Compare how your money could grow
A projection is a forecast, not a promise: it shows where a series of contributions could land under an assumed average return. This calculator makes that comparison visual by projecting the same plan through several return scenarios side by side — a conservative one, the balanced plan you enter, and more aggressive outcomes. Because the only way to feel confident about a long-term goal is to see the range of possibilities, the tool reports not one number but a whole spread.
Start with what you already have invested, then add what you can contribute every month. The calculator keeps the growth engine simple and transparent: the lump sum compounds annually, monthly contributions compound monthly, and an optional annual top-up increases your monthly contribution each year so your savings pace keeps up with your rising income.
The scenarios the comparison shows
The scenario panel is the heart of this page. It evaluates your exact plan (same contribution, same horizon) under four assumed annual returns:
- Conservative — three points below your expected return (useful for bond-heavy or low-volatility portfolios).
- Balanced (this plan) — your entered expected return, the base line.
- Aggressive — four points above, typical of equity-heavy long-horizon portfolios.
- High growth — seven points above, a stretch scenario.
Each scenario shows the projected corpus in absolute terms and, once you flip the toggle, the same value discounted for inflation back to today's purchasing power. Comparing a conservative and an aggressive outcome makes the compounding gap obvious: small differences in return become large differences in corpus over twenty or thirty years.
Reading the outputs
Four numbers summarise the balanced scenario immediately. The projected corpus is the total value at the end of the horizon, contributions plus growth. Total invested is simply everything you put in — lump sum plus all monthly contributions plus top-ups — before any growth. Estimated returns is the difference between those two, the money the market contributed. Finally value in today's money divides the corpus by the assumed inflation over the horizon, giving you the honest purchasing-power figure you should actually plan around.
Below the summary, the milestone list tells you in which year the corpus crosses meaningful thresholds such as ₹1 crore or ₹2 crore. That converts an abstract total into a timeline you can plan against.
The year-by-year table and chart
The projection table walks through the years, showing for each how much you have invested, how much of the value is estimated returns, the running corpus, and the inflation-adjusted value of that point in time. The final row is highlighted so you can read the end result at a glance.
The chart traces the same story over time: the grey total invested line rises steadily with your contributions and top-ups, while the coloured projected corpus curve bends upwards as early returns begin earning their own returns. The growing gap between the two lines is the visual signature of compounding.
Using the top-up to stay ahead of inflation
If you set the annual top-up increase to zero, your monthly contribution stays flat for the whole horizon — in real terms it loses purchasing power to inflation every year. Adding a top-up (for example 5% a year) models the more realistic habit of raising your contribution as your income grows, which meaningfully increases both the corpus and, crucially, the value in today's money.
Limitations to keep in mind
Every projection rests on assumptions. The return is a constant average, whereas real portfolios move year to year; the top-up happens once per year; figures are pre-tax; and inflation is applied uniformly. Use the scenario spread as the realistic band of outcomes, treat the balanced number as the central estimate, and re-run the tool whenever your contribution, horizon, or expectations change.
Pairing with other tools
For a fixed monthly investment with a specific rate, the SIP calculator focuses on that single plan. The investment calculator adds tax and inflation adjustments in more depth, while the compound interest calculator isolates pure compounding on a lump sum. The retirement calculator works backwards from a target corpus to a required contribution.
Summary
Enter what you have, what you add, how long, and what you expect to earn. The projection calculator returns a realistic spread of outcomes — conservative, balanced and aggressive — a year-by-year table, milestone years, and the inflation-adjusted truth about the plan. It does not predict the future; it shows you the range, so you can plan with clarity.
Disclaimer
Results are projections based on the assumptions you enter and are provided for informational purposes only. Investment returns are not guaranteed. Always consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.