical needs.

Step 4: Estimate The Total Retirement Corpus

To determine the total amount of funds that you would require to fulfil all your post-retirement needs, you must estimate the funds needed to cover living expenses, medical care, and personal aspirations. This step helps you set a concrete savings target.

Step 5: Build An Emergency Fund

You must also set aside a separate savings account for unforeseen expenses like medical emergencies or repairs. This will give you extra liquidity and ensure peace of mind in your golden years.

Step 6: Account For Inflation

It is essential to adjust your savings goal by accounting for inflation, as over time, money loses its buying power. You can use a standard inflation rate (e.g., 6-8%) to safeguard your retirement funds.

Step 7: Evaluate Current Savings

Assess your existing savings, investments, and retirement accounts. It will help you determine the gap between your current finances and your retirement goals to plan future contributions effectively.

Step 8: Calculate Monthly Contributions

Now comes the most important part: determining how much you need to save monthly. Do this based on your retirement timeline and goals. You can also use retirement calculators or consult a financial advisor to ensure error-free calculations.

Step 9: Choose Investment Options

Accumulating your savings in your bank account would be as good as burning them, as it will deprive you of tax benefits and various other ways you could have maximised them. Thus, it is recommended you invest them in reliable avenues like corporate bonds, mutual funds, or stocks.

Step 10: Decide Between Regular Income or Lump Sum

Lastly, plan how you would want to access your savings post-retirement. Depending on your needs, you must focus on choosing between periodic or lump sum payouts.

Best Investment Options For Retirement Planning

Retirement planning in India requires a well-thought-out investment strategy to ensure financial stability in your golden years. Here are some of the best options to consider:

1. Fixed-Income Investments

Fixed-income options provide consistent returns and are ideal for risk-averse individuals. These include corporate bonds, SDIs (securitised debt instruments), and government-backed schemes. Corporate bonds are issued by companies to raise capital. They can offer you a fixed interest rate. At the same time, securitised debt instruments pool various debt obligations, providing stable returns with moderate risk.

2. Mutual Funds

Mutual funds are an excellent choice for retirement planning, especially equity-oriented funds for long-term growth. They allow you to invest in a diversified portfolio of bonds, stocks, or a mix of both. This further balances risk and reward based on your preferences.

3. Public Provident Fund (PPF)

PPF is a government-backed savings scheme with a 15-year lock-in period. It offers attractive interest rates, tax-free returns, and the security of sovereign guarantees. This makes it a reliable option for retirement planning.

Factors To Remember While Planning For Retirement

If you are not an experienced financial expert, there are various things you might do wrong while doing financial planning for your retirement years. Here are some factors that you must take into account without fail.

1. Investment Strategy

Choose investments based on your risk tolerance and time horizon. It is recommended that you start with higher-risk options like equity during your early years. Later on, transition into safer options like bonds and fixed deposits as you approach retirement.

2. Debt Management

It is essential to ensure that you do not have any financial baggage or debt during your retirement years, as it would have a major impact on your retirement corpus. Thus, ensure that you pay off all your loans and credit card balances.

3. Tax Benefits and Liabilities

Do not fail to take advantage of tax-saving investment options like NPS, EPF, or PPF. It will allow you to maximise your savings while making you eligible for considerable tax savings. At the same time, be mindful of tax implications on withdrawals and payouts during retirement.

Conclusion

To conclude, retirement planning is one of the most overlooked and yet essential aspects of life. It is recommended that if you have not started saving for your retirement already, take this blog as a wake-up call. However, do not haste into it; ensure that you keep all the above-mentioned steps and factors in mind.

Looking for a platform that can help you invest your funds for retirement? Well, then, it is time for you to sign up with Grip. This intuitive, user-friendly investment platform facilitates you with a diverse range of investment avenues like SDIs, corporate bonds, etc. Moreover, Grip allows you to start your investment journey with just INR 1,000.

Frequently Asked Questions On Retirement Planning Steps

1. How to get an INR 50,000 pension per month?

To get an INR 50,000 monthly pension, do the following:

• Estimate the corpus needed using a 6% annual return rate
• Invest in diversified instruments like NPS, annuities, mutual funds, and PPF
• Start investing early and contribute regularly

2. Which retirement plan is best?

The choice of the best retirement plan depends on various preferences of an individual, like financial goals, risk tolerance, and retirement age. The National Pension System (NPS) suits moderate-to-high-risk takers. At the same time, annuity plans and Senior Citizen Savings Schemes offer stability for conservative investors.

3. What is rule 40 of compulsory retirement?

Rule 40 of the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules allows compulsory retirement of government employees in the public interest after completing 20-30 years of service. It ensures administrative efficiency while providing eligible employees with full pension and retirement benefits.

4. What is the 45% retirement rule?

The 45% retirement rule typically refers to a guideline used by some retirement planning schemes or financial advisors. It suggests that you should aim to save 45% of your pre-retirement income or current income for your retirement corpus.

5. What is the FIRE method of retirement?

FIRE here stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early. This method focuses on saving and investing aggressively to achieve financial independence at a young age. It involves high savings rates, smart investments, and frugal living to retire early, typically in your 30s or 40s.

References:

1. Economic Times, accessed from: <https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/wealth/personal-finance-news/2-in-5-indians-yet-to-start-retirement-planning-61-worry-savings-will-deplete-in-10-years-survey/articleshow/103292950.cms?from=mdr>

2. Data Commons, accessed from: <https://datacommons.org/place/country/IND?utm_medium=explore&mprop=lifeExpectancy&popt=Person&hl=en>

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