VRS Decision: PSU Senior Manager with 80 Lakh Benefits - Good Move?

I'm considering taking Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) from my current role as Senior Manager at a PSU Bank. Here are my financial details: - Current savings: ₹30 lakhs (including shares and Mutual Funds) - Expected pension after commutation: ₹50,000/month - Housing loan liability: ₹40 lakhs - Expected retirement benefits after VRS: ₹80 lakhs - Rental income: ₹25,000/month - Family details: Two kids studying, expected to complete education within 2 years - Post-retirement plan: Need a house for rent in the city Please assess whether my VRS plan is feasible and will have a positive outcome.

Ans: Hello;

How much is the home loan EMI, current monthly household expenses and approx rental for flat in the city you reside.

This will help us to advise you suitably.

Thanks;

Asked on - Jan 28, 2025 | Answered on Jan 28, 2025

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Home loan emi-23000 House hold expense =25000 to 30000 Monthly rental for flat =20000 to 22000

Ans: Hello;

So your total monthly expenses after retirement will be as given:
1. Home loan emi- 23 K
2. HH expenses - 30 K
3. Rent Paid- 22 K
Total- 75 K

Corpus available to generate monthly income in retirement:
1. Current Savings - 30 L
2. VRS benefit - 80 L
Total- 110 L

Out of this you may retain 10 L as emergency fund in liquid fund or saving account.

For the balance 100 L(1 Cr) you may buy an immediate annuity from a life insurance company.

Assuming 6% annuity, you may expect a monthly income of around 50 K.

So monthly income in retirement will be:
1. Annuity Income - 50 K
2. Pension Income- 50 K
3. Rental income - 25 K
Total - 125 K (1.25 L)

So effectively 125 -75= 50 K(pre tax)
will additional disposable income available with you a part of which you may invest in equity savings type mutual fund with low to moderate risk rating to generate corpus to boost annuity income in future.

You may retire comfortably since you are well placed from income expense standpoint.

Normally I don't recommend to carry loan in retirement but you are a bank employee and may have a lower interest rate then others so from tax point of view it makes sense in your case.

Do buy adequate healthcare cover for yourself and your family.

Happy Investing;
X: @ mars_invest

Ans: You have a strong financial base with diverse income sources and substantial investments. Both you and your wife are in stable positions, and your ability to plan ahead shows that you are well-prepared for retirement and the years beyond.

In this detailed assessment, we will explore your finances and future planning from a 360-degree perspective to ensure that you can comfortably maintain your lifestyle for the next 25 years, even after your wife takes VRS and your son settles in his life.

Income Overview
You currently have multiple reliable income streams, which provide stability and flexibility. Let’s break down each source of income to see how they contribute to your financial health:

Pension: Your pension of Rs 50,000 per month is a consistent and reliable source of income. It will continue to be paid throughout your lifetime, making it a foundation of your financial security.

Rental Income: You are earning Rs 27,000 from your rented property, and your wife earns Rs 21,000 from hers. Combined, this provides an additional Rs 48,000 per month. Rental income can often be a stable and inflation-adjusted source, as rental rates tend to increase over time.

Wife's Salary: Your wife currently earns Rs 1.2 lakh per month. This is a significant portion of your total household income. She plans to take VRS in three years, and her pension will replace this salary at that point.

Investment Portfolio
Your combined investment portfolio is substantial, which gives you the flexibility to draw down from it in the future if needed. Here is a detailed evaluation of your assets:

Mutual Funds: You have Rs 2.4 crore invested in mutual funds. Mutual funds are a great way to grow wealth, particularly when invested in actively managed funds. These funds are handled by professional fund managers who actively manage the portfolio to optimize returns while managing risk. Active management also allows the fund to navigate market volatility more effectively than index funds, which passively track the market.

Shares: You have Rs 82 lakh invested in direct shares, while your wife holds Rs 55 lakh. Stocks, being direct investments, come with the potential for higher returns but also higher risks. It is important to keep track of market conditions and regularly review the performance of your shares to ensure that your portfolio aligns with your financial goals.

