A SIP projection estimates what repeated investments could grow to at an assumed return. It separates the money invested from the estimated growth, but it cannot predict actual mutual-fund performance.
The four inputs that shape a SIP estimate
Monthly investment
Amount contributed every month
Expected return
Illustrative annual rate ÷ 12
Duration
Years × 12 monthly periods
Annual step-up
Yearly increase in contribution
How a regular SIP projection works
Each monthly contribution is added to the accumulated balance and then grows for the time it remains invested. Earlier contributions have more periods to compound than later ones. The calculator repeats that process month by month using a constant assumed return.
With ₹5,000 invested monthly for 10 years, the total contribution is ₹6,00,000. The estimated maturity value depends on the assumed return; changing that rate is useful for comparing cautious, middle, and optimistic scenarios.
What changes in a step-up SIP?
A step-up increases the monthly contribution once each year. With a 10% annual step-up, a ₹5,000 monthly SIP becomes ₹5,500 per month in year two and ₹6,050 per month in year three. Both the invested amount and the projected corpus rise, so compare them separately.
| Year | Monthly SIP | Contribution that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ₹5,000 | ₹60,000 |
| 2 | ₹5,500 | ₹66,000 |
| 3 | ₹6,050 | ₹72,600 |
Read the result carefully
- Total invested is the sum of all contributions.
- Estimated returns are the projected value minus contributions, not a guaranteed gain.
- Estimated corpus is the two amounts combined under the selected assumptions.
- Taxes, expense ratios, exit loads, timing differences, and market volatility can change actual outcomes.
Use scenarios instead of one forecast
Start with an amount you can contribute consistently. Compare multiple return rates, then test whether the yearly step-up remains affordable. A projection is most useful as a sensitivity check: it shows which assumptions have the greatest effect on a goal.
Official investor reference
SEBI's investor education site explains mutual funds and provides an illustrative SIP calculator. SEBI also notes there that stock-market returns are not fixed and cannot be predicted.