How Much Of Your Salary Should You Invest In Mutual Funds? (2024)

Mutual funds are one of the few buzzing investment options these days. Millennials are turning towards mutual funds as they get a much-needed flexibility of investing a small amount frequently. After knowing that you can invest in small amounts, the next question that arises is “how much of my salary should be invested in mutual funds?” We have covered the following in this article:

50:30:20 Rule

Every earning individual should mandatorily implement the rule of 50:30:20 in their financial plan. This is very important, especially for breadwinners. Implementing this rule will ensure that their future is bright. The 50:30:20 rule says that 50% of your income must be spent on needs, 30% on wants, while the remaining 20% must be utilised to build an emergency corpus.

Needs are those without which you cannot sustain your daily life. These are groceries, house rent or EMI, utilities, and so on. You can never compromise on needs, and you have no choice but to spend on them. Wants are those that are not absolutely necessary, but you are making use of them in order to make your life better. A few examples of these are gym membership, vacation, movie tickets, subscriptions to online streaming sites, and so on. It is advisable for anyone to limit their spending on wants as much as possible.

The remaining 20% of your income must be saved to build an emergency corpus which is at least thrice your monthly salary. Once that is done, you can start investing. Therefore, your investments in mutual funds should be 20% of your monthly salary. If you are able to cut down on spending on wants, then you can utilise the same in increasing your mutual fund investment.

FOIR Application

One can also use FOIR or the Fixed Obligations to Income Ratio, in order to determine monthly investments or SIPs. For example, if your monthly income is INR 50,000 and your fixed expenses like rent or utilities are INR 20,000 then your FOIR is 20,000. So income available to invest is INR 50,000-20,000 i.e. INR 30,000. Now you may invest any amount up to INR 30,000 which is left after spending on your wants.

Importance of Investing in Mutual Funds

Millennials are investing in mutual funds as they offer much-needed flexibility. One can invest a small amount periodically. However, this is not the only factor that is making mutual funds so popular these days. Mutual funds are one of the few investment vehicles that have the potential to offer inflation-beating returns.

Inflation is something that reduces the worth of your money or investment over time. A product costing Rs 100 today may cost Rs 175 after five years. If your investment doesn’t produce inflation-beating returns, then inflation at the rate of 8% will eat half of it in a period of eight years. The table below shows the impact of inflation (8%) on your investment of Rs 1,00,000:

Original amountRs 1,00,000
At the end of the first yearRs 92,000
At the end of the second yearRs 84,640
At the end of the third yearRs 77,869
At the end of the fourth yearRs 71,639
At the end of the fifth yearRs 65,908
At the end of the sixth yearRs 60,636
At the end of the seventh yearRs 55,785
At the end of the eighth yearRs 51,322

Therefore, in order to retain and realise the real worth of your investment, it is imperative that you earn inflation-beating returns. The best way to do this is by investing in mutual funds.

Long Term Planning

Mutual funds can be of great help to plan your future. In fact, the best utilisation of mutual funds happens when you stay invested for an extended period (five years or more). The power of compounding, coupled with a long-term investment horizon gives investors excellent returns in the long run. When the markets are favourable, mutual funds can offer returns in the range of 15% to 18%.

Let’s consider an example of two friends Ram and Sham. Mr Ram starts investing Rs 1,00,000 a year in mutual funds at the age of 25 years. Mr Sham starts investing in the same mutual funds at the age of 35 years. Let’s consider the scheme to be offering an annual interest of 10%. Both Ram and Sham decided to redeem their investment at the age of 58 years. The following table shows the difference in the sum accumulated by Ram and Sham:

AgeRam starts at the age of 25 yearsSham starts at the age of 35 years
25Rs 1,10,000
26Rs 2,31,000
27Rs 3,64,100
35Rs 20,38,428Rs 1,10,000
36Rs 23,52,271Rs 2,31,000
56Rs 2,21,25,154Rs 78,54,302
57Rs 2,44,47,670Rs 87,49,733
58Rs 2,70,02,437Rs 97,34,706

Note: The power of compounding enhances the corpus accumulated every year. The numbers in the table above do not show the full calculations.

Conclusion

It is crucial to implement 50:30:20 rule in your financial plan. One should invest at least 20% of their salary in mutual funds and can later increase whenever possible. The effect of inflation has made it essential for investors to look at options such as mutual funds to prevent their investment from losing its value over time.

How Much Of Your Salary Should You Invest In Mutual Funds? (1)

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How Much Of Your Salary Should You Invest In Mutual Funds? (2024)

FAQs

What percentage of my money should I invest in mutual funds? ›

It is crucial to implement 50:30:20 rule in your financial plan. One should invest at least 20% of their salary in mutual funds and can later increase whenever possible.

