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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 25, 2024

Ramalingam Kalirajan has over 23 years of experience in mutual funds and financial planning.
He has an MBA in finance from the University of Madras and is a certified financial planner.
He is the director and chief financial planner at Holistic Investment, a Chennai-based firm that offers financial planning and wealth management advice.... more
Chandra Question by Chandra on Apr 25, 2024Hindi
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Dear Sir, I am 46 yrs old, I need Rs 1.35 Lac per month after my retirement. How much I have to invest in NPS to get the same.

Ans: Calculating the exact amount you need to invest in NPS to achieve a monthly income of Rs 1.35 lakh after retirement involves several factors, such as your current NPS corpus, expected returns, and the annuity rates prevailing at the time of retirement.

To determine the required NPS investment, you'd typically need to consider your expected rate of return and the annuity rates applicable at retirement. Annuity rates can vary based on market conditions and the prevailing interest rates.

It's crucial to consult a Certified Financial Planner to get a comprehensive understanding tailored to your specific situation. They can help you assess your current financial position, estimate your retirement needs, and devise a suitable NPS investment strategy to meet your income goal.

Remember, retirement planning is a complex process, and it's essential to consider various aspects to ensure a comfortable retirement. Seeking professional guidance can provide clarity and help you make informed decisions. Best wishes for your retirement planning journey!
DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information to be as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision.
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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on May 16, 2024

Asked by Anonymous - May 04, 2024Hindi
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My age for 25 year i need 80000 thousands par months after retirement. Hou much i have to invest in nps to get the same
Ans: It's great that you're thinking about your retirement at such a young age. Let's calculate how much you need to invest in the National Pension System (NPS) to achieve a monthly income of 80,000 after retirement.

Understanding NPS
National Pension System (NPS): NPS is a voluntary, long-term retirement savings scheme offered by the Government of India.
Investment Options: NPS offers various investment options, including equity, corporate bonds, and government securities, allowing you to choose a suitable asset allocation based on your risk tolerance and investment goals.
Retirement Income: The accumulated corpus in your NPS account can be used to purchase an annuity, providing you with a regular income stream during retirement.
Estimating Retirement Corpus
To generate a monthly income of 80,000 after retirement, we'll first calculate the required retirement corpus based on your life expectancy and expected rate of return.

Calculation Steps
Monthly Income Requirement: 80,000 (as per your requirement)
Annual Income Requirement: 80,000 * 12 = 9,60,000
Annual Income in Retirement: Assuming a conservative 6% annual return post-retirement, the corpus required would be:
Retirement Corpus = Annual Income Requirement / Expected Annual Return
Retirement Corpus = 9,60,000 / 0.06 = 1,60,00,000
Determining NPS Contribution
Given your age of 25, you have a considerable investment horizon, allowing you to benefit from compounding returns over time. Let's calculate how much you need to invest in NPS to accumulate the required retirement corpus.

NPS Calculator
Using an NPS calculator with assumed rates of return and retirement age, you can determine the monthly contribution required to achieve your retirement goal.

Conclusion
To ensure a comfortable retirement with a monthly income of 80,000, you need to start investing in NPS early and contribute regularly. Consider consulting with a Certified Financial Planner to develop a personalized retirement plan aligned with your financial goals and risk tolerance.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

..Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 02, 2025

Money
Good morning I m 50 year old and my nps corpus upto today is 27 lakh and monthly deposit 23000 . I will retire on 60 . How much monthly pension I will get if I opted NPS.
Ans: You are 50 years old now. You have built a good NPS corpus of Rs 27 lakh.

You are adding Rs 23,000 monthly. You plan to retire at 60. That gives you 10 more years.

Your question is about how much pension you can expect from NPS. But let us go beyond the pension figure. Let us look at all options and risks.

Let us take a full 360-degree approach. That will help you take better control.

Growth of Your NPS Corpus by Retirement

Your present corpus is Rs 27 lakh. Monthly contribution is Rs 23,000.

You are disciplined. That is very good.

Assuming steady returns for the next 10 years, your final corpus may grow well.

A rough estimate may take your NPS to between Rs 1.35 crore and Rs 1.50 crore.

