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Retirement Calculator: Inputs, Options, and How to Read the Results

A practical reference for the Retirement Calculator — the inputs it accepts, the assumption options, and how to read the inflation-adjusted projection.

Published August 28, 20264 min read
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Inputs and options

The Retirement Calculator is an input-based calculator — you type values directly in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

Inputs

InputWhat to enter
Current ageYour age today
Retirement ageThe age you plan to retire (e.g. 60)
Current monthly expensesYour monthly spending today (in today's rupees)
Expected inflation rateAnnual inflation assumption (6-7% typical for India)
Expected returnAnnual return on your investment portfolio (8-12%)
Current savingsTotal balance across EPF, PPF, NPS, mutual funds, etc.
Monthly investmentTotal amount you invest each month across all accounts

Options

  • Inflation rate — adjust to model different cost-of-living scenarios
  • Return assumption — test conservative (8-9%) vs aggressive (11-12%) portfolio returns
  • Corpus multiple — the tool uses 25-30x annual expenses as the standard withdrawal-rate-based target

Getting the best results

  • Use today's actual monthly expenses, not a future estimate — the tool inflates them for you
  • Enter the combined balance of all retirement accounts as current savings
  • Sum all monthly contributions (EPF employee+employer, PPF, NPS, SIPs) as monthly investment
  • Run conservative and optimistic return scenarios to see the range of outcomes

Verdict

The Retirement Calculator takes your age, expenses, savings, and investment assumptions, then returns an inflation-adjusted required corpus, projected savings, and shortfall analysis.

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Frequently asked questions

What inputs does the Retirement Calculator need?

Current age, retirement age, current monthly expenses, expected inflation rate, expected return, current savings, and monthly investment.

Should I include my EPF and PPF balances?

Yes. Add the current balance of all retirement accounts (EPF, PPF, NPS, mutual funds, fixed deposits) as your starting savings.

What return assumption should I use?

8-9% for conservative (debt-heavy), 10-12% for equity-heavy portfolios. Run both to see the range.

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