Investment Calculator

How it works

Project the growth of your investments over time with compound interest.

Project your investment growth

Description

The Investment Calculator allows you to project the potential growth of your assets. By factoring in an initial amount, monthly contributions, and an expected rate of return, you can see the powerful effect of compounding over time.

Inputs

• Starting Amount: The initial lump sum invested ($).
• Monthly Contribution: Amount added to the investment every month ($).
• Return Rate: The expected annual rate of return (%).
• Time Period: The duration of the investment in years.

Outputs

• Future Value: The estimated total value of the investment at the end of the period.
• Total Principal: The total amount of money you contributed (Initial + Monthly).
• Total Interest: The total earnings generated from growth/interest.

Chart

• Growth Area Chart: Compares the “Total Balance” curve against the straight line of “Principal” contributions to visualize returns.

“Good to Know”

• The “Rule of 72” suggests that at a 10% return, your money doubles roughly every 7.2 years.
• Consistent monthly contributions often matter more than the initial starting amount for long-term wealth.
• Small differences in return rates (fees, expenses) can have huge long-term effects.

Examples

Example 1: Moderate Growth

• Input:
  • Start: $10,000
  • Monthly: $500
  • Rate: 7%
  • Years: 10
• Output:
  • Future Value: ~$103,000
  • Total Principal: $70,000
  • Interest: ~$33,000

Example 2: Aggressive Saver

• Input:
  • Start: $0
  • Monthly: $2,000
  • Rate: 8%
  • Years: 20
• Output:
  • Future Value: ~$1.1M
  • Total Principal: $480,000
  • Interest: ~$620,000

Example 3: Conservative CD

• Input:
  • Start: $50,000
  • Monthly: $0
  • Rate: 4%
  • Years: 5
• Output:
  • Future Value: ~$60,800
  • Total Principal: $50,000
  • Interest: ~$10,800