I am 59 years old working in a private company.I will retire in July 2027 .I do not have pension.I will have a corpus of Rs 1.2 crore at the time of retirement including PPF and PF.How my corpus amt can be invested so that I can get rs 80000 per month for running my family.
Ans: Appreciate your detailed clarity and early planning for retirement.
You are nearing retirement with a clear corpus and goal.
That itself puts you ahead of many.
You aim to generate Rs 80,000 per month.
That is Rs 9.6 lakh per year from your retirement corpus.
You also want capital safety and steady income.
Let us go into a 360-degree strategy.
? Assessing Your Retirement Duration and Inflation
You may live 25 to 30 years post retirement.
So your corpus must last at least 30 years.
Rs 80,000 today will not be enough after 10 years.
You must plan for increasing income too.
Inflation will reduce value of your money every year.
So, we need growth + income.
Bank FD alone will not help in long run.
A balanced income-growth approach is required.
? Understanding the Role of Corpus and Drawdown
You will have Rs 1.2 crore in July 2027.
You want Rs 9.6 lakh income per year.
That is around 8% withdrawal on day one.
This is slightly aggressive for long-term safety.
So you must combine growth to support income.
Full withdrawal from safe assets will erode corpus fast.
Controlled drawdown with partial growth is the key.
? Creating an Income Ladder for Short, Medium and Long Term
You need to divide the corpus into 3 buckets.
Each has a clear purpose and time horizon.
Bucket 1: For 0–5 years’ expenses
– Rs 40 lakh approx
– Use mix of senior citizen saving scheme, monthly income plan from post office, short-term debt mutual funds (regular plan via CFP).
– These are stable and offer monthly income.
– Returns in this will mostly match inflation or slightly lower.
– But they provide liquidity and stability.
Bucket 2: For year 6–15 expenses
– Rs 40 lakh approx
– Invest in hybrid mutual funds (regular plans via MFD + CFP).
– These combine equity and debt.
– Offer moderate returns and balanced risk.
– You can start withdrawing from this after year 5.
– Switch matured bucket 1 money into this bucket.
Bucket 3: For year 16–30
– Rs 40 lakh approx
– Invest in equity mutual funds (regular plans only).
– This grows untouched for first 10-15 years.
– It will support income in later years.
– Withdraw only after 15 years.
? Why Not Index Funds or Direct Plans?
Disadvantages of index funds
– Index funds just mimic the market.
– They don’t protect during crashes.
– No risk control during volatility.
– No scope for alpha or outperforming market.
Actively managed funds
– Managed by experts to control downside.
– Aim to outperform market over long term.
– Better risk-adjusted returns when chosen by certified planners.
Disadvantages of direct plans
– No guidance, no monitoring, no rebalancing support.
– May miss switching signals or scheme change needs.
– More risk without professional help.
– Misaligned asset allocation can go unnoticed.
Regular plans via CFP + MFD
– Professional handholding.
– Correct scheme selection.
– Timely review and rebalancing.
– Retirement phase is critical. Guidance gives peace.
? Controlling Taxes on Your Withdrawals
Senior citizen savings, post office income are taxable.
Mutual fund withdrawals offer flexibility.
For equity mutual funds:
Gains above Rs 1.25 lakh per year attract 12.5% tax.
Below that, no LTCG tax.
Short-term gains are taxed at 20%.
For debt funds, all gains are taxed as per slab.
So plan withdrawals to stay tax efficient.
Spread redemptions to stay below exemption limit.
Use SWP (Systematic Withdrawal Plans) for equity funds.
? Planning For Emergencies and Health
Keep Rs 5–10 lakh in FD or liquid fund.
This is your emergency fund.
Don’t touch your income-generating corpus for emergencies.
Make sure you have health insurance of at least Rs 10–15 lakh.
A sudden hospital bill can affect your corpus badly.
Also consider personal accident policy.
Protecting capital is as important as investing it.
? Key Points to Avoid Investment Traps
Do not go for annuity products.
– They give low return and no flexibility.
– Tax inefficient and no growth.
– Once bought, cannot withdraw.
Don’t depend only on FD or SCSS.
– These lose value over time.
– Inflation eats into returns.
– No growth for future income.
Avoid new-age products like PMS or exotic insurance plans.
– High charges, no liquidity.
– Retirement is not the stage to experiment.
Avoid investing lumpsum in equity at once.
– Use STP (Systematic Transfer Plan) to invest gradually.
– This reduces risk of market timing.
? Reviewing Income, Growth, and Liquidity Annually
Every year check your corpus and income balance.
Adjust withdrawal if market is weak.
Shift money from Bucket 2 to Bucket 1 when needed.
Also rebalance between equity and debt.
