I am 31 years old. I have 7 lacs in FD. 10L in shares 11L in MF. My current SIP is 50K per month. I want to retire in 15 yrs from now. How much amount is required to retire early with life expectancy till 80 yrs.

Ans: You are 31 years old now.
You want to retire at age 46.
That means you have 15 years to build your wealth.
Your life expectancy is till 80 years.
So, you need income for 34 years after retirement.

Your current investments are:

Rs. 7 lakhs in FD

Rs. 10 lakhs in shares

Rs. 11 lakhs in mutual funds

Rs. 50,000 monthly SIP

You want to know how much is enough to retire early.
You also want guidance on reaching that amount.
This is a bold and early goal.
You are thinking in the right direction.

Let’s now explore everything step by step.

How Much You May Need to Retire at 46
You will retire at 46 and live till 80.
You will need income for 34 years post-retirement.

You must consider these factors:

Monthly living expense now

Inflation for next 15 years

Expenses post-retirement

Medical needs and emergencies

Big expenses like travel, gifting, etc.

Let us assume your monthly expense today is Rs. 50,000.
In 15 years, this will become over Rs. 1 lakh.
Due to inflation, your cost of living will double.
In 34 years of retirement, this will grow even more.

So, you must aim for a retirement corpus of Rs. 5 to 6 crores.
This amount will generate enough income for life.
It will give monthly income and protect against inflation.
It will also cover medical costs, vacations, and emergencies.

But this number can change if:

Your lifestyle is high

You want to travel abroad every year

You don’t control post-retirement expenses

You want to help family or donate regularly

So, it is not just a number.
You must plan according to your own needs.

Current Wealth Position
You already have Rs. 28 lakhs invested.
This includes FD, mutual funds, and shares.
This is a good starting point for your age.

Your SIP of Rs. 50,000 is your real strength.
If you continue this for 15 years, it will grow fast.
You must also increase this SIP every year.
Even 5–10% increase per year will make a big difference.

FDs are low return instruments.
They are not suitable for long-term wealth creation.
Keep only emergency fund in FDs.
Rest of it must be moved to better options.

Shares are good but risky if not monitored.
Avoid doing direct equity investing without proper research.
You must have a clear exit and review strategy.
Do not over-allocate to direct equity.

Mutual funds are the best vehicle for long-term goals.
But only if you choose the right ones.

Problems with Index Funds and Direct Plans
If your mutual funds are index funds, stop them.
Index funds give average returns.
They don’t protect during market crashes.
They don’t adapt to changing market cycles.
They lack downside protection.
They don't generate alpha returns.

Active funds are better for wealth creation.
They are managed by skilled fund managers.
They beat benchmarks over long periods.
They also offer better downside control.

If you are investing in direct plans, rethink now.
They look cheaper but come with many hidden risks.
You don’t get support, guidance, or timely rebalancing.
You will miss switching when market conditions change.
You don’t have a Certified Financial Planner’s help.
This may cause goal mismatch or wrong fund choices.

Instead, invest through regular plans with MFD + CFP support.
They guide you every year.
They help align goals, risk profile, and asset allocation.
They also offer behavioural support during bad market times.

For a big goal like early retirement, you cannot take chances.

Where You Should Invest From Now
You are already saving Rs. 50,000 monthly.
This is a strong habit.
But this is not enough alone.

You must build a diversified equity mutual fund portfolio.
You should include:

Large cap funds

Flexi cap funds

Multi cap funds

Select mid cap funds

Hybrid equity savings funds

Keep 10–15% in debt mutual funds as buffer.
Review your portfolio every 12 months.
Rebalance if any category goes out of proportion.

Don’t touch your retirement corpus before age 46.
Keep a separate portfolio for short-term needs.
Avoid mixing goals like car, travel, marriage, with retirement funds.

Step-by-Step Actions to Take
Let’s now look at the specific steps.

Continue Rs. 50,000 SIP every month

Increase SIP by 10% every year

Shift FD corpus to equity or hybrid funds slowly

Monitor shares – sell underperforming ones gradually

Don’t increase lifestyle expenses suddenly

Don’t borrow for luxury purposes

Avoid real estate or gold investments now

Avoid index funds and direct mutual funds

Invest only via MFD and CFP with yearly review

Maintain Rs. 2 to 3 lakhs as emergency fund

Take term insurance if dependents exist

Take health insurance if not already taken

Keep a written goal plan with 3-year checkpoints

Track your net worth every year

With this system, your retirement goal becomes real and measurable.

What You Must Not Do
It’s also important to avoid certain mistakes:

Don’t take personal loans to invest more

Don’t stop SIPs during market falls

Don’t mix emergency fund with retirement fund

Don’t keep funds idle in savings account

Don’t take advice from social media

Don’t invest in fancy products without full understanding

Don’t ignore tax rules on mutual fund redemptions

Don’t ignore the power of compounding

Many people lose wealth due to bad discipline.
Discipline is more important than high return.

Final Insights
You are starting early with a strong mindset.
At age 31, you already have Rs. 28 lakhs corpus.
You are investing Rs. 50,000 monthly.
Your target is to retire in 15 years.

You must now:

Build a retirement corpus of Rs. 5–6 crores

Avoid index and direct funds

Use only actively managed regular funds

Get help from a Certified Financial Planner

Track your wealth and adjust SIPs every year

Don’t let market noise distract your goal

Stay patient and focused for 15 years

Don’t touch your retirement corpus early

With this plan and discipline, you can retire at 46.
You will also live with peace of mind till 80.
Your goals are possible with the right system and support.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment