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Starting NPS at 51 - Is it too late?

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8182 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Sep 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
Prabhakkar Question by Prabhakkar on Sep 15, 2024Hindi
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Im 51 years now .Can I start NPS now? Already im invested to PPF as well as mutual funds and other insurance . If i need 6000k as monthly through NPS annuity how much per year I need to invest in NPS yearly?

Ans: It’s great to see you considering the National Pension System (NPS) at 51. While NPS can provide significant benefits, your age does play a role in determining your contributions and expected returns. Here’s an overview of what you should consider:

NPS Overview: NPS is a long-term investment scheme designed to provide retirement income. It allows you to build a retirement corpus through regular contributions during your working life, which can then be converted into an annuity upon retirement.

Eligibility: There are no restrictions on joining NPS based on your age. You can open an NPS account until the age of 70. However, keep in mind that the sooner you start contributing, the larger your corpus will be at retirement.

Retirement Planning: Since you are 51, you have about 9-15 years left before retirement, depending on your retirement age. This time frame will influence how much you need to contribute annually to achieve your desired monthly income.

Desired Monthly Annuity
You mentioned that you require Rs. 60,000 per month through NPS annuity. Let's break down how much you would need to invest annually to reach that goal.

Calculating Required Corpus for Monthly Income
To calculate how much you need to invest, we first need to determine the total corpus required to generate a monthly income of Rs. 60,000.

Annual Requirement: Rs. 60,000 x 12 = Rs. 720,000 per year.

Withdrawal Rate: A common guideline for sustainable withdrawals in retirement is around 4% annually. This means your total retirement corpus should be 25 times your annual requirement.

Required Corpus:

Required Corpus = Annual Requirement × 25
Required Corpus = 720,000 × 25 = Rs. 18,000,000

This means you would need a total corpus of Rs. 1.8 crore to generate a monthly annuity of Rs. 60,000.

Contribution Calculation for NPS
Next, let's determine how much you need to contribute annually to reach this corpus in the given time frame.

Time Horizon: Assume you plan to retire at age 60, giving you 9 years to accumulate this corpus.
Estimating Returns
The NPS primarily invests in equity, government bonds, and corporate debt. The expected annual return can vary, but a conservative estimate for NPS is around 8% to 10%. For our calculations, let’s use 9% as a reasonable expected return.

Annual Contribution Requirement
You would need to invest approximately Rs. 1,184,156 annually in NPS to achieve your goal of a monthly annuity of Rs. 60,000.

Considerations
Existing Investments: Since you are already invested in PPF, mutual funds, and insurance, ensure that these contributions align with your overall retirement plan. Your total investments can supplement the corpus you build in NPS.

Risk Tolerance: Given your age and time to retirement, assess your risk tolerance. NPS has options for both aggressive (more equity) and conservative (more debt) investments. Depending on your comfort level, you can adjust your asset allocation.

Tax Benefits: NPS offers tax deductions under Section 80C and additional deductions under Section 80CCD(1B). This can help you save on taxes while investing.

Diversification: It’s wise to keep a diversified investment portfolio. While NPS is a great tool for retirement, ensure that you maintain other investments that can provide liquidity and growth.

Final Insights
Starting NPS at 51 is a viable option to enhance your retirement savings. To achieve a monthly annuity of Rs. 60,000, aim for an annual investment of approximately Rs. 1,184,156 at an estimated return of 9%.

This approach, along with your existing investments in PPF and mutual funds, can help you build a robust retirement corpus.

Consider speaking to a Certified Financial Planner to tailor a strategy that fits your financial landscape and future aspirations.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment
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  |8182 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

Latest Questions
Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8182 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 03, 2025

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Dear Sir, I am 47 years old IT professional. My current salary is 1.5 lakhs per month. I have a daughter who just completed her 10th board exam. My corpus is around 1.6Cr FD&PPF; 30 lakhs in MF & stocks; 50 lakhs in EPF. I have no debt and living in my own house. Please suggest if I can plan for retirement
Ans: Your financial position is strong, and planning for retirement at 47 is a smart decision. Below is a detailed 360-degree approach to assess whether you can retire comfortably and how to ensure financial security.

Understanding Your Current Financial Position
Income: Rs 1.5 lakh per month.

Corpus:

Rs 1.6 crore in Fixed Deposits (FD) and Public Provident Fund (PPF).

Rs 30 lakh in mutual funds and stocks.

Rs 50 lakh in Employees' Provident Fund (EPF).

