Mutual fund, Sept. 30 -- Investing in mutual funds via Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) is a proven way to build long-term wealth. However, what truly matters is starting early. Even a short delay- say, five years - can significantly reduce your final corpus and impact your financial goals.

This is due to the phenomenon of compounding, where early investments generate disproportionately higher returns over time. The earnings from initial years are added to the principal, which then earns a higher return in the subsequent years.

To understand the impact of delayed investing, consider the figures on the 'Cost of Delay Calculator'. Suppose you start investing Rs.5,000 in a mutual fund SIP at the age of 25. Assuming a 10% annual return, y...