Goal Planner Calculator
Find out how much to invest every month to reach your financial goal
What is a Goal Planner?
A goal planner works backwards from your target. Instead of asking "how much will my SIP grow to?", it asks "how much must I invest every month to reach a specific amount by a specific date?" This is the smart way to plan real goals — a car in 3 years, a house down payment in 7 years, or your child's education in 15 years.
The Formula
The required monthly investment is derived by reversing the SIP future-value formula:
P = M × r / ( [ (1 + r)^n − 1 ] × (1 + r) )
Where:
P = Required Monthly SIP
M = Goal Amount (target)
r = Monthly Return = (Annual Rate / 100) / 12
n = Number of Months = Years × 12
Tips to Reach Your Goal Faster
Start early: The longer your money compounds, the smaller your monthly SIP needs to be.
Step up annually: Increasing your SIP by 10% each year as your income grows dramatically reduces the burden.
Account for inflation: For goals far in the future, set your target amount a little higher than today's cost, since prices rise over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What return rate should I assume?
For long-term equity mutual fund goals (7+ years), 11–12% is a reasonable assumption. For short-term goals (1–3 years), use debt funds or FDs and assume 6–7% since equity is too volatile for short horizons.
Should I include inflation in my goal amount?
Yes. If a goal costs ₹10 lakh today and is 10 years away, it may cost ₹18–20 lakh then at 6–7% inflation. Enter the future (inflated) cost as your goal amount for an accurate monthly SIP.
What if I can't afford the required SIP?
You have three options: extend your timeline, reduce your goal amount, or start with a smaller SIP and step it up every year as your income grows. Even a lower SIP started today beats waiting.
Is the monthly SIP fixed for the whole period?
This calculator assumes a fixed monthly SIP. In practice, a step-up SIP (increasing yearly) is often more realistic and lets you start lower. Try our Step-up SIP calculator for that.