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Investment Growth Calculator
See How Your Investments Could Grow
Estimate the future value of your investments based on your starting amount, regular contributions, expected return and investment timeline. Use the numbers that fit your own financial plan.
Plan With Numbers
Understand What Time and Contributions Can Do
Investing is not only about choosing an investment. The amount you contribute, how long you stay invested and the return you earn can all influence your potential future value.
This investment calculator helps you visualize that relationship. You can test different starting amounts, recurring contributions, expected returns and time periods to understand how your strategy could develop over time.
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Use your actual numbers
Every financial input starts blank so the estimate reflects the information you choose to enter.
Every financial input starts blank so the estimate reflects the information you choose to enter.
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Compare contributions and growth
See how much of your projected balance comes from your contributions versus investment growth.
See how much of your projected balance comes from your contributions versus investment growth.
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Test different scenarios
Change your return, contribution amount or timeline to see how long-term assumptions affect the outcome.
Change your return, contribution amount or timeline to see how long-term assumptions affect the outcome.
Interactive Investment Calculator
Calculate Your Potential Investment Growth
Enter your own investment details. The calculator updates automatically whenever you change an input.
The amount you plan to invest initially.
Your planned recurring investment amount.
Use an assumed annual return for planning scenarios.
How long you expect to remain invested.
Optional. Used to estimate the future value in today's dollars.
Your Investment Projection
ESTIMATE
Projected Future Value
$0
Total Contributions
$0
Investment Growth
$0
Initial Investment
$0
Recurring Contributions
$0
Value in Today's Dollars
$0
This projection assumes a consistent annual return and regular contributions. Actual investment performance can vary, and investments can lose value.
Simple Process
How to Use the Investment Calculator
Follow a few simple steps to build an investment growth scenario around your own goals.
01
Enter Your Starting Amount
Add the amount you plan to invest at the beginning of your investment period.
02
Add Regular Contributions
Enter how much you plan to add regularly and choose whether contributions are monthly, quarterly or annual.
03
Choose an Expected Return
Enter an assumed annual return for your planning scenario. A conservative assumption can help you avoid overly optimistic projections.
04
Set Your Timeline
Enter the number of years you expect to keep your money invested.
05
Review Your Contributions
See how much money you would contribute over the entire investment period.
06
Compare Potential Growth
Review the projected balance and see how much of it comes from investment growth.
Investment Growth Formula
How the Projection Is Calculated
The calculator uses compound growth to estimate how an initial investment and recurring contributions could grow when returns are reinvested over time.
Future Value = Initial Investment Growth + Future Value of Regular Contributions
For recurring contributions, the calculation accounts for the number of contribution periods and the assumed return per period. The longer the investment period, the more opportunity there is for compounding to influence the projected balance.
The optional inflation input estimates what the projected future value could represent in today's purchasing power. This does not predict actual inflation or investment returns.
What Matters Most
Factors That Can Change Investment Growth
Small changes to your assumptions can create meaningful differences in long-term projections.
Time in the Market
A longer investment period gives compounding more time to work, although longer periods also involve more uncertainty.
Contribution Amount
Increasing regular contributions can have a significant effect on the amount you contribute and the potential future balance.
Investment Return
Higher assumed returns can produce larger projections, but higher-return investments generally involve greater risk.
Compounding
When investment earnings remain invested, future returns can potentially build on earlier returns.
Inflation
Inflation can reduce purchasing power over time, which is why a future balance may be worth less in today's dollars.
Fees and Taxes
Investment fees, taxes and account-specific costs can reduce actual returns compared with a simple growth projection.
Illustrative Example
See How a Long-Term Scenario Works
The following is a hypothetical example to show how starting capital, recurring contributions and compounding can work together.
Hypothetical Investment Scenario
Suppose an investor starts with $20,000, contributes $500 monthly, assumes a 7% annual return and remains invested for 20 years. The actual outcome could be higher or lower because investment returns are not guaranteed.
Initial Investment
$20,000
Monthly Contribution
$500
Assumed Return
7%
Investment Period
20 Years
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Investment Calculator FAQ
Questions About Investment Growth
What does an investment calculator do?
An investment calculator estimates how an initial investment and recurring contributions could grow over time based on an assumed rate of return and investment period.
Does the calculator guarantee investment returns?
No. The result is a mathematical projection based on the assumptions you enter. Actual investment returns can vary significantly and investments can lose value.
Why does time matter so much when investing?
A longer investment period can give compounding more time to affect your balance. It can also give your contributions more time to accumulate, although market performance remains uncertain.
What is compound growth?
Compound growth occurs when investment earnings remain invested and can themselves generate additional returns over time. The effect can become more noticeable over longer periods.
Should I use a high expected return?
It is generally better to use a reasonable planning assumption rather than an overly optimistic return. Different investments have different risk and return characteristics, and historical performance does not guarantee future results.
Does this calculator include investment fees?
No. This simplified calculator does not model specific fund expenses, advisory fees, trading costs or account charges. Those costs can reduce actual investment returns.
Does inflation affect my investment goal?
Yes. Inflation reduces purchasing power over time. The calculator includes an optional inflation assumption to provide an estimate of what your future balance could represent in today's dollars.
Can I use this calculator for retirement planning?
It can provide a useful starting point for retirement investment scenarios, but a complete retirement plan should also consider taxes, Social Security, withdrawals, expenses, account types, inflation and investment risk.
What should I do if my projected amount is lower than my goal?
You can test different scenarios by changing the contribution amount, investment period or other assumptions. A financial professional can also help you evaluate an investment strategy based on your goals and risk tolerance.
Plan With More Clarity
Turn Investment Numbers Into a Clearer Financial Plan
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