Last Updated:September 23, 2025, 18:32 IST

The EPFO offers 8.25% annual compound interest, while SIPs are market-linked with higher potential returns but also risk. Proper planning ensures a secure retirement

The key benefit of EPF investments is that up to Rs 1.50 lakh is tax exempt per financial year. (Representative/Shutterstock)

As the concern for retirement looms large over every employed individual, the question of financial security post-retirement is a pressing one. Without a job, expenses remain unchanged, and relying solely on the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) may not suffice.

Here’s how individuals can prepare for old age while still working:

What Is EPF?

The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), managed by the EPFO, is a retirement investment plan where employees contribute up to 12% of their basic salary and DA monthly. Employers match this contribution, with a minimum of Rs 1,800 and a maximum of 12% of the employee’s basic salary and DA.

Of this 12 percent, 8.33 percent goes to the EPF, while the remaining 3.67 percent is allocated to the Employees’ Pension Fund (EPS), which provides a monthly pension upon retirement.

The EPFO offers an annual compound interest rate of 8.25 percent on these contributions. Employees also have the option to exceed the 12 percent contribution limit, with the excess amount being credited to the Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF). The key benefit of EPF investments is that up to Rs 1.50 lakh is tax exempt per financial year under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and the interest earned and maturity amount are tax-free.

EPF falls under the exempt-exempt-exempt (EEE) category. However, in VPF, tax exemption applies only up to 12 percent of the basic salary and DA, with returns on contributions above this amount being taxable. Given these significant tax benefits, experts often recommend investing up to the 12 percent limit.

Understanding SIP

Another investment option to consider is a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) in mutual funds. SIPs allow individuals to invest a predetermined amount daily, monthly, quarterly, or annually. The investment amount can be increased annually through top-up SIPs. SIPs offer rupee-cost averaging, where the net asset value (NAV) fluctuates with market conditions.

When the market is high, fewer SIPs are purchased, but the investment value increases; when the market is low, more NAVs are acquired, but the investment value decreases. Additionally, SIP investments benefit from compounded growth, allowing investments to grow exponentially over time.

Investors who prefer smaller, regular contributions over lump sum investments often choose SIPs.

EPS vs SIP: How To Reach Rs 1.5 Crore Target Faster

Comparing EPF and SIP, if one aims to reach a retirement goal of Rs 1.50 crore, it’s essential to note that EPF offers guaranteed returns in the form of interest, whereas SIP is market-linked with potentially higher returns but also risks of negative returns if the market falls.

Since the exact returns of a SIP are uncertain, a standard 12% return is assumed for calculation purposes.

If one starts contributing at the age of 25, continuing until 60, EPF will require a monthly investment of Rs 6,350 to achieve a corpus of Rs 1.50 crore, yielding Rs 1,50,29,133.18 after 35 years.

Conversely, with SIPs, a monthly investment of Rs 6,350 starting at age 25 can reach the Rs 1.50 crore goal in 27 years, with an investment amount of Rs 20,57,400 and long-term capital gains of Rs 1,34,15,875, totalling Rs 1,54,73,275.

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Amazon plans to close all 19 of its grocery shops across the UK, putting as many as 250 jobs at risk.

The firm will look to convert up to five of the Amazon Fresh shops, noted for their walk-in walk-out style with no checkouts, into Whole Foods stores.

Amazon said the move is part of a wider overhaul of its UK grocery operations, which will shift focus more towards its online business. Its bosses have said that the firm is still “deeply invested” in the UK.

The US-based company said on Tuesday that it had launched a consultation process proposing the closure of the Amazon Fresh UK stores.

It is consulting with employees at the sites, which employ around 250 staff. However, it said not all employees are set to be affected by the closures, and it plans to offer those who are new roles in other parts of the business.

Recently, the company pledged to invest £40bn in Britain across the next three years.

The Fresh brand was first launched in 2021, opening its first till-less store in Ealing, with technology that allowed customers to walk out with their shopping without having to use a checkout. Shoppers used an app to enter the store and were then billed to the platform when they left, with a range of cameras and other technology used to work out which products they purchased.

However, the group slowed down significant growth ambitions for the business as shopper demand waned at the end of the coronavirus pandemic.

As part of the proposals, five shops could transition to Amazon’s Whole Foods Market brand, which focuses on organic produce. It said the conversion plan, along with two further new sites, is expected to grow the Whole Foods business to 12 stores by the end of next year.

On Tuesday, Amazon also said it plans to double the number of Prime subscription members with access to at least three of the retailer’s grocery options, through its partners Morrisons, Iceland, Co-op and Gopuff.

It also said it will introduce fresh groceries including dairy, meat and seafood to its website from next year.

John Boumphrey, country manager for Amazon UK, said: “Since 2008, we’ve worked hard to innovate to help our customers save time and money when shopping for groceries and household essentials.

“We continue to invent and invest to bring more choice and convenience to UK customers, enabling them to shop for a wide range of everyday essentials and groceries with low prices and fast delivery through Amazon.co.uk, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market stores, alongside our third-party grocery partners, including Morrisons, Co-op, Iceland, and Gopuff.”

Amazon is estimated to employ more than 75,000 people in the UK, the majority across its warehouse and delivery operations.

In future up to 2,000 new jobs could be created at new warehouses in Hull and Northampton.

It has been reported that Amazon Fresh contributed $5bn (£3.7bn) in revenues during one quarter in 2024, but this is across all grocery sales online and in physical stores, as well as being global rather than just UK-focused.

Amazon paid £1bn in UK taxes on revenues of over £29bn last year.

Last week, Amazon announced it would offer employees a pay rise above inflation levels, increasing its minimum wage to £14.30 an hour.

Last Updated:September 23, 2025, 18:28 IST

Tata Investment Corporation Ltd shares jumped 12 percent after announcing a 1:10 stock split set for October 14, 2025.

Tata Investment announces first ever stock spilt in the ratio of 1:10.

Tata Investment Corporation Stock Split: Tata Investment Corporation Ltd shares rallied 12 per cent on Tuesday, September 23, after the company informed that it has fixed Tuesday, October 14, 2025, as the record date for the stock split in the ratio of 1:10. The Board of Directors of the Company, inter-alia, approved the sub-division of equity shares of the Company on August 04, 2025.

The shares will split in the ratio of 1:10, meaning subdivision of existing 1 (one) Equity Share of face value of Rs. 10/- (Rupees Ten Only) each fully paid up into 10 (ten) Equity Shares of face value of Re. 1/- (Rupee One Only) each fully paid up.

Tata Investment Corporation Ltd (TICL) had reported an 11.6% year-on-year rise in consolidated net profit for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, aided by higher dividend income.

The company’s consolidated profit after tax (PAT) came in at Rs 146.3 crore, compared with Rs 131.07 crore in the same quarter of the previous fiscal, TICL said in a filing with the stock exchanges.

Revenue from operations stood at Rs 145.46 crore during the April–June period, slightly higher than Rs 142.46 crore a year earlier. A large part of this came from dividend income, which increased to Rs 89.16 crore in the quarter, up from Rs 84.08 crore in the corresponding period last year.

On the expenditure side, total expenses edged up marginally to Rs 12.15 crore from Rs 11.77 crore in the year-ago quarter.

TICL is registered as a systemically important non-banking financial company (NBFC) and is classified as a middle-layer NBFC by the Reserve Bank of India.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips by experts in this News18.com report are their own and not those of the website or its management. Users are advised to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

Varun Yadav

Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst…Read More

Varun Yadav is a Sub Editor at News18 Business Digital. He writes articles on markets, personal finance, technology, and more. He completed his post-graduation diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Inst… Read More

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