From 8:4:3 Rule to Rule of 172 to Rule 555, 4 golden rules to plan your long-term investments better; learn with examples
Did you know that there are a few popular thumb rules when it comes to investments? These rules not only offer better clarity about key milestones but also help keep you motivated to stay patient as your money grows. Here’s a list of some of these rules—often referred to as rules of thumb by money managers and tax experts—that, if well understood, can help you plan and fine-tune your long-term investment strategy. Some of these rules are the Rule of 172, the Rule of 555, and the 8:4:3 rule.
Nobody knows your long-term financial goals better than you. However, certain mathematical rules can provide valuable perspectives on your long-term investments exactly when you need them. These rules not only offer better clarity about key milestones but also help keep you motivated to stay patient as your money grows. Here’s a list of some of these rules—often referred to as rules of thumb by money managers and tax experts—that, if well understood, can help you plan and fine-tune your long-term investment strategy.
These investment rules have stood the test of time. They provide valuable perspectives on your long-term investments precisely when you need them. Remember, these rules are only meant to support your understanding.
Understanding key investment principles
While nobody understands your long-term financial goals better than you, certain time-tested mathematical rules can offer crucial insights and clarity for your investments.
These rules not only clarify key milestones but also help you stay motivated and patient as your money grows.
Let's begin.
2 golden rules for mutual fund investments
When it comes to mutual fund investments, mastering certain principles can significantly enhance your financial growth and help you achieve long-term wealth.
Two essential rules to consider are the 8:4:3 rule and the Rule of 72.
Understanding Rule 8:4:3 for mutual fund investments
The 8:4:3 rule is a straightforward method for visualising the growth of your investments through compounding.
This principle helps you understand how your mutual fund investments can grow over time based on a fixed annual return.
With a standard annual return of 12 per cent, the rule suggests that your investment will double approximately every eight years.
Understanding Rule 8:4:3 for mutual fund investments
For example, if you start with Rs 1,000, it will become Rs 2,000 in eight years.
And it doesn't end there.
The next phase of the rule states that after the initial doubling, your investment will double again in the next four years, and then again in the subsequent three years.
Let's get back to the example. The Rs 2,000 will turn into Rs 4,000 in the next four years (after the initial eight years for Rs 1,000 to become Rs 2,000), totaling 12 years for this phase.
The next doubling will happen in three years. So, after the 12-year period explained above, the Rs 4,000 will take about three more years to grow into Rs 8,000 at the assumed return of 12 per cent per annum.
So all in all, Rs 1,000 grows into Rs 8,000 in 15 (8+4+3) years.
After all, it's the power of compounding that does the trick
Understanding the 8:4:3 rule is important as it elaborates beautifully how compounding can lead to substantial growth.
Your investment will quadruple in 15 years and grow eightfold in 21 years, demonstrating the power of long-term investment. That is the true power of compounding!
Understanding Rule of 72 for mutual fund investments
The Rule of 72 comes in handy in estimating how long it will take for your investment to double based on a given annual return rate.
Confused? Let's look at one example.
Understanding Rule of 72 for mutual fund investments
To use the Rule of 72, divide 72 by the annual interest rate or rate of return.
For example, if your expected return is 6 per cent, the rule gives 12 as the answer, which means that it will take 12 years for your investment to double at 6 per cent per annum.
Need another example? Suppose your expected rate of return is 10 per cent, then the formula returns 7.2. This means that your investment will take about 7.2 years to double at the annual return of 10 per cent.
Understanding Rule of 114
Simply put, this rule simply gives you an estimate of how long it will take for your money to triple.
Understanding Rule of 114
How does it work? Divide the number 114 by the annual interest rate or the expected rate of return.
For instance, if the annual return is 10 per cent, the result will be 11.4, which indicates that it will take 11.4 years for an investment to grow three times at the annual rate of return of 10 per cent.
Understanding Rule of 144
This popular rule explains the estimated time required for an investment to quadruple.
How does it work?
Basically, divide the number 144 by the annual rate of return or rate of interest, and the result will be the number of years required for the investment to grow 4x.
Understanding Rule of 144
If your expected annual return is 8 per cent, the formula returns 18.
This means that it takes about 18 years for an investment to grow 4x if it grows steadily at an annual return of 8 per cent.
Where to apply Rule of 114 and Rule of 144?
These rules are useful for projecting longer-term growth and understanding how different rates impact your investment’s ability to triple or quadruple.
Understanding Rule of 555
This formula explains how compounding works in SIPs.
The first 5 in the rule means to aim your retirement five years early at the age of 55, the second 5 means to increase your investment 5 per cent every year—known as a step-up SIP—and the last 5 means to make the corpus of Rs 5 crore. And most importantly, this will work only if you start investing as early as at the age of 25 years.
Understanding Rule of 555
The 555 Formula states that you begin your investing journey in mutual funds at the age of 25, invest for the following 30 years, raise your investment money by 5 per cent each year, and retire at the age of 55.
What is the power of compounding?
Compounding is the process where your investment earns interest on both the principal and the accumulated interest. This exponential growth is fundamental to wealth accumulation.