Turning 50 does something to your perspective.

For years, I’ve obsessed over market moves, built portfolios, and helped people grow wealth. But lately, a more personal question has taken center stage: how do you start spending the wealth you’ve worked so hard to build - without second-guessing every rupee?

Because here’s the truth: making money is a skill.

Spending it well is an entirely different mindset.

The Fear Is Real - And Normal

Most of us come from a deeply ingrained culture of saving. Watching your account balance drop - even when you planned for it - can be unsettling.

Even clients with ₹15-20 crore portfolios feel that sting the first time they draw down a large sum. “What if I run out?” “What if markets crash?” “What if I live longer than expected?”

These fears aren’t irrational. But they can be managed, not eliminated.

Tie Your Money to Outcomes - Not Just Numbers

I often ask clients (and now, myself):

Try moving away from return-chasing and instead map your money to tangible, life-affirming goals:

• That holiday with your spouse you’ve been postponing.

• The NGO you always wanted to fund.

• A peaceful life where health doesn’t become a financial worry.

When you see money as a tool to fulfill a purpose, spending becomes satisfying - not stressful.

Build a Spending Plan That Gives You Permission

Forget rigid budgets. Instead, build a spending framework that gives you both flexibility and clarity:

• Separate your wealth into buckets: short-term (0-3 years), mid-term (3-7), and long-term (7+).

• Allocate fixed income sources (like rental income, SWPs, annuities) to cover essential expenses.

• Create a contingency buffer for health, family, or market surprises.

With this structure, every rupee you spend is accounted for and more importantly, approved.

Know Your "Safe to Spend" Number

At R & D Capital, we often calculate a personal Safe-to-Spend Number for clients - the amount they can spend monthly without risking long-term goals.

It’s not a guess. It factors in:

• Portfolio performance

• Inflation

• Market cycles

• Longevity assumptions

Having that number on paper gives you clarity and confidence. When things go well, you give yourself permission to spend more. When markets turn, you pull back - but never panic.

Reframe Your Relationship with Money

This is the most important shift - and the hardest.

When you're younger, money is about growth.

Now, it's about freedom, impact, and ease.

It’s okay to let go of the compulsion to “always be compounding.”

It’s okay to want peace over performance.

Spend on things that make you feel alive - not just secure.

Talk to Someone Who Understands More Than Math

Spreadsheets don’t capture fear. Or guilt. Or the silence that comes after retirement.

This is where a seasoned advisor makes a difference - not just by calculating numbers, but by helping you:

• Avoid the trap of excessive frugality

• Withdraw smartly to minimize tax and volatility impact

• Think through estate planning and legacy

Sometimes, you don’t need advice. You need reassurance.

The Shift That Matters Most

If you've spent 25 or 30 years earning, investing, and providing for others, you’ve earned more than money.

You’ve earned the right to spend without worry.

Not recklessly.

Not blindly.

But with intention, clarity, and even a bit of joy.

Because the second half of your life isn't just about wealth preservation.

It’s about wealth participation.

And that’s a shift worth mastering.