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Goal Planner

Plan monthly contributions for up to three goals, with separate timelines and a combined total.

By Nitin Raturi · Last reviewed

Your goals and assumptions

How to use this Goal Planner

Enter separate amounts and dates for up to three goals, then compare their monthly plans.

  1. Enter each goal amount and the number of years until you need it. Use 0 for an unused goal.
  2. Choose the annual return assumption used by all goals.
  3. Keep Targets in today’s money on if your amounts are priced in current rupees, and set an inflation assumption.
  4. Read each goal’s monthly amount and the combined total.

Good to know

  • Each goal has its own timeline; the combined monthly amount may fall as earlier goals are reached.

Plan up to three goals using one return assumption. Amounts stay in your browser and are not sent to a server.

Goal amount

Enter the amount you want to set aside for this goal. Disable the goal if you do not want to include it.

How to fill it in

  • Enter ₹1,000 to ₹10,000 crore. Use the checkbox in the goal heading to include or exclude it.

Example

At the defaults, the first ₹10,00,000 goal needs about ₹16,224 each month.

Tip: When Targets in today’s money is on, this is the goal’s value in current rupees.

Keep in mind: The result is an estimate based on a constant return assumption.

Time until goal

Choose how many whole years remain before you need the amount.

How to fill it in

  • Enter 1 to 50 whole years. Each goal can have its own timeline.

Example

The default goals are planned for 5 years, 10 years, 20 years.

Tip: Use the year you expect to need the money, not only the time you plan to invest.

Goal amount

Enter the amount you want to set aside for this goal. Disable the goal if you do not want to include it.

How to fill it in

  • Enter ₹1,000 to ₹10,000 crore. Use the checkbox in the goal heading to include or exclude it.

Example

At the defaults, the first ₹10,00,000 goal needs about ₹16,224 each month.

Tip: When Targets in today’s money is on, this is the goal’s value in current rupees.

Keep in mind: The result is an estimate based on a constant return assumption.

Time until goal

Choose how many whole years remain before you need the amount.

How to fill it in

  • Enter 1 to 50 whole years. Each goal can have its own timeline.

Example

The default goals are planned for 5 years, 10 years, 20 years.

Tip: Use the year you expect to need the money, not only the time you plan to invest.

Goal amount

Enter the amount you want to set aside for this goal. Disable the goal if you do not want to include it.

How to fill it in

  • Enter ₹1,000 to ₹10,000 crore. Use the checkbox in the goal heading to include or exclude it.

Example

At the defaults, the first ₹10,00,000 goal needs about ₹16,224 each month.

Tip: When Targets in today’s money is on, this is the goal’s value in current rupees.

Keep in mind: The result is an estimate based on a constant return assumption.

Time until goal

Choose how many whole years remain before you need the amount.

How to fill it in

  • Enter 1 to 50 whole years. Each goal can have its own timeline.

Example

The default goals are planned for 5 years, 10 years, 20 years.

Tip: Use the year you expect to need the money, not only the time you plan to invest.

Expected annual return

A hypothetical yearly return used to estimate the monthly contributions for each goal.

How to fill it in

  • Enter 0% to 40%. The same nominal rate is used for all goals.

Example

At the default 12% return assumption, the three goals need about ₹71,446 in total each month.

Tip: Compare a range of assumptions; the result changes materially with this input.

Keep in mind: Investment returns vary and are not guaranteed.

Annual inflation

A yearly price increase assumption used only when goals are stated in today’s money.

How to fill it in

  • Enter 0% to 15%. The rate compounds annually for each goal’s own timeline.

Example

The default 6% assumption increases the future target more for the longer goals.

Tip: Turn off today’s-money targets if your entered amounts already include future price changes.

Targets in today’s money

When enabled, each goal amount is inflated to the year you need it.

How to fill it in

  • Switch it off if the amounts you entered are already future values.

Example

With this on, the ₹10,00,000 first goal becomes about ₹13,38,226 after 5 years.

Keep in mind: One inflation rate is assumed for every goal and year.

Turn this off if the amounts already include future price changes. Disable a goal you do not want to include.

Combined monthly amount

₹71,446

Across 3 active goals

Separate flat monthly SIP estimates, using the same nominal return and start-of-month timing.

