I am 55,yrs ,will retire in 60,take home salary is 62000,ppf corpus is 3lac with monthly pf,vpf deductions at 10000 by me over and above employer contribution of 3000, innwhich 1250 goes to eps,ppf 80000 with monthly contribution of 1000 only,fd of 70k,plan to invest 50k every year till retirement,sip 11000 monthly started 2yrs back and to continue till 60, nps corpus 14lac, monthly contribution is 5k.
Eligible for gratuity as will complete 35 yrs by retirement, plus have house in mumbai worth 1.25cr.i am a single women with one son who is earning well. planning to buy gold and silver in the next 4 yrs whatever possible till 60. Am I on.the right track
Ans: Your Current Financial Position
Let us summarise your financial picture:
Age: 55 years
Retirement Age: 60 years (5 years left)
Monthly Take-home: Rs. 62,000
PPF Corpus: Rs. 3 lakhs
PPF Contribution: Rs. 1,000 monthly
PF + VPF Contribution: Rs. 10,000 monthly
Employer PF: Rs. 3,000 monthly (including Rs. 1,250 EPS)
FD Holding: Rs. 70,000
SIP: Rs. 11,000 monthly (started 2 years ago)
Annual Lump Sum Investment: Rs. 50,000
NPS Corpus: Rs. 14 lakhs (Rs. 5,000 monthly contribution)
Gratuity Eligible: Yes (35 years service by 60)
Owned Property: House in Mumbai (worth Rs. 1.25 crore)
Family: Single woman with earning son
Goal: Plan to buy gold and silver till retirement
You are already working hard and planning for your future. Let’s now assess each area step-by-step.
Retirement Readiness at 60
You have 5 years before retirement. That is a tight window. Every rupee now matters.
Current Retirement Assets
EPF/VPF: Growing monthly
PPF: Small but active
SIP: Rs. 11,000 per month in equity funds
NPS: Rs. 14 lakhs corpus and growing
FD: Rs. 70,000 – can be part of emergency
House: Use only as residence, not an investment
Action Plan
Continue all contributions without breaks
Do not withdraw from PF, NPS, or mutual funds
Increase SIP and PPF if income allows
Avoid gold and silver as they don’t generate income
Do not buy more physical assets now
Focus on building retirement income sources
You should create multiple income streams after 60.
SWP from mutual funds
Partial annuity from NPS if needed
EPF withdrawal in stages
Interest from debt mutual funds or FDs
Gratuity to be invested wisely
EPF + VPF Strategy
EPF is your main retirement vehicle. You contribute Rs. 10,000 monthly.
Assessment
Employer adds Rs. 3,000 monthly
1,250 goes to EPS (less return)
So, Rs. 11,750 per month grows steadily
Keep it until retirement
Withdraw only after age 60
Don't use for gold or house repairs
Action Points
VPF is giving decent tax-free return
Avoid stopping or reducing it
Let compound growth work fully till 60
Don't withdraw early even for gold
NPS Strategy
Your NPS corpus is Rs. 14 lakhs. Monthly Rs. 5,000 is invested.
Assessment
You have only 5 years left
Aggressive equity exposure may be risky now
Gradually reduce equity to protect capital
Target at least Rs. 22 to 25 lakhs by 60
After 60, withdraw 60% as lump sum
Use 40% for mandatory annuity if needed
But avoid full annuity route. Returns are poor
Taxation Rules
NPS maturity is tax-exempt on 60% lump sum
Annuity income will be taxable yearly
Plan withdrawals carefully to reduce tax impact
PPF Strategy
Your PPF corpus is Rs. 3 lakhs. You contribute Rs. 1,000 per month.
Assessment
Contribution is low
You can invest up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs per year
Use it to park lump sum like Rs. 50,000 yearly
PPF is safe, tax-free, and locked till age 60
Returns are better than bank FD
Continue till age 60 and withdraw fully then
Can be used for emergency or low-risk needs
Mutual Funds (SIP)
Your SIP of Rs. 11,000 is 2 years old. This is a strong step.