Liabilities: No debts.

Assets: Own house, ensuring no rent or EMI burden.

Family Responsibility:

Daughter has just completed the 10th board exam.

Higher education expenses need to be planned.

Key Considerations Before Retirement
Expected Retirement Age

If you plan to retire early (before 55), corpus sustainability needs careful assessment.

If you work till 60, it will provide a larger financial cushion.

Post-Retirement Expenses

Living expenses, healthcare, travel, and lifestyle costs must be considered.

Inflation will increase future expenses.

Daughter’s Education

Higher education costs are significant.

Corpus should cover both education and retirement without compromise.

Medical Expenses

Health costs increase with age.

A high health insurance cover is essential.

Wealth Growth vs. Safety

A mix of equity and debt investments ensures growth while preserving capital.

Excessive reliance on FDs and PPF may limit long-term wealth accumulation.

Assessing If You Can Retire Comfortably
Current Corpus Size

Rs 2.4 crore (excluding house) is a strong starting point.

But, inflation will reduce its real value over time.

Expected Corpus Growth

Investments in mutual funds and stocks should continue to grow.

PPF and EPF offer stable but lower returns.

Withdrawals Post-Retirement

Sustainable withdrawals should not deplete the corpus too soon.

A balanced investment strategy is required.

Gaps in Planning

Heavy reliance on FDs and PPF may not be ideal.

More equity exposure can ensure inflation-beating returns.

Steps to Strengthen Your Retirement Plan
1. Optimising Investment Strategy
Continue investing in mutual funds with a mix of large-cap, mid-cap, and flexi-cap funds.

Reduce dependence on FDs for long-term needs.

Equity mutual funds help counter inflation and grow wealth.

Avoid index funds as they provide average returns without active management.

Regular funds through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) offer expert monitoring.

Diversify investments between equity, debt, and fixed-income products.

2. Planning for Daughter’s Education
Higher education costs can be Rs 30-50 lakh in the next 5-7 years.

Separate this goal from your retirement plan.

Increase equity investment to build an education corpus.

Avoid withdrawing from retirement savings for education.

3. Building a Healthcare Safety Net
Health insurance should cover at least Rs 30-50 lakh.

Consider super top-up plans for additional coverage.

Maintain an emergency medical fund to cover non-insured expenses.

Review insurance policies periodically.

4. Creating a Sustainable Withdrawal Plan
Avoid withdrawing a large portion of the corpus in early retirement years.

Keep at least 5 years of expenses in liquid assets.

Equity exposure should reduce gradually as retirement progresses.

Use dividends and interest income before selling assets.

Final Insights
Retirement is possible, but adjustments are needed for long-term security.

Continue investing aggressively for the next few years.

Ensure daughter's education is planned separately.

Review investments and insurance regularly.

Keep flexibility in withdrawal strategy post-retirement.

A structured plan will ensure a financially secure and comfortable retirement.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8182 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 03, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 03, 2025Hindi
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My employer offers a salary sacrifice scheme for pension contributions, but I don't fully understand how it works. What are the potential advantages and disadvantages of joining such a scheme, and how does it affect my take-home pay and long-term financial planning?
Ans: A salary sacrifice scheme for pension contributions allows you to give up a portion of your salary in exchange for increased employer contributions to your pension. It has tax and National Insurance (NI) advantages but also some potential drawbacks.

How Salary Sacrifice for Pension Works
You agree to reduce your gross salary by a chosen amount.

Your employer contributes this amount directly to your pension.

Since your taxable salary is lower, you pay less income tax and NI.

Your employer also saves on NI and may pass on some or all of this saving to your pension.

Advantages
1. Tax and NI Savings
You don’t pay income tax or NI on the sacrificed amount.

Your employer saves on NI (currently 13.8%) and may increase your pension with these savings.

2. Higher Pension Contributions
Since more money goes into your pension, your retirement corpus grows faster.

Compounding over time enhances long-term wealth.

3. Increased Take-Home Pay
Although you sacrifice part of your salary, the NI savings may offset some of the reduction.

Depending on employer policies, your net pay may not drop significantly.

4. Potential Employer Matching
Some employers pass their NI savings into your pension, increasing your total contributions.

Disadvantages
1. Reduced Gross Salary
A lower salary means reduced future pay rises if they are percentage-based.

Life cover, sick pay, and redundancy pay linked to salary may be affected.

