How it works
The projection starts with the initial investment after any front-end sales charge. It subtracts the annual operating expense ratio from the entered gross annual return, converts that net annual return to an equivalent monthly rate, applies the monthly growth, and then adds scheduled contributions.
A parallel gross-return balance estimates the dollar amount attributable to operating expenses. This keeps the projected ending value aligned with the entered return net of expenses while still showing the fee effect separately. Because an expense ratio is normally based on average fund assets, the dollar expense result is an estimate and is displayed to the nearest ten cents.
A front-end sales charge is applied to every purchase in this model. At the end of the holding period, the deferred sales charge is estimated from the lesser of total contributed principal or the fund value before redemption.
Input query strings and outputs
Use an input name in this page’s URL as ?name=value, and join additional inputs with &. Portable shared links may instead use the compact ?ac= state parameter.
Input query strings
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?initialInvestment=Initial investmentMoney · Required · Default: 20,000
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?annualContribution=Annual contributionMoney · Optional · Default: 0
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?monthlyContribution=Monthly contributionMoney · Optional · Default: 1,000
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?annualReturn=Gross annual returnPercentage · Required · Default: 5
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?holdingYears=Holding yearsNumber · Required · Default: 5
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?holdingMonths=Additional monthsNumber · Required · Default: 0
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?salesCharge=Front-end sales chargePercentage · Optional · Default: 2
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?deferredSalesCharge=Deferred sales chargePercentage · Optional · Default: 0
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?operatingExpense=Annual operating expense ratioPercentage · Optional · Default: 0.5
Outputs
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endingValueEnding valueCurrency · Primary output
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totalPrincipalTotal principal contributedCurrency
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totalContributionsContributions after the initial investmentCurrency
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netReturnNet returnCurrency
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netIrrNet IRRPercentage
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salesChargesFront-end sales chargesCurrency
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deferredChargeDeferred sales chargeCurrency
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operatingExpensesEstimated operating expensesCurrency
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totalFeesTotal estimated feesCurrency
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grossGrowthGross investment growthCurrency
Contributions and fees
Monthly contributions are added at the end of each month. Annual contributions are added at the end of every complete twelve-month period. The results separate sales charges, ongoing operating expenses, and any deferred charge so the effect of fees is visible rather than hidden inside the ending balance.
Net return and IRR
Net return equals the final value after the deferred charge minus all cash contributed. Net IRR uses the timing of the initial investment, later contributions, and final redemption value. It can therefore differ from the entered gross return even when the ending value is higher than the total principal.
Limits
This is a deterministic illustration, not a forecast. Actual mutual fund returns change over time, operating expenses may be accrued differently, sales-load breakpoints may reduce charges, deferred loads may decline with holding time, and taxes can affect the amount retained. Read the fund’s current prospectus and shareholder reports for its actual fee table, risks, and performance information.