If equity gains well, book profits and refill Bucket 1.
This gives discipline and peace of mind.
Regular reviews with CFP will help optimise this plan.
? Role of Your Spouse or Family in Corpus Planning
If your spouse also has corpus, you can split income sources.
You may use different tools for each.
For example, spouse can invest in SCSS, you in mutual funds.
This improves tax efficiency and diversification.
Consider joint ownership for easy access in future.
Also ensure nomination and Will is in place.
Smooth succession is also a key part of planning.
? Staying Emotionally and Financially Ready for Retirement
Retirement is not only a financial shift.
Emotional readiness is also needed.
Plan for purpose, time engagement, and daily routine.
Avoid boredom or unplanned expenses.
Keep separate fund for travel, hobbies, or festivals.
Lifestyle planning helps protect the core corpus.
With steady income and peace, you’ll enjoy retired life better.
? Finally
You have done well in saving Rs 1.2 crore.
With smart allocation, it can easily support your goal.
Stick to this 3-bucket strategy.
Avoid high-risk, inflexible, or DIY approaches.
Get a CFP to handhold this phase.
Plan income, growth and protection together.
With annual review, your plan will remain safe.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
Asked on - Sep 02, 2025 | Answered on Sep 03, 2025
how much will I get from each bucket so that my requirement to gets rs 80000 per month is achived
Ans: From Bucket 1, you can meet first 5 years’ Rs 80,000 monthly needs. Then Bucket 2 will take over from year 6 to 15. Finally, Bucket 3 supports income from year 16 onward. Each bucket is designed to refill the next, so your requirement of Rs 80,000 per month is achieved across 30 years with proper review.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
Asked on - Sep 05, 2025 | Answered on Sep 05, 2025
Sir not understand properly.How Rs 80000 will be generetated monthly from bucket 1 since my investment will be rs 40 lakh in bucket 1
Ans: From Bucket 1, Rs 40 lakh will be split into SCSS, post office monthly income, and short-term debt mutual funds. Together these give monthly payouts and maturity value. The interest plus small withdrawals from debt funds will generate Rs 80,000 per month for first 5 years. After 5 years, Bucket 2 starts giving income. Proper mix and review by a CFP ensures cash flow continues smoothly.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
Asked on - Sep 05, 2025 | Answered on Sep 05, 2025
Sir I am not getting your points.If I put Rs 40 lacs in bucket 1 then I can get Rs 25000 from this assuming ROI 7.5 then remaining 55000 will come from which bucket and How? so that principal amt will also grow
Ans: – Yes, if Rs 40 lakh earns 7.5%, it gives around Rs 25,000 per month.
– That alone is not enough to meet Rs 80,000 per month.
– The balance Rs 55,000 will come by dipping into the capital of Bucket 1.
– This is called systematic drawdown, where both interest + small capital are used.
– By design, Bucket 1 is only for first 5 years, not forever.
» Role of Bucket 2 and Bucket 3 in supporting income
– While you are spending from Bucket 1, Buckets 2 and 3 are invested for growth.
– Bucket 2 (hybrid funds) compounds for 5 years untouched.
– Bucket 3 (equity funds) compounds for 15 years untouched.
– The growth in these buckets will refill your future income.
– So, though you are drawing capital from Bucket 1, other buckets are growing.
» Why this does not reduce your total corpus badly
– Example: Rs 40 lakh in Bucket 2 growing at 10% can double in 7 years.
– So, when you finish Bucket 1, Bucket 2 is bigger than Rs 40 lakh.
– That growth helps you draw higher monthly income in years 6 to 15.
– Similarly, Bucket 3 grows for 15 years and becomes large enough.
– That growth takes care of inflation and your Rs 80,000 future needs.
» The principle behind the bucket strategy
– Bucket 1 = income stability for near term.
– Bucket 2 = moderate growth for medium term.
– Bucket 3 = strong growth for long term.
– You use up Bucket 1, then switch to Bucket 2.
– You use up Bucket 2, then switch to Bucket 3.
– This way, both income and capital growth are balanced.
» Why professional review is needed
– The exact split between SCSS, Post Office, and Debt funds will decide cash flow.
– CFP can create a Systematic Withdrawal Plan to ensure Rs 80,000 monthly.
– Without guidance, you may withdraw too much or too little.
– Annual review is critical to refill and rebalance buckets as per growth.
So, Rs 40 lakh in Bucket 1 will not only give you Rs 25,000 interest. The balance Rs 55,000 will come from planned withdrawals of capital. This is safe because while you are drawing down Bucket 1, Buckets 2 and 3 are compounding faster for your future needs. That is how you will get Rs 80,000 per month steadily without exhausting the entire Rs 1.2 crore too soon.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment