A systematic investment plan or SIP is one of the cost-effective, convenient ways to invest in mutual funds for long-term financial success. From retirement planning to building wealth, an SIP helps you invest systematically towards your goals, eliminates market timing, and uses rupee cost averaging to reduce the impact of market volatility on your portfolio.
While an SIP provides the structure to stick to a regular investing plan, there are some costly mistakes that can impact your investment returns and financial goals. To strategically plan your investment and ensure that every step of your investing journey meets your personal financial goals, most financial experts recommend using an SIP calculator.
An SIP calculator is an online tool that calculates your SIP returns based on variables such as your risk tolerance, expected return rate, interest rates, and investment tenure. With its detailed results, you can avoid common yet costly SIP mistakes and prioritise your financial goals with calculated precision. Let’s break down some of these mistakes and how using an SIP calculator helps to avoid them.
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Not setting realistic goals about returns
As an investor, it is important to enter the market with realistic expectations and clear goals in mind. Without researching the expected returns from your investments, it is easy to set unrealistic expectations that may lead to a different outcome.
To prevent this, use the features offered by an SIP calculator, such as estimated return, risk level, and investment duration. By using these functions as reference points, you can estimate what kind of returns should realistically be expected for different durations and risk levels so that you can achieve your desired outcomes.
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Not choosing the right fund for better returns and long-term growth
Investment in mutual funds requires careful consideration and due diligence. A sound understanding of the fund performance, risk levels, and the tenures associated with them is crucial for the success of a long-term investment strategy. An SIP calculator can provide invaluable assistance in this regard by allowing you to study different funds, compare them easily and see which ones offer optimal returns while maintaining a suitable level of risk.
For example, if you have investments planned for 5 years, you can use an SIP calculator to search for those funds that offer returns around 10% or higher and fit within that time frame. Doing so will help ensure that your investments are well-positioned to yield the desired return over time.
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Incorrect SIP amount
Strategic investing is an essential part of achieving financial success over the long term. However, when it comes to systematic investment plans, many investors make one of two common mistakes: investing too little or too much. Investing too little won’t have sufficient growth power to reach your goals, while overinvesting can put you at risk for debt if unforeseen events arise, such as health issues.
To avoid these mistakes, utilise an SIP calculator to determine an appropriate amount for each SIP based on your budget, needs, timeline, and risk tolerance. This way, you can be both realistic and secure with your SIP investments.
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Making equity investments for a short duration due to poor planning
Investing in equity mutual funds requires both long-term commitment and a calculated strategy to minimise risk. Equity funds have the potential to provide higher returns over time but they also carry greater risk, including daily fluctuations in value. One key mistake to avoid is the temptation to make short-term investments in these funds due to unrealistic expectations or a lack of patience as such decisions can limit your potential gains.
With an SIP calculator, you can create an optimal investment strategy by comparing different equity mutual funds, their returns over different time frames, and how they fit your goals.
To wrap up
SIP investment mistakes can be costly and difficult to recover from, so it’s important to use tools like an SIP calculator beforehand to guide your financial decisions. It takes the guesswork out of investing and helps set realistic expectations from SIP mutual fund plans. Its valuable features, easy-to-use interface, and flexible inputs allow you to get a more accurate picture of your financial future and plan your budget accordingly.
