How much does starting SIP five years late cost?

On the same monthly SIP and return, five fewer years of compounding can mean 30–40% less terminal wealth, sometimes more depending on rate and horizon.

Why is starting at 25 vs 35 so different?

Early contributions compound for more years. The first decade of SIP often contributes disproportionately to the final corpus.

Can I catch up by investing more later?

Often you must raise SIP materially to match an early start. This calculator shows the gap so you can plan catch-up contributions realistically.

Cost of Starting Late — SIP Investment at 25 vs 35 vs 45

Calculators

Monthly SIP (₹)

Expected CAGR: 12%

Start 25Start 30Start 35Start 40Start 45

Start at 25 · 35y of investing

₹6.50 Cr

Invested: ₹42.00 LGains: +₹6.08 Cr

Start at 30 · 30y of investing

₹3.53 Cr

Invested: ₹36.00 LGains: +₹3.17 Crvs 25: −₹2.97 Cr

Start at 35 · 25y of investing

₹1.90 Cr

Invested: ₹30.00 LGains: +₹1.60 Crvs 25: −₹4.60 Cr

Start at 40 · 20y of investing

₹99.91 L

Invested: ₹24.00 LGains: +₹75.91 Lvs 25: −₹5.50 Cr

Start at 45 · 15y of investing

₹50.46 L

Invested: ₹18.00 LGains: +₹32.46 Lvs 25: −₹5.99 Cr

The compounding gap: Starting at 25 vs 45 produces 12.9× more wealth with the same monthly SIP. The only difference is time. You cannot buy back lost years.

Illustrative only. Uses a simplified SIP model with fixed CAGR and assumes monthly investments until age 60. Not investment advice.

The compounding cost of starting late

Time in market beats timing the market, and starting late is one of the few wealth mistakes that cannot be fully undone without larger contributions.

SIP at 25 vs 35 vs 45

Identical monthly investments diverge because the earliest cash flows compound longest. Use this before postponing 'until next year'.

Illustrative only — not investment advice. Past scenarios do not guarantee future results. Consult a qualified professional before investing.