Buying a Senior Citizen Plan? Here is a Complete Guide that will Assist You

Retirement can mean a lot of things at once, a mixture of feelings and Olivia Greenwell sums it up beautifully in So You've Retired: A Practical Guide for Your Happy Retirement, "As you embark on the exciting journey into retirement, you will experience a transition that will be both thrilling and terrifying."  Yes, venturing into the unknown called world called retirement, you almost have to start from scratch again, albeit this time with limited resources and it is up to you whether you can handle the rising inflation and the dwindling funds with a certain degree of level-headedness. 

 
So, everything boils down to that one thing, planning, planning your financial resources and searching for the best senior citizens financial plans in a way that although does not allow you to be a veritable spendthrift it definitely helps you live your life comfortably, without having to unduly worry about the future.
 

Planning is good, but planning at the right time is even better and the ideal time to plan is as early as your 30’s and that’s not too early, do not think that there is still a long way off till you retire, the years breeze past at lightning speed and before long you will be left bidding goodbye to your colleagues and work with a heavy heart.

Save you must and in the right avenues when you can. Since when you are young you can tap into your risk-taking prowess fearlessly, but later you cannot do so, as you have this fear of losing your precious capital, gnawing your heart. Yes, investment is not anybody’s ball game, as you have to master the rare combination of tact, risk-taking ability, a certain degree of craftiness and just large doses of prudence and wariness. 

 So, let’s find out which are the options you should explore to invest your lump sum money on your retirement. These investments will ensure that you have a substantial income every month adding to your original capital. Let's discuss and find out one of the best retirement plans in India for Senior Citizens and how it can ensure the risk-free flow of income to meet your everyday expenses after your retirement. 

•        Senior citizen savings scheme: 

You have to reach 60 before you can open an account at the senior citizen savings scheme, you can open a saving account at the post office, State Bank of India or a few branches of notified banks. The maximum limit of investment in this scheme is 15 lakhs, individually and with your spouse up to 30 lakhs (provided both of you are past 60). It can fetch a monthly interest income is Rs 23,250. People who have retired voluntarily is eligible for this scheme, the age criteria for the same is 55 years. Interest paid at 9.30 % per annum. 

•          Post office monthly income plan: 

 
You can invest up to Rs 4.5 lakh individually, 9 lakhs in a joint account at 8.40% p.a. Like the SCSS there is no age restriction here, the only catch is a lock-in period of 5 years.  You can further improve your monthly income with this one as it can add as much as Rs. 6300 per month. The interest is not taxable.

With the above two, you can generate a monthly income of Rs 29, 550 with a substantial investment of Rs 29,550. Now if you still have a little more money left for exploring more investment options for retired persons in India, don’t worry we will help you out. 

•  Fixed Deposits

 
Earlier fixed deposits were considered to be the sole savior for retirees and yes, you can still invest a small amount in fixed deposits (FD) in a number of banks. The banks give cash interest each month. So why are not more retirees opting for fixed deposits, after all, what can be safer than investing your money in FD’s? Well, for starters the interest rate is the chief deterrent, which is around 8% p.a for a period of three years. Considering the other schemes available now, it doesn’t quite measure up, right? The banks do give an extra 0.50% interest to retirees, though. The upside to investing infixed deposits is, it gives you a certain flexibility, as you can break the FD and withdraw the money when you require it urgently, at an interest penalty of 1%.

You can open a number of FDs of diversified amounts so you can prematurely withdraw the one which fulfills your requirement, rather than breaking a big FD and paying penalty for it. 

• Mutual Funds

If you are still up for more investment try the liquid mutual funds which promise substantial returns and with high returns compared to a bank FD. Balanced or hybrid funds are in fact great for your portfolio,  the Balance Advantage Fund, in particular, is made up of 70% equity and 30% Government securities. Dynamic asset allocation funds are a brand new category to invest in with a plethora of schemes from various banks and companies. These schemes provide steady returns to non-risk taking investors and shield them from any downside risk. All MF’s have monthly dividend fund for senior citizens and it is absolutely tax-free. The net asset value of the scheme of MF’S increases after every dividend pay-out. 

So, try the above-listed investment options for senior citizens and find out which ones fulfill your needs to the t. Smart investment plans hold the key to your future, so make sure you invest right!