Fixed Income Investments: You have Rs 30 lakh in a Senior Citizen Scheme, and Rs 60 lakh in a mix of government bonds, Postal MIS, and fixed deposits. Your wife has an additional Rs 20 lakh in bank and company fixed deposits and bonds. These fixed-income investments provide stability and predictability in your portfolio, balancing out the riskier equity investments.

Monthly Expenses
Your household expenses amount to Rs 1.5 lakh per month. Given your combined current income of Rs 2.18 lakh (pension, rental income, and wife’s salary), you are comfortably covering your expenses with room to spare. This excess income can be reinvested or saved for future needs.

Medical Insurance Coverage
You and your wife have comprehensive medical coverage, which is critical for long-term financial security:

Medical Insurance: Your medical policy covers Rs 5 lakh with a top-up of Rs 16 lakh. This gives you Rs 21 lakh of coverage, which should be sufficient for most medical emergencies. Medical inflation is rising in India, so this coverage is a crucial safety net.

CGHS: Your wife’s Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) coverage includes both of you. CGHS is known for providing broad coverage, including outpatient treatment, specialist care, and hospitalization at minimal cost. This further reinforces your medical security.

Future Cash Flow After Wife’s VRS
In three years, your wife plans to take VRS and will be eligible for a pension. Let’s assess how this will affect your financial situation:

Wife’s Pension: While the exact pension amount is not specified, let’s assume a conservative estimate of Rs 50,000 per month. This, combined with your pension of Rs 50,000, will bring your total pension income to Rs 1 lakh per month.

Rental Income: Your combined rental income of Rs 48,000 will continue, assuming no significant changes in tenant occupancy or property maintenance costs.

Total Monthly Income After VRS: After your wife’s VRS, your total monthly income from pensions and rental properties will be Rs 1.48 lakh. This will be slightly below your current monthly expenses of Rs 1.5 lakh, but investment income from mutual funds, shares, and fixed-income products will more than cover the shortfall.

Investment Income Projection
To fill the gap between your expected income after your wife’s VRS and your expenses, you can rely on the income generated by your investments. Here’s how your portfolio can contribute to maintaining your lifestyle:

1. Mutual Fund Returns
You have Rs 2.4 crore invested in mutual funds. Assuming a conservative 8% annual return, this will generate Rs 19.2 lakh per year, or Rs 1.6 lakh per month.

Your wife’s mutual fund investment of Rs 1.2 lakh is relatively small but will still contribute to your overall portfolio growth.

2. Share Dividends and Growth
Your Rs 82 lakh in shares and your wife’s Rs 55 lakh can potentially provide both capital appreciation and dividend income.

Dividend-paying stocks can offer a regular income stream. However, the amount will depend on the specific companies in your portfolio and their performance. You might consider holding a balanced mix of high-growth and dividend-paying stocks for steady income and capital appreciation.

3. Fixed Income Investments
Your Rs 60 lakh in fixed deposits, government bonds, and Postal MIS, along with your wife’s Rs 20 lakh in similar investments, provide stable and predictable returns. These instruments are ideal for ensuring capital preservation and generating interest income. Depending on the interest rate (currently around 6-7% in India), this can provide Rs 4.8-5.6 lakh annually or Rs 40,000-46,000 per month.
Tax Considerations
Tax efficiency will be an important part of your financial planning, especially when you start drawing on your investments. Let’s explore the tax rules that apply to your current portfolio:

1. Mutual Funds
Long-Term Capital Gains (LTCG): Under the new tax rules, LTCG on equity mutual funds above Rs 1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%. Given the size of your portfolio, plan withdrawals carefully to minimize tax liabilities.

Short-Term Capital Gains (STCG): STCG is taxed at 20%. Be mindful of the holding period when making withdrawals to avoid short-term gains tax.

Debt Mutual Funds: Debt mutual funds are taxed as per your income tax slab for both LTCG and STCG. Since you are in a higher tax bracket, this should be considered when making decisions about debt fund investments.

2. Direct Shares
LTCG on Shares: Similar to mutual funds, LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh from shares will be taxed at 12.5%. As your shareholdings are substantial, careful planning around sales is crucial to manage your tax burden.

Dividend Taxation: Dividends are now taxed as per your income tax slab. This means that dividend income from your shares will be added to your total income and taxed accordingly. This is an important consideration when selecting stocks, especially if you are relying on dividends for income.

