As equity markets turn volatile, many retail investors are tempted to pause or stop their systematic investment plans (SIPs). But a recent post on Reddit is serving as a timely reminder of why patience often matters more than timing. The user shared how disciplined investing over 15 years helped turn a total investment of just Rs 51,420 into a corpus of Rs 2.10 crore —delivering an annualised return of about 17.1%.
Compounding Over Calendar Years
The investor's story is not about lucky stock picks or perfectly timed exits. Instead, it hinges on staying invested through market ups and downs. “Markets go up and down. When it is down, you accumulate more units for the same price. When it is up, your patience is rewarded,” the user wrote, emphasising the power of rupee-cost averaging.
To put the numbers in perspective, a monthly SIP of Rs 10,000 invested over 15 years at a 17.1% annualised return would grow into roughly Rs 74 lakh, even though the total investment during that period would be just Rs 18 lakh. Higher monthly contributions naturally translate into larger outcomes, with a Rs 30,000 SIP potentially building a corpus of over Rs 2.2 crore over the same time frame.
Lessons From A Long-Term Investor
Beyond the headline returns, the Reddit post outlined several principles the user credits for their success. These include preferring direct mutual fund plans over regular ones to save on commissions, avoiding over-reliance on star ratings, choosing funds with low expense ratios, and investing only surplus money. Regular portfolio reviews and a basic understanding of mutual funds were also highlighted as crucial.
Most importantly, the user stressed staying calm during market drawdowns. “When the portfolio is down, never delve too much. It comes back strong if you have done your homework well,” the post noted, adding that these were personal views and not universal rules.
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