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Numbers ยท 3 min read
How much should I invest?
Work backwards from the age you want to be free.
+10%/yr
SIP step-up can cut the starting SIP you need by a third or more
Start with the savings rate
As a rough guide (starting from zero, ~5% real returns, 4% withdrawal rate):
- โ20% savings rate โ ~37 years to FIRE
- โ35% โ ~25 years
- โ50% โ ~17 years
- โ65% โ ~11 years
Then step it up
Raise your SIP with every raise. A 10% annual step-up lets you start much smaller and still hit the same target, because your future, higher salary does more of the work.
Where to put it
For long horizons, many FIRE investors in India use low-cost index funds for growth, EPF/PPF for stability, and NPS for tax efficiency. Keep 6โ12 months of expenses in an emergency fund first. (This is education, not advice. Your mix depends on your risk tolerance.)
Try it on your numbers
Calculate my FIRE SIP โ๐ Learn 1-on-1
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Estimates, not guarantees. Projections assume steady average returns and inflation; real markets are bumpy, and returns are not guaranteed. This is an educational tool, not investment, tax or financial advice. See our methodology, assumptions & limitations ยท Last updated 25 October 2026.