This is only an estimate. Final value depends on equity-debt split and market movement.

NPS Withdrawal Rules at Age 60

At age 60, you can take 60% of the corpus as lump sum.

Remaining 40% must be used to buy pension from NPS provider.

So, if you have Rs 1.50 crore corpus, Rs 90 lakh can be withdrawn.

Rs 60 lakh must be used to buy annuity.

Monthly Pension Depends on Annuity Type

Pension depends on which annuity option you choose.

Also depends on age, provider and current annuity rates.

Usually, annuity rates are between 5% to 6.5% for most people.

So, Rs 60 lakh may give Rs 25,000 to Rs 32,500 per month.

Pension is taxable. It will be added to your income and taxed as per your slab.

But There is a Catch with NPS Annuity

Annuity is compulsory for 40% portion in NPS.

You cannot escape that even if returns are low.

Returns from annuity are not inflation-adjusted.

If inflation is 6%, and annuity gives 6%, you are just breaking even.

That means purchasing power keeps falling over years.

In short, your real income from annuity becomes weaker each year.

Disadvantages of NPS-Based Annuity

Here are some issues you should be aware of:

No flexibility. Annuity is fixed. It cannot be changed once chosen.

Poor returns. Much lower than mutual fund withdrawal options.

Fully taxable. Entire pension amount is added to your income.

No inflation protection. Value of your monthly pension goes down with time.

No control over capital. You cannot access the lump sum again.

Limited choices. Few annuity providers and fixed structure.

Tax-Free Lump Sum Can Be Better Utilised

The 60% part you withdraw is tax-free. That is a very good thing.

You can use that for better planning. Mutual fund investments through regular route with Certified Financial Planner can give you more flexibility.

With proper planning, this amount can support your monthly needs for many years.

And unlike annuity, you have control over how you withdraw and invest.

How Mutual Fund Option Is Better Than Annuity

If you want to get monthly income, mutual funds can help you do that.

You can use SWP (Systematic Withdrawal Plan).

You can choose how much to withdraw every month.

You can increase or reduce withdrawal as needed.

Your balance corpus stays invested and keeps growing.

You can invest based on your risk level—conservative, balanced, or aggressive.

You can stop or change plans anytime. No such option in annuity.

Tax is paid only on gains, not full withdrawal.

Equity mutual funds have only 12.5% LTCG tax after Rs 1.25 lakh gain.

Debt mutual fund gains are taxed as per your slab. Still more flexible than annuity.

You can invest through regular plans with help from a CFP and get long-term handholding.

This helps to keep the capital growing, while withdrawing monthly income.

You Can Mix Both Approaches After Retirement

You don’t have to depend only on annuity.

You can plan like this:

Take 60% lump sum (tax-free). Invest it in mutual funds with SWP.

Get better income flexibility, tax efficiency, and capital appreciation.

From the 40% annuity, choose the minimum guaranteed monthly pension.

That gives a backup pension for essential expenses.

This gives dual benefit: safety from annuity and growth from mutual fund.

Better Control with Mutual Fund via Certified Financial Planner

If you go through regular plans with guidance of a CFP, you get personal attention.

Direct plans give no support. You will be alone in tracking and adjusting.

That increases mistakes. Most retirees are not comfortable doing this alone.

With a regular plan and a CFP, you get:

Portfolio review every year.

Tax planning help.

Rebalancing advice.

Switching between funds when needed.

Better exit strategy over 25+ years post-retirement.

At 60, Plan Based on Real Expenses

You should also think how much you will need per month at retirement.

Suppose your basic expense is Rs 50,000 now.

In 10 years, it may become Rs 1 lakh per month.

So, don’t assume current pension amount is enough.

Your plan must consider inflation.

Only mutual fund approach gives you inflation-adjusted income.

Have You Invested in LIC or ULIPs?

If you have LIC endowment plans or ULIP schemes, please review them.

These give poor returns and lock your money.

They mix insurance with investment. That’s never wise.

If you hold such policies, consider surrendering them.

Reinvest that amount in mutual funds with proper planning.

This improves your retirement strength.

Do You Have Emergency Corpus Separately?

