
Hi,
I am 49.5 years old and planning to retire at the age of 60. I have a 16-year-old son. My net monthly income (post all deductions) is approximately Rs 2.25 lakhs.
Here is a summary of my current financial portfolio:
Mutual Funds: Rs 35 lakhs
Stocks: Rs 1.5 lakhs
NPS: Rs 23 lakhs (currently contributing Rs 27,000/month)
PPF: Rs 40 lakhs
EPF: Rs 48 lakhs
Fixed Deposits: Rs 1.2 crores (I do not wish to touch this corpus)
I currently invest Rs 55,000 per month in Mutual Funds and Rs 27,000 in NPS. I am considering increasing my NPS contribution to Rs 1.2 lakhs per month. Would this be a good decision?
Additional Details:
I own two flats: one is self-occupied, and the other is rented out.
I have no liabilities or outstanding loans.
My monthly expenses are Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000, excluding school fees.
I have health insurance coverage through my employer, as well as a personal health insurance policy of Rs 25 lakhs.
I do not have any other insurance policies.
My Questions:
What should be my target retirement corpus if I plan to retire at age 60?
Is increasing my NPS contribution to Rs 1.2 lakhs per month advisable, or should I consider an alternate investment strategy?
Thanks in advance for your guidance.
Ans: At 49.5 years old, you have a stable income, no liabilities, and a diversified investment portfolio. Since you aim to retire at 60, this is the right time to fine-tune your strategy to meet your goals comfortably.
Let’s look at your situation from all angles — retirement corpus target, investment strategy, NPS contribution, mutual fund role, and future steps — in a simple, structured, and easy-to-understand manner.
Retirement Goal: How Much You May Need
You currently spend around Rs. 60,000 per month. This will increase due to inflation.
In 11 years, your monthly expense may rise to about Rs. 1.07 lakh.
Your yearly expense may become Rs. 12.8 lakh.
You will need this income every year for 20–25 years after retirement.
To manage this, a retirement corpus of Rs. 4 crore to Rs. 5 crore may be required.
This amount will cover your post-retirement life with inflation-adjusted expenses.
Current Investments and Where You Stand Today
Here is your current retirement-focused asset summary:
Mutual Funds: Rs. 35 lakh
Stocks: Rs. 1.5 lakh
NPS: Rs. 23 lakh (with Rs. 27,000/month SIP)
PPF: Rs. 40 lakh
EPF: Rs. 48 lakh
FDs: Rs. 1.2 crore (you do not want to use this)
Total working retirement assets (excluding FD): Rs. 1.47 crore.
You have 11 years to grow this into Rs. 4–5 crore. This is possible with the right strategy.
Should You Increase NPS to Rs. 1.2 lakh/month?
Let us break this down thoughtfully and clearly.
Pros of Higher NPS Contribution:
You can save more tax under sections 80C, 80CCD(1B), and 80CCD(2).
NPS is low-cost and has auto asset allocation.
It ensures forced discipline as you can’t withdraw before 60 (Tier 1).
Cons of Higher NPS Contribution:
Locked till retirement. No liquidity for any emergency.
You must buy an annuity with 40% at retirement. Annuity gives low returns and is taxable.
Maximum equity allowed is 75%. You miss higher long-term equity growth.
You can’t change or rebalance your portfolio freely.
Mutual Funds vs. NPS for Retirement
Now let us compare NPS with mutual fund SIPs.
Mutual Funds (through MFD and with CFP guidance):
You can choose actively managed funds, which aim for higher returns than index funds.
You get full control. You can stop, increase, or change funds as needed.
No lock-in (except ELSS). You can withdraw anytime in emergencies.
Funds are managed by professionals who adjust based on market movements.
NPS:
Offers low-cost investing and automatic rebalancing.
Returns are lower than mutual funds over long term due to equity limit.
You lose control over investment movement and withdrawal timing.
You must take part annuity after age 60 which reduces liquidity.
Your Ideal Monthly Investment Mix
You are already investing:
Rs. 55,000 in mutual funds
Rs. 27,000 in NPS
You want to invest more. Let’s divide this extra Rs. 93,000 wisely.
Increase NPS by Rs. 20,000 more to reach total of Rs. 47,000/month.
This helps you use full Rs. 2 lakh NPS benefit (Rs. 1.5 lakh + Rs. 50,000).
Use remaining Rs. 73,000/month in mutual fund SIPs.
Keep These Points in Mind
Don’t shift everything into NPS
You need some liquidity. Keep mutual funds for that.
Review your mutual fund portfolio
Ensure proper mix of large-cap, mid-cap, flexi-cap, and hybrid funds.
Avoid index funds. They copy markets and give average returns.
Active funds aim to beat the market. Use MFD and CFP to select better.
Don’t invest in direct plans
Direct plans may look cheaper but offer no expert guidance.
Regular plans through an MFD with CFP offer portfolio reviews and support.
This helps avoid emotional or wrong investment decisions.
Avoid insurance-cum-investment plans
You did not mention LIC or ULIPs. If you hold any, please surrender them.
Reinvest those proceeds into mutual funds through SIPs for better growth.
Child education needs separate planning
Your son is 16. Higher education goal is just 1–2 years away.
Keep this fund in low-risk mutual funds or short-term debt funds.
Avoid high equity exposure for this short goal.
Rebalancing is Important
Recheck your asset allocation every year.
Equity should reduce slightly as you near retirement.
Increase debt exposure through PPF, EPF, or debt mutual funds.
Keep Emergency Fund Ready
Your FDs are untouched. That is wise.
Also keep 6–12 months of expenses in a liquid fund or bank account.
Health Insurance is Sufficient
You have Rs. 25 lakh personal health cover.
You are also covered by employer policy.
At retirement, continue personal cover and add super top-up if needed.
Create Retirement Buckets
After retirement, divide your money in 3 buckets:
0–5 years: Keep in debt funds or FDs for safety.
6–10 years: Mix of hybrid and debt funds.
11+ years: Equity funds for long-term growth.
Finally
You are financially strong and on the right path.
Your goal of Rs. 4–5 crore is realistic and achievable.
Increase NPS only up to tax benefit level, not more.
Invest the rest in regular mutual fund SIPs through MFD + CFP.
Avoid index funds, annuities, and direct mutual funds.
Track your goals yearly. Adjust SIP amounts as income increases.
Stay disciplined and avoid unnecessary withdrawals.
This 360-degree strategy will secure your retirement without stress.
Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment