Retirement planning is the process of determining retirement income goals and the actions and decisions necessary to achieve those goals. It includes identifying sources of income, estimating expenses, implementing a savings program, and managing assets.
Retirement planning should start from the day you start earning. Here are seven rules to ensure a comfortable retirement:
It is recommended to save 10% of your income for retirement. The Employee Provident Fund (EPF) is a great option for salaried employees. Even small contributions can grow significantly over time due to the power of compounding.
SMART TIP: Start a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) in a mutual fund and automate the process via ECS mandate.
As your income increases, make sure to step up your investments accordingly. A small increase in investment can have a massive impact on your retirement corpus.
SMART TIP: Allocate half of your salary raise to savings while enjoying the other half.
Avoid withdrawing from your retirement savings prematurely, as this prevents your money from compounding. Transfers between EPF accounts should always be done instead of withdrawals.
SMART TIP: Transfer your EPF balance instead of withdrawing it when changing jobs.
To ensure you don’t outlive your savings, withdraw no more than 5% of your corpus annually for the first five years, gradually increasing it over time.
SMART TIP: Withdraw half the inflation-adjusted appreciation every year.
Your asset allocation should follow the formula: 100 minus your age should be invested in equities. This strategy helps balance risk and return over time.
SMART TIP: Invest in asset allocation funds that automatically adjust your equity exposure as you age.
Prioritize your retirement savings over your children’s education funds. Educational loans can be an alternative, whereas retirement loans do not exist.
SMART TIP: Encourage financial discipline in your child by letting them take an education loan.
Your retirement corpus should be at least 20 times your annual expenses to ensure financial stability. This calculation assumes no outstanding loans and sufficient health insurance.
SMART TIP: Buy a health insurance policy that continues until at least 70-75 years of age.