Why You Should Start at 25, Not 45

The single most important factor in retirement planning is not how much you earn — it is when you start. Rs 5,000 per month invested from age 25 at 12% returns becomes Rs 1.76 crore at age 60. The same Rs 5,000 started at 35 becomes only Rs 49 lakhs. Starting 10 years earlier creates 3.6 times more wealth with the same monthly investment. This is the magic of compounding — your returns earn returns, which earn more returns. The earlier you start, the less you need to invest monthly to reach the same goal. Waiting is the most expensive financial mistake you can make.