Early retirement means stopping full-time work before the conventional retirement age—often in your 40s or 50s—because you have enough passive income or savings to fund your lifestyle without a salary.

How People Achieve It

• FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) — Save 50–70% of income, invest in index funds, retire in 10–20 years
• Coast FIRE — Save enough early, then work at a relaxed pace while investments grow
• Barista FIRE — Semi-retire with part-time or low-stress work covering basics
• Fat FIRE — Retire with a large corpus for a comfortable lifestyle

India-Specific Challenges

• Healthcare costs before 60 (no employer insurance)
• No social security until 60
• Family obligations (parents, children)
• Inflation and currency risk

See our FIRE India guide for a complete roadmap.