Retirement Planning Reality: How Long Will You Live? Life Expectancy & Corpus Strategy

The Biggest Question in Retirement Planning

When we plan for retirement, the first question is, “How many years will we live?“
Most people optimistically say 75-80 years, but the reality can be quite different. Some die at 60, others live to 95-100. And if you live longer than expected, the biggest risk is outliving your money.

Retirement is not about stopping life — it’s about having enough money so life never stops.

Retirement Corpus Has a Direct Connection to Life Expectancy

If you live early, even a small corpus will do,
but if you live too long, it can put a lot of financial pressure.

Therefore, when planning for retirement, the assumption “I will live to be 75” is extremely risky.

Reality: The Biggest Fear of Retired People

Most retirees say,

“Maybe we’ll outlive our money.”

Imagine, if someone planned to live from 60 to 80 and ended up with almost zero money at 78—how much mental trauma would that cause?

The Truth About India’s Life Expectancy

According to official data from 2020, the average life expectancy is approximately 70 years.

But this average is misleading because it includes everything – accidents, diseases, suicide victims, malnutrition, premature deaths etc.

If someone reaches the age of 60, their expected life is 60 + 17 or 18 years. That means 77–78 years on average, and healthy, wealthy, financially secure people live even longer.

Women Live Longer Than Men

Worldwide, including in India, women generally live longer than men.

Therefore:

• Women should strengthen their pension planning.
• Men should make their retirement plans with their spouse in mind.

Medical Science & Longer Life

New vaccines, treatments and advanced healthcare are emerging every year.
Dying in the future will be more difficult—especially if you have money.
Hospitals, family, and healthcare will all try their best to keep you alive.

India 2040-50 Will Be Much More Developed

Better healthcare, infrastructure, income and living conditions – more people will live longer.
Today, in developed countries like Japan, 26% of the population is senior citizens.
India will also reach this level in 30-40 years.

Final Takeaways

• You can live to be 90-100 years old-plan accordingly.
• Life expectancy is increasing – it will increase further in the future.
• A larger retirement corpus will lead to a secure life.
• Funds should also be saved for legacy.

The motto of retirement planning is simple: Plan for the longest life – not the average life.