By IndiaHub 
Verma has been diligently saving for his son’s graduation (in India) and also for his ‘big dream’ of post-graduation abroad, putting away nearly 75% of his monthly investments towards his son’s higher education goals. This is in addition to his ongoing home loan EMI.
As a result, he has still not been able to take a serious look at his retirement savings. Including his provident fund and other investments (that can be earmarked for retirement at present), he has barely saved enough to cover for a decade after he stops working.
And while Verma at 43 still has almost 15-17 years till his planned retirement at 58-60, the reality is a bit different. According to him, with AI and automation looming large, his job isn’t as secure as it once seemed.
I know this scenario is something that hits home for many in their 40s, especially if they are in a field like IT, where the ground beneath the feet feels shakier every day.
FIRE = Forced Into Retiring Early
Early retirement enthusiasts already know that F.I.R.E. stands for ‘Financial Independence + Retiring Early’. But even if someone like Verma doesn’t want to ‘retire early’ and wishes to work for as long as possible, there is another, darker version of FIRE, which needs to be acknowledged here ( I highlighted this to him when I onboarded him), i.e., FIRE = Forced Into Retiring Early!
If you’re in your 40s, working in a tech-heavy industry, and pouring your heart (and money) into your child’s future, this story might feel like your own. But here’s the tough question: What if life doesn’t go as planned? What if, instead of retiring at 60 as you hoped, you’re forced to stop working at 50? This isn’t just a random worry, it’s a real possibility. Call it “forced retirement,” where you’re pushed out of the workforce, not by choice, but by circumstances: a layoff, a health issue, or whatever.
I recently came across a Reddit post about a 48-year-old techie, laid off after 25 years at a top US tech firm. A computer algorithm, not a manager, decided his fate. Stories like these are becoming all too common. In India’s IT sector, where younger talent is often cheaper and AI is supposedly taking over repetitive tasks, mid-career professionals face a growing risk. And if you’re thinking you’ll just find another job and continue to work till 60, the reality is much harsher; unless you are a top performer, the opportunities dwindle as you cross 40, especially in tech.
Your kids have time, you don’t
Let’s now circle back to Verma. His plan to fund his son’s foreign degree is noble, but it’s built on a shaky assumption: that his income will keep flowing until he’s 60. If AI (or something else) makes his role redundant, or if a random health scare forces him to scale back, his family’s financial stability could crumble. His retirement corpus, as it stands, won’t last long, especially with inflation and rising medical costs. And unlike his son, who has time and options to pivot, Verma won’t have the luxury of starting over.
This brings us to the hard truth: funding your child’s international education, while a worthy goal, shouldn’t come at the cost of your own financial security. A foreign degree is great, but it’s not the only path to success. Your child can explore scholarships, education loans, or top-notch Indian institutions.
But an underfunded retirement? There’s no fallback and no loan for that. If you are forced to retire early, an inadequate retirement corpus means tough choices—cutting back on essentials or leaning on your kids for support, which is the last thing any parent wants.
This isn’t about giving up on your child’s aspirations. It’s about being practical in a world that’s anything but predictable. Your kids have time, energy, and options to chase their goals. You, on the other hand, are racing against time. Prioritising your retirement savings isn’t selfish—it’s ensuring you’re not a burden on your family later.
So, what can you do?
It’s time to accept the reality. Instead of assuming that you will be working till 60, plan as if you might need to stop at 50. This means you would have to redo your retirement calculations (your investment adviser can help you) to figure out how much more/extra you need to save. You will now, of course, have to invest much more than someone of a similar age who plans to work till 60. But that is okay. You are preparing for a slightly worst-case scenario of forced retirement. Naturally, if this means that the leftover money available for your son’s foreign post-graduation goal isn’t enough (and the goal needs to take a backseat), then so be it. It is okay. Remember your child can easily secure a loan for higher studies but you will not get a loan for your retirement.
The author is founder, Stable Investor