Last Updated on November 7, 2021 at 10:08 am
We discuss three changes that can make the NPS an attractive retirement solution. Let us face a simple fact: The only reason many investors use the NPS is because of the “extra Rs. 50,000” tax saving or reduction in taxable income to be exact.
The biggest drawback of the NPS is its rigid exit rule. Anyone exiting the scheme before attaining the age of 60 will have to buy a pension plan for 80% of the corpus. Very few corporate employees would continue working until they turn 60. Also, see: How to prepare for the “new normal” in retirement planning
Desired change no 1: The NPS exit clause should be modified to remove the 60 years limit. Exit at any age should be allowed with the same 40% annuity clause (ideally the annuity clause should also be removed but that is unlikely to happen).
Many corporate employers are offering NPS as a choice and some even allow employees to split their contributions between EPF and NPS. However, an option to change the employer contribution from EPF to NPS is rarely offered. Also, when an employee shifts from an NPS friendly employer to an EPF-centric employer it clutters up the portfolio.
Join 32,000+ readers and get free money management solutions delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to get posts via email! (Link takes you to our email sign-up form)
🔥Enjoy massive discounts on our robo-advisory tool & courses! 🔥
Desired change no 2: NPS should be offered as a choice by all employers. This way existing NPS accounts can be used for retirement contributions even if the employer only offers EPF. The NPS employer contribution is tax-free (to both parties) and has a much higher deductible limit than the employee contribution. To understand the limit rule see: Do Not Invest Rs. 50,000 in NPS for additional tax saving benefits!
The exit clause of the NPS implies we sever all links with the NPS on exit. There are no options to defer either the annuity or lump sum payout up to the age of 70 but these come with restrictions. For full details see: How to withdraw from NPS by optimising tax and market fluctuations after 60.
Desired change no 3: NPS should allow subscribers to continue investing the remaining corpus (that is after annuity purchase) for life. A new mutual fund can be created to segregate AUM in the accumulation phase and withdrawal phase. Then the NPS can effectively be used as a part of a retirement bucket strategy to generate inflation-protected income after retirement. Here is an example: Retirement plan review: Am I on track to retire by 50?
The pension fund regulatory authority has modified the original form of the NPS several times learning from experience. Let us hope they look beyond a “pension oriented” mindset and make the NPS a flexible retirement solution for young earners. Until the first two changes mentioned above are modified, our recommendation will continue to be: “avoid NPS unless you have a stable job with an employer contributing to it”.
🔥Enjoy massive discounts on our courses, robo-advisory tool and exclusive investor circle! 🔥& join our community of 7000+ users!
Use our Robo-advisory Tool for a start-to-finish financial plan! ⇐ More than 2,500 investors and advisors use this!
Track your mutual funds and stock investments with this Google Sheet!
We also publish monthly equity mutual funds, debt and hybrid mutual funds, index funds and ETF screeners and momentum, low-volatility stock screeners.
- Do you have a comment about the above article? Reach out to us on Twitter: @freefincal or @pattufreefincal
- Have a question? Subscribe to our newsletter using the form below.
- Hit 'reply' to any email from us! We do not offer personalized investment advice. We can write a detailed article without mentioning your name if you have a generic question.
Join 32,000+ readers and get free money management solutions delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to get posts via email! (Link takes you to our email sign-up form)
About The Author
Dr M. Pattabiraman(PhD) is the founder, managing editor and primary author of freefincal. He is an associate professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. He has over ten years of experience publishing news analysis, research and financial product development. Connect with him via Twitter(X), Linkedin, or YouTube. Pattabiraman has co-authored three print books: (1) You can be rich too with goal-based investing (CNBC TV18) for DIY investors. (2) Gamechanger for young earners. (3) Chinchu Gets a Superpower! for kids. He has also written seven other free e-books on various money management topics. He is a patron and co-founder of “Fee-only India,” an organisation promoting unbiased, commission-free investment advice.Our flagship course! Learn to manage your portfolio like a pro to achieve your goals regardless of market conditions! ⇐ More than 3,000 investors and advisors are part of our exclusive community! Get clarity on how to plan for your goals and achieve the necessary corpus no matter the market condition is!! Watch the first lecture for free! One-time payment! No recurring fees! Life-long access to videos! Reduce fear, uncertainty and doubt while investing! Learn how to plan for your goals before and after retirement with confidence.
Our new course! Increase your income by getting people to pay for your skills! ⇐ More than 700 salaried employees, entrepreneurs and financial advisors are part of our exclusive community! Learn how to get people to pay for your skills! Whether you are a professional or small business owner who wants more clients via online visibility or a salaried person wanting a side income or passive income, we will show you how to achieve this by showcasing your skills and building a community that trusts and pays you! (watch 1st lecture for free). One-time payment! No recurring fees! Life-long access to videos!
Our new book for kids: “Chinchu Gets a Superpower!” is now available!
Must-read book even for adults! This is something that every parent should teach their kids right from their young age. The importance of money management and decision making based on their wants and needs. Very nicely written in simple terms. - Arun.Buy the book: Chinchu gets a superpower for your child!
How to profit from content writing: Our new ebook is for those interested in getting side income via content writing. It is available at a 50% discount for Rs. 500 only!
Do you want to check if the market is overvalued or undervalued? Use our market valuation tool (it will work with any index!), or get the Tactical Buy/Sell timing tool!
We publish monthly mutual fund screeners and momentum, low-volatility stock screeners.
About freefincal & its content policy. Freefincal is a News Media Organization dedicated to providing original analysis, reports, reviews and insights on mutual funds, stocks, investing, retirement and personal finance developments. We do so without conflict of interest and bias. Follow us on Google News. Freefincal serves more than three million readers a year (5 million page views) with articles based only on factual information and detailed analysis by its authors. All statements made will be verified with credible and knowledgeable sources before publication. Freefincal does not publish paid articles, promotions, PR, satire or opinions without data. All opinions will be inferences backed by verifiable, reproducible evidence/data. Contact information: letters {at} freefincal {dot} com (sponsored posts or paid collaborations will not be entertained)
Connect with us on social media
- Twitter @freefincal
- Subscribe to our YouTube Videos
- Posts feed via Feedburner.
Our publications
You Can Be Rich Too with Goal-Based Investing
Published by CNBC TV18, this book is meant to help you ask the right questions and seek the correct answers, and since it comes with nine online calculators, you can also create custom solutions for your lifestyle! Get it now.Gamechanger: Forget Startups, Join Corporate & Still Live the Rich Life You Want
This book is meant for young earners to get their basics right from day one! It will also help you travel to exotic places at a low cost! Get it or gift it to a young earner.Your Ultimate Guide to Travel
This is an in-depth dive into vacation planning, finding cheap flights, budget accommodation, what to do when travelling, and how travelling slowly is better financially and psychologically, with links to the web pages and hand-holding at every step. Get the pdf for Rs 300 (instant download)