What is an SIP (Systematic Investment Plan)?

A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) is an option through which one may invest regular amounts in mutual funds. With an SIP, one can adopt a systematic approach to achieve desired financial goals and create wealth over the long term.

While registering the SIP, one can fix regular investment periodicity, amount and end date. The returns from SIP are dependent on the returns generated by the mutual fund scheme in which regular investments are made.

SIPs help eliminate the emotional biases from an investment journey and inculcate a sense of financial discipline, as investments are made irrespective of market fluctuations. SIPs tend to provide baby steps toward achieving financial goals as small investments are made possible.

What is an SIP Calculator?

An SIP Calculator is an easy-to-use online tool offered by UTI Mutual Fund. This SIP calculator allows investors to curate financial plans by estimating the corpus amount at the end of the investment period or calculating the monthly SIP amount required to reach a targeted corpus amount.

For calculating the investment corpus, the investor must provide the monthly SIP amount, expected rate of return, investment period and step-up percentage, if chosen. If the investor needs to calculate the monthly SIP, one needs to feed in the target corpus amount in place of the monthly SIP amount and the investment period. The calculator automatically arrives at the monthly SIP investments required.

Such a calculator helps investors prepare their financial plans objectively by quickly getting the results of such complex mathematical calculations. With the help of these calculations, one may suitably adjust the investment amounts depending on the financial goals, risk appetite, and budget.

If the financial goals are not achievable with a given investment amount, the investor may consider downsizing the financial goals accordingly. This helps investors chalk out a prudent financial plan to achieve their financial goals efficiently.

How to use the Systematic Investment Plan calculator?

Our SIP calculator requires the following inputs from the investor to arrive at the target corpus amount: The first input is the monthly amount which the investor aims to invest through an SIP Secondly, the investor must enter the expected returns from the investments. Such expected returns may vary depending on the chosen mutual fund scheme Investment period (in years) has to be put in for which the investor will be investing regularly One can also mention the step-up percentage, which will increase the SIP amount by the specified percentage at fixed intervals

After entering the details, investors have to click on the 'Calculate' button to know the investment corpus at the end of the investment period to know if the stated investment plans will help achieve the financial goal.

Example of how a SIP Calculator works

SIP Calculator uses the inputs the investor provides to calculate the accumulated corpus at the end of the investment period. These input fields are the monthly SIP amount, expected rate of return, investment period and step-up percentage.

Once these inputs have been entered, the SIP calculator calculates the output with a button click. For example, if an investor is looking for a monthly SIP of ₹20,000 with an investment period of 20 years and expected returns of 10% per annum, the corpus calculates to ₹1.45 crores against the investment amount of ₹48 lakhs.

Further, if the investor opts for a step-up of 10% every year, the investment corpus increases to ₹3.09 crores against the investment of ₹1.37 crores. This is how a SIP calculator helps investors make informed decisions about the SIP investing strategy.

How can a SIP return calculator help you?

A SIP return calculator helps investors estimate the targeted corpus amount with the monthly SIP investments, investment period, and expected rate of return. Alternatively, one can also calculate the monthly SIP required to be invested to achieve the target corpus.

When the investor is aware of the end goal and has prepared the financial plans on a realistic basis with the SIP return calculator, the incentive to invest has already been created. Linking investments with specific financial goals is an intrinsic motivation to continue investing, even when the markets are trending downwards.

Further, they can also review and modify the investing strategy well in advance if the investment corpus falls short of the desired amount.

What are the different types of SIP?

Regular SIP

This is a common investment option by investors since this is the investment facility offered by mutual funds to make regular investments. SIPs are registered with a fixed amount, periodicity, and end date.

Perpetual SIP

This SIP does not carry an end date. The SIP investments continue to be made until the investor cancels the SIP.

Step-up SIP

Step-up SIP aims to increase the SIP amount periodically, either by a fixed percentage or by a fixed amount. This enables the investor to automatically increase the SIP amount to match the corresponding increase in regular income and consequent investible surplus.

Trigger SIP

Such SIP can make rule-based investments in specified mutual fund schemes. SIP investments in such cases are triggered only when the specified rules are fulfilled.

Such rules include the mutual fund scheme going below a specified NAV, Nifty/Sensex falling by a certain percentage on a given day, etc. This helps the investors to benefit from specific market movements and eventually gain in the long term.
If the specified levels are not triggered, it may defer SIP investments and delay the specific financial plans.

Benefits of using an SIP calculator

Defining the financial roadmap

An SIP calculator helps investors objectively define the investment roadmap by calculating the investment corpus at the end of the period or the monthly investments required to reach the targeted corpus.

Ease in financial plan

With quantifiable results in hand, one can also periodically review the portfolio performance to ensure that the financial plans are on the right track and the investor can achieve the financial goals as planned earlier. If any corrective actions are required, such measures can be taken promptly.

Making informed decisions

A SIP calculator illustrates the target corpus amount for the investor with the expected rate of return. Therefore, if the corpus is achievable with lower returns, the investor may like to make investments in debt for relative stability with relatively lower returns. This helps the investor to adjust the overall investment risk of the portfolio.

How to invest in SIP?

