₹24,000 monthly SIP can grow into ₹6 crore:Increasing your investment by 10% annually can help you reach that goal in 22 years

With disciplined planning and the right investment strategy, building a retirement corpus worth several crores is achievable. If a 34-year-old investor starts a monthly SIP of ₹24,000 and continues it for 22 years, the investment can potentially grow into a fund of up to ₹6 crore. Experts say investing alone is not enough. Gradually increasing the investment amount each year and diversifying across asset classes—such as equity and gold—are key to long-term wealth creation. 10% Annual Step-Up Can Double the Corpus According to Pankaj Mathpal, MD, Optima Money Managers, a monthly SIP of ₹24,000 delivering an average annual return of 12% can generate a corpus of around ₹3 crore over 22 years. However, if the SIP amount is increased by 10% every year, the corpus can grow to nearly ₹6 crore. Since income typically rises over time, a step-up approach helps investors beat inflation more effectively. Diversified Portfolio Across Market Caps The portfolio includes six mutual funds, with a SIP of ₹4,001 each, covering all market segments: Experts believe such diversification across large-, mid-, and small-cap funds helps balance risk and returns. Retirement Funds’ Lock-In Aids Long-Term Discipline Solution-oriented funds like the ICICI Prudential Retirement Fund come with a five-year lock-in, which experts say is suitable for long-term goals such as retirement. More important than the fund’s name is its asset allocation and investment discipline. These funds function much like flexicap funds and support diversification. Gold Adds Stability to the Portfolio Adding gold can help reduce portfolio volatility. Experts recommend allocating a small portion of investments to gold mutual funds or gold ETFs. Gold typically acts as a hedge during inflationary periods and market downturns. A separate gold SIP of ₹2,000–₹4,000 can further strengthen long-term returns. Expert Advice: Review Your Portfolio Regularly Mathpal emphasizes that discipline is the biggest challenge in long-term investing. With a 22-year horizon, portfolios must be reviewed periodically. If any fund consistently underperforms, adjustments may be necessary. However, maintaining diversification and following the step-up strategy can help investors comfortably build a substantial retirement corpus. ​