Planning for retirement rarely sits at the top of anyone’s daily to-do list. Life throws enough curveballs—irregular paycheques, unpredictable expenses, or shifting career paths.
Whether you’re building a business, thriving as an athlete, embarking on a creative freelance career, or simply managing a family and career, security in later years depends on deliberate, consistent choices made today. The earlier you start, the more flexibility you have, but it’s never too late to set your course.
For example, if you are a businessman with irregular income, a professional athlete, or a freelancer with unpredictable cash flows, retirement planning is not optional. Regardless of profession or monthly income stability, securing your future is a responsibility.
Let’s say you currently earn ₹1,00,000 per month—even at this level, planning for retirement is a must. The key is consistency, not just income.
In Your 30s: Gaining Momentum
With decades to go before retirement, time plays to your advantage. Even if your monthly earnings fluctuate, making a habit of saving is more important than the amount itself.
Sample Approach: Suppose you commit to investing ₹10,000 per month in equity mutual funds.
- Investment horizon: 30 years
- Assumed annual return: 12%
- Total invested: ₹36,00,000 (₹10,000 × 12 × 30)
- Potential retirement corpus at 60: Close to ₹5.8 crore
Consistency—even through income ups and downs—helps you grow a robust retirement fund. Mutual funds offer the opportunity to benefit from compounding without requiring huge upfront investments.
SIP (Systematic Investment Plan):
- Automates investment on a set date each month
- Minimizes the stress of market timing decisions
- Easily paused, increased, or adjusted to fit your cash flow
In Your 40s: Steering Towards Stability
Responsibilities grow in your 40s. Protecting what you’ve accumulated, while chasing further growth, means dialing in a more balanced plan.
Possible Scenario: By age 40, your investments may have grown to ₹25 lakh. You might decide to:
- Allocate 60% to equity mutual funds (pursuing growth)
- Assign 30% to balanced or hybrid funds (building resilience)
- Move 10% to debt funds (seeking steadier returns)
Continuing SIPs of ₹10,000 monthly at an expected 10% average annual return:
- Over 20 years (till retirement), new SIP contributions could grow to around ₹76 lakh
- Including prior investments, retirement corpus could reach ₹1.3 crore
This blend softens sudden market swings and supports medium-term goals, such as children’s education or home upgrades.
In Your 50s: Shielding and Disbursing
Retirement is approaching fast. Now, protecting your accumulated savings stands front and center, with some growth to outpace inflation.
Conservative Setup: With a corpus of ₹70 lakh by age 50, a typical recalibration might look like:
- 60% in debt or income-focused mutual funds
- 30% held in hybrid funds for measured growth
- 10% retained in equity funds for inflation fighting
SIP contributions of ₹10,000 per month at an assumed 7% annual return over the final 10 years before retirement:
- Additional investments could gather another ₹17 lakh
- Bringing your total corpus near ₹1 crore at 60
Think about starting Systematic Withdrawal Plans (SWPs)—for instance, drawing ₹40,000 per month in retirement while keeping part of your nest egg invested and productive.
Retirement Planning Snapshot
Looking Ahead
Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel like a distant puzzle. Starting early with mutual funds and adjusting your focus as life changes offers a smooth ride. Your savings get a chance to grow steadily, with a rhythm that suits your comfort with risk.
If you want help crafting your retirement plan or tweaking your investments to fit new goals, get in touch with us at WERT. We aim to guide you toward a comfortable, worry-free retirement. Reach out and let’s chart out a plan tailored just for you!
Disclaimer: The information presented in this document is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any financial product. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, Wert Finserve makes no representations or warranties regarding the completeness or reliability of the data provided. Market conditions are subject to change, and past trends may not continue. Readers are advised to consult a SEBI-registered investment advisor for personalized financial guidance before making any investment decision.
