From ₹9,800 First Salary to ₹1.03 Crore at 35: How Smart Saving, SIPs and Rising Income Built One Engineer’s Wealth

How an Engineer Turned a ₹9,800 Salary Into ₹1.03 Crore

Building a crore-sized investment portfolio does not always require a huge salary from the beginning, a perfect stock pick or an inheritance.

The financial journey of 35-year-old engineer Mayuresh Jadav from Pune shows how increasing income, systematic investing, employee provident fund contributions and financial discipline can gradually create substantial wealth.

According to the personal financial journey reported by Financial Express, Jadav began his career in 2013 with a monthly salary of just ₹9,800. By 2026, his annual income had risen to around ₹40 lakh and his financial assets had reached approximately ₹1.03 crore.

What makes his story particularly interesting is that he was not investing every rupee he earned. He supported his family, contributed toward his sister's wedding, serviced loans and even purchased a property whose rental income is used to support his retired parents.

His experience offers several practical lessons for salaried investors in Nepal and India.

The Biggest Wealth-Building Lesson: Grow Your Income

Jadav's first salary was only ₹9,800 per month.

His reported income progression was approximately:

His income therefore increased dramatically over his career.

Rather than focusing exclusively on finding the highest-return investment, his experience highlights another powerful wealth-building principle:

Increasing your earning capacity can dramatically increase your ability to save and invest.

As salary increased, his investment contributions increased as well.

For investors learning about the share market, mutual funds, SIPs and long-term wealth creation, this is an important lesson: investment knowledge matters, but so does building the income that funds your investment portfolio.

If you want to understand investing and the stock market systematically, explore share market training in Nepal.

How His SIP Grew From ₹2,500 to ₹70,000

Jadav reportedly began his first proper SIP in April 2017 with approximately ₹2,500 per month in an ELSS fund.

Instead of immediately committing a very large amount, he gradually increased his investment.

His reported SIP progression looked roughly like this:

• 2017: ₹2,500 per month
• Within six months: ₹5,000
• 2018: Around ₹10,000
• Later: ₹25,000 and then ₹40,000
• By 2026: Around ₹70,000 per month

The key lesson is not the exact amount of his SIP.

The bigger lesson is step-up investing.

When income rises, investors can consider increasing their monthly investment rather than allowing every salary increment to disappear into lifestyle inflation.

For someone starting with a modest salary, even a small SIP can become the foundation of a larger investment habit.

He Did Not Have a Perfect Financial Plan

Interestingly, Jadav's journey was far from perfect.

He reportedly spent the first four years of his working life without investing. He also purchased an insurance policy without fully understanding the product and later exited it after several years, receiving substantially less than the total amount he had paid.

The lesson is simple:

Never invest in a financial product simply because someone you know recommends it.

Before buying an insurance policy, mutual fund, stock, bond or other financial product, understand:

• What you are buying
• How it generates returns
• What fees apply
• What risks are involved
• When you can withdraw
• What happens if you exit early
• Whether it matches your financial objective

Financial literacy can prevent expensive mistakes.

His ₹1.03 Crore Portfolio Was Spread Across Different Assets

One of the most interesting aspects of his financial journey is the composition of his reported financial assets.

According to the Financial Express report, his approximately ₹1.03 crore financial portfolio consisted of roughly:

This demonstrates that wealth accumulation did not come from one investment alone.

Instead, several financial habits worked together.

EPF Quietly Became a Major Part of His Wealth

One of the strongest lessons from this story is the role played by the Employee Provident Fund (EPF).

Approximately ₹32 lakh of the reported ₹1.03 crore financial assets came from EPF.

That is nearly one-third of the financial corpus.

The investor did not need to actively trade the EPF every day. Regular payroll contributions accumulated over many years.

This illustrates the power of automatic investing and long-term compounding.

For salaried employees, retirement contributions can become a significant part of long-term wealth even when they are not actively managing the money every month.

The Property That Became a Source of Support for His Parents

Jadav also purchased a 2 BHK apartment in Baner, Pune.

The property reportedly cost approximately ₹57 lakh when purchased in 2018. His parents contributed around ₹8 lakh toward the down payment, while he took a home loan of around ₹40 lakh.

The property is now estimated to be worth around ₹75 lakh and generates approximately ₹28,000 per month in rent.

But there is an unusual part to this arrangement.

He does not use the rental income for himself.

The reported rental income goes toward supporting his retired parents in Nashik, while Jadav himself continues to rent a home in Thane.

This demonstrates that financial decisions cannot always be judged purely by investment returns.

An asset can serve both a financial and family objective.

Paying the Home Loan Faster

Another interesting part of the property strategy was his approach to the home loan.

Although the property was under construction and the bank had initially disbursed only part of the loan, he reportedly began paying a full EMI of around ₹35,000 instead of limiting himself to the lower pre-EMI interest payment.

He subsequently used bonuses and additional payments to reduce the principal and eventually cleared the loan in 2026.

For borrowers, the broader lesson is worth considering:

Extra payments toward principal can potentially reduce the interest burden and shorten the loan tenure.

However, borrowers should always check their loan terms, interest rates, tax implications and alternative investment opportunities before deciding whether to prepay debt.

Supporting Family While Building Wealth

This is perhaps the most relatable part of the story.

Jadav was not investing with unlimited disposable income.

He reportedly:

• Supported his parents
• Contributed around ₹7–8 lakh toward his sister's wedding
• Managed education, car and personal loans
• Serviced a home loan
• Continued investing
• Built an emergency fund
• Maintained a diversified investment portfolio

This is a reminder that personal finance is not simply about maximizing investment returns.

