Retirement Planning? Karo Shuruaat SIP se!

Retirement is not the end of life; it is the beginning of a new journey. Retirement planning is not optional and should be considered at a very early stage in life, considering that your income may get drastically reduced and you may be dependent on your savings and investments. A systematic investment plan (SIP) starting at an early stage can ensure financial independence and help you retire in peace .

Consider the following example to understand how important retirement planning is.

The current Inflation rate in India is 4.54%. So, if a family needs Rs.20,000 for basic monthly expenses today, after 30 years, they will need more than Rs.75,000 a month. Proper planning for retirement is thus not a luxury, but a necessity. Starting early helps a person enjoy the benefit of compounding, which is earning a return on already accumulated returns.

How can SIP help in retirement planning?

An SIP involves regular investments in a particular fund. Typically, a lot of us fall prey to the “impulse buying” attitude. We try to save what is left after spending, and most of the time, nothing is left to save. SIP inculcates the much-required discipline in investing.

Here are a few features of SIP that can help you achieve your retirement goals:

• SIP can be started with small amounts (as low as Rs. 1000). Small investments continued for a relatively long period have the scope of turning into a large corpus. This is because of the power of compounding. In this case, one can earn returns on accumulated returns, helping your investments grow faster. Thus, the longer the corpus stays invested in the market, the better.
• Once a fixed amount is deducted from your bank account regularly, you start developing the habit of saving and investing. This helps you stay on track with your goals.

• Mutual funds invest across asset classes, sectors, and businesses, thus helping diversify your investment and reducing the overall risk.

• SIP also provides flexibility to investors. The investment amount and frequency can be changed as per the will of the investor. Most investors start with a small amount, and as their income increases, they increase the investment size.

• In case of a mutual fund, some stocks that are otherwise inaccessible to small investors owing to their high market prices, become easily accessible. This gives an opportunity to small investors to participate in stocks of quality without capital constraints. At the same time, one does not have to go through the hassle of timing the market with an SIP, and get the rupee cost averaging benefit. Simply put, this allows you to pick up more units when the markets are trading lower, and vice versa.

Thus, considering the above mentioned benefits of SIP, it does make for a considerably good tool to start your retirement planning with. Retirement planning, after all, is not as complex is it seems. All you have to do is start early and invest consistently. What better option than an SIP to do that?

Disclaimer: This article represents the views of Axis Asset Management Co. Ltd. and must not be taken as the basis for an investment decision. Neither Axis Mutual Fund, Axis Mutual Fund Trustee Limited nor Axis Asset Management Company Limited, its Directors or associates shall be liable for any damages including lost revenue or lost profits that may arise from the use of the information contained herein. Investors are requested to consult their financial, tax and other advisors before taking any investment decision(s). Statutory Details: Axis Mutual Fund has been established as a Trust under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, sponsored by Axis Bank Ltd. (liability restricted to Rs. 1 Lakh). Trustee: Axis Mutual Fund Trustee Ltd. Investment Manager: Axis Asset Management Co. Ltd. (the AMC). Risk Factors: Axis Bank Limited is not liable or responsible for any loss or shortfall resulting from the operation of the scheme. No representation or warranty is made as to the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the information and opinions contained herein. The AMC reserves the right to make modifications and alterations to this statement as may be required from time to time.

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