Investment Calculator

Calculate Your Investment

Enter your investment details

Enter your investment details to calculate future value, total returns, or time to reach your financial goal.

Initial Investment ($) Starting lump sum amount

Please enter a valid initial investment

Monthly Contribution ($) Amount added each month (optional)

Please enter a valid monthly contribution

Expected Annual Return (%) Average expected yearly return

Please enter a valid annual return (0.01-50%)

Investment Period (Years) Total length of investment

Please enter a valid investment period (1-100 years)

Compounding Frequency How often interest compounds

Target Goal Amount ($) Amount you want to reach

Please enter a valid goal amount

Investment Results & Actions

Calculate and view your growth projections

Investment Results

Future Value: -

Total Contributions: -

Total Interest Earned: -

Effective Annual Yield: -

Growth Over Time

Year-by-Year Projection

Scroll to see all years

Year	Beginning Balance	Contributions	Interest Earned	Ending Balance
Enter your investment details and click Calculate to see projections

How It Works

Enter initial investment, monthly contributions, expected return, and time period. The calculator uses compound interest formulas to project your financial growth.

Smart Investing

Compare different contribution amounts and returns to optimize your investment strategy. See how small changes can significantly impact your long-term growth.

Privacy First

All calculations happen in your browser - no personal or financial data is sent to servers. Your investment information stays completely private.

Investment Calculation Formulas

Future Value with Regular Contributions

FV = P(1 + r/n)^(nt) + PMT × [(1 + r/n)^(nt) - 1] / (r/n)

FV = Future value, P = Principal (initial investment), r = Annual interest rate (decimal), n = Compounding periods per year, t = Years, PMT = Regular contribution per period

Total Return on Investment

Total Return = FV - Total Contributions

FV = Future value, Total Contributions = P + (PMT × n × t)

Time to Reach Investment Goal

Solve for t in: G = P(1 + r/n)^(nt) + PMT × [(1 + r/n)^(nt) - 1] / (r/n)

G = Goal amount, P = Principal, r = Annual rate, n = Compounding periods, t = Years to goal, PMT = Monthly contribution

Step-by-Step Examples

Retirement Savings (401(k) / IRA)

Initial: $20,000, Monthly: $500, Return: 6.5%, Period: 30 years, Monthly compounding

Future Value: $636,687 | Total Interest: $436,687

College Savings Fund (529 Plan)

Initial: $10,000, Monthly: $300, Return: 5.8%, Period: 18 years, Monthly compounding

Future Value: $144,872 | Total Interest: $70,072

Stock Portfolio Growth

Initial: $50,000, Monthly: $1,000, Return: 8.2%, Period: 25 years, Monthly compounding

Future Value: $1,254,893 | Total Interest: $924,893

Understanding Investment Calculations

Investment calculations help you make informed financial decisions by projecting how your money can grow over time through compound interest. Whether you're saving for retirement, education, or building wealth, understanding these projections ensures you're on track to meet your financial goals.

How Compound Interest Works

Compound interest is the process where your investment earns interest, and then that interest earns additional interest over time. This creates exponential growth, especially over long periods. The more frequently interest compounds, the faster your investment grows.

Key Factors in Investment Growth

Several elements significantly impact your investment outcomes:

Initial Investment: Your starting capital significantly influences final results
Regular Contributions: Consistent investing harnesses dollar-cost averaging
Time Horizon: Longer periods allow compounding to work its magic
Rate of Return: Higher returns accelerate growth but often involve more risk
Compounding Frequency: More frequent compounding yields better results

Practical Example: Retirement Planning

Imagine starting with $20,000, adding $500 monthly, with a 7% annual return over 30 years with monthly compounding.

Step 1: Calculate Monthly Rate

Calculation: 7% ÷ 12 = 0.5833% monthly

Step 2: Calculate Future Value of Initial Amount

Calculation: $20,000 × (1.005833)^360 = $162,889

Step 3: Calculate Future Value of Monthly Contributions

Calculation: $500 × [(1.005833)^360 - 1] ÷ 0.005833 = $566,417

Step 4: Calculate Total Future Value

Result: $162,889 + $566,417 = $729,306 total

Step 5: Calculate Total Interest Earned

Result: $729,306 - ($20,000 + $180,000 contributions) = $529,306 interest

Frequently Asked Questions

How does compounding frequency affect my investment returns?

More frequent compounding grows your investment faster because interest is added more often. For example, at 6%, $10,000 becomes $10,600 with annual compounding and about $10,617 with monthly compounding.

What's a realistic expected annual return for long-term investments?

Long-term stock market returns usually average 7–10% before inflation. Conservative portfolios often see 4–6%. Using a 5–7% estimate is safer for planning.

Should I increase contributions or seek higher returns?

Boosting contributions is the most reliable growth strategy. Higher returns involve more risk, so focus on contributing consistently before chasing performance.

How do inflation and taxes affect these calculations?

These results don’t include inflation or taxes. Subtract around 2–3% to estimate real value, and consider tax-advantaged accounts to protect more of your gains.

Can I use this for cryptocurrency or other volatile investments?

The calculator assumes steady returns, which volatile assets like crypto don’t follow. Use conservative estimates or compare best- and worst-case scenarios.

What if I need to withdraw money during the investment period?

Withdrawals reduce compounding. Subtract the withdrawn amount from your starting balance and recalculate to see how your goal changes.