Building a large investment portfolio does not always begin with a huge amount of money. In many cases, the more important factors are consistency, patience and the habit of increasing investments as income grows. A recent social media post about Gajendra Kothari, MD and CEO of Etica Wealth Management, has brought this idea back into focus.

According to the post, Kothari currently invests around ₹52 lakh every month through systematic investment plans, or SIPs, and has reportedly built a mutual fund corpus of nearly ₹70 crore over the years.

What makes the story interesting is not merely the size of his present-day investments, but how gradually the journey is said to have developed. The example highlights a commonly used wealth-building strategy: start with an affordable SIP, remain invested for the long term and steadily increase the monthly contribution as earnings rise.

A Small SIP Can Be the First Step

Many new investors delay investing because they believe they need a large sum of money to begin. Mutual fund SIPs work differently. Investors can start with relatively modest amounts and invest at regular intervals.

According to the social media account highlighting Kothari's investment journey, some investments in his workplace reportedly began with monthly SIPs as low as ₹500, while others started with amounts such as ₹21,000.

As salaries and financial capacity increased, employees reportedly raised their monthly SIP contributions. Some are now said to invest ₹25,000, ₹50,000, ₹80,000 and even ₹2 lakh per month.

The broader lesson is that the size of the first SIP may be less important than developing a disciplined investing habit and increasing the contribution over time.

Etica Wealth Team Reportedly Invests Around ₹2 Crore Every Month

The post further claims that employees at Etica Wealth Management collectively invest close to ₹2 crore every month in mutual funds.

Kothari himself is said to contribute approximately ₹52 lakh a month through SIPs.

The figures are striking, but they should not be interpreted as a formula that guarantees similar results for everyone. The investment capacity of each individual depends on income, expenses, financial responsibilities, risk appetite and investment horizon.

What the example demonstrates more clearly is the potential impact of progressively increasing an investment amount instead of keeping it unchanged for decades.

What Is a Step-Up SIP?

A step-up SIP is a strategy in which an investor raises the amount invested at regular intervals, usually once a year.

For example, someone may start with a SIP of ₹5,000 per month. If the investor increases the contribution by 10% the following year, the monthly SIP would rise to ₹5,500. Another 10% increase in the next year would take it higher again.

Over a long period, this gradual increase can substantially boost the total amount invested.

The approach can be particularly useful for salaried professionals whose income generally increases over time. Instead of allowing every salary hike to translate into higher spending, investors can divert part of that increase towards long-term financial goals.

Why Starting Early Matters

Time is one of the most important elements in long-term investing.

An investor who starts early gives the invested money more years to potentially grow. Returns generated in earlier years can remain invested and may themselves earn returns later. This compounding effect becomes more significant as the investment horizon gets longer.

However, compounding does not mean returns are guaranteed. Mutual fund investments are linked to financial markets, and portfolio values can rise or fall depending on market conditions.

For that reason, investors should avoid assuming that a ₹500 SIP will automatically turn into several crores. The final corpus depends on factors including the investment amount, annual step-up, duration, market performance, asset allocation and withdrawals made during the period.

Consistency Can Matter More Than Market Timing

Another important lesson from long-term SIP investing is discipline.

Markets regularly go through corrections, rallies and periods of uncertainty. Investors who stop their SIPs every time markets decline may struggle to maintain a long-term strategy.

Regular SIP investing allows investors to purchase mutual fund units across different market levels. When prices are lower, the same investment amount may purchase more units, while fewer units may be purchased when prices are higher.

This does not eliminate risk, but it can reduce the need to repeatedly predict short-term market movements.

Increase Investments as Your Income Rises

One of the most practical takeaways from the reported investment journey is the importance of linking SIP growth with income growth.

Suppose an investor receives a salary increment every year but continues investing the same amount for 15 or 20 years. Over time, the SIP may become a very small percentage of monthly income.

By increasing the SIP by 10% or 15% annually, investors can potentially make better use of rising income while maintaining control over lifestyle expenses.

Even if a large annual increase is not possible, a smaller step-up can still make a meaningful difference over the long term.

A ₹70 Crore Corpus Cannot Be Reduced to One Formula

The reported ₹70 crore corpus associated with Kothari should be viewed in context. Such a portfolio would typically depend on years of investing, progressively larger contributions, market returns and potentially other investment decisions.

It would therefore be misleading to suggest that starting a ₹500 SIP alone can automatically create a ₹70 crore portfolio.

A better way to understand the story is that modest beginnings do not prevent investors from eventually building substantial wealth if their income, savings rate and investments grow significantly over time.

The Bigger Lesson for Regular Investors

Most people may never invest ₹52 lakh every month, and they do not need to use that figure as their benchmark.

A more useful approach is to invest an amount that is sustainable within their own budget.

Someone may begin with ₹500, ₹2,000, ₹5,000 or ₹10,000 depending on their financial situation. As income improves, the SIP can be gradually increased while maintaining an emergency fund and managing other financial obligations.

The central idea is simple: begin when you can, stay consistent and consider increasing contributions as your ability to save improves.

Long-term investing is usually less about finding a secret shortcut and more about following a disciplined process for many years.

Disclaimer: The investment figures mentioned above are based on claims cited in a social media post and should not be treated as independently verified investment records. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks, and returns are not guaranteed. Investors should consider their financial goals, risk profile and investment horizon and consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.