Portfolio Rebalancing
Over time, you will need to rebalance your portfolio to ensure it continues to meet your goals. As you approach and enter full retirement, you may want to shift some of your investments into lower-risk options while still maintaining growth potential. Here are some strategies for rebalancing:

Reduce Equity Exposure Gradually: While equities provide higher returns, they are also more volatile. As you age, consider gradually shifting some of your equity investments into more stable, income-generating options such as debt mutual funds or government bonds.

Increase Fixed Income Allocation: As you approach full retirement, increasing your allocation to fixed income products can provide a more predictable income stream. Your investments in Postal MIS, Senior Citizen Schemes, and fixed deposits already provide a strong foundation for this.

Long-Term Healthcare Planning
Your current medical insurance coverage is adequate for now, but as healthcare costs continue to rise, it’s important to periodically review your coverage:

Increase Health Coverage: Medical inflation is growing at a rate of 10-15% per year in India. While your Rs 21 lakh insurance cover is strong today, consider increasing it in the future to ensure it keeps up with rising healthcare costs.

Evaluate Critical Illness and Long-Term Care Insurance: As you age, you may want to consider adding a critical illness policy or long-term care insurance to your portfolio. These policies provide additional coverage for serious health conditions and long-term care needs, which could otherwise eat into your retirement savings.

Final Insights
You are in an excellent financial position to maintain your current lifestyle for the next 25 years. Your diversified portfolio, combined with your income sources, ensures a stable cash flow even after your wife takes VRS in three years. The key to maintaining this stability lies in proper tax planning, portfolio rebalancing, and ensuring your healthcare needs are adequately covered.

Given your financial assets, you can afford to enjoy your retirement with confidence. By regularly reviewing your investments and making small adjustments as needed, you will ensure that you continue to meet your financial goals without compromising your quality of life.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

Ans: ou have a strong base to work from.

You are 56 years old, planning Voluntary Retirement. Your pension is Rs. 48,000 per month. You will get a corpus of Rs. 90 lakhs. Your home is fully owned, and your son is working and independent. Your health cover is Rs. 10 lakhs for the family.

This is a good situation to begin structured retirement planning.

Let us now assess and build your plan from a 360-degree view.

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Retirement Income Need and Lifestyle Check

You will receive Rs. 48,000 monthly pension. That’s your stable income.

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If your regular expenses are within this amount, then your corpus need is lower.

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But inflation will reduce the power of this pension over time.

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You need to build an additional income source from the Rs. 90 lakh corpus.

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Also, health expenses may rise over the next 20 to 30 years.

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With increasing age, travel, medical, and lifestyle costs may go up gradually.

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So, preserving your corpus and growing it slowly is the goal.

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The Rs. 90 lakh must generate inflation-beating returns with safety.

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The plan must avoid risk but not ignore growth.

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And the plan must ensure liquidity for emergencies and hospital needs.

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Step-by-Step Planning for Corpus Allocation

Let’s break your Rs. 90 lakh into useful buckets:

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1. Emergency Fund – Liquidity First

Keep around Rs. 6 to 8 lakhs in a savings account or short-term FD.

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This covers 6-12 months’ worth of monthly expenses.

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Use this for medical bills, urgent repairs, or unexpected travel.

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This money should be easy to withdraw at short notice.

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Do not touch this for regular investment or income generation.

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2. Health and Critical Illness Buffer

You already have Rs. 10 lakh medical insurance. That’s helpful.

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But rising hospital bills need extra safety.

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Keep Rs. 5 to 8 lakh separately in a liquid debt mutual fund.

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This fund will act as a top-up to your health insurance if needed.

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It gives slightly better return than savings account or FD.

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It also ensures hospitalisation does not disturb long-term plans.

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3. Short-Term Safety Allocation (3 to 5 Years)

Allocate Rs. 20 to 25 lakh to conservative hybrid mutual funds.

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These funds combine debt and equity but focus on stability.

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They are suitable for generating some income while keeping capital safe.

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Use these to create a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) later.

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This bucket will give support if pension falls short in future.

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4. Medium-Term Growth Allocation (5 to 10 Years)

Allocate around Rs. 30 lakh to balanced advantage or multi-asset funds.

