Investment Calculator
Forecast your portfolio growth with regular contributions and compound returns.
Investment Summary
Year-by-Year Growth
| Year | Start Balance | Contributions | Returns | End Balance |
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What is an Investment Calculator?
An investment calculator projects the future value of your money based on an initial lump sum, regular contributions, and an expected rate of return. It demonstrates the power of compound growth over time.
Investors use this tool to set realistic savings goals, compare different contribution strategies, and understand how small changes in return or duration can dramatically impact long-term wealth.
How to Use
- Enter your initial investment amount.
- Add any monthly contributions you plan to make.
- Input your expected annual rate of return and investment horizon in years.
- Click Calculate to see your projected portfolio value and year-by-year growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What rate of return should I use?
Historical average annual returns for the S&P 500 are around 10% before inflation. A conservative estimate for a diversified portfolio is 6-8%.
How do monthly contributions help?
Monthly contributions reduce the impact of market volatility through dollar-cost averaging and significantly increase your final balance through compounding.
Does this account for taxes or fees?
No, this calculator shows pre-tax, pre-fee returns. In reality, capital gains taxes and fund expense ratios will reduce your net returns.
Can I use this for retirement planning?
Yes, this calculator is excellent for estimating retirement savings. For a more detailed retirement analysis including withdrawals, use our Retirement Calculator.