For many Indians, retirement planning has traditionally revolved around a familiar playbook—fixed deposits for safety, gold and real estate for wealth preservation, and a gradual reduction in equity exposure.But with longer life expectancy, inflation and evolving investment options, financial experts believe retirees need a more balanced approach that prioritises income stability, liquidity and long-term growth.While there is no one-size-fits-all retirement portfolio, experts say the focus should shift from chasing an arbitrary retirement corpus to assigning every rupee a specific role.There is no 'ideal' retirement corpusRetirement planning often gets reduced to a single question: How much money is enough?
Social media is flooded with claims that Indians need ₹15 crore or ₹20 crore to retire comfortably, creating anxiety among investors.However, according to the Jiraaf Research Team, retirement adequacy depends far more on lifestyle, monthly expenses, city of residence, healthcare needs and dependents than on a headline number.The research team points out that a couple planning to retire in their early to mid-50s with monthly expenses of around ₹1 lakh may be adequately served with a retirement corpus of ₹4-5 crore, assuming a retirement horizon of nearly three decades.However, the requirement could rise to ₹8-10 crore for those living in metros like Mumbai or Bengaluru or seeking a premium lifestyle with monthly expenses closer to ₹2 lakh.
