
Smart SIP investing often looks simple on the surface, but the real magic is hidden in one word: time. When two investors put in almost the same total amount, the longer runway can create a dramatically higher corpus, even if the monthly SIP is smaller. Let’s check with the help of SIP Calculator.
Let us compare two investors who both end up investing nearly the same total amount through SIP investing, but with very different timelines.
At first glance, Mr. A seems more serious because he invests a higher amount every month. But investing is not only about effort, it is also about duration.
Mr. A invests ₹50,000 monthly for 10 years.
In simple words, Mr. A nearly doubles the invested money over a decade. It is solid progress, but the timeline limits the compounding effect.
Mr. B invests ₹16,667 per month for 30 years.
This is where the difference becomes impossible to ignore. With the same total contribution, Mr. B’s corpus becomes almost five times larger than Mr. A’s final amount.
Read More: SIP Calculator: How ₹25,000 SIP Beats ₹50,000; Why Longer Tenure Matters More Than Larger Amounts
The key reason behind this difference is compounding. Compounding grows stronger when it gets more time to work.
Here is the easy way to understand it: In the early years, most of the corpus is built by your contributions. In the later years, most of the corpus is built by the growth on your earlier growth. That second part needs time, and lots of it.
Even at the same 12% CAGR, a longer tenure creates a much bigger gap because returns keep getting reinvested and start generating returns on themselves.
Both investors invest around ₹60 lakh. Yet the final numbers look miles apart.
This is not because Mr. B found a different return rate or did something complex. It is simply because time multiplied the impact of compounding.
This comparison highlights a powerful reality of SIP investing: the market rewards consistency and time more than just a high monthly amount. When the invested amount stays longer, the return component starts doing the heavy lifting, turning the final corpus into something far larger than the contribution.
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 the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.
Published on: Jan 26, 2026, 9:40 AM IST

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