Annual compounding on a single upfront investment. Discounting that back at 6% inflation gives ₹1,73,429 in today's purchasing power. Inflation quietly absorbs ₹1,37,156 of the headline figure.
| Annual return | Future value |
|---|---|
| 8% a year | ₹2,15,892 |
| 10% a year | ₹2,59,374 |
| 12% a year | ₹3,10,585 |
| 14% a year | ₹3,70,722 |
Two percentage points of return is not a rounding error. Over 10 years, the gap between the 10% and 12% rows is ₹51,211 on the same money. Fund selection and expense ratios matter more than they look.