How to Build a ₹50 Lakh Corpus by Age 40
The exact monthly SIP needed at different starting ages, and the asset mix that gets you there.
₹50 lakh is a popular early-life milestone — enough for a down payment in tier 1 cities, a child's foreign education seed, or a long sabbatical. The SIP you need depends almost entirely on how early you start.
Required Monthly SIP at 12% Expected Return
| Current age | Years to 40 | Monthly SIP needed |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 15 | ₹10,000 |
| 28 | 12 | ₹15,500 |
| 30 | 10 | ₹21,750 |
| 32 | 8 | ₹31,500 |
| 35 | 5 | ₹61,000 |
Try your own number: Goal SIP Calculator → https://calculatordesk.in/goal-sip-calculator
Asset Mix
- 10-15 years to goal: 90% equity index funds + 10% debt
- 5-10 years: 70% equity + 30% debt
- < 5 years: shift to 50:50 and rebalance annually
Step-Up to Make It Realistic
Most people can't start with ₹21,750 SIP at age 30, but they can start at ₹10,000 and step up 10-15% a year. A ₹10,000 SIP stepped up 15% annually reaches ₹50 lakh in roughly 11 years at 12% — without ever feeling the pinch.
Model step-up: Step-Up SIP Calculator → https://calculatordesk.in/step-up-sip-calculator
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 12% return realistic over 10-15 years?
Nifty 50 has delivered 11-13% CAGR over rolling 15-year periods historically. 12% is a reasonable but not guaranteed planning assumption. Recalculate yearly and adjust SIP if returns lag.
Should I include EPF in this ₹50 lakh?
EPF is locked till retirement, so do not count it toward an at-40 lumpsum goal. Build this corpus separately in equity mutual funds.
What about real estate vs MF for this goal?
For a ₹50 lakh target with 10-15 year horizon, equity mutual funds win on returns, liquidity, and transaction costs. Real estate makes sense only for the home you live in.