As appraisal season brings salary hikes for most employees between April and June, financial planners say this is the right time to reassess savings and strengthen investment strategies—especially through mutual funds.How can employees save more in mutual funds after a salary hike?Salaried employees typically follow a fixed monthly budgeting pattern, setting aside a portion of their income for savings after meeting household expenses. According to an ET analysis, many prefer mutual funds as a route to grow their wealth over time, often opting for systematic investment plans (SIPs). These regular monthly investments help build a corpus for long-term goals like buying a home, funding children’s education, or retirement. For instance, someone earning Rs 1 lakh a month might invest Rs 25,000 via SIPs.Why salary hikes are a good opportunity to reassess SIPsMost employees receive an annual increment, generally effective from April onward. Financial planners advise that instead of allowing lifestyle inflation to consume the entire raise, a portion should be redirected into savings—particularly SIPs. This helps combat rising inflation and ensures that financial goals stay within reach.Two ways to increase SIPs after a salary raiseInvestors can increase their SIPs in two ways. The first is by opting for an SIP top-up feature at the time of starting the investment, allowing for a 5–10% annual increase automatically. The second option is a manual review: after receiving the salary hike, employees can reassess their income and expenses, then decide how much to increase their SIP. They can either boost contributions to existing funds or add new ones based on their portfolio needs. For example, those heavily invested in equity may consider diversifying into debt, hybrid, gold, or multi-asset funds depending on their risk profile.Reviewing and increasing SIPs after every raise ensures your investments grow in line with your income and inflation—keeping you on track to meet your financial milestones.