What percent of your salary should you invest? ›

“Ideally, you'll invest somewhere around 15%–25% of your post-tax income,” says Mark Henry, founder and CEO at Alloy Wealth Management. “If you need to start smaller and work your way up to that goal, that's fine. The important part is that you actually start.”

What is 15x15x15 rule in mutual fund? ›

More About the 15x15x15 Rule for Mutual Fund Investments

It says that if you invest Rs. 15,000 per month via SIP in an equity mutual fund that is capable of generating an average return of 15%, you are most likely to become a crorepati in 15 years (as stated in the example above).

How much will I get if I invest 5000 in mutual funds? ›

A monthly SIP of Rs. 5000 in such funds will offer returns in the range of 7% to 8%. Aditya Birla Sun Life Corporate Bond Fund - Over 96% of the investment is done in debt funds comprising of Government securities and very low-risk securities. The 3-year annualized return of the fund is 7.5%.

Do millionaires invest in mutual funds? ›

Cash equivalents are financial instruments that are almost as liquid as cash and are popular investments for millionaires. Examples of cash equivalents are money market mutual funds, certificates of deposit, commercial paper and Treasury bills. Some millionaires keep their cash in Treasury bills.

Should I max out 401k or invest in mutual funds? ›

You should prioritize maxing out your 401(k), at least until you've maximized any matching contributions your employer offers. You can turn your attention more aggressively toward IRA contributions after you've done that.

What is the 80/20 rule in investing? ›

In investing, the 80-20 rule generally holds that 20% of the holdings in a portfolio are responsible for 80% of the portfolio's growth. On the flip side, 20% of a portfolio's holdings could be responsible for 80% of its losses.

What is a good 10 year return on a mutual fund? ›

For stock mutual funds, a “good” long-term return (annualized, for 10 years or more) is 8% to 10%. For bond mutual funds, a good long-term return would be 4% to 5%.

What if I invest $15,000 a month in SIP for 15 years? ›

This rule is one of the most basic rules that help an investor become a crorepati. It says that if you invest Rs 15,000 a month for a period of 15 years in a stock that is capable of offering 15% interest on an annual basis, then you will amass an amount of Rs 1,00,27,601 at the end of 15 years.

What if I invest $10,000 in mutual funds for 10 years? ›

If an investor invested Rs. 10,000 as SIP for a decade, the total return would be Rs. 21.66 lacs. This mutual fund has provided around 25.5% annual return in the past two years, and its absolute return has been 57.6%.

What if I invest $5,000 in mutual funds for 10 years? ›

A monthly investment of Rs 5,000 for 10 years at an expected rate of return of 12 per cent will earn you Rs 11.61 lakh. The gains made by you in this scenario will be approximately Rs 5.61 lakh (Rs 11.61 lakh minus 5000*10*12).

What if I invest $5,000 a month in SIP for 3 years? ›

The 3-year annualized return for each fund is 34.25% and 31.11% respectively. A monthly SIP of Rs. 5000 in each of these funds for at least 3 years can increase your investment of Rs. 1.8 Lakhs to over Rs.

Should I invest 20% of my salary? ›

One very simple way to budget is to follow the 50 30 20 rule. This means dividing up your income into three chunks, with 50% being allocated to essential items, 20% being kept back for savings and 30% going on living your life.

Is investing 15% of income enough? ›

The big takeaway is this: No matter how much or how little you make, investing 15% of your income will put you on track for a secure retirement. The U.S. Census Bureau says the median household income is around $70,800. Fifteen percent of that would be $10,620 a year, or $885 a month.

How much should you invest with 100K salary? ›

To put it into context, Gonzalez says, "Ideally, you should start by saving about a quarter of your gross income, and increase with age; with a $100K salary, you should [start by] saving about $2,000 a month."

Can you make a living off mutual funds? ›

If you have a substantial amount to invest, it can be possible to make a living investing in dividend mutual funds. If you have that much discretionary capital on hand, however, you may be better served by diversifying your portfolio by investing in other securities.

Can mutual fund make U rich? ›

Yes, you need a good chunk of equity for long term goals. This equity can be in any place you are comfortable with: stocks, MFs, ETFs, stock baskets, PMS, whatever. The point is that it is not the instrument that will make you rich. Only your understanding of it and how much you invest in it consistently will.

What is considered rich in 2022? ›

How much money do you need to be considered rich? According to Schwab's 2022 Modern Wealth Survey (opens in new tab), Americans believe it takes an average net worth of $2.2 million to qualify a person as being wealthy.

Should I contribute 20% to my 401k? ›

However, regardless of your age and expectations, most financial advisors agree that 10% to 20% of your salary is a good amount to contribute toward your retirement fund.

