Investment Calculator
Project how regular investing can grow your money with a chosen annual return.
The Investment Calculator projects the long-term growth of a portfolio built from an initial lump sum plus regular monthly contributions. Enter how much you already have invested, how much you add each month, the annual return you expect, and your time horizon — the tool returns your projected portfolio value, the total you invested with your own money, and the earnings your investments produced.
This is the model behind most retirement and wealth-building advice: consistent monthly investing into the market, combined with decades of compounding, does the heavy lifting. The tool makes that visible with a year-by-year table where the invested amount grows in a straight line while the balance curves upward. Try a 5% vs 8% vs 10% return on the same contributions to see why expected return matters so much over 20–30 years.
Results assume contributions at the end of each month and a constant annual return, compounded monthly. Real markets fluctuate — returns are never smooth — so treat projections as scenario planning, not promises. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Projected value
$300,850.72
Total invested
$130,000.00
Investment earnings
$170,850.72
Assumes contributions at the end of each month and a constant 7% annual return. Real returns vary year to year — past performance never guarantees future results.
Growth by year
| Year | Invested | Earnings | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $16,000.00 | $919.19 | $16,919.19 |
| 2 | $22,000.00 | $2,338.58 | $24,338.58 |
| 3 | $28,000.00 | $4,294.31 | $32,294.31 |
| 4 | $34,000.00 | $6,825.16 | $40,825.16 |
| 5 | $40,000.00 | $9,972.70 | $49,972.70 |
| 6 | $46,000.00 | $13,781.53 | $59,781.53 |
| 7 | $52,000.00 | $18,299.43 | $70,299.43 |
| 8 | $58,000.00 | $23,577.68 | $81,577.68 |
| 9 | $64,000.00 | $29,671.22 | $93,671.22 |
| 10 | $70,000.00 | $36,639.02 | $106,639.02 |
| 11 | $76,000.00 | $44,544.25 | $120,544.25 |
| 12 | $82,000.00 | $53,454.70 | $135,454.70 |
| 13 | $88,000.00 | $63,443.02 | $151,443.02 |
| 14 | $94,000.00 | $74,587.14 | $168,587.14 |
| 15 | $100,000.00 | $86,970.62 | $186,970.62 |
| 16 | $106,000.00 | $100,683.03 | $206,683.03 |
| 17 | $112,000.00 | $115,820.45 | $227,820.45 |
| 18 | $118,000.00 | $132,485.91 | $250,485.91 |
| 19 | $124,000.00 | $150,789.85 | $274,789.85 |
| 20 | $130,000.00 | $170,850.72 | $300,850.72 |
How to use the Investment Calculator
- Enter your current invested balance as the starting point.
- Type how much you plan to invest every month.
- Choose an expected average annual return (a common planning range is 5–8% for diversified stock portfolios).
- Set your investment horizon in years.
- Read the projected value, total invested and earnings, and browse the year-by-year table.
Frequently asked questions
What annual return should I assume?
Long-run US stock market history suggests roughly 9–10% nominal and 6–7% after inflation per year, but past performance is no guarantee. Conservative planners use 5–6% real; aggressive ones 8%+. Because the projection compounds, a 1–2% difference in assumption changes the result enormously over decades — run several scenarios.
How is this different from the savings calculator?
The savings calculator suits bank accounts and fixed-rate goals. The investment calculator frames the same math for portfolios: a higher expected return, longer horizons, and language that fits stocks, index funds and retirement accounts. The underlying growth math is similar.
What about taxes on investment gains?
The projection is pre-tax. Tax-advantaged accounts shelter growth until withdrawal or forever; taxable accounts owe capital gains or income tax depending on your country and holding period. Use the tool to compare gross scenarios, then adjust for your tax situation.
Does it include inflation?
Not by default. If you enter a nominal return (like 8%), results are in future dollars with reduced buying power. If you enter a real return (like 5% after inflation), results approximate today's purchasing power. Choose deliberately depending on whether you are planning nominal or real goals.
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