What is Retirement Planning?
Retirement planning is the process of determining retirement income goals and the actions necessary to achieve those goals. It involves identifying sources of income, estimating expenses, implementing a savings program, and managing assets and risk.
In India, where traditional joint family systems are evolving and life expectancy is increasing, retirement planning has become crucial. With rising healthcare costs and inflation, having a substantial retirement corpus is essential for financial independence in your golden years.
How to Use the Retirement Calculator
- Enter Current Age: Your age today (18-60 years)
- Set Retirement Age: When you plan to retire (typically 58-65 years)
- Input Monthly Expenses: Your current monthly living expenses
- Set Inflation Rate: Expected inflation (typically 5-7% in India)
- Expected Return Rate: Anticipated investment returns (8-12% for balanced portfolio)
- Life Expectancy: How long you expect to live (80-90 years)
The 4% Withdrawal Rule
The 4% rule suggests withdrawing 4% of your retirement corpus annually, adjusted for inflation. This rate, based on historical market data, should sustain your corpus for 30+ years. For example, a ₹3 crore corpus allows ₹12 lakh annual withdrawal (₹1 lakh monthly).
Retirement Corpus Calculation
Your required corpus depends on:
- Future Monthly Expenses: Current expenses adjusted for inflation until retirement
- Years in Retirement: Life expectancy minus retirement age
- Post-Retirement Returns: Expected returns during retirement (typically conservative)
Retirement Corpus Formula
Where: r = expected return rate, n = months until retirement
Retirement Investment Options in India
1. Employee Provident Fund (EPF)
Mandatory for salaried employees, offering 8.15% interest (2025) with tax benefits. Both employee and employer contribute 12% of basic salary.
2. Public Provident Fund (PPF)
15-year lock-in with 7.1% interest (2025), offering triple tax benefits. Maximum investment: ₹1.5 lakh per year.
3. National Pension System (NPS)
Market-linked retirement scheme with additional ₹50,000 tax deduction under Section 80CCD(1B). Partial withdrawal allowed at 60.
4. Mutual Fund SIP
Systematic Investment Plans in equity/debt funds for wealth creation. Historical equity returns: 12-15% over long term.
5. Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS)
Post-retirement investment offering 8.2% interest (2025) with quarterly payouts. Maximum investment: ₹30 lakh.
Inflation's Impact on Retirement
At 6% inflation:
- ₹50,000 today = ₹1,43,000 in 20 years
- ₹1 lakh today = ₹2,87,000 in 20 years
- ₹2 lakh today = ₹5,74,000 in 20 years
Always factor inflation into retirement planning to maintain purchasing power.
Healthcare Costs in Retirement
Medical expenses typically increase with age. Allocate 20-30% of your retirement corpus for healthcare. Consider comprehensive health insurance and critical illness cover to protect your corpus.
Related Calculators
- SIP Calculator - Calculate monthly SIP returns
- PPF Calculator - Calculate PPF maturity amount
- FD Calculator - Calculate Fixed Deposit returns
- Compound Interest Calculator - General compound interest