Learn how to maximize the benefits of a SIP Calculator for your investments. Understand its functions and use it to plan and optimize your SIP investments effectively
If you're just starting with Mutual Fund investing, you might be wondering whether it's better to invest a large amount at once or begin with a smaller amount using a Systematic Investment Plan (SIP). If you choose the latter option, a Mutual Fund SIP Calculator can be incredibly useful. However, many new SIP investors often find it confusing to figure out how to use the SIP calculator to create the best investment plan for their financial goals. This confusion is partly because understanding how SIP returns are calculated in the first place can be a bit tricky!
Where the confusion arises…
Let's consider an example. Imagine your SIP calculator tells you that if you invest Rs. 10,000 every month for a year, you'll have around 1.26 Lakhs with a 12% return. But here's the catch: when you divide the profit (Rs. 6,000) by the initial amount (Rs. 1.2 Lakhs), the math doesn't seem to match up! Is the SIP calculator wrong? Surprisingly, the calculator is actually spot on!
To correctly figure out your SIP Investment returns, you should look at the Compound Annualized Growth Rate (CAGR) of each individual Mutual Fund SIP installment, and then find the average of these returns. However, when you use a SIP Calculator that considers equal-sized payments, you don't need a complicated weighted average calculation – a simple average will do the trick. So, using the earlier example of a Rs. 1,000 SIP investment, you would calculate the average annualized returns from each Rs. 10,000 SIP installment, giving you a 12% return.
Many SIP Calculators work with a simple idea: investing the same amount every month for a bunch of years. But life doesn't always stay the same! Your income will likely increase each year, and so will the extra money you have. If you've smartly planned your finances with guidance from an investment advisor, chances are you can boost your SIP investment every year.
This is where a step-up SIP Calculator can really help! It lets you see how things might turn out if you increase your investment by a fixed amount or percentage each year. This kind of calculator gives you a more accurate idea of how your SIP Investment might perform in terms of reaching your goal. Step-up SIP calculators are super useful for long-term goals. Even small changes in how you invest can make a big difference in how much money you end up with in the end.
Many investors find it puzzling to decide what returns to expect when using a SIP calculator. After all, SIP investment returns don't follow a straight line. There are cases where SIP investments showed no or negative returns for years, but suddenly jumped to 12% or even higher on a yearly average basis in just a few months!
First things first, it's really important to understand that while the SIP Calculator might ask for a steady return rate, the real returns from your SIP investment can vary a lot. For example, it could be -5% for three years and then shoot up to 40% in the fourth year!
Here's a handy tip to keep in mind: match your goal's timeframe with the expected return for your SIP investment. If your goal is super long-term (7 years or more), a good estimate is around 13% return. For a goal spanning 5 to 7 years, you might consider around 12%. And if your goal is set for 3 to 5 years, assuming a return of about 10% in your SIP calculator would be a good idea.
The assumptions mentioned earlier consider that as your SIP investment duration increases, you can take a slightly more aggressive approach in investing. Of course, having a knowledgeable Financial Advisor can really help you pick the right SIP investment strategy that suits your particular goal.
In a Lump sump, start by setting your goals before you dive into the SIP calculator. Depending on how long you plan to invest, you can input details like your initial amount, yearly increase, investment duration, and how much you plan to increase each year. This way, you can create a strong SIP investment plan that fits your goals perfectly.
