SIP Showdown: ₹15,000 for 20 Years vs ₹20,000 for 15 Years — Which Builds a Bigger Corpus?
Published: August 28, 2025
Source: Economic Times
Spoiler alert: Longer time in the market trumps higher monthly contribution.
The Numbers That Make You Pause
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₹15,000 per month for 20 years → corpus of ₹1.38 crores
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₹20,000 per month for 15 years → corpus of ₹96 lakhs
The ₹15,000 SIP over 20 years actually yields ₹42 lakhs more than the larger SIP stretched over a shorter period — a whopping 44% greater outcome. This striking difference exemplifies the unrivaled power of compounding and time in the market.
Why Time Beats Amount
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Compounding Magic: Even a modest monthly investment can grow massively if given enough time to compound.
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Start Early, Reap Big: The longer your money stays invested, the greater the growth — regardless of incremental increases.
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Patience is Key: The results visually— and numerically— show that investing longer offers more than investing more in a shorter time.
What Other SIP Insights Say
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A modest SIP of ₹5,000 per month at an average 12% return:
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20 years → approximately ₹33.99 lakhs
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15 years → around ₹14.80 lakhs
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With a higher assumed return (15%), ₹15,000 invested monthly for 20 years could grow to ₹2.27 crores
These numbers reinforce the same message: a longer investment horizon can dramatically amplify returns.
Key Takeaways for Investors
| Strategy | Benefit |
|---|---|
Start early, even with a smaller amount | Benefit from compounding over time |
Keep the SIP consistent | Regular investment beats sporadic heavy investments |
Be realistic about returns | Market-linked investments vary—expect around 10–12%, not always 15% |
| Avoid shortcuts | Viral formulas like "15-15-15 = ₹1 crore" can be misleading and don’t account for market volatility |
Final Word
If you're choosing between investing ₹15,000 monthly for 20 years or ₹20,000 monthly for 15 years, go with the longer timeline. A longer horizon doesn't just offer Security—it builds a significantly larger corpus. In finance, time is more powerful than the speed of investing more.