How much SIP should I start with?

Start with an amount that can survive low-income or high-expense months for at least 24 months without interruption.

Should FD stop when SIP starts?

Usually no. Keep FD or other stable buckets for near-term goals, and use SIP for long-term growth goals.

Start here: lock emergency reserve, set SIP level you can sustain, then compare execution platforms and tax wrappers.

Ideal when emergency buffer is still being built and income visibility is moderate.

Failure mode: Do not step up aggressively if one expense spike forces credit-card rollover.

Works for many ₹12L salary bands when fixed costs are stable and insurance is already in place.

Failure mode: If SIP needs to be paused frequently, lower contribution and focus on consistency.

Suitable for higher-surplus households with clear 7+ year goals and strong liquidity reserves.

Failure mode: Avoid overconcentration in equity if near-term goals still depend on this money.

Use SIP calculator → choose FD vs SIP allocation → finalize tax-aware split with PPF vs ELSS.