A recent HSBC global survey has found that wealthy investors in India now believe they need a retirement fund of Rs 3.5 crore (around $401,000) for a comfortable life after retirement. This target has slightly increased from last year. The survey, which included 1,006 affluent Indian investors out of 10,797 respondents from 12 countries, shows that rising prices and uncertainty in the global economy have made people more serious about saving for the future.

Affluent investors are people who have between $100,000 and $2,000,000 in investable assets. In India, many such investors are now carefully planning their money to deal with inflation and ensure they remain financially independent after retirement. According to the report, “a retirement fund of Rs 3.5 crore is now considered essential by affluent Indian investors.”

Almost 90% of these investors said high inflation and economic uncertainty are the biggest reasons they are changing their investment plans. However, they still remain confident. In fact, 92% of the respondents believe they will meet their short-term financial goals within the next three years.

How are Indian investors changing their investment style?

There has been a clear shift in the way Indian investors are managing their portfolios. People are now moving their money away from cash. The percentage of cash in portfolios has fallen by 10 percentage points to 15%. On the other hand, investments in gold have increased by 7 percentage points, and investments in private equity and hedge funds have gone up by 4 percentage points. This shows that people are choosing assets that can perform better during inflation.

Mutual funds are still the most popular asset class, with 53% of respondents holding them. After that, 50% invest in direct stocks, and 39% hold physical gold. Newer options like private market funds and multi-asset solutions are also gaining interest, with 42% and 37% of investors showing interest in them.

When it comes to gathering financial knowledge, 66% of Indian investors use social media, and 50% watch online videos. But when it’s time to make real decisions, 66% trust professional wealth advisers or managers, and 41% take advice from social media influencers.

Even with inflation and uncertainty, 83% are confident about achieving their financial goals in 3–5 years, and 86% are confident about the next 5+ years. By aiming for Rs 3.5 crore and diversifying their investments, affluent Indians are preparing well for a secure retirement.

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