Even after NPS maturity, don’t forget emergency fund.

Always keep 6 to 12 months of expenses separately.

It should be in liquid or ultra-short-term funds.

This helps to avoid breaking long-term investment.

Keep this buffer outside your NPS or pension plan.

What Happens to NPS Corpus If You Die?

If you die before age 60, your nominee gets full corpus.

No annuity is forced in that case.

They can withdraw fully. That is a good feature.

But after annuity starts, if you die, your nominee gets lesser amount.

So, if your spouse depends on your income, plan accordingly.

Choose annuity with spouse benefit or better use mutual funds.

Retirement Is 10 Years Away—Plan Now Itself

Many wait till 60 and then think. That’s a mistake.

You have 10 years. That is a blessing.

You can plan better now. Start SIPs in mutual funds alongside NPS.

Create your own retirement income engine.

Don’t depend only on NPS. Build personal retirement corpus too.

Have You Made a Will?

This is not related to pension. But very important.

Make a proper will. Mention nominee names for NPS, bank, mutual funds.

Also, create a joint holding in all investments if possible.

This ensures no legal fights for your family.

Finally

Your NPS pension will give around Rs 25,000 to Rs 32,500 per month.

But that is not inflation-proof.

It is taxable. And inflexible.

So, you must plan beyond NPS annuity.

Use your lump sum wisely. Invest with a Certified Financial Planner.

Get SWP from mutual funds. Adjust income as per inflation.

Build emergency fund. Avoid LIC/ULIP traps. Create a personal will.

Only a full strategy will give peace and safety in your golden years.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

..Read more

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Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

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Asked by Anonymous - Dec 08, 2025Hindi
Money
Hi i am 40M. would request your help to understand what should be the corpus required for retirement as i want to get retired in next 3-5yrs. currently my take home is 2.3L monthly & my wife also works but leaving the job in next 2-3 months. we have a daughter 10yrs, currently i stay on rent and total monthly expense is 1.1L month. once i will retire we will shift in our own parental flat, where hopefully there will be no rent. current Investments 1. 50L in REC bonds getting matured in 2029 2. 42L in stocks 3. 17L in MF 4. 16L FD 5. 15L in PPF 6. 1.3L SIP monthly i do My Wife Investments 1. 30L corpus 2. flat with current value 40L and we get rental of 10K monthly. Please guide what should be the retirement corpus required combined to retire, assuming i need 75L for my daughter post grad and marriage and we would be requiring 75K monthly for our expenses after retiring
Ans: You have explained your income, goals, current assets, and future plans with great clarity. Your early planning spirit is strong. This gives a very good base. You can reach a peaceful retirement with smart steps in the next few years.

» Your Current Position

You are 40 years old. You plan to retire in 3 to 5 years. You earn Rs 2.3 lakh per month. Your wife also works but will stop working soon. You have one daughter aged 10. Your current monthly cost is around Rs 1.1 lakh. This cost will reduce after retirement because you will shift to your parental flat.

Your investment base is already good. You have saved in bonds, stocks, mutual funds, PPF, FD, and SIP. Your wife also has her own savings and rental income from a flat. All these create a good starting point.

This early base helps you plan stronger. It also gives room for more shaping. You are on the right road.

» Your Family Goals

You need Rs 75 lakh for your daughter’s higher education and marriage.

You want Rs 75,000 per month for family living after retirement.

You want to retire in 3 to 5 years.

You will shift to your parental flat after retirement.

You will have rental income of Rs 10,000 from your wife’s flat.

These goals are clear. They give direction. They allow a strong plan.

» Your Present Investments

Your investments include:

Rs 50 lakh in REC bonds maturing in 2029.

Rs 42 lakh in stocks.

Rs 17 lakh in mutual funds.

Rs 16 lakh in fixed deposits.

Rs 15 lakh in PPF.

Rs 1.3 lakh as monthly SIP.

Your wife holds:

Rs 30 lakh corpus.

A flat worth Rs 40 lakh with rent of Rs 10,000 each month.

Your combined net worth is healthy. This gives good power to build your retirement fund in the coming years.

