Can ₹1.5 crore generate ₹1 lakh every month after retirement? The answer may surprise you
By Suchitra Mandal, ET Online |
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How much monthly income can a ₹1.5 crore retirement corpus generate?
The income you can draw from a ₹1.5 crore retirement corpus depends largely on your investment mix and withdrawal strategy. Experts suggest that retirees may generate anywhere between ₹70,000 and ₹1.2 lakh per month, depending on whether they follow a conservative, moderate, or aggressive approach.
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Conservative retirement plan: Lower risk, steadier income
Conservative retirees typically allocate most of their corpus to debt-oriented products such as SCSS, RBI bonds, annuities, and fixed-income schemes. This strategy focuses on capital preservation and stability. According to experts, such investors may generate a monthly income of around ₹70,000 to ₹85,000 while reducing exposure to market volatility.
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Moderate retirement strategy: Balancing growth and stability
A moderate retirement portfolio combines debt investments with a limited allocation to equities. Products such as balanced advantage funds, debt funds, annuities, and SCSS can help generate regular income while offering some long-term growth potential. This approach may support a monthly income ranging from ₹85,000 to ₹1 lakh.
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Aggressive retirement portfolio: Can you generate ₹1 lakh+ per month?
Investors with a higher risk appetite may allocate 50-65% of their corpus to equity mutual funds and growth-oriented investments. This strategy offers the potential for higher returns and inflation-beating growth. However, it also exposes retirees to market fluctuations. Experts estimate a monthly income of ₹1 lakh to ₹1.2 lakh under this approach.
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Why withdrawal rate matters more than portfolio returns
Generating retirement income is not just about earning higher returns. The withdrawal rate plays a crucial role in ensuring the corpus lasts throughout retirement. Financial experts generally recommend limiting withdrawals to about 4.5%-6.5% annually. Withdrawing too much too soon can increase the risk of exhausting retirement savings prematurely.
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The bucket strategy retirees use to balance income and growth
Many advisors recommend the bucket strategy to manage retirement money effectively. Short-term expenses are parked in liquid investments; medium-term needs are funded through stable income products, and long-term money is invested in growth assets such as equity funds. This structure aims to provide regular income while preserving long-term purchasing power.
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Should retirees increase withdrawals every year?
Instead of withdrawing a fixed amount throughout retirement, some experts suggest increasing withdrawals by around 5% annually to keep pace with inflation. This helps retirees maintain their lifestyle as living costs rise. However, the strategy works best when supported by a diversified portfolio capable of generating sustainable long- term returns.
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Common retirement planning mistakes that can hurt your corpus
Many retirees make the mistake of investing their entire corpus in fixed deposits or relying on a single investment product. Others chase high returns without understanding the risks involved. Experts recommend diversification, maintaining emergency liquidity, and avoiding excessive withdrawals to improve the chances of sustaining retirement income for decades.
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How to make a ₹1.5 crore retirement corpus last longer
A successful retirement plan requires balancing growth, income, liquidity, and safety. Maintaining a diversified asset allocation, planning separately for healthcare expenses, and ensuring that portfolio growth exceeds withdrawal rates can help protect the corpus. The focus should be on sustainability rather than maximizing short-term income from retirement savings.