Should I invest 15% in my 401k? ›

In fact, most financial experts will suggest investing 15% of your income annually in a retirement account (including any employer contribution). With 401(k)s, or employer-sponsored retirement plans, you may find that your company offers a match if you contribute a certain amount.

How much money will I have if I max out my 401k for 20 years? ›

For example, if you don't start investing for retirement until the middle of your career, but then max out your 401(k) contribution annually for 20 years, with an average rate of return of 7%, you'd wind up with a portfolio worth $855,371.

What is the 40 40 20 rule investing? ›

As of the Trust's initial date of deposit (the “Inception Date”), the asset classes represented in the portfolio will be approximately weighted as follows: common stock funds, 40%; commodities notes, 20%; and fixed-income funds, 40%.

Does the 50 30 20 budget work? ›

The 50/30/20 rule can be a good budgeting method for some, but whether the system is right for you will be determined by your unique circ*mstances. Depending on your income and where you live, 50% may not be enough to cover your needs.

What is the 120 rule in investing? ›

The 120-age investment rule states that a healthy investing approach means subtracting your age from 120 and using the result as the percentage of your investment dollars in stocks and other equity investments.

What is a realistic return on mutual funds? ›

What Is the Average Mutual Fund Return Over the Last 20 Years? High-performing large-company stock mutual funds have produced returns of up to 12.86% in the last 20 years.

How long should you hold a mutual fund? ›

If you are actually looking at equity funds to help you achieve your long term goals then you at least need to give yourself a holding period of 8-10 years. For debt funds, the outlook on rates should be your key driver for holding period.. Unlike equity funds, the debt funds do not really depend on long term holding.

What does Dave Ramsey say to invest in? ›

Plain and simple, here's Dave's investing philosophy: Get out of debt and save up a fully funded emergency fund first. Invest 15% of your income in tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Invest in good growth stock mutual funds.

What if I invest $5,000 in SIP for 5 years? ›

According to Post Office RD Calculator, if you invest Rs 5,000 per month for five years the total return on your investment will be Rs 48,740 (with monthly compounding frequency). So the total amount that you will get after five years would be Rs 3,48,740.

How much do I need to invest to be a millionaire in 15 years? ›

Putting aside someone's $40,000 in take-home pay every year—and earning that 10% return as described above—will get you to millionaire status in about 15 years. Halve those savings and you're still only looking at 20 years. It will take more work for sure, but it's a lot faster than 51.

What if I invest $5,000 a month in SIP for 20 years? ›

If someone begins a SIP of 5000 per month for a span of 20 years, at 12% assumed annualized rate of return per annum, your total investment in 20 years is Rs. 12 lakh and the accumulated corpus at the end of tenure is close to Rs. 50 lakhs.

How much should I invest to be a millionaire in 10 years? ›

Here it's important to understand that the longer we have to save and grow our money, the less we have to save each month to reach our goal. If we want to become a millionaire in 10 years, we would need to save about $6,000 per month.

How long will it take a 10000 investment to double? ›

This is very simple rule. Simply divide 72 by the Annual Interest Rate and this is the time it will take you to double up your money. For e.g.:- If you Invest 10,000 at 8% p.a., it will take you 9 years (72/8), to double up your money. The above Rule is an approximation.

Can mutual funds lose money in long term? ›

If you are wondering can mutual funds lose money, then the answer is yes as some mutual fund categories are more volatile. This means, while they might offer great returns, they can also offer higher risk. If you feel you are not up for the risk, you should look at the performance of mutual funds from other categories.

Is it OK to invest all money in mutual funds? ›

Mutual funds are a safe investment if you understand them. Investors should not be worried about the short-term fluctuation in returns while investing in equity funds. You should choose the right mutual fund, which is in sync with your investment goals and invest with a long-term horizon.

Which mutual fund gives highest return in 5 years? ›

Best Performing Equity Mutual Funds
Fund Name3-year Return (%)*5-year Return (%)*
SBI Technology Opportunities Fund Direct-Growth29.01%23.47%
Aditya Birla Sun Life Digital India Fund Direct-Growth28.77%22.85%
Quant Tax Plan Direct-Growth37.20%21.83%
Quant Active Fund Direct-Growth33.74%20.42%
6 more rows

How many years will it take for a 5% investment to double? ›

According to the Rule of 72, it would take about 14.4 years to double your money at 5% per year.