Real financial planning involves balancing:

Income + expenses + family responsibilities + debt + investments + emergency savings + future goals.

What Salaried Investors Can Learn From This ₹1.03 Crore Journey

The story provides several lessons that can also be applied by investors in Nepal.

1. Start Before You Feel Ready

Waiting until you have a large salary can delay wealth creation.

Starting with a manageable amount can establish the investment habit.

2. Increase Investments With Income

A ₹2,500 SIP may not look impressive.

But gradually increasing it to ₹70,000 creates a completely different investment engine.

3. Invest Automatically

Automatic monthly contributions reduce the temptation to spend the money first.

4. Focus on Earning More

Career development, professional skills and income growth can have a major effect on long-term wealth.

5. Build an Emergency Fund

Investing aggressively without liquidity can create problems when unexpected expenses arise.

6. Understand Every Financial Product

Never buy an investment simply because a friend, relative or salesperson recommends it.

7. Diversification Matters

His reported portfolio included mutual funds, EPF, US stocks, Indian stocks, gold and fixed deposits.

Investors should understand the risks and characteristics of each asset before deciding how much to allocate.

8. Family Goals Are Part of Financial Planning

Supporting parents or helping with family responsibilities does not necessarily mean financial progress has failed.

A financial plan should reflect real-life priorities.

What This Means for Nepalese Investors

The numbers in this story are from India, so Nepalese investors should not simply copy the exact portfolio.

Nepal has its own financial system, regulations, investment products, taxation framework and capital market structure.

However, the underlying principles are widely applicable:

Increase income → control lifestyle inflation → save consistently → invest regularly → diversify appropriately → avoid unnecessary debt → remain invested for the long term.

For people interested in learning about the Nepal share market, NEPSE, technical analysis, fundamental analysis, trading and investment strategies, structured financial education can be useful.

You can learn more about share market training in Nepal through Sarbaguna.

SIP vs Stock Picking: What Is the Bigger Lesson?

The most important takeaway from this journey is not that SIPs are always better than stocks.

Different investment approaches have different levels of risk, complexity and suitability.

The more important lesson is consistency.

Trying to identify the perfect stock or the perfect entry point can distract investors from the fundamentals of wealth creation.

A disciplined investor can instead focus on:

• Regular investing
• Long-term goals
• Asset allocation
• Risk management
• Portfolio review
• Increasing savings as income grows
• Avoiding emotional decisions

Investors who want to participate directly in the stock market should first understand fundamental analysis, technical analysis, risk management and portfolio construction.

The FIRE Goal: When Work Becomes a Choice

At 35, Jadav reportedly has approximately ₹1.03 crore in financial assets, has cleared his home loan and invests around ₹80,000 per month, excluding EPF contributions.

His long-term objective is financial independence.

The concept commonly known as FIRE — Financial Independence, Retire Early — does not necessarily mean stopping work at a young age.

For many investors, it means reaching a financial position where employment becomes a choice rather than an absolute necessity.

That requires:

A growing income + controlled expenses + high savings rate + disciplined investing + sufficient time.

The Biggest Takeaway From the ₹9,800-to-₹1.03-Crore Story

The headline numbers are attractive: ₹9,800 first salary, ₹70,000 monthly SIP and ₹1.03 crore in financial assets.

But the real story is not about one magical investment.

It is about thirteen years of increasing income, gradual SIP increases, EPF accumulation, saving, debt repayment, family responsibilities and learning from financial mistakes.

For a young investor, the message is straightforward:

You do not need to start rich to build wealth. You need to start, keep learning and increase your investment capacity over time.

The same principle applies to investors building wealth through the Nepalese financial market.

If your goal is to understand NEPSE, share market investing, stock analysis, trading and investment strategies, explore Sarbaguna's share market training in Nepal and build your knowledge before putting your money at risk.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How did the engineer build ₹1.03 crore by age 35?

According to the reported financial journey, his wealth came from multiple sources including mutual funds, EPF, US stocks, Indian stocks, gold/SGBs and emergency funds. His income also increased substantially during his career.

How much was his first salary?

His reported first monthly salary was ₹9,800 in 2013.

How much SIP does he invest now?

His reported monthly SIP increased from ₹2,500 in 2017 to approximately ₹70,000 per month by 2026.

How much did his mutual fund portfolio grow to?

The reported value of his mutual fund holdings was approximately ₹40 lakh.

How much EPF did he accumulate?

His reported EPF balance was approximately ₹32 lakh, making it one of the largest components of his financial assets.

What is the main lesson for SIP investors?

One major lesson is to start with an affordable amount and increase the investment as income rises instead of waiting until you can invest a large amount.

Can Nepalese investors follow the same strategy?

The underlying principles—saving regularly, increasing investments with income, maintaining an emergency fund, managing debt and investing for the long term—can be useful in Nepal. However, investors should use products and strategies appropriate to Nepal's financial market and regulations.

Is SIP investment risk-free?

No. SIP is simply a method of investing a fixed amount periodically. If the underlying investment is market-linked, its value can rise or fall. Investors should understand the risks before investing.

Final Word

A ₹9,800 starting salary did not prevent this engineer from building substantial wealth.

The journey demonstrates that income growth, disciplined saving, systematic investing and time can work together to create financial independence.

For Nepalese investors, the lesson is equally relevant: do not focus only on finding the next multibagger stock. First build financial knowledge, develop disciplined investment habits and understand how risk and returns work.

For professional guidance and learning resources, visit Sarbaguna.com for share market training in Nepal, stock market education, trading education and investment-related learning resources.

Contact: Deep Thapa
WhatsApp: 9849290806