Dreaming of sipping coconut water on a beach at 40? That ‘early retirement’ hashtag might be closer to reality than you think. For millennials, F.I.R.E. (Financial Independence, Retire Early) isn’t just a trend; it’s a goal.
As Santosh Joseph from Germinate Investor Services puts it, “Today, FIRE is a bucket list. FIRE is a goal.” But can it really be achieved? After all, F.I.R.E. isn’t just about cutting expenses—it’s about strategic planning and smart investing. And in India, where inflation, cultural expectations, and family responsibilities often dictate financial decisions, the path to F.I.R.E. can be particularly tricky.
The allure of F.I.R.E. isn’t about hoarding wealth; it’s about freedom—the ability to choose how you spend your time. Joseph adds, “Everybody, irrespective of what they’re doing, they’re enamoured by this idea of not having to work… they want to have the option to not do it anymore.” But how feasible is this dream in a country where financial priorities often extend beyond the self?