How much return can I expect from mutual funds in 5 years? ›

Mutual Fund Returns Calculator
Scheme Name1 Year5 Years
Franklin India Bluechip Fund (G)9.42%18.98%
ICICI Pru Focused Bluechip Equity Fund (G)13.18%16.78%
Invesco India Dynamic Equity Fund (G)13.46%15.49%
Invesco India Growth Opp Fund (G)21.45%19.46%
6 more rows

Which mutual fund is best for 5 years investment? ›

This is a small cap equity oriented mutual fund launched on January 1, 2013. It is a fund with high risk and has given a return of 28.87% since its launch. This fund has given a stellar 39.3% YoY return in the last 5 years.
...
1. Reliance Small Cap Fund.
DurationReturns
3 years24.1%
5 years39.3%
1 more row
Jul 25, 2022

What was Warren Buffett first stock investment? ›

The billionaire investor, whose fortune stands at $100.20 billion, is the world's seventh richest man, as per Forbes. Buffett first invested in stocks on March 11, 1942. On that day, he purchased three shares of Cities Services preferred stock. Their cost was $114.75 and required all of his savings.

What is a good return percentage on mutual funds? ›

Good Average Annual Return for a Mutual Fund

For stock mutual funds, a “good” long-term return (annualized, for 10 years or more) is 8% to 10%. For bond mutual funds, a good long-term return would be 4% to 5%. For more precise, “apples to apples” comparisons, use a good online mutual fund screener.

How much will I get if I invest 10000 in mutual funds? ›

If an investor invested Rs. 10,000 as SIP for a decade, the total return would be Rs. 21.66 lacs. This mutual fund has provided around 25.5% annual return in the past two years, and its absolute return has been 57.6%.

What is the average 10 year return on mutual funds? ›

What Is a Good 10-Year Return on a Mutual Fund? The best-performing large-company stock mutual funds have produced returns of up to 17% in the last 10 years. It should be noted that average annualized returns have been higher than usual — at 14.70% during this time frame — driven by a multi-year bull market.

Is 2022 a good time to invest in mutual funds? ›

As it can be seen that the mutual fund industry is expected to go up in 2022, one should also make some investments in the same. Therefore, the investors can look into Axis Bluechip Fund, BNP Paribas Large Cap Fund, Mirae Asset Large Cap Fund, Canara Robeco Bluechip Equity Fund, and Edelweiss Large Cap Fund.

What if I invest $10,000 in mutual funds for 5 years? ›

If you start a monthly sip of Rs.10,000 in this fund for 5 years then as per the historic returns it is expected to offer nearly Rs.6.69 lakhs. It is also one of the best sip plans for 5 years as the fund invests in both equity and debt instruments.

Can I be a millionaire in mutual funds? ›

Mutual funds are not just a binary investment, where you either chip in or you don't; they have their own spectrum of options and preferences that suit an investor's comfort. Investing in mutual funds consistently with research can make you a Millionaire in just 10 Years, depending on the SIP amount you allocate.

How much return can I expect from mutual funds in 15 years? ›

This rule is one of the most basic rules that help an investor become a crorepati. It says that if you invest Rs 15,000 a month for a period of 15 years in a stock that is capable of offering 15% interest on an annual basis, then you will amass an amount of Rs 1,00,27,601 at the end of 15 years.

Why am I losing money in mutual funds? ›

When mutual fund investors seek higher returns, they invest in equity mutual funds. These are mutual funds that invest in the stock markets. Since they are market-linked, these funds get affected when the market goes down and this is why there are chances of loss in mutual funds too.

Has anyone lost money in mutual funds? ›

Coming back the present, yes, most equity mutual funds have lost money in the last three months. For this story we are talking diversified equity categories only. Remember, most fund managers and advisors always say you can expect 10-12% returns from equity from the long period.

Can you lose a lot of money in mutual funds? ›

All funds carry some level of risk. With mutual funds, you may lose some or all of the money you invest because the securities held by a fund can go down in value. Dividends or interest payments may also change as market conditions change.

Does money double every 7 years? ›

When does money double every seven years? To use the Rule of 72 to figure out when your money will double itself, all you need to know is the annual rate of expected return. If this is 10%, then you'll divide 72 by 10 (the expected rate of return) to get 7.2 years.

Which mutual funds give highest return? ›

Best Performing Hybrid Mutual Funds
Fund Name3-year Return (%)*5-year Return (%)*
ICICI Prudential Multi Asset Fund Direct-Growth21.78%13.85%
Baroda BNP Paribas Aggressive Hybrid Fund Direct - Growth14.03%13.60%
Edelweiss Aggressive Hybrid Fund Direct - Growth16.51%13.01%
Kotak Equity Hybrid Fund Direct-Growth17.08%12.90%
6 more rows

Do mutual funds really give good returns? ›

Despite all the ups and downs that come with equity investing, all major Equity Mutual Funds have delivered double-digit average annual returns in the long run. This level of returns can help you beat inflation easily and hence avoid erosion in your money's purchasing power.

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