Will India's Youth Retire Soon, and…. Poor? 😭😭

Hey!

How have you been in Jan? I hope you had an easy month and that Feb is better for you! I’ve been waiting to ask y’all:

Here’s what’s in store for you:

• Monthly Market Review - September 2024

• Will Indi’a Youth Be Forced To Retire Soon & Poor?

• Impactful Ways To Prepare for An Earlier-Than-Expected Retirement

• Binge Of The Month

• Need-Of-The-Hour Kinda Info Within 3.5 Mins

‘Sup with the market

January 2025 was brutal for Indian markets, marking the longest monthly losing streak in over two decades. 📉 Nifty and Sensex fell around 3%, dragging their total decline to 12% since September 2024. Small-cap and mid-cap stocks took an even harder hit, down 15% and 10%, as foreign investors pulled out $8.3 billion.💸 Weak corporate earnings, tight liquidity, and global uncertainty kept sentiment shaky, while IT stocks held up thanks to solid revenue growth projections. 💻

Despite five months of market consolidation, fund managers at Davos remain bullish on India’s long-term growth. The economy’s strength, expanding consumer base, and resilience in private banks, IT, and pharma sectors are keeping optimism alive. Derivatives data also hints at a potential relief rally in February, but all eyes are now on Q3 earnings, the Union Budget, and the RBI’s next move 🏦 to see if momentum can shift, and I think it is underway, already!

Will India’s Youth Be Forced To Retire Soon, and…. Poor?

At 58, the retirement age in India is already one of the lowest, globally. While employers are focusing on enhancing diversity and inclusion practices, one of the most ignored areas is ageism.

Earlier, your 40s and 50s were considered the prime of your career, meant for you to make your family comfortable, acquire assets, hustle to save up for the future, and settle down. But now, the hireability of anyone over the age of 45 is very questionable, thanks to ageism. So, does that make the 30s the new 40s and the 40s the new 50s?

The primary reason for age discrimination lately is that the experienced would want to draw a fatter paycheck. Naturally, the more experience you have, the more you get paid, right? But will lower salaries really fix it? I don’t think so.

Another noteworthy factor that contributes to ageism is that researchers have noticed that hiring practices across sectors continue to be shaped by ageism. Employers perceive professionals who have passed the mid-career threshold (of age 45) to lack both the drive and the openness to innovation possessed by their younger counterparts. Compared to younger candidates, mid-career jobseekers are finding the search for employment more difficult across the board, lowering their confidence.

While reliable data points suggest that Indians might have to work well beyond the age of 65 to sustain a comfortable living while keeping inflation in check, there's a sharp decline in employability after the age of 45. Given the clear disconnect, two critical questions arise:

1. Is there a need for legislation to deal with the said age discrimination?

While gender and disability discrimination have gained traction, ageism in hiring remains largely unaddressed. Introducing laws to protect mid-career and senior professionals could probably make this better.

2. What can you do about it in the interim?

In a job market increasingly favoring the youth or employers per se, upskilling and a clear career strategy could help but solid financial planning cannot hurt. Head over to the next section for actionable steps to navigate this challenge and ensure long-term stability.

Impactful Ways To Prepare for An Earlier-Than-Expected Retirement

Retirement might feel like a lifetime away, but what you do in your 30s sets the foundation for a stress-free, financially independent future. Here’s your three-step plan to get ahead while time is still on your side.

1. Lock In Your Savings Habit 💰

Your 30s are about balancing expenses with wealth-building—EMIs, childcare, travel, lifestyle upgrades, you name it. But here’s the deal: saving is easier when you make it automatic. Set up SIPs for long-term wealth creation, max out your EPF/PPF/NPS contributions, and increase your investments whenever your salary rises. Even small tweaks today mean a massive difference thirty years down the line.

2. Design Your Future Lifestyle 🏡

Where do you see yourself post-retirement? A quiet hill town? A beachfront home? A city apartment near family? Thinking about this now helps you make smarter investment decisions. Buying property impulsively because "everyone is doing it" isn’t a plan—strategic investing is. Align your savings, real estate, and career choices with the life you actually want later.

3. Bulletproof Your Finances 🛡️

Your retirement isn’t just about how much you save, but also how well you protect it. Make sure you have:
✅ A health insurance policy that covers you beyond your employer's benefits, and a life insurance policy that will realistically cover your family in case you happen to not be around for them
✅ A diverse investment mix— I know this is super basic but please don’t just rely on one asset class, diversify as much as possible so you’re covered regardless of market and/or global trends
✅ A clear game plan to avoid unnecessary debt and large financial commitments that could drain your future savings, which means you will have your emergency funds in place at all times and a pragmatic check on all debts

🔖 Binge of the month

Just wrapped up The Night Agent Season 2, and I have to say—it delivers exactly what it promises. There are no unnecessary side plots, no filler, just pure, well-paced storytelling that keeps you hooked as the mystery unfolds step by step. While the storytelling remains strong, there are moments where the acting falls a bit flat, but despite that, it's a good watch.

🍸 Cocktail Pe Charcha

Is it too overwhelming to research & plan your investment? Say no more, we can personally guide you into mixing the perfect financial cocktail to manage your money!

I think preparing for your retirement is crucial to the power of ^100. But the important part is, not freaking out about it! This is not something you think about today and get done with by tomorrow, or tuck under the carpet to be dealt with when you turn 45.I need you all to dedicate the next 10-15 years doing this consistently in small spurts every month so you don’t fret if the job market is hard on you when you’re older. Prevention is always better than cure.

To Pragmatic Decisions🥂

Niyati❤️