How much did your investments earn last financial year? I have asked this question to one of my friends who is very happy with the returns generated from her stock portfolio. Her reply is 13%. I have asked one more question – ‘Is this the nominal return or the real rate of return?’. She then asked me to explain the difference between the two. This has given me an idea for a new blog post 🙂
We buy a financial security with an expectation to make some profits. With simple mathematical formula you can calculate the rate of return generated by your investment. But, if you don’t adjust it for INFLATION & TAXES, you are not getting the actual or real rate of return.
Inflation and taxes are very unpopular topics. Both of these drain your investment returns. But, these should be factored in to understand how much you actually gained from your investment.
What is Real Rate of Return?
Let’s first discuss ‘what is inflation?’
In simple terms, it can be defined as either a rise in prices or a fall in the value of money. It’s an increase in the cost of things that are necessary for humans to live and enjoy life, such as bread, butter, milk, cheese, coffee, oil, shelter, clothing, medical services, chicken, electronics, etc.
One rupee say in 1947 is not the same as one rupee today, both in terms of purchasing power and appearance 🙂
So, when prices rise, the purchasing power of your money decreases.
Below chart gives you an idea about the inflation rate in India during the period from 1959 to 2015.
Let’s now understand the impact of inflation on the returns generated by your investment.
For example, if you make a Rs 1 Lakh worth stock investments that earns 13% in one year, you end the year with Rs 1, 13,000. That means, your money (investment) has grown by Rs 13,000 (we’ll assume no dividends just to keep the illustration simple).
However if inflation is say 6% for the last year, your Rs 1.13 Lakh is only worth about Rs 1,07,000. Inflation devalues not only the interest/income you earned, but the principal amount too. Your real rate of return is only 7% (13% – 6% = 7%. There is a mathematical formula to calculate the exact real rate of return).
Besides the inflation rate the other deduction that you need to consider while calculating the real rate of return is ‘Taxes’. (Kindly note that gains realized on some investments can be tax free. Suggest you to read this article: ‘Tax Treatment of various Financial Investments.’)
Let’s continue with the above example and use the mathematical formulas to calculate the real rate of return.
If you sell your stock investments within 1 year (12 months) of purchase, you have to pay short term capital gain taxes at the rate of 15% on the realized gains.
So, you need to deduct 15% of your gains towards the taxes and then also factor in the inflation rate to arrive at the actual or real rate of return.
The pre-tax returns from your stock investment is 13%. But after paying the taxes, the post-tax returns are just 11.05% only, which is much lower than the presumed return.
Post-tax returns = Pre-Tax returns * { (100-Tax Rate) / 100 }
11.05% = 13 { (100 – 15) / 100}
Inflation adjusted & Post Tax returns = { [( 1+ post tax return ) / ( 1+inflation rate )] – 1 } * 100
4.76% = { [ (1+.1105) / (1+.06) ] – 1 } * 100
So, the nominal return which is 13% becomes a meager 4.76% after accounting for taxes and inflation.
To summarize;
- The nominal rate of return is the annual percentage return realized on an investment before being adjusted for inflation and taxes.
- The nominal rate of return gives you an idea of how your money/investment is growing, while the Real Rate of Return tells you how much your purchasing power is growing.
Kindly do not overlook the effects of taxes and inflation when making an investment decision (buy/sell).
Continue reading related article : What is Negative Real Interest Rate? | How Can Interest Rates Be Negative?
(Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
(Post published date : 13-April-2016)
Great site.Very informative and knowledgeable for non finance persons like me.God bless you and keep it up.
Thank you dear shyam for the appreciation.
Keep visiting ReLakhs!
Related article : What is negative real rate?
Dear Sudhir,
As a thumb rule to calculate retirement corpus some experts say 20*12*Monthly expenditure at the time of retirement is safe.
What is your opinion?
Dear Vinay ..You may kindly go through this article : Retirement planning made easy!
Great article, Sreekanth. Thank you very much for this info.
Hi, Sreekanth
Recently I visit this site and found lots of articles informative and worth for simplifying my financial plannings. But have some query regarding the real rate of return.
When I was planning to investment for the first time. I was told that I should be satisfied with a 3% annual real rate of return. Any advice?
Dear Mayur,
What is the assumed Rate of Return & inflation rate?
Hi Sreekanth,
I came across your site recently and enjoyed the content. Really nice job with explaining financial jargons and simplifying financial planning for individuals.
Feel free to get in touch, if I can be of any help to spread the word.
Regards,
Pradeep
Myself a sr.ctzn & like to invest 2 lac in MIP so as to have a monthly return of 1800/- or so.Could you kindly suggest me name of 3 MIP scheme etc.
Regards,
Smt Uma chowdhury
Dear Uma Ji,
You can consider Post office’s Monthly Income Scheme and/Or Senior Citizen Saving Scheme options.
If you can afford to take a little bit of risk then you can consider Mutual Fund MIP schemes (but dividend income is not guarenteed).
Kindly read:
Latest Post office Saving Schemes Interest Rates 2016.
Best MF MIP Schemes.
According to me inflation is just a myth and there is no real economics behind it.. For ex nw ppl are saying inflation is down so decrease in savings bank rates are justified. But in reality my expenses are still the same like it was when inflation was at its peak
I am sure ppl will be having an explanation for that too which only they can understand.
Dear Raghu,
I believe that Inflation is definitely not a myth. It’s a truth. But the quantum of actual (ground-level) inflation rate may vary when compared to official (govt) figures.
Also, the inflation rates can vary for different types of expenses life Educational expenses, medical expenses, consumption expenses etec
I buy new Shari axis bank
Maruti suzuki
Lupin farma
Please your guidance
Dear Sudhir..Kindly note that I do not provide stock specific suggestions.