What if building serious wealth was just a matter of time, patience, and consistency?

Here’s the simple principle:

Own great common stocks for 45 years, compound at 12% annually, and invest $20,000 per year.
End result: $30.4 million.

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The Power of Long-Term Compounding

Most people overestimate what they can do in a year, and underestimate what they can do in a few decades. When you stretch your timeline to 45 years, compounding becomes your best friend.

• $20,000 per year × 45 years = $900,000 invested
• At 12% annual returns → that grows to over $30 million

This is how fortunes are built — not through day trading, gambling, or guessing trends, but by owning productive assets over time.

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Why 12%?

A 12% return is reasonable for a portfolio of high-quality common stocks:

• Many great businesses compound earnings at 12–15% or more.
• The S&P 500 has historically returned 10%+ over long periods.
• By owning superior companies and holding for decades, you tilt the odds in your favor.

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The Real Challenge: Holding

The hardest part isn’t picking the perfect stock — it’s staying invested for 45 years:

• Through recessions
• Through market crashes
• Through hype cycles and noise

Most impressive: $13 million is made in the last 5 years. The final stretch produces most of the gains.

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Final Thought

There’s nothing magical about $30 million. It’s just the natural result of:

• Investing consistently
• Owning great businesses
• Letting time and compounding do the work

You don’t need luck.
You need discipline, patience, and time.