Most people ‘can’t afford to retire’

Two elderly women enjoy ice cream in the Sam Phraeng community of Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)
2 elderly women take pleasure in ice cream in the Mike Phraeng community associated with Phra Nakhon area, Bangkok. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)

Most people need to conserve at least three million baht to see via their retirement several elderly are not monetarily equipped to survive with no income, says a nearby financial expert.

The Nationwide Retirement Risk Index indicates many people are usually less than ready to retire from a financial viewpoint, says Pornanong Budsaratragoon, head of the Department of Banking plus Finance, Chulalongkorn Business School.

At the same time, people are generally predicted to live longer and so the challenge is definitely how to manage their own post-retirement finances, the girl said.

Surveys of individuals finances showed the average person needs at least 3 million baht in savings to live out their retirement years. But many retirees discovered themselves lacking monetary security as they are unable to live on what they set aside as their monthly budget.

Microsoft Pornanong said the state has a responsibility to educate them on how to conserve wisely and avoid fraudulent practices that can rob them of their money.

Condition agencies should also improve the system of required saving, she added.

Companies also have a role to play in promoting the economic well-being of their workers. “They should care for their employees not only during office hrs but when they go house as well, ” the girl said.

Ms Pornanong mentioned everyone should be encouraged to invest or save at least 15% of the income. If they spend or save lower than 10%, they will be vulnerable after they retire, the girl said.

As a result, they may feel compelled to rely on windfalls and wishful thinking, such as winning the lottery, gaining a handsome inheritance, or counting on their children and relatives to look after them.

“But these are aspects beyond their manage, ” Ms Pornanong said.

Somprawin Manprasert, chief economist of Siam Commercial Bank (SCB)’s Economic Intelligence Center (EIC), said over the SCB Thailand Fb page that regarding 40% of low-income earners are in at this point the “minus income” group, meaning they spend more than they make.

The majority are in sectors like production and retail, earning around eighteen, 000 baht a month per family. These people fall into the financially vulnerable group.

Also struggling heavily from the living costs crisis is the middle-class with a monthly income of between twenty, 000-30, 000 baht. Many own a personal car and are today dealing with heavily inflated fuel costs.

Although they can afford it, they have less money left to put in their particular savings.