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These actively manage market ups and downs.

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Their asset mix adjusts based on risk and opportunity.

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They are better than index funds because they respond to market shifts.

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Index funds follow markets passively. They don’t protect from downside.

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But actively managed funds aim to reduce losses during bad markets.

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In your retirement, safety matters more than just returns.

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That is why we suggest actively managed regular funds.

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Invest through a Certified Financial Planner and MFD for guidance.

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5. Long-Term Growth (10+ Years)

Around Rs. 15 to 20 lakh can go to large cap or flexi cap mutual funds.

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These are actively managed, stable funds for long-term wealth creation.

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Use this only if you won’t need this money in next 8 to 10 years.

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These help fight inflation over the long run.

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But these should be reviewed every year with your MFD or CFP.

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Income Strategy: Generating Monthly Cash Flow

Rs. 48,000 pension may be enough now. But not for 20 years later.

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Use SWP from debt-oriented hybrid funds after 3 years.

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This creates a second income flow while keeping the capital safe.

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Start with Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 10,000 per month from SWP.

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Increase slowly every 2 years based on inflation.

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Don’t withdraw from equity-oriented funds in first 8 years.

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Let them grow quietly and support future income gaps.

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Tax Planning After Retirement

Your pension is fully taxable under income from salary.

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SWP from equity mutual funds is tax-friendly if used after 12 months.

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New rule: Equity mutual fund gains above Rs. 1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%.

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Short-term equity gains are taxed at 20% under new rule.

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Debt mutual fund gains are taxed as per your income slab.

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Withdraw funds wisely to reduce tax impact.

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Use standard deduction of Rs. 50,000 available for pensioners.

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Work with a CA or tax expert once a year to plan better.

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Role of Insurance After Retirement

You have Rs. 10 lakh health insurance. That is a good start.

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Confirm if it is a family floater or individual.

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Renew the plan without break. Don't depend only on employer legacy policies.

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Consider a top-up health insurance if premium is manageable.

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Avoid life insurance plans now. You no longer have financial dependents.

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ULIP, endowment, or money-back plans are not useful at this stage.

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If you already have them, check surrender value.

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If surrender value is decent, reinvest that in mutual funds.

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Legacy Planning and Estate Transfer

Your son is working and financially stable.

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So, now is the time to create a Will and keep nominations updated.

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This ensures smooth transfer of your money after your time.

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Do not delay this. A Will reduces future legal problems for your son.

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Keep your financial records organised in one file.

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Share details with your son, but avoid joint ownership in all assets.

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Maintain your own financial independence always.

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Should You Work Part-Time After VRS?

Mentally, work helps people stay active post-retirement.

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Financially, even a small part-time income helps delay withdrawals.

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You can teach, consult, or write in your area of expertise.

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Don’t overwork. But don’t fully disconnect either.

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Choose light and satisfying work.

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It helps reduce boredom and keeps your savings untouched longer.

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Avoid These Common Mistakes After Retirement

Don’t put lump sum in real estate. It locks up money.

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Do not keep all money in FDs. It won’t beat inflation.

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Avoid giving large loans to relatives. It affects your liquidity.

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Don’t invest in ULIP, annuity, or low-return insurance schemes.

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Avoid high-risk stock trading or PMS without full knowledge.

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Don’t invest directly in equity without clear planning.

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Use regular mutual funds through Certified Financial Planner.

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Avoid direct plans unless you fully understand fund analysis.

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Direct plans do not offer guidance or periodic review.

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Regular funds via MFD with CFP provide handholding and reviews.

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Finally

You have built a stable retirement base. Your house is ready. Your son is settled. Your pension gives comfort. Your corpus of Rs. 90 lakh is decent. But it needs proper allocation and discipline.

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If you divide your money into emergency, medical, short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals — you will have peace of mind.

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If you avoid risky products and use actively managed mutual funds — your wealth will grow.

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You need to plan income generation slowly, with SWP over time.

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You must also create a Will and manage taxes wisely.

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You are heading in the right direction. Just avoid emotional decisions with money.

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Start with a 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year investment goal within retirement itself.

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Review this every year with the help of a Certified Financial Planner.

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Retirement should not feel like an end. It should be a comfortable new beginning.

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Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment