IIM grad, wealth manager has a shocking revelation for people with Rs 1-2 lakh monthly expenses: ‘You’ll need Rs 40 crore by the time…’

The question of how much wealth is required to maintain a comfortable lifestyle after the age of 60 often sparks debate, but a recent estimate by Sandeep Jethwani, co-founder of Dezerv, has drawn widespread attention for its scale. During a discussion on the The Money Mindset hosted by Sonia Shenoy, he suggested that an individual aiming to retire at 60 would need a corpus of around ₹40 crore, assuming current monthly expenses fall between ₹1 lakh and ₹2 lakh.

The conversation unfolded when Shenoy used her own financial situation as a reference point to better understand retirement planning. Approaching 40, she shared that her household spending hovers around ₹2 lakh per month and sought clarity on how much she would need to accumulate over the next two decades to sustain a similar lifestyle. In response, Jethwani estimated a requirement of ₹40 crore, clarifying that this figure excludes the value of one’s primary residence and personal vehicle.

He further elaborated that this projected corpus is meant to cover all foreseeable expenses in the future, including lifestyle needs, family responsibilities, and potential financial obligations. According to him, for a typical urban middle-to-upper-middle-class household in India, such a figure could serve as a reasonable benchmark when accounting for rising costs over time.


Shenoy reacted to the estimate by pointing out how substantial the number appears, especially considering that even achieving a net worth of ₹1 crore remains a significant milestone for many individuals. Jethwani acknowledged this reality, agreeing that accumulating such wealth is not easy for the majority.

When sharing the discussion on social media, Shenoy admitted that she had initially expected the retirement requirement to be closer to ₹10 crore. However, she explained that factors such as inflation, gradual increases in lifestyle spending, and unforeseen medical expenses could significantly inflate the amount needed over the years. She emphasised that individuals in their late 30s or early 40s, particularly those living in metropolitan cities with monthly expenses in the ₹1–2 lakh range, may need to aim for a much larger financial cushion by the time they retire.

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The estimate quickly sparked intense reactions online. Many users expressed disbelief at the scale of the suggested corpus, questioning the assumptions behind it. Some argued that by retirement age, major expenses like children’s education would likely no longer be relevant, and that a retirement period of two to three decades might not justify such a high figure. Others criticised the estimate as being disconnected from the realities faced by most people, suggesting that it may only apply to individuals accustomed to highly affluent lifestyles rather than those seeking a modest, comfortable retirement.