A SIP can be registered by submitting an application form at any of the Official Points of Acceptance for the mutual fund house or by conveniently making online registration through the mutual fund website. When the application form has been submitted physically, the further process is taken care of by the mutual fund house.
In the case of digital registration, the investor must complete the entire process, which includes submitting the application form on the website, followed by the SIP registration on the Net Banking portal of the linked bank account.
Once the investor has submitted all the SIP details, including the start date, end date, mutual fund scheme, SIP date, periodicity, etc., a SIP Registration Number is displayed on the screen and mentioned in the SIP confirmation email received from the mutual fund house.
To complete the process, one needs to register such SIP with the Net Banking portal of the registered bank account. Then, the SIP instalments get debited automatically from the bank account.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much can I invest in a SIP?

As an investment option, SIP provides complete flexibility to investors regarding SIP duration and SIP amount. There is no upper limit for the investors to invest through SIP. A SIP can be registered with an amount as low as ₹100.

What is the maximum tenure of a SIP?

SIPs are entirely flexible in terms of duration. One can specify the number of instalments or the end date up to which the SIP is registered. Further, the investor can also specify the SIP as a perpetual SIP which means that the SIP will continue to be effective until stopped by the investor. One can decide about the SIP tenure based on the investment horizon and the financial goal with which such investments are linked.

Are SIPs similar to mutual funds?

While mutual funds are an investment instrument, SIP is a way to invest in mutual funds periodically. Such periodicity of investment can be weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc. Once a SIP has been registered with the mutual fund house, the SIP amount will automatically be deducted from the bank account and invested in the specified mutual fund scheme.

Can I modify my SIP amount?

Generally, it is not possible to modify the SIP amount. However, one can achieve the objective by cancelling the existing SIP and registering a new SIP with the desired investment amount. The entire process is paperless and can be completed on a mutual fund website, thus adding convenience for the investor. Further, one can also register for a SIP top-up if the SIP amount must be increased, which takes care of periodic increments in the regular income, resulting in the increased investible surplus.

Do SIPs allow only equity mutual fund investments?

No, SIP can be used for investing in all categories of mutual fund schemes and are not exclusive to investing in equity mutual funds. One can also register a SIP in a debt fund like recurring deposit investments while keeping the investment risk relatively lower than equity funds. Further, SIPs can also be registered in hybrid, passive, or solution-oriented funds.

Can I renew an SIP?

While the SIP may be registered for a fixed number of instalments, one can conveniently extend the SIP duration by modifying the existing SIP instructions to increase the SIP period or registering a fresh SIP mandate for the extended period.
Mutual funds allow investors to register multiple SIPs in a single investor folio, and accordingly, more than one SIP can be recorded even for the same mutual fund scheme.

Can I pause my investments in an SIP?

Yes, the investors can pause an SIP. If there is a temporary disruption in regular income, waiting for a SIP is always better than cancelling an SIP. This is because the SIP restarts after the specified number of SIP instalments, generally three, which ensures that the investor stays on the investment journey they had embarked upon.
In contrast, if the SIP had earlier been cancelled, procrastination often delays the new SIP registration, thereby deferring the investment journey to achieve the financial goals.

Which is better, FD or SIP?

These two are contrasting options. While Fixed Deposits are an investment product, SIP investing is an investment option to invest in mutual funds. As far as FDs and mutual funds are concerned, FDs fulfil the allocation towards fixed income products, and mutual funds provide a wide range of investment options.
Investors can choose the mutual fund scheme which best suits their investment horizon, risk appetite and financial goals. Such mutual fund schemes can be equity, debt, hybrid, solution-oriented, or passive funds.

Is SIP tax-free?

SIP is a facility for investing in mutual funds. The gains earned from mutual fund investments are taxed at the redemption of mutual fund units and are taxable as Capital Gains. The tax rate applicable on such Capital Gains depends upon the period of holding such mutual fund investments and the category of mutual fund scheme. Mutual fund schemes are categorised as equity-oriented funds and other funds depending upon the average allocation of its net assets towards equities of domestic companies. If such allocation is 65% or more, the fund can be categorised as an equity-oriented fund.

Can I start an SIP online?

Yes, an SIP can be registered online conveniently through a mutual fund website. Once the investor has submitted all the SIP details, including the start date, end date, mutual fund scheme, SIP date, periodicity, etc.
A SIP Registration Number is displayed on the screen and mentioned in the SIP confirmation email received from the mutual fund house. To complete the process, one needs to register such SIP with the Net Banking portal of the registered bank account. The SIP instalments get debited automatically from the bank account.

Disclaimer

The above calculation is for illustration purpose only and not an indication of the performance of any schemes. Calculations are based on assumed rate of return and actual return may vary. Performance may or may not be sustained in future. Please get in touch with your professional advisor for a detailed suggestion. The calculations are not based on any judgments of the future return of the debt and equity markets / sectors or of any individual security and should not be construed as promise on minimum returns and/or safeguard of capital. While utmost care has been exercised while preparing the calculator, UTI MF does not warrant the completeness or guarantee that the achieved computations are flawless and/or accurate and disclaims all liabilities, losses and damages arising out of the use or in respect of anything done in reliance of the calculator. The examples do not purport to represent the performance of any security or investments. In view of individual nature of tax consequences, each investor is advised to consult his/ her own professional tax/ financial advisor before taking any investment decision. SIP is a feature offered for disciplined investment of a certain amount on a pre-decided date in a specific mutual fund scheme, regularly over a period of time.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.