» Understanding Your Expense Need After Retirement

You expect Rs 75,000 per month after retirement. This includes all basic needs. You will not have rent. That reduces cost. This assumption looks fair today.

Your cost will rise with inflation. So you must plan for rising needs. A strong retirement corpus must support rising cost for 40 to 45 years because you are retiring early.

An early retirement needs a large buffer. So you need safety along with growth. Your plan must include growth assets and safety assets.

» How Much Monthly Income You Will Need Later

Rs 75,000 per month is Rs 9 lakh per year. In future years, this cost can rise. If we assume steady rise, your future cost will be much higher.

So the retirement corpus must be designed to:

Give monthly income.

Beat inflation.

Support you for 40 to 45 years.

Protect your family even in market down cycles.

Allow flexibility if your needs change.

A strong retirement fund must support both safety and long-term growth.

» How Much Corpus You Should Target

A safe target is a large and flexible corpus that can support long years without running out of money. For early retirement, the usual thumb rule suggests a very high number. This is because you need income for many decades.

You need a corpus big enough to produce rising income. You also need a cushion for unexpected health costs, lifestyle shocks, and inflation changes.

Your target retirement corpus should be in a strong range. For your needs of Rs 75,000 per month and for goals like daughter’s education and marriage, you should aim for a combined retirement readiness corpus in the higher bracket.

A safe range for your family would be a very large number crossing multiple crores. This large range gives you:

Income safety.

Inflation protection.

Peace during market cycles.

Comfort in long life.

Room for daughter’s future.

Strong backup for health.

You are already on the way due to your existing assets. You will reach close to this range with systematic building over the next 3 to 5 years.

» Why You Need This Larger Corpus

You will retire early. That means more years of living from your corpus. Your corpus must not fall early. It must grow even after retirement. It must give monthly income and long-term family protection.

This is only possible when the corpus is strong and well-structured. A weak corpus creates stress. A strong corpus creates freedom.

Also, your daughter’s future cost must be kept aside. This must be parked in a separate fund. This must not touch your retirement money.

A strong corpus makes these two worlds separate and safe.

» Your Existing Assets and Their Strength

You already have good diversification:

Bonds give safety.

Stocks give growth.

Mutual funds give managed growth.

FD gives stability.

PPF gives tax-free long-term savings.

This blend is already a good start. But you need to make the blend more structured for early retirement.

Your Rs 1.3 lakh monthly SIP is also strong. It builds your future fast. You should continue.

Your wife’s rental income is small but steady. This adds strength.

Your combined financial base can reach your retirement target if you refine your allocation now.

» Your Daughter’s Future Fund Need

You need Rs 75 lakh for your daughter’s education and marriage. You should keep this goal separate from your retirement goal.

Your current SIP and future allocations should create a dedicated fund for this goal. A long-term fund can grow well when managed actively.

Do not mix this fund with your retirement needs. Mixing leads to shortage in old age. Always keep this corpus ring-fenced.

» A Strong Asset Mix For Your Retirement Path

A balanced mix is needed. You need growth assets to beat inflation. You also need stable assets for income.

You must avoid index funds because they do not give flexibility. Index funds follow a fixed index. They cannot make active changes in different markets. They cannot move to better stocks when markets change. They force you to stay in weak sectors for long. They also do not help you in down cycles because they cannot protect you by shifting to safer options. This can hurt retirement planning.

Actively managed funds are better because:

They give active asset selection.

They give scope for better returns.

They give flexibility to change sectors.

They give downside management.

They give access to a skilled fund manager.

They support long-term planning more safely.

Direct plans also carry risk. Direct plans do not give guidance. They do not give behavioural support. They do not give market timing help. They do not give portfolio shaping. They leave all the judgement to you. One mistake can cost years of wealth.

Regular plans with guidance from a Certified Financial Planner help you shape decisions. They help you remain disciplined. They help you avoid panic. They help you decide allocation changes at the right time. This saves wealth in long-term.

» How Your Investment Journey Should Grow in the Next 3–5 Years

Continue your SIP.

Increase SIP when your income rises.

Shift part of your stock holding into planned long-term mutual funds to reduce concentration risk.

Build a defined daughter’s education fund.

