Starting a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) is one of the most effective ways to build long-term wealth. Yet, many investors underestimate the impact of time. The stories of Rohit and Raj show how just 5 extra years and ₹9 lakh more can create a life-changing difference.
Rohit began investing ₹15,000 every month through SIPs with an expected annual return of 12%. Over 15 years, his total investment amount stood at ₹27,00,000. Thanks to the power of compounding, his corpus stood at ₹75,68,640, out of which ₹48,68,640 represented estimated returns.
This outcome highlights how consistent investing can multiply wealth over time. However, Rohit chose to stop his SIP after 15 years, believing his financial goal was met.
Raj started at the same time and invested the same ₹15,000 monthly with the same 12% expected return. But instead of stopping at 15 years, he continued for 5 more years, contributing an additional ₹9,00,000, taking his total investment to ₹36,00,000.
After 20 years, Raj’s corpus grew to ₹1,49,87,219. His estimated corpus stood at ₹1,49,87,219 (Invested Amount ₹ 36,00,000, Est. Returns ₹ 1,13,87,219), nearly double what Rohit had. Just 5 extra years and ₹9 lakh more investment helped him build an additional corpus of ₹74,18,579
Raj’s success was not due to luck or higher returns, but because of time. Compounding works like a snowball; the longer it rolls, the bigger it becomes. The later years of an SIP contribute more to overall growth than the initial ones because returns start generating their own returns.
This exponential nature of compounding means that patience often pays more than larger monthly contributions.
A SIP calculator reveals how small differences in tenure can lead to significant changes in corpus value. For the same rate of return and SIP amount, extending the duration from 15 to 20 years almost doubles the maturity value.
This happens because, over time, compounding gains momentum. The longer your money stays invested, the more powerful the effect becomes.
Read More: SIP Calculator: How Investing ₹7,000 Monthly Can Grow to ₹1 Crore Over Time!
Rohit and Raj’s story demonstrates that time is the biggest contributor to wealth creation, not just the invested amount. Raj’s decision to continue for 5 more years and invest ₹9 lakh extra helped him nearly double his corpus to ₹1.49 crore.
Even though both started together, the difference in outcomes underlines a simple truth, staying invested longer can make ordinary investments deliver extraordinary results.
Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities or companies mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation or investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.
Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all related documents carefully before investing.
Published on: Oct 6, 2025, 6:29 PM IST
Team Angel One
We're Live on WhatsApp! Join our channel for market insights & updates