How much retirement corpus do I actually need?

A common starting rule of thumb is 25x your expected annual retirement expenses (implying a 4% safe withdrawal rate), though your actual number should account for your expected lifestyle, inflation, and how many years you expect to spend in retirement.

Should I plan around a pension/annuity or self-managed withdrawals?

Annuities offer guaranteed, predictable income but usually at a lower effective return, while self-managed withdrawals (like a systematic withdrawal plan) can offer more growth potential but carry the risk of running out if markets underperform — many retirees use a mix of both.

When should I start retirement planning?

As early as possible — starting in your 20s or 30s lets compounding do most of the work with smaller monthly contributions, while starting later requires significantly larger contributions to reach the same target.

Preparing for Retirement

6 steps

Retirement planning isn't a single calculation — it's a chain of decisions: how much you'll need, whether you're on track, how you'll draw an income once you stop working, and whether inflation and taxes will eat into what you've built. This guide walks through each piece in order.

Estimate the retirement corpus you'll need

Start with your expected retirement expenses and years in retirement to arrive at a target corpus.

Retirement Corpus

Check if you're on track for financial independence

See how close you are to a full FIRE number, or a smaller, more relatable financial independence milestone.

FIRE Calculator FI Number

See your monthly income options after retiring

Compare a systematic withdrawal approach against buying an annuity for guaranteed monthly income.

Pension Estimator Annuity Payout

Make sure your corpus outlasts you

Stress-test your corpus against your withdrawal rate and life expectancy to check it won't run out too early.

Will Money Outlast Me

Account for inflation eating into your corpus

What feels like enough today will buy noticeably less by the time you retire — factor this in before finalizing your target.

Inflation Impact

Understand tax due on withdrawal

PF and other retirement corpus withdrawals can carry tax implications depending on your tenure and withdrawal timing.

PF Maturity & Tax