Author’s Background:

CMA R K Mohapatra (born 1963), an” Eminent Author” awardee, has vast experience of 27 years in the field of Finance & Accounts in India and abroad and coupled with profound knowledge on various investment avenues, known for his work on cash & wealth management, portfolio analysis, financial planning, and retirement planning for individuals, is now working as General Manager of Finance at the IRCON INTERNATIONAL LTD.

He has authored three books, “Retirement Planning: A simple guide for Individuals,” “Investment Risk & Growth: A Guide for Investors about Investment Vehicles,” and “Mutual Funds: A powerful Investment Avenues for Individuals.”

Financial expert & notable author R K Mohapatra has conferred two prestigious international awards: the 18th Edition Asia Pacific HRM Congress -Exemplary leader Award 2019 and the 19th Edition Asian Leadership – Hall of Fame Award 2021 for his excellent and enormous contribution.

Questionnaires:

Aashi Dewangan: I would like to begin by congratulating you on the publication of “Retirement Planning: A Simple Guide for Individuals.” How has the response to the book been so far?

R.K. Mohapatra: Thank you so much for congratulating me and for the publication of my book “Retirement Planning: A Simple Guide for Individuals.”. The book is getting an overwhelming response from readers across the world.

I am glad to inform you that I honored the “Eminent Author award” at the 32nd Dr. S. Radha Krishnan Memorial, National Media Network Awards-2016 for this book in New Delhi.

The book “Retirement Planning – A simple guide for individuals” describes the topic of retirement plans for individuals, which reflects and focuses on an individual’s retirement needs, corpus for retirement, and use of created corpus after the superannuation.

Aashi Dewangan: What led to the idea of writing “Retirement Planning: A Simple Guide for Individuals”? Were there any events that inspired the work?

R.K. Mohapatra: I want to inform you that one of my friends and a few seniors told me, “Calculate how we invest our accumulate money (say Rs. 1.00 cr.) without any risk so that we can manage our monthly expenditure after retirement”. I did research work on Retirement Plan only for them, and it continued for three months; after that, I have discussed how they would utilize the above money at the post-retirement stage.

I was motivated to write the second book, “Retirement Planning-A simple Guide for individuals.” in 2016 because of that discussion. I am grateful to my seniors for their strong inspiration.

Aashi Dewangan:  How easy or difficult was it for you to write on a subject that held relevance for all and also remain objective about them in your book “Retirement Planning: A Simple Guide for Individuals”?

R.K. Mohapatra: After much research and elaborate practical examples from different investment avenues, I wrote a complex topic. I prefer to work differently and make innovative ideas for people to understand the difficult subject easily.

This book’s main objective is to help retirees and prospective investors, especially individuals who eagerly start investment for their future financial goals, using their own strategies, principles, and methodologies.

The book is divided into eight chapters on topics including budgeting, the importance of long-term financial planning, the meaning of basic financial tools and terminologies, mutual funds and expense ratios, stocks, commonly used financial indexes and benchmarks (Sharpe ratio, alpha, beta, etc.), calculation of interest vs. inflation, insurance, as well as information on specific funds in India such as PPF. All of this and more is divided neatly into chapters so that information is easy to find and well categorized.

Aashi Dewangan: What are your views about present-day writing? Do you think it does complete justice to human needs in the light of “Retirement Planning: A Simple Guide for Individuals”?

R.K. Mohapatra: I cannot generally comment on present-day writing. It covers the topic of both fiction and non-fiction. But, so far as retirement planning is concerned, it is the need of the hour because the growing financial pressure on the retirement system worldwide forces individuals to change their way of planning for retirement.

The importance of money on an individual life, whether in service or after superannuation, is necessary because there is no definite retirement policy/ pension plan to date in India.

A pension plan provides financial security and stability during old age when people don’t have a regular source of income. It is a need for an individual to plan at an early stage to invest in various investment products to create an adequate size of retirement corpus.

Long before retirement, individuals need to map out carefully their plans for ensuring a secure retirement. It is a process to think today about your future life and also for your beloved ones too. It is a multidimensional process; one can consider so many factors while making a comprehensive retirement plan. A retirement plan is an arrangement to provide you an income or pension during the cessation of service when you are no longer earning a steady income from business or employment.

Aashi Dewangan: “Retirement Planning: A Simple Guide for Individuals” shows the uniqueness of your style of writing. Are there any authors that you enjoy reading or any books which are your favorites?

R.K. Mohapatra: I read daily business newspapers: Business standard, The Economics Times, etc., and watch moneycontrol.com. My favorite TV show is CNBC Awaaz and Zee Bussiness. Apart from that, I read my first book frequently along with S.Kevin, Portfolio Management.

Aashi Dewangan: How would you categorize “Retirement Planning: A Simple Guide for Individuals” as its appeal seems to be to a broad audience?

