u/Compoundingmachine8

This is a question which has been raging on social media in recent days. while everyone has their own opinions and numbers , I feel 10 crores Liquid + Own Home should be good for a family of 4. Of course, kids'education is expensive but I still feel if you are wisely invested, compounding can do it's magic . Having reached 11. 5 crores I am still not satisfied as I have some real estate goals. I have my own parents home which I will eventually get. My wife will get her home.. so I never invested in real estate till date. But having said that out of 11.5 liquid corpus almost 9.5 is in Equities and mutual funds.... I wanted to build huge corpus before getting to buy real estate. so that point I feel is somewhere closer in the next 2 years. so at somepoint I plan to buy a large piece of plot on outskirts of Coimbatore or in Ooty to settle down for my retirement peacefully. Yes I am just 42 but want to plan well ahead..My simple logic is not to spend more than 1.5 crores in RE. Remaining I will keep compounding easily at 11 to 12 percent. so I keep generating 1 crore every year by just staying invested and do nothing . so what are some things I am proud of ? I started early at age of 21. Kept buying mutual funds units .. aggressively increased during various crashes... 2008 recession... demonistiation..wars.. Covid ... middle east crisis ... never stopped my SIPs

The road to financial independence is rarely a straight line. For me, it began in the quiet, value-driven neighborhoods of Chennai, raised by two teachers who prioritized one thing above all else: education. While my sister was the academic topper, I was the dreamer who preferred English literature to equations. Ironically, the boy who considered Math his weakest subject would eventually find his greatest success in the world of numbers and compounding.

​The Foundation (2006–2012)

​My career began in the hospitality industry. In my very first month on the job, a chance encounter introduced me to Mutual Funds and Equities. I started my first SIP in June 2006. I didn't have much, but I had time. Those early years were about building the habit of consistency—learning that wealth isn't "found," it’s grown.

​The Leap and the Lesson (2017–2024)

​Moving to the Middle East in 2017 provided the capital to accelerate my goals. I saw the COVID-19 crash not as a disaster, but as an opportunity, investing heavily when others were retreating. The rewards were significant, but success can sometimes breed overconfidence.

Crisis

​Between 2022 and 2024, I faced my toughest professional challenge: the "gambling" lure of F&O trading. I lost a significant portion of my wealth, a painful lesson that fundamental investing and patience are the only sustainable paths to true wealth. I quit F&O, refocused on fundamentals, and began surrounding myself with seasoned investors and Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).

​The Power of Resilience

​While the world panicked over geopolitical tensions—from the Russia-Ukraine conflict to Middle East instabilities—I stayed the course. I never stopped my SIPs. In fact, I increased my equity allocation during the chaos.

​The Result:

In April 2026, exactly 20 years after I started, my portfolio hit the ₹10 crore mark.

​The Path to 50

​At 42, the "heavy lifting" is now being done by the markets rather than my manual labor. Even at a conservative 12\% return, the portfolio generates ₹1.20 \text{ crores} annually. My goal is to retire by 50, knowing that the foundation laid in 2006 is now an unbreakable pillar.

​My Three Golden Rules:

​Never Stop the SIP: Consistency is the only "secret" that actually works.

​Stay Invested: Time in the market beats timing the market, every single time.

​Lean into the Crisis: When the world is fearful, look for the value.

​I started with nothing but a middle-class upbringing and a bit of curiosity. Today, I don't just work for money; I watch my money work for me. The date of my retirement is no longer a question of "if," but a choice of "when."