You’re on a long road trip.
Some cars are cruising with the windows down — maps ready, snacks packed, playlist on point.
Others are pulled over — lost, tired, running on fumes, unsure of what’s ahead.
That’s retirement.
Everyone gets on this road eventually. The question is — will you enjoy the ride, or get stuck halfway without a plan?
Most people avoid thinking about retirement because the stories they've seen — from Baghban to Natsamrat — make it seem like the beginning of the end. But the real tragedy isn’t aging — it’s entering the next phase of life unprepared, both financially and emotionally.
Let’s change the script.
Why Retirement Planning Often Starts Too Late
In your 20s and 30s, retirement feels like a far-off blur. The present is loud — there’s a car to buy, a home loan EMI to manage, a child’s future to plan. Even if some savings are earmarked for retirement, they often get diverted.
And then suddenly, you're 45.
By the time people begin thinking about retirement seriously, the corpus they need looks overwhelming. Many give up before they begin. YOLO kicks in, and spending increases to make up for lost time.
The “EMI Illusion” — It Works for Freedom Too
We’re conditioned to see affordability through EMIs. Whether it’s a phone, furniture, or a car, the monthly number makes even the unnecessary feel accessible.
₹7,000/month from age 25 can build a ₹2 crore corpus by age 60.
That’s your financial freedom EMI.
Instead of viewing retirement as a mountain, break it into monthly steps. Suddenly, the peak feels climbable.
Most Don’t Know the Retirement Number — Or What to Do With It
Ask someone how much they’ll need to retire, and you’ll often get a blank stare. Ironically, even if someone were handed that amount today, chances are they wouldn’t quit their job — not because they love it, but because they wouldn’t know what to do with their time.
Retirement isn’t just a money problem. It’s a vision problem. If we can't imagine our life beyond work, no number will feel enough.
Retirement Comes in Four Flavors
You don’t always retire because you want to. Sometimes, retirement happens to you.
1. Wealth-based – You’ve built enough to stop.
2. Age-based – You stop because the system says so.
3. Boredom-based – You mentally check out, even if you show up.
4. Helplessness-based – You’re pushed out due to skill gaps or burnout.
Only one of these puts you in control. That’s the one worth planning for.
Our Retirement Will Look Very Different
Our parents' retirement came with default responsibilities — caring for grandkids, supporting sons or daughters-in-law, helping manage the household.
That won’t be the case for most of us.
Nuclear families, career mobility, and evolving family dynamics mean we won’t have those ‘jobs’ after 60. We’ll need to find our own purpose — not just fill our time.
That makes emotional and financial preparation even more important.
When Life Hands You a Resignation Letter
Sometimes, your job decides to retire you.
Especially if your skills don’t match current needs after 50.
Job loss after a certain age is rarely followed by a career rebound. That’s why retirement readiness isn’t a luxury — it’s a buffer against uncertainty.
You either retire by choice or by circumstance. Only one feels like freedom.
He Had Alok. Whom Do You Have?
In Baghban, the lead character was lucky. He had Alok — the adopted son who stood by him when no one else did.
He had Alok. Whom do you have?
Emotional support is important. But so is having a plan. A retirement plan is you choosing to show up for your future self — financially, mentally, and with dignity.
Retirement Is Not the End — It’s the First Day You Work for You
Let’s move beyond fear, helplessness, and clichés. Let’s reframe retirement as the best chapter of life — one with freedom, purpose, and peace.
Start today with a few simple questions:
What would I do if I didn’t have to work?
What kind of life would excite me at 60?
Am I building something now that future-me will thank me for?
Because the road ahead is long, and whether you cruise, crawl, or coast —
it feels a lot better when you’re driving on your own terms, with your bags packed and destination clear.
Prasad Patwardhan
VittaSiddhi
QPFP®