R.K. Mohapatra: The recent data shows that Baby Boomers (the generation born between 1946 and 1964) handed in their resignations at record rates in 2020. On average, 2 million boomers have retired each year since 2011, according to an analysis by Pew Research Centre. But in 2020, that number rose to 3.2 million people (1).

In India, 8.6 percent of people aged above 60 years, and in absolute terms, they constitute more than 10.4 crore persons. That’s almost three times the total population of Canada. Census 2011 data shows that for every five persons aged above 60 years, more than two are still working (2). 

The scope of this book cannot be restricted. Retirement planning needs everyone at pre-retirement and post-retirement stages. The investment avenues explained in the eight chapters have significant importance in the present market scenario, and they help all ages people in India for their Retirement Plan.

 This book is used in tertiary institutions for students studying Financial Accounting, Economics, Banking & Finance courses, and other related study programs.

1.source: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/mortgages/where-baby-boomers-are-moving/

2. https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/QuyhOjkEhHrXFh3Vk1nMzN/How-India-retires.html

Aashi Dewangan: “Retirement Planning: A Simple Guide for Individuals” has given a powerful introduction to your potential as a writer. Can the readers expect more from you in the future? Please share about your future projects.

R.K. Mohapatra: Right now, I am working on the topic One nation One Pension Scheme. I have already been submitted my suggestions to the Prime Minister of India about the One nation One Pension Scheme. I hope for the best and still thinking about how one pension scheme helps the people of India. On the other way, the Hindi conversion of my first book is in process, which may publish within two or three months.

Aashi Dewangan: What is the story behind the title of your work, “Retirement Planning: A Simple Guide for Individuals”?

R.K. Mohapatra: The story behind the title of my work, “Retirement Planning: A Simple Guide for Individuals,” is because of its simple language, which guides you to make your own strategy by calculating the numbers and amount you desired for retirement. One should easily understand the book title and invest easily.  

Aashi Dewangan: “Retirement Planning: A Simple Guide for Individuals” discusses facts related to financial planning which otherwise people may not be aware of. Do you think there are other such topics too? Which would they be?

R.K. Mohapatra: There is no definite way to educate others about investment products available in the market. Each of us has different paths while investing in financial instruments to achieve the desired goal in our life. It varies from person to person, place to place, and market to market.

 Each of us will draw different approaches and gateways to begin our financial planning consciously and unconsciously. We also sometimes share our views with financial advisers and get a better experience of ourselves. Even though we may not know all the possibilities of risk and rewards in investment, we still believe in certain philosophies and principles of our economy and try to utilize our hard-earned money in this market.

 Those who come without a financial background may not even know the pros and cons of an investment. For them, this book enables an idea about investments, financial goals, and investment products, which are available in the market.

In the evolving market, new investment products develop across the globe. One has to be vigilant about that. For example, a retiree now invests in RBI Floating Rate Saving Bonds, along with Senior Citizens Savings Scheme (SCSS), Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY).

Aashi Dewangan: If you were to describe your book “Retirement Planning: A Simple Guide for Individuals” in a few words without giving any spoilers, what would those words be?

R.K. Mohapatra: The book “Retirement Planning – A simple guide for individuals,” was published in 2016, describes the topic of retirement plans for individuals, which reflects and focuses on an individual’s retirement needs, corpus for retirement, and use of created corpus after the superannuation.

 I have elaborately explained the concept of Retirement Planning along with well-researched analysis and analytical calculation on how to accumulate retirement corpus during the pre-retirement stage, preserve the accumulated corpus during the preservation stage, and how to use that the desired accumulated corpus during the distribution stage.

 It is an excellent book on individual and personal financial planning. It is a good book on retirement strategies and planning and solid financial management tips, which the institutions can use for students studying Financial Accounting, Economics, Banking & Finance courses.

Aashi Dewangan: What advice would you give to budding writers who may be planning to write in the same genre as “Retirement Planning: A Simple Guide for Individuals”?

R.K. Mohapatra: For those interested in writing the topic Retirement Planning, I would like to say that they should prepare a detailed plan and analyze the existing books available in the market.

There are tremendous opportunities available in India and across the world for budding writers. They have to find out in their audience and deliver it at the right time and in the right place, on the subject they are competent.

They should be given a very clear and informative message on the subject they are experts and have through knowledge, which is to benefit society.

Aashi Dewangan: Thank you very much for sparing your time. I look forward to reading more books from you in the future. All the best.

R.K. Mohapatra: I am incredibly grateful to you for conducting a realistic interview about my book Retirement Planning and my upcoming new book. Last But Not Least, I feel that authors render excellent service to humanity to impart and share their vast knowledge and sustainable solutions with the masses. In my opinion, a good author knows how to convey the message through their books to the people.

 Thank you so much!