KUALA LUMPUR: While financial stability can be a challenge for many Malaysians, one woman has managed to amass nearly RM2 million in her retirement fund before reaching her forties.
In a recent viral post on X (formerly Twitter), Kewangan Graduan shared the story of a 35-year-old Malaysian woman who accumulated almost RM2 million in her Employees Provident Fund (EPF) savings.
The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, shared her insights into this savings journey on Reddit.
Without revealing her job role or industry, she attributed her financial achievement in part to her high-paying job, where her monthly salary averages RM50,000 and annual bonuses range from RM200,000 to RM300,000.
"On bonus months alone, my EPF contribution is around RM100,000," she said.
The woman also credited her financial success to three main strategies: staying with a single employer, making voluntary contributions to her EPF beyond mandatory deductions, and refraining from making any early withdrawals.
She shared that these practices, along with compound interest, helped her accumulate her first million over ten years and double that in only three years.
"I have never touched my EPF, even though I could withdraw anything above RM1 million. It took me 10 years to reach RM1 million but only three more to reach the second million. My dividend alone was RM80,000 last year, and this will continue to grow." Last year, her total contribution, including self-contributions and dividends, amounted to nearly RM400,000.
The post has sparked diverse reactions from the public. Many were impressed by her financial achievements, but some raised questions about her high salary, job loyalty, and the broader financial climate for most Malaysians.
Some users found her story inspiring, viewing it as a motivational blueprint for financial success and applauding her dedication, particularly her commitment to staying with a single employer, which allowed her to benefit from promotions and salary increments without job-hopping.
"Great job for being financially secure. Let's ensure the whole country can achieve this level of financial security."
However, there were also concerns over the disparity between the woman's income level and that of the average Malaysian worker.
One user highlighted that while her salary and bonuses made saving such a large amount feasible for her, these earnings are well beyond what most Malaysians receive.
"Good motivation, but realistically, most average earners cannot relate to RM50,000 monthly and RM100,000 bonuses. Not exactly the norm."
The post has since garnered 1.4 million views and 88,187 likes at the time of writing.