Imagine transforming a modest monthly investment into Rs 1 crore. For many new investors, reaching such a milestone may seem like a distant dream. With consistent investments, patience and the power of compounding, you could achieve this goal, even if you start with just Rs 1,000 a month.

Let’s break it down.

A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) allows you to invest a fixed amount regularly into a mutual fund. It’s a great way to build wealth over time. If Rs 1,000 is all you can set aside each month, the good news is it’s a strong starting point. But to realistically reach Rs 1 crore, you will need to take advantage of a strategy called the annual step-up.

A step-up SIP means increasing your investment amount each year. Let’s consider increasing your SIP amount by 10% annually. So in the second year, your monthly SIP would be Rs 1,100, the third year Rs 1,210, and so on. This gradual increase aligns well with rising income levels over time.

How Long To Reach Rs 1 Crore?

Assuming an average return of 12% per annum (a conservative estimate for long-term equity mutual funds), here’s what it looks like:

  • Monthly SIP: Rs 1,000

  • Annual step-up: 10%

  • Expected return: 12% per annum

Using a step-up SIP calculator with these assumptions, you could reach the Rs 1-crore mark in around 32 years. By the end of the 31st year, your total investment would be around Rs 24.12 lakh, while the returns generated would add up to nearly Rs 80.98 lakh, taking your overall corpus to about Rs 1.05 crore.

It may sound like a long wait, but remember, you’re starting with a modest amount and only increasing it gradually each year. The secret here is in consistency and compounding.

Why This Works

What makes this method effective is how small increases in your SIP, even by just Rs 100 each year, significantly boost your investment over time. This approach also keeps your investments manageable, especially if you have ongoing EMIs or household expenses to take care of.

Moreover, this teaches one of the most important lessons in personal finance — time in the market beats timing the market. Staying invested through market ups and downs is what builds wealth.

Building a corpus of Rs 1 crore doesn’t require a huge salary or large one-time investments. What matters most is starting early, staying disciplined and gradually increasing your SIPs as your income rises. With just Rs 1,000 a month and a 10% annual step-up, reaching Rs 1 crore is entirely achievable.

. Read more on Personal Finance by NDTV Profit.Starting an SIP with just Rs 1,000 a month can help you accumulate Rs 1 crore over time, thanks to the power of compounding and disciplined investing.  Read MorePersonal Finance 

​NDTV Profit