Beyond our personal savings, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) offers an alternative path to ensure we have adequate funds for retirement. Accumulating RM100,000 by the age of 35 is achievable for some, though reaching close to RM2 million at that age seems far less common. Yet, a Malaysian woman recently shared her story of achieving RM1.9 million in EPF savings by 35, sparking viral discussions on Reddit and X.

In the post, the anonymous woman attributed her financial milestone to a high-paying job, though she didn't disclose specifics. She emphasized consistency, explaining, “I’ve been with the same company since graduation, progressing through promotions and raises rather than job hopping.”

How did she build such impressive savings by 35? Relying on EPF contributions alone wasn’t enough; she also made additional voluntary contributions.

Another crucial factor was refraining from any EPF withdrawals. “I’ve never withdrawn from my EPF, even though I became eligible once I reached the RM1 million mark,” she noted.

Lastly, compounding played a major role. She shared that while it took her a decade to save her first RM1 million, she reached the second million in just three years. “My dividends alone last year were RM80,000, and they keep growing.”

In the comments, she added that her monthly income reaches RM50,000, with annual bonuses between RM200,000 and RM300,000.