
Will your SIPs and EPF get you to ₹10 crore in 15 years?
Based on your current equity and EPF investments and monthly contributions, your corpus is likely to reach around ₹ 6 crore in 15 years. This estimate assumes annual returns of 12% from equities and equity mutual funds; and 7% from EPF.
To reach your ₹ 10 crore goal, you'll need to increase your monthly investments. If possible, adopt a step-up SIP strategy, increasing your SIP amount by around 12% each year. This method allows you to adjust with your income growth and maintain cash flow flexibility while moving closer to your target.
Your current SIPs are heavily focused on mid- and small-cap funds. While these have performed well recently and can offer higher returns, they also carry more risk. Given your long-term horizon, you should consider diversifying by adding large-cap or flexi-cap funds to your portfolio to manage risk better.
As for lump sum investments, timing matters. Many investors recently chose to park funds in liquid or arbitrage funds and used Systematic Transfer Plans (STPs) over 6–9 months into equity funds. This approach helped them average out costs amid market volatility.
Whatever strategy you adopt, continue your SIPs consistently—regardless of market conditions.

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Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Tax-free, risk-free, and effort-free. But CA says many employees make mistakes that cost lakhs in lost savings
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Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category healthcare Finance CXO Data Analytics Data Science Product Management Artificial Intelligence Others Leadership Data Science MCA Healthcare Cybersecurity Management MBA Degree Operations Management Design Thinking Digital Marketing Technology Project Management Public Policy others PGDM Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML Healthcare Management India Starts on undefined Get Details — Finance_Bareek (@Finance_Bareek) For the financial year 2024–25, EPF contributions earn an annual interest of 8.15%. These returns are not only guaranteed by the government but also entirely exempt from income tax. With no requirement for personal effort, trading knowledge, or app-based management, EPF emerges as one of the most secure ways to accumulate retirement funds. The Long-Term Value: Simple Calculations with Major Impact Kaushik explained that an individual with a basic monthly salary of Rs 40,000 contributes Rs 4,800 to EPF. Their employer adds another Rs 4,800, making the total monthly contribution Rs 9,600. At the current interest rate of 8.15%, this individual could accumulate Rs 1.02 crore in 25 years—without including future salary increases. This significant sum is built passively, without the stress of tracking markets or fearing losses. Unlike investments requiring active management, EPF simply compounds in the background, steadily building wealth while you go about your daily life. Why EPF Outperforms Many Investment Alternatives There are several reasons why EPF outshines traditional savings and even many stock market portfolios, stated Kaushik: The interest earned is tax-free It typically offers higher returns than fixed deposits It is not exposed to stock market volatility It builds a habit of disciplined saving The employer's contribution accelerates compounding It eliminates emotional investment decisions such as panic-selling or timing the market These factors combined make EPF an incredibly strong foundation for long-term wealth creation . Common Mistakes That Cost You Dearly Despite the numerous advantages, many individuals fail to fully leverage the EPF system. Some of the most frequent and financially damaging missteps include Withdrawing EPF funds prematurely Neglecting dormant or past EPF accounts Not activating their Universal Account Number (UAN) Failing to update Know Your Customer (KYC) details Ignoring EPF balances after switching jobs These mistakes often lead to lost savings that could have significantly boosted one's retirement fund. When Is EPF Withdrawal Allowed? While EPF is designed as a retirement fund, there are specific scenarios where early withdrawals are permitted. These include: Funding a marriage (self or family) Paying for medical treatment Buying or constructing a house Pursuing education Facing unemployment for more than two months Permanent relocation to another country Even with these allowances, early withdrawal should be a carefully considered decision given its long-term impact on retirement savings. Who Should Invest in EPF? EPF is mandatory for salaried individuals whose basic income is ₹15,000 or less and who work in organisations with 20 or more employees. However, even high-income earners can voluntarily participate by informing their human resources department to activate or maintain their UAN. Choosing to stay invested in EPF can help high earners diversify their portfolio with a low-risk, stable growth component. The Debate: Stocks vs. EPF While stock investments may offer higher returns for those who are financially savvy, they come with considerable risks and require active monitoring, said the CA. For the average person unfamiliar with market fluctuations, EPF offers a reliable, low-stress path to wealth creation. Choosing stocks without expertise is akin to saying you prefer homemade meals but eating out daily—it sounds appealing but doesn't reflect consistent long-term discipline. EPF's Real Strength Lies in Stability Ultimately, EPF is not about exciting returns or beating the market. It's about providing Reliable, tax-free growth A steady stream of contributions from your employer Financial security without the stress of managing investments A disciplined savings routine Long-term peace of mind In an investment landscape full of noise and volatility, EPF stands out as a quiet, consistent performer — and a powerful tool for anyone aiming for a secure and early retirement.


Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Labour ministry notifies minimum assurance benefit criteria for EDLI subscribers
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Economic Times
4 days ago
- Economic Times
EPF withdrawals made easier for PF members but this impacts your retirement corpus
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Some had neither worked long enough to build an adequate corpus to rely on during uncertain times, nor were they young enough to have the safety net of working parents to support 2020, the pandemic drove cashstarved millennials to break their EPFO piggy bank as it provided immediate liquidity without baggage. Cut to the present: faced with a worry of rising defaults and increased debt of individuals, banks sharpened their screening process and became more cautious when giving loans. According to the RBI's latest report, bank credit in the personal loans segment grew 13.7% during the fortnight ended 30 May, compared with 19.3% in the corresponding year-ago period. The central bank attributed this largely to moderation in growth of 'other personal loans', 'vehicle loans' and 'credit card outstanding'. This essentially means the public has less hard cash. For some millennials, this liquidity crunch was a nudge to again dip into their retirement kitty. Relaxations offered by the EPFO have made this easy. Subscribers can file Form-31 citing reasons such as 'Illness', 'Natural Calamities', 'Power Cut', among others. With the UMANG app, this process is very similar and reduced to barely a few taps of one's introduction of the Universal Account Number (UAN) system in 2014 has also made it easier for subscribers to access their EPF accounts across multiple employers. 'However, in cases where an individual's EPF history spans pre-UAN periods or involves outdated employer records, withdrawals can still be challenging and may require manual intervention,' says Amey Kanekar, founder of fintech startup FinRight Technologies, which streamlines PF withdrawals. Exhausting all savings It is this ease of access that has brought, among some EPFO members, a lack of Massey is part of this segment. The first time the 34-year-old withdrew money from his PF account was in late 2021, months after the devastating second Covid spent the last 10 years working in various companies in Delhi, he is now pursuing an MBA in marketing from a university in Birmingham, England. Massey took an education loan to fund his pursuit. For related expenses, however, he cleaned out nearly 90% of his PF money—almost Rs.2 lakh—and cashed in all his equities. 'I needed cash to buy the plane ticket and other stuff. I withdrew around 40% the first time in March 2024 and then the rest after a few days. I filled in 'Illness' as the reason on the EPFO website,' he explains. Nadiya Hasan, 30Teacher First withdrawal: 2019, during her first year of employment Latest withdrawal: April 2024,for regular personal expenses Multiple small withdrawals across 6 yearsAsked why he didn't invest in systematic investment plans (SIPs) or other mutual funds, Massey says, 'Unless I were saving large sums, I didn't feel there was a point in putting away small amounts in SIPs as the returns would've been meagre.'In Varanasi, media professional Shashwat Sajal, 37, has been more liberal with his PF withdrawals. He too went down this path in 2021 during the pandemic to fund his father's medical expenses and thankfully it bore fruit. Subsequently, he had to lean on these savings more frequently—at least twice every year in batches of Rs.20,000-25,000, with 'Illness' being the reason he gave on the EPFO portal every time.'I needed the money to meet household expenses and pay for some further health issues that my father faced,' says Sajal, who also liquidated all his stocks just as Massey had. When he last used the EPFO website in December 2024 to try and withdraw Rs.5,000, Sajal's claim was restricted by the portal to Rs.1,500. Erick Massey, 34Marketing student First withdrawal: Late 2021, after second Covid-19 wave Latest withdrawal: March 2024, expenses related to higher education overseas 3 large withdrawals across 4 years Impulsive spending Then, there are younger EPFO members like Nadiya Hasan, who confesses to being a English teacher at a private school in Delhi, she had been taking out small amounts using the UMANG app since 2019, when she entered the in 2021, Hasan had to withdraw a major amount following a near-debilitating health emergency, albeit not due to Covid. She recovered soon and returned to teaching 3rd-5th graders English but developed a habit of treating her PF account almost as a current account.'I used my PF money for everyday expenses for a long time,' she admits. 'The UMANG app is too easy to use. I used to raise claims by submitting various reasons. If one was accepted and it couldn't be submitted again for some time, I used to simply give another.'Hasan's expenditures were diverse— from buying stationery to engage her pupils, to pampering herself with impulsive e-commerce purchases. If her salary account fell short, she would transfer her PF money into a separate account to use as she saw fit. And she did it almost on a quarterly basis. AMEY KANEKARFOUNDER, FINRIGHT TECHNOLOGIES Note: Ideally, individuals should build a dedicated emergency fund covering 6–12 months of expenses in high-liquidity instruments like liquid mutual funds or sweep-in fixed deposits. These alternatives may be more suitable than depleting long-term retirement savings. She, however, has no qualms in admitting that her spending habits could be a sort of compensatory mechanism after she got a new lease of life following her hospitalisation. 'I live with my parents and have restrained myself financially for most of my life. But when I began earning, it gave me a newfound financial freedom,' Hasan adds. A blind spot With limited curbs in place, there's growing concern that EPFO members may misuse this retirement instrument as a fallback for routine expenses, rather than preserving it to support a secure post-employment life as originally is ideal for most members to keep their PF untouched and allow the deposits to accumulate interest over several years, so that this corpus stands one in good stead post-retirement. Kanekar cautions that using the PF as a recurring liquidity source defeats its primary purpose as a long-term retirement safety net. 'Frequent withdrawals erode compounding benefits and could severely compromise retirement readiness.' Shashwat Sajal, 37Media professional First withdrawal: 2021, during second COVID-19 wave Latest withdrawal: December 2024, for expenses on household and father's health Over 6 withdrawals across 4 yearsHe also says that the ease of withdrawal through the 'Illness' option isn't necessarily a loophole, but a 'compliance blind spot'. 'Introducing stricter documentation will increase the operational workload for the EPFO,' he notes. 'Moreover, the 6x wage cap already serves as a safeguard against large or excessive illness-related withdrawals.''Ideally, individuals should build a dedicated emergency fund covering 6–12 months of expenses in high-liquidity instruments like liquid mutual funds or sweep-in fixed deposits. These alternatives may be more suitable than depleting long-term retirement savings,' Kanekar a few thousand bucks, Massey's PF account is still active though, to be of use some day when he returns to meanwhile, has sworn to exercise restraint and not touch this part of his is mending her ways, admittedly, having not taken a rupee out of her PF account since April. Asked if she ever considered investing in mutual funds or other instruments, she says she never felt the need to do so.