‘Start small, build big’: How much should you invest monthly to achieve all your goals?

“It’s not a fixed number,” says Trivesh D., Chief Operating Officer at Tradejini. “You don’t need a high income to start. Investing ₹5,000 a month at 30 years, assuming a 12% annual return, can grow to more than ₹50 lakh by the time you turn 50.” That’s the magic of discipline and the power of compounding.

Trivesh says starting with even 10-15% of your income is a significant first step. “The habit matters more than the amount,” he explains. “People often wait for the ‘right time’ or a ‘higher salary’ to begin. But the earlier you start, the lighter the burden becomes later.”

“The ideal amount depends on your goal, time horizon, and expected rate of return,” says Abhinav Bohra, a fintech specialist and research curator at an investment advisory firm. He gave an example. “Let’s say you want to accumulate ₹50 lakh in 15 years. Assuming a 14% annual return, about the long-term average of the Nifty50, you would need to invest around ₹8,500 per month.”

But here is the catch: if you shorten the timeline or expect a lower return, that monthly number jumps significantly. “It is not about how much you invest today,” Abhinav says. “It is about whether you are investing regularly and smartly for the future.”

Every milestone deserves a separate plan

Abhishek Bhilwaria, financial advisor and CEO of Bhilwaria MF, breaks it down: “Before you decide how much to invest monthly, you must assess your age, income, life stage, and goals.”

From a dream wedding to buying your home and securing your child’s future and your retirement, every milestone carries a price tag.

“Let’s take an example,” he suggests. “Imagine someone starts investing at 22, with a salary of ₹50,000 a month. If they invest ₹15,000 monthly in mutual funds and earn a 15% annual return, they can accumulate ₹1 crore by age 37.”

Then comes the best part. “If they don’t touch that corpus and let it compound till retirement, it can grow to an astounding ₹24 crore!” Abhishek adds. But that’s not all. “When they start a family, they could begin a separate SIP in a children’s fund, locked in until the child turns 18. That makes education or marriage expenses easier to manage.”

All three experts agree on one aspect: start now, even if small. The amount you invest is personal. It should grow with your income, adapt to your goals, and reflect your stage in life. But more importantly, it should start today.

“If you are waiting for the perfect moment, you will end up watching others live your dream while you keep planning,” Trivesh warns.