Assessment
SIP will help build post-retirement income
It also helps beat inflation
Since you have 5 years, go for low-risk equity allocation
Gradually shift from equity to hybrid or debt in last 2 years
Do not stop SIPs. Do not redeem early
Lump Sum Investment Plan
Rs. 50,000 yearly till retirement is good
Invest through regular plans via MFD
Don’t use direct funds. They miss proper guidance
Use actively managed funds, not index funds
Index funds do not outperform in all cycles
An experienced MFD can help review your funds annually
Always link SIPs to a purpose – retirement, health, liquidity
Fixed Deposits
You have Rs. 70,000 in FD. That’s a start, but not enough for safety.
Action Plan
Build emergency fund of Rs. 3 to 5 lakhs
Use sweep-in FDs or liquid mutual funds
Don’t lock all savings in long FDs
Keep some amount easily accessible
Avoid using FDs to buy gold or silver
Buying Gold and Silver
You plan to buy gold and silver till retirement.
Assessment
This is not a priority now
They don’t generate income
Value may rise, but return is uncertain
Avoid heavy allocation towards metals
Instead, invest in financial assets
Action Plan
Small allocation is fine for sentimental reason
Limit to 5% of total assets
Avoid jewellery. Prefer sovereign gold bonds
But only if retirement goals are fully funded
Real Estate Holding
You own a house worth Rs. 1.25 crore in Mumbai.
Analysis
This is a good support in retirement
Use it only as residence
Do not sell unless absolutely required
Do not mortgage it for loans
Avoid investing further in property
Real estate is illiquid and involves high cost
Retirement Budget and Income Strategy
You should prepare a clear retirement income plan.
Expected Retirement Benefits
EPF corpus
NPS corpus
PPF maturity
Mutual fund SIP value
Gratuity amount
Interest from emergency corpus
Optional: Son’s support (only if offered)
Income Sources
SWP from mutual funds
PPF withdrawals
NPS lump sum withdrawal
EPF partial withdrawal
Gratuity invested into low-risk fund
Don’t Depend on One Source
Combine all into a monthly drawdown plan
Review tax efficiency
Use MF SWP carefully to reduce LTCG tax
LTCG above Rs. 1.25 lakh is taxed at 12.5%
STCG from equity is taxed at 20%
Plan redemptions carefully post-60
Role of Your Son
Your son is earning well. But don’t depend fully on him.
Create your own retirement income
Maintain financial independence
You can accept occasional support but don’t expect regular help
Stay in your own house
Keep emergency medical fund ready
Consider health insurance if not yet taken
Health Insurance and Contingency Planning
You didn’t mention health insurance. It’s critical post-60.
Action Plan
Buy individual health cover if not already done
Take minimum cover of Rs. 10 lakhs
Higher cover preferred if affordable
Don’t rely only on employer’s policy
Ensure cashless facility in nearby hospitals
Renew policy without gaps
Build medical fund of Rs. 3 to 5 lakhs
Key Areas to Focus Over Next 5 Years
Increase SIP if income allows
Top-up PPF with lump sum annually
Avoid buying more gold and real estate
Build emergency and health corpus
Review MF performance every year
Gradually shift risky funds to safer funds
Stay invested till 60 in all products
Don’t withdraw early from NPS or EPF
Plan withdrawals based on tax rules
Don’t depend on any one product for all goals
Finally
You are on the right track in many ways
But avoid emotional purchases like gold
Retirement is just 5 years away
Make every investment count
Use a Certified Financial Planner to align all assets
Choose regular mutual funds through trusted MFD
Stay disciplined and avoid unnecessary risks
Keep focus on safety, stability, and steady growth
Let your assets generate income, not expenses
Independence is the best gift in retirement
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment