Sriram Iyer, CEO of HDFC Pension and a specialist in retirement planning, joins to discuss the National Pension System (NPS) and its latest updates. He dives into tax benefits, dispels myths about lock-ins, and compares NPS with mutual funds. Sriram emphasizes the urgency of starting retirement planning early and the advantages of corporate adoption of NPS. He also highlights cost dynamics, flexibility, and strategic asset allocation, making a strong case for NPS as a viable option for enhancing retirement savings.
The National Pension System (NPS) provides significant tax benefits under both the old and new tax regimes, making it a crucial tool for financial planning.
Starting early with NPS, particularly through the Vatsalya scheme for children's retirement savings, can lead to substantial wealth accumulation over time.
NPS is a low-cost investment option compared to mutual funds, offering flexibility in asset management and the ability to switch fund managers without extra costs.
Deep dives
NPS Divas and Its Significance
NPS Divas is celebrated annually on October 1st in alignment with the International Day of Older Persons. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the National Pension System (NPS), which plays a crucial role in helping individuals build a retirement corpus for a dignified post-retirement life. The growing demographic of older individuals in India highlights the necessity of proactive financial planning for retirement. With over 7% of India’s population currently above 65 years, anticipated to double in the next 25 years, emphasizing retirement solutions like NPS is becoming increasingly urgent.
Growth and Adoption of NPS
The podcast discusses a significant rise in NPS adoption since last year, with the total number of subscribers increasing by approximately 25-27%. Currently, there are about 58-59 lakh subscribers across retail and corporate models. The growth is attributed to heightened awareness and the new tax benefits of the corporate NPS under the latest tax regime, which have attracted more corporate employees to consider it as a viable tax-saving option. This trend is accompanied by an increase in the number of participating corporates, which has grown from around 12,000 to over 17,000 in the past year.
Tax Benefits and Regimes Explained
The discussion covers the tax benefits under both the old and new tax regimes relevant to NPS contributors. Under the old tax regime, individuals can benefit from deductions totaling up to INR 2 lakh through sections ATC and 80 CCD 1B, catering to both salaried and self-employed persons. In contrast, the new tax regime provides enhanced employer contributions for salaried employees, allowing up to 14% of the basic salary to be directed to NPS, offering a tailored benefit amidst changing tax policies. The distinction between these regimes highlights the flexibility NPS offers regarding tax planning for retirement savings.
Investing in NPS for Minors
The podcast introduces the NPS Vatsalya scheme, allowing parents to start retirement savings for their children from birth. With a modest contribution of INR 50,000 annually until the child reaches 18, it is projected that a total of around 25-26 lakhs could accumulate, underscoring the compounding effect over time. This early investment strategy emphasizes the potential for wealth growth, illustrating how starting at a young age can result in significantly larger corpus values compared to investing later in life. Such proactive planning empowers parents to set a strong financial foundation for their children’s future.
Cost Efficiency and Flexibility of NPS
The podcast highlights NPS as a low-cost investment option, with management fees as minimal as 0.03% to 0.09%, significantly lower than traditional mutual funds. Participants can start investing with small amounts, making it accessible for a wide range of individuals, while also enjoying the flexibility of moving between various asset classes and managers. Key features such as auto-rebalancing based on individual's age enhance the product's adaptability to changing financial circumstances. The ability to switch pension fund managers without incurring costs further underscores NPS’s appeal as a strategic tool for long-term wealth accumulation.
In this episode Sriram Iyer, CEO of HDFC Pension, returns to shed light on the National Pension System (NPS). We discuss the latest updates, tax benefits, costs, and unique advantages that make NPS stand out. Sriram also addresses common misconceptions about lock-ins and exit barriers, compares NPS vs. mutual funds, and shares his thoughts on why retirement planning should start young. Tune in to learn how NPS can boost your retirement savings and if it’s the right fit for your financial goals!
Get in touch with our host Anupam Gupta on social media:
You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts website at https://www.ivmpodcasts.com/ You can watch the full video episodes of PaisaVaisapodcast on the YouTube channel.