When Swarup Mohanty, CEO of Mirae Asset Mutual Fund, openly admits that he’s paranoid about retirement, it should give all of us pause.
Yes, you read that right.
In an interview published by HT Mint on 12 May 2025, and in a candid conversation on YouTube, one of India’s most respected financial leaders said that the thought of living 30–40 years without active income scares him.
Now, here’s a man who understands markets, asset allocation, inflation, and compounding like few others do. He heads one of the fastest-growing mutual fund houses in India. He earns well, invests early, and probably has access to the best advisory brains in the country.
Yet he worries about falling short of retirement funds.
What about the rest of us?
Retirement: The Goal With No Loan Option
You can take a loan to buy a house. You can finance a car. Your child’s education? There are education loans. But for retirement, there’s no bank or NBFC that will step in when your savings run out at 75.
Retirement is the one goal that’s 100% your responsibility.
The biggest risk is not stock market volatility or interest rate fluctuations — it’s that you might outlive your money.
Let’s break this down:
If you retire by 55 and live till 85–90, you need funds to last 30–35 years.
That’s three decades of monthly expenses, medical bills, occasional travel, gifts to grandchildren — all adjusted for inflation.
And since there’s no active income, your retirement corpus has to work for you, quietly and efficiently.
Three Critical Questions to Address
To retire peacefully and with dignity, you must answer three crucial questions — ideally, now and not when you’re 50:
-
How much do I need to retire?
This depends on your lifestyle, health expectations, family dependencies, and assumed inflation. Without the right projections, it’s easy to fall short. -
Where should I invest this corpus during retirement?
Your corpus must grow steadily, safely, and in a tax-efficient manner. Inflation is the silent killer — a ₹1 crore corpus today won’t feel the same 10 years from now. -
How do I build this corpus efficiently while I’m working?
SIPs, NPS, PPF, employer contributions — your accumulation journey must be smart, consistent, and tailored to your life stage.
It’s Not Just You — Even Finance Professionals Get This Wrong
You’d be surprised how many professionals — even those in banks or insurance companies — cannot correctly estimate how much they’ll need post-retirement.
Why? Because it’s complex.
It requires:
Forecasting future expenses
Adjusting for inflation
Accounting for investment returns and taxation
And ensuring the money doesn’t run out before you do
Unless you’re unusually financially savvy or deeply interested in personal finance, it’s tricky to figure this out on your own.
So, What Should You Do?
Take inspiration from Swarup Mohanty’s honest admission — and take action.
📌 Start with a Retirement Readiness Assessment:
Let me help you figure out your retirement number, and the best way to reach it.
📌 Let’s Make a Plan Together:
At WealthWisher, I offer no-nonsense, practical financial guidance — without jargon, without sales pressure. Just clarity and solutions.
🎯 Ready to Find Out Your Retirement Number?
Click below to schedule a free 30-minute consultation.
Your future self will thank you.
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