Goal 1 · 5 years
₹16,224 / monthTarget then: ₹13,38,226
Goal 2 · 10 years
₹23,124 / monthTarget then: ₹53,72,543
Goal 3 · 20 years
₹32,099 / monthTarget then: ₹3,20,71,355

This estimate assumes the same return every month. Actual results may differ, and earlier goals reduce the combined monthly amount after they are reached.

ChangelogHow we test this calculatorEmbed this calculator

How this calculator works

Each goal gets its own monthly contribution estimate, and the planner adds those amounts into one current total.

  1. Step 1Choose a date5, 10 or 20 yearsEach goal has its own timeline.
  2. Step 2Apply assumptions12% return · 6% inflationThe return and inflation are assumptions.
  3. Step 3Add the SIP amounts₹71,446The total is the sum across active goals.

The plan uses the same nominal annual return and start-of-month SIP timing for each goal. Contributions are flat; there is no annual step-up.

The calculation

Default example: three goals
Today’s target to future target
target × (1 + inflation)^years
Monthly SIP
future target ÷ future-value factor for a start-of-month SIP
  1. Goal 1 · 5 years₹10,00,000 becomes ₹13,38,226₹16,224 / month
  2. Goal 2 · 10 years₹30,00,000 becomes ₹53,72,543₹23,124 / month
  3. Goal 3 · 20 years₹1,00,00,000 becomes ₹3,20,71,355₹32,099 / month

What is not included

  • Changing returnsOne constant return assumption is used; market variation is not modelled.
  • Changing contributionsEach SIP stays flat, with no step-up or missed payments.
  • Taxes and feesThese are not deducted from the estimates.

Reading the combined amount

  • Goal 1₹16,224
  • Goal 2₹23,124
  • Goal 3₹32,099
The individual monthly amounts add to ₹71,446 today. When an earlier goal is reached, its contribution can stop and the combined amount can fall.

This is a mathematical projection, not a recommendation. Actual investment results can be higher or lower than the assumed return.

Going deeper on one goal

This planner keeps every goal on the same simple terms. A goal with its own rules is easier to plan in a dedicated tool.

For a child’s education, the college cost calculator projects fees year by year. For retirement, the retirement planner estimates the corpus a lifetime of rising expenses needs.

To raise your saving each year instead of keeping it flat, use the step-up option in the SIP calculator. If part of a goal is already saved, the lumpsum calculator shows what that money may grow to.

The inflation calculator explains how today’s targets are scaled.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Treating the shared return as a prediction.

    Instead: Try different assumptions and treat the outputs as scenarios.

  • Mistake: Entering a target in current prices while turning inflation off.

    Instead: Keep Targets in today’s money on when the amount reflects current prices.

  • Mistake: Assuming the combined total stays unchanged after an early goal.

    Instead: Review the plan after a goal is reached; its monthly contribution is no longer needed.

The planner excludes market risk, taxes, fees and personal circumstances. It is for education only and is not investment, tax or legal advice.

Checking the method

A separate script recomputes every test case two ways: by formula, and by searching for the monthly amount that reaches each target.

Read how we test our calculators, or browse more money calculators.

Frequently asked questions

How does this Goal Planner work?

It estimates an individual monthly contribution for each goal, then adds them. The defaults total about ₹71,446 each month.

Can each goal have a different date?

Yes. Enter the number of whole years for each of up to three goals. Each contribution is calculated for that goal’s own horizon.

What does Targets in today’s money mean?

When selected, the planner increases each target by the entered annual inflation assumption for its own timeline before estimating its monthly contribution.

Which return assumption does it use?

One nominal annual return is shared across all goals and converted to a monthly rate by dividing it by 12. Contributions are assumed at the start of each month.

Does the combined amount stay the same forever?

No. It is the sum of current monthly plans. After an earlier goal is reached, the amount needed for that goal ends and the combined amount can fall.

Are the amounts guaranteed?

No. The calculation assumes a constant return. Actual investment returns vary, and the planner does not account for market risk, taxes or fees.

Sources and methodology

The formulas are standard time-value-of-money results. We check every figure against golden values worked out independently, by closed form and by month-by-month simulation; see the methodology.

Written and maintained by Nitin Raturi, a software engineer (about the author). Last reviewed 22 Oct 2026; next review due by . Found an error? Tell us.

Changelog

  • : Registered at the owner's request; demand metrics remain unverified. Covers three goal timelines with separate monthly estimates and an aggregate of ₹71,446 under the default assumptions.

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