Inflation, Retirement Strategies, and Taxation Challenges Impacting Long-Term Savings

Many individuals believe saving money in low-return accounts ensures financial security, but inflation often outpaces these returns, eroding purchasing power over time. Early retirement strategies like FIRE emphasize aggressive saving and investing to build sufficient corpus, with variants offering flexibility to balance lifestyle needs. Meanwhile, Indian retirement schemes such as NPS, EPF, and Superannuation face complex taxation rules that limit exemptions, potentially reducing net savings and discouraging long-term investment. Budget 2026 may address some of these tax challenges.