The idea that small, regular investments can lead to big wealth sounds like a simple plan, especially when shown in colourful charts. However, in real life, things aren’t that straightforward.

Investor and stock market expert, Rajnish Mehan, wrote on LinkedIn, “Rs 500 a month yeilds Rs 27.8 lakhs, Rs 50,000 a month yields Rs 27.78 crores. Looks like simple math but what’s rarely shown is the human side of that equation. Because SIP calculators may project numbers. But they don’t account for fear, doubt, or life.”

He mentioned that while SIP calculators do a fine job of showing projections, they don’t account for emotions, self-doubt, or the unpredictability of life.

Further, mention said, “Every advisor shares this chart at some point.” How a small monthly investment, done consistently over 30 years, could help you retire rich. What they don’t show is what happens in between. Life doesn’t move in straight lines like SIP charts. In the real world, people face sudden job losses or unexpected health problems, etc. Sometimes, markets crash and wipe out months of gains, or investors feel disheartened when Rs 500 becomes just Rs 610 after a year.

Mehan said that these moments are when most people quit.”That’s where most investors give up not because SIPs don’t work but because patience is harder than maths,” he wrote.

The real journey of wealth-building through SIPs is not about picking the right mutual fund or chasing high returns. It’s about the quiet decision you make every single month, to stay invested. As Mehan rightly puts it, “It’s not the Rs 10,000 SIP that builds wealth. It’s 360 decisions, one every month, to continue it, especially when you don’t feel like it.”

When markets are uncertain, it’s common for individuals to consider halting their SIPs. Yet, history shows that those who continue investing consistently, even during tough times, often achieve better financial outcomes. They allow their investments, and their discipline, to compound over time.

Mehan further mentioned, “Because the 14% CAGR doesn’t come from markets. It comes from behaviour within markets.” In other words, how you act during ups and downs matters more than what the market does.

He concluded by saying, “And returns compound on paper. But real wealth compounds in patience.”