The Retire Early Company
โ† Learn FIRE

๐Ÿ“ˆ

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):

  • โ—20% savings rate โ†’ ~37 years to FIRE
  • โ—35% โ†’ ~25 years
  • โ—50% โ†’ ~17 years
  • โ—65% 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 6โ€“12 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 โ†’

๐ŸŽ“ Learn 1-on-1

Want to really understand this?

Articles explain the idea. A conversation with an expert shows how it applies to your own money, and why it matters.

๐Ÿ“š Topic: How much should I invest?

๐Ÿ™‹ Ask anything

No question is too basic: SIPs, EPF, NPS, tax, withdrawal rates.

๐Ÿงฉ See how it fits

How each idea works together, and why it matters for you.

๐Ÿงญ Know what's next

Walk away understanding what to do with your own money.

Book a learning session โ†’1-on-1 with a financial expert, at a time that suits you.
Next up๐Ÿ“‰ How does sequence-of-returns risk affect FIRE?โ†’

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.