Begin With a One-Page Retirement Balance Sheet
- EPF, PPF, NPS and pensions
- Mutual funds, stocks, deposits and insurance-linked values
- Property that will or will not produce income
- Loans and large future commitments
- Monthly retirement spending in today's rupees
The 10-Step Reset
- Set the retirement date and a backup date
- Estimate first-year expenses after inflation
- Choose a realistic longevity horizon
- Inventory every goal-linked asset
- Separate children's goals from retirement
- Plan debt closure
- Create healthcare and emergency reserves
- Review protection and spouse continuity
- Calculate the contribution gap
- Automate contributions and review annually
Do Not Solve a Savings Gap With Return Assumptions
If the calculator shows a shortfall, test levers you can control: higher contributions, later retirement, lower discretionary spending, part-time income, a property decision or a revised legacy goal.
Raising the assumed return makes the spreadsheet look better while increasing the risk that the real plan fails.
Use the Remaining Decade Deliberately
| Period | Primary work |
|---|---|
| 10–7 years before | Increase savings, simplify assets and define allocation |
| 6–3 years before | Reduce avoidable debt and build retirement liquidity |
| Final 2 years | Test cash flow, confirm pension/NPS choices and organise family records |
| First 3 years after | Monitor spending and sequence risk closely |
Turn the Guide Into Your Retirement Numbers
Estimate the corpus, first-year income and long-term withdrawal path, then review how pensions, NPS, liquidity and family needs fit together.
Sources Checked
Sources last reviewed .
- SEBI Investor: Financial Goal Planner (opens in a new tab)
- SEBI Investor: Plan Early for Retirement (opens in a new tab)
- SEBI Investor: Factors to Consider Before Investing (opens in a new tab)
The article copy is original SoHo Wealth editorial content. Source links are cited for factual verification of rules, frameworks and public guidance.
This article is for education and portfolio discussion only. SoHo Wealth is a distributor, not a SEBI Registered Investment Advisor. Tax and legal outcomes depend on personal facts.