Investment Calculator
Project what regular investing could grow to. Set a starting amount, monthly contributions that can rise each year, an expected return and your time horizon, and see the result in both future and today's dollars.
Projected value
| Year | Contributed this year | Balance | In today's dollars |
|---|
How to use the investment calculator
- Enter what you have invested now and what you will add each month.
- Set how much contributions grow each year (for example with raises) and your expected return.
- Enter the years and an inflation rate to see today's-dollar value.
What drives investment growth
Three things matter most: how much you contribute, how long it compounds, and the return. Time is the most powerful of the three. In the early years, contributions do most of the work; later, growth on past growth takes over, which is why the curve bends upward.
Raising contributions a little each year, often painlessly with each raise, adds up dramatically over decades. Try changing the yearly increase from 0% to 3% to see the effect.
Future dollars buy less than today's dollars, so the inflation-adjusted figure is a more realistic picture of purchasing power. Returns are never steady in reality; markets rise and fall, and this projection uses a constant average rate for planning purposes only.
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Frequently asked questions
What return should I assume?
Many planners use 5–7% a year for a diversified stock-heavy portfolio before inflation, and lower for conservative mixes.
Does this include taxes or fees?
No. Lower the return by your fund's expense ratio, and remember taxes depend on account type.
How is this different from the compound interest calculator?
This adds yearly contribution increases and an inflation-adjusted value with a year-by-year table.
Is this investment advice?
No. It is an educational projection based on the assumptions you enter.