Keep a part of your REC bond maturity amount for long-term.

Avoid locking too much into fixed deposits for long periods.

Build a safety fund for one year of expenses.

This will create a full structure.

» Your Rental Income Role

Your rental income of Rs 10,000 per month is small but steady. Over time it will rise. This income will support your monthly cash flow after retirement.

You can use this for utilities or health insurance premiums. This gives a cushion.

» Your Emergency Buffer

You should keep at least one year of essential cost in a safe place. This can be in a liquid account or short-term fund. This protects you in shocks.

Since you plan early retirement, a strong buffer is important. It gives peace even in low months.

» A Structured Retirement Approach

A complete retirement plan for you should include:

A clear monthly income plan after retirement.

A corpus that can grow and protect.

A rising income system that matches inflation.

A separate daughter’s future fund.

A health cover plan for your family.

A tax-efficient withdrawal plan.

A market cycle plan to protect you in tough times.

This holistic approach keeps your family strong for decades.

» What You Should Build by Retirement Year

Your aim should be to reach a strong multi-crore range in investments before retirement. You already hold a large amount. You will add more in the next 3 to 5 years through SIP, stock growth, bond maturity, and disciplined saving.

Once you reach your target range, you can start the shifting process:

Move a part to stable assets.

Keep a part in long-term growth assets.

Create a monthly income strategy.

Keep a reserve bucket.

Keep a child future bucket.

Keep a long-term growth bucket.

This structure protects you in all market conditions.

» Final Insights

Your financial journey is already strong. You have a good income. You have saved well. You have multiple asset types. You have a clear timeline. And you have clear goals. This foundation is solid.

In the next 3 to 5 years, your focus should be on growing your combined corpus to a strong multi-crore range, keeping a separate fund for your daughter, reducing risk in unplanned assets, and building a stable long-term structure.

With the present path and a disciplined structure, you can retire peacefully and support your family with confidence for many decades.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

...Read more

Samraat

Samraat Jadhav  |2499 Answers  |Ask -

Stock Market Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |10874 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Dec 08, 2025

Money
Hello my name is saket, I monthly salary is 43k and my saving is zero. My Rent is 15 k and 10 k i send to my parents. How can i save money and investments.
Ans: 1. Your Current Monthly Numbers

Salary: Rs 43,000

Rent: Rs 15,000

Support to parents: Rs 10,000

Left with: Rs 18,000 for food, travel, bills, and savings

You have very little room, but saving is still possible if done smartly.

2. First Step: Build a Small Emergency Buffer

You must build Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 emergency money.
This protects you from taking loans for small issues.

How to build it:

Save Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 every month in a simple bank savings account

Do this for the next few months

Don’t touch it unless truly needed

3. Create a Mini Budget (Very Simple One)

Try this split from the remaining Rs 18,000:

Daily living (food + transport): Rs 10,000 – 11,000

Personal expenses (phone, internet, basics): Rs 3,000 – 4,000

Savings + investments: Rs 3,000 – 5,000

If this feels difficult, reduce food/transport costs by small adjustments.

4. Where to Invest Once You Have Emergency Money

(For minors: This is general education. For actual investing, get guidance from a trusted adult or family member.)

After you build emergency money, start small monthly investing.

You can begin with:

Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 SIP in a simple, diversified equity fund

Increase the SIP whenever salary increases or expenses reduce

Avoid complicated products.
Keep it simple.
Focus on consistency.

5. Easy Practical Ways to Increase Saving

These small moves help a lot:

Avoid food delivery

Use public transport as much as possible

Reduce subscriptions you don’t use

Fix a daily expense limit

Keep a separate bank account only for savings

Even Rs 200 saved daily = Rs 6,000 monthly.

6. Increase Income Slowly

Try small income boosters:

Weekend tutoring

Freelancing

Part-time projects

Selling old gadgets

Learning new skills for future salary growth

Even Rs 3,000 extra income changes your savings life.

7. Build the Habit First

The amount doesn’t matter in the beginning.
The habit matters more.

Even saving Rs 500 every month is better than zero.
Once salary grows, you will already know how to save.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

www.holisticinvestment.in

https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

...Read more

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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