Ramit SethiRamit Sethi: The No-BS Guide to Living a Rich Life

Waiting 10 Years Cost This Person $650,000

21 May 2026 · 1 min

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In this short monologue, Ramit Sethi warns viewers that postponing the start of regular investing can cost roughly $650,000 over a lifetime. He presents a simple thought experiment: two identical earners each contribute $500 per month, but one begins at age 25 while the other waits until age 35. Assuming typical market returns, by age 65 the early starter accumulates about $1.2 million, whereas the late starter ends with roughly $585 k. The 10‑year delay translates to a loss of over $650 k, or about $65 k per year of waiting. Sethi uses this illustration to stress the power of compound growth and to encourage people to start investing as soon as they can, even before paying off loans or securing a higher income.

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There is a common default decision that could be costing you about $650,000 without you ever realizing it. It is the decision to wait to start investing until you feel ready. Now, you might wait until your loans are paid off, until you move into a new place, or until you start making more money. I know someday soon. I want to show you exactly what waiting is costing you. Here's the scenario. 2 people, same income, same circumstances. Just one change. One starts investing $500 a month at 25. The other starts at age 35. Let's fast forward to age 65. The person who started 10 years later has grown their investments to about $585,000. But the person who started at 25, just 10 years earlier, has over $1.2 million. Do you see what happened? A simple 10-year delay cost over $650,000. That's $65,000 every single year waiting for the right time. This is why investing earlier is so powerful that you can even beat someone who makes way more money.