Why Most Retirement Calculators Are Wrong
And what to do instead.
Open any retirement calculator. Enter your age, expenses, expected retirement age. Click calculate.
The number that appears is almost always terrifying. ₹8 crore. ₹10 crore.
Most people close the browser and don't think about retirement for months.
Here's the thing: that calculator isn't lying. But it's answering the wrong question with the wrong assumptions.
Assumption 1: Your Expenses Stay Flat Forever
Calculators assume if you spend ₹80,000 today, you'll spend ₹80,000 (inflation-adjusted) at 70, 80, and 85.
Reality: Expenses drop 15-20% at 65-70, another 15-20% at 75+.
Assumption 2: You Must Plan Until 90
Planning until 80: ₹3 crore. Planning until 90: ₹4.5 crore.
Is it worth 5 more years of working for uncertain years 80-90?
Assumption 3: Inflation Is Your Enemy
Calculators apply 6-7% inflation to everything. But housing (if owned) has zero inflation. Technology gets cheaper.
Assumption 4: You Need to Self-Fund Everything
Options exist: reverse mortgage, family support, part-time work, government schemes.
What to Do Instead
- Model expenses in stages
- Plan solidly until 80, have backup for beyond
- Use realistic inflation by category
- Account for flexibility
- Think in ranges, not single numbers
Ready to calculate realistically? [Try our Freedom Number Calculator →](/tools/freedom-number)