Yes, I know 16 Million can get you $320,000/y in passive income and in Indian Stock Exchange you can get 30-45% easily. But there are a few things you are forgetting --
1. You are forgetting the inflation. So lets say that you get 2% gain and the annual US Inflation Rate for the 12 months that ended in September, 2010 was 1.14% -- so your total gain is 0.86% in real value.
2. Then you are forgetting the taxes - here you will be paying roughly 30% of your income in taxes (well lets not make it complex by talking about tax saving - you will have to give some of your income in taxes!) which takes you gain down to 0.6% in real value.
3. You better be building some solid assets than just investing in high yield market investments. Stuff like stocks, bonds, real estate -- all were demonstrated to be capable of taking an ass raping in last few years. Best asset is usually your business -- you don't get that by "retiring" or "playing golf whole day".
4. Money is relative, understand that. If you are making 60K a year from a random job then $320,000 is a big amount for you. But then lets face it, you are not even going to have anything that you sell for 16 million -- unless you get very very lucky. But then you know the old saying - a fool and his money are soon parted.
If you are someone with a good business operation, making lets say 4 million a year -- then that 16 million is just 4 years worth of revenue at no growth. I am not sure what sort of entrepreneur would not want a business growing.
If you go to someone like Rupert Murdoch or Gates or Ellison or
Mittal (28.7 Billion worth of personal fortune) -- do you think they can "retire" on 16 million?
Seriously -- one of the biggest pet peeves of mine is when someone says they can retire on XYZ. You are really delusional if you actually believe that. Hell yeah, why even care to work to make that 16 million when you can easily retire on 60K annual for your current lifestyle?
I remember reading back in Fortune magazine when a reporter goes to a wallstreet trader and asks one of them why they are running after billions? If she made 100 million she would quit her job and retire on it. To that he replied - that is why you will never make 100 million in first place.
Hell, I am not saying that 16 million is a small number -- but if you plan to stick to that 16 million dollar figure and want to retire on it, you are not thinking right. In any case, enough blabbing and I am back to work.