2. Lower Borrowing Capacity
Mortgage applications consider salary; a lower reported income might reduce borrowing potential.

3. Impact on State Benefits
If salary drops below certain thresholds, statutory benefits like maternity pay and state pension could be affected.

4. Restricted Access to Pension
The extra pension savings cannot be accessed before retirement (except under specific conditions).

Effect on Take-Home Pay
Your net pay will be slightly lower, but less than the actual amount sacrificed.

The tax and NI savings cushion the impact.

If your employer adds their NI savings, your total retirement savings increase.

Effect on Long-Term Financial Planning
Your pension fund grows faster, improving retirement security.

Short-term disposable income is slightly reduced, so budget planning is important.

Consider how the reduced salary affects other financial goals like buying a house or saving for education.

Should You Opt for It?
If employer NI savings are passed to your pension, it’s highly beneficial.

If you are close to lower tax bands or state benefit thresholds, assess the impact.

If you plan to apply for a mortgage, check how it affects your eligibility.

A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) can help assess your personal situation before making a decision.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

...Read more

Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8182 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Apr 03, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Apr 03, 2025Hindi
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Hi Sir , Greetings of the day!! hope you are doing well !! I want to do a savings of 50 lacs in as much less time span as possible because I want to buy a property in Gurgaon. My monthly salary is 1 lac 11k and I am currently investing 10k in mutual fund monthly and 50k in nps yearly. Can you please guide me how can I save 50 lacs and in how much time ?
Ans: Your goal of saving Rs 50 lakh for a property in Gurgaon is ambitious but achievable with the right strategy. Below is a structured approach to help you reach your target in the shortest possible time.

Understanding Your Current Financial Position
Your monthly salary is Rs 1.11 lakh.

You invest Rs 10,000 per month in mutual funds.

Your annual NPS contribution is Rs 50,000.

You haven't mentioned any liabilities or existing savings. If you have any ongoing EMIs or debts, they should be factored in.

Key Considerations for Achieving Rs 50 Lakh Target
The speed of reaching Rs 50 lakh depends on savings rate and returns.

High savings rate is the most reliable way to accumulate wealth.

Investment returns are uncertain and depend on market conditions.

A balanced approach is necessary to ensure stability and growth.

Increasing Your Savings Rate
Currently, you are investing Rs 10,000 per month.

If you can increase it to Rs 50,000 per month, you will reach Rs 50 lakh faster.

Cutting discretionary expenses will free up more money for investments.

Consider reducing unnecessary spending on dining out, luxury items, and vacations.

Redirect bonuses, incentives, or salary hikes towards savings.

Choosing the Right Investment Instruments
Mutual Funds for Growth
Actively managed equity mutual funds can generate better returns than fixed deposits.

A mix of large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap funds can balance risk and reward.

Mid-cap and small-cap funds have higher growth potential but also higher volatility.

Avoid index funds as they provide average returns and lack active risk management.

Debt Investments for Stability
Fixed deposits, debt mutual funds, and PPF provide stability.

These should be used for short-term parking rather than long-term growth.

Debt mutual funds are taxed based on your income tax slab.

Avoid locking too much money in low-return instruments.

Balancing Risk and Return
Investing entirely in equity mutual funds can generate high returns but comes with volatility.

A mix of 80% equity and 20% debt can provide stability.

As your target nears, shift more funds towards safer instruments.

Avoid speculation and high-risk investments like cryptocurrency.

Role of NPS in Your Goal
NPS is good for retirement but not ideal for short-term goals.

Partial withdrawal is allowed only under specific conditions.

Do not rely on NPS for your property purchase.

Managing Tax Efficiency
Equity mutual fund LTCG above Rs 1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%.

Short-term capital gains (STCG) are taxed at 20%.

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

Investing in tax-efficient instruments will maximize returns.

Estimating the Timeframe
If you invest Rs 50,000 per month, you can accumulate Rs 50 lakh in about 7-8 years with moderate returns.

If you invest Rs 75,000 per month, you can reach Rs 50 lakh in about 5 years.

The faster you increase your savings, the sooner you will achieve your goal.

Final Insights
Increase your monthly investment to at least Rs 50,000.

Focus on actively managed equity mutual funds.

Keep a small portion in debt for stability.

Avoid unnecessary expenses and invest salary increments.

Do not depend on NPS for this goal.

Monitor and adjust your portfolio as needed.

Stay disciplined and patient to achieve your target.

Best Regards,

K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,

Chief Financial Planner,

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

...Read more

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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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