The podcast features Ajit Menon, CEO of PGIM Mutual Fund, discussing the Retirement Readiness Survey. They cover topics such as increased retirement readiness, the pandemic's impact, changing product preferences, and valuable advice for retirement planning.
The retirement readiness survey conducted by PGM reveals that the percentage of people feeling retirement-ready has increased from 49% in 2020 to 67% in 2023, with the pandemic playing a significant role in raising awareness about the importance of long-term financial stability.
The lockdown induced by the pandemic has led to a higher emphasis on developing alternative sources of income, with 36% of respondents already having a secondary income and an additional 39% actively working towards creating one, indicating a shift towards greater financial resilience and reduced anxiety about the future.
The survey highlights the correlation between income levels and investment mindset, indicating that as income levels rise, individuals tend to focus more on lifestyle improvements and specific goals, emphasizing the need for personalized financial advice based on individual income brackets.
Deep dives
Increase in Retirement Readiness
The retirement readiness survey conducted by PGM reveals that the percentage of people feeling retirement-ready has increased from 49% in 2020 to 67% in 2023. The pandemic has contributed to this increase, raising awareness about the importance of being prepared for unexpected events. Previously, people tended to focus more on expected events, such as education expenses or major purchases, but the pandemic has highlighted the need for financial stability in the long term. This shift in mindset has resulted in a higher percentage of individuals feeling prepared for retirement.
Importance of Alternate Source of Income
The lockdown induced various changes in people's lives, including a heightened awareness of the lack of alternative sources of income. The survey conducted by PGM reveals that 36% of respondents already have a secondary source of income, while an additional 39% are actively preparing to develop one. The importance of having multiple skills that can be monetized has become evident, especially during uncertain times like the pandemic. This shift towards developing alternate sources of income ensures greater financial resilience and reduces anxiety about the future.
Impact of Income Levels on Investment Planning
The survey highlights the influence of income levels on investment planning. Households with lower incomes focus on creating wealth quickly and emphasize high returns. As income levels rise, people start considering lifestyle improvements, promotions, or starting new businesses. The survey also indicates that planning becomes more detailed and specific when households have a surplus. They start allocating funds for children, spouses, and other specific goals. This correlation between income levels and investment mindset underscores the importance of addressing individual income brackets when providing financial advice.
Preference for Traditional Investment Products
The survey reveals that traditional investment products remain popular among respondents. Fixed deposits, insurance and annuities, and gold are still favored by more than 50% of individuals surveyed. Postal schemes are also preferred by a significant portion of respondents. Mutual funds have witnessed an increase in priority, rising from 15% in 2020 to 23% in 2023. However, equity investments, including ETFs, have seen a decrease in preference, dropping from 18% to 7% during the same period.
Changing Retirement Corpus Expectations
The survey reflects a change in retirement corpus expectations among respondents. The research shows that the average retirement corpus has increased from 50 lakhs in 2020 to 73 lakhs in 2023, with individuals aiming for a corpus that is around 10 to 12 times their annual income. While industry experts recommend 25 to 30 times annual expenses as a retirement corpus, PGM emphasizes the importance of considering secondary sources of income and acquiring multiple skills to build financial resilience. Building a corpus in lakhs rather than crores is a practical approach for the majority of individuals with median income levels.
In this episode of Paisa Vaisa, host Anupam Gupta welcomes Ajit Menon, CEO of PGIM Mutual Fund, to discuss the Retirement Readiness Survey. Ajit shares insights into increased retirement readiness, the impact of the pandemic, changing product preferences and offers valuable advice for those new to retirement planning.