Wealth Return Calculator, IndiaFD, gold, property, mutual funds or shares: where does your money grow most?

Over the 20 years to January 2026, gold in rupees and Indian equities (Nifty 50 with dividends) both compounded at roughly 12% to 16% a year, while residential real estate and debt grew at about 7.5% to 8%. Gold's figure is boosted by an exceptional rise in the last three years. No asset leads in every period, which is why a mix usually works better than a single choice.

Because that is what you actually keep and can spend. A fixed deposit at 6.5% earns about 4.5% after tax in the 30% slab, which is below average inflation. Equity and gold are taxed only when sold, at 12.5% on long-term gains, so more of the return stays invested and compounds.

Property gives two returns: price growth and rent. Across India, prices have grown at about 7.5% to 8% a year over 20 years and net rent adds roughly 2% to 3%, but buying costs, maintenance, vacancies and the difficulty of selling quickly reduce the real return. Mutual funds are easier to buy, sell and diversify. The calculator includes both rent and buying costs so you can compare fairly.

If you already have the money, a lumpsum starts compounding at once, but for equity it carries timing risk, so large amounts are often moved in stages. Monthly investing suits salaried income and smooths out market ups and downs. Switch between the two modes in the calculator to compare.

PPF accepts at most ₹1.5 lakh a year, so a large one-time amount cannot go into it. Property cannot be bought in monthly instalments the way a fund can, so it is compared only for a one-time investment.

FD interest, rent (after a 30% deduction), dividends and debt fund gains are taxed at the slab you choose, plus 4% cess. Equity funds, hybrid funds and shares held over a year pay 12.5% on long-term gains above ₹1.25 lakh. Gold and property held over two years pay 12.5% on long-term gains. PPF is tax-free. Surcharge, indexation choices for older property and other special cases are not included.

No. Only the FD rate and the current PPF rate are known in advance, and even those change for new deposits. Market-linked assets can fall in value, sometimes sharply. Use the cautious outlook to see a more conservative picture.

Yes. We look at your goals, time horizon, tax slab and existing investments, and suggest a mix across fixed income, mutual funds and gold, reviewed every year. Mutual funds are handled by our AMFI-registered Mutual Fund Distributor (ARN-344619). Book a free call.