Investment Calculator — Growth & Returns
Project future value, solve for the contribution or return rate you need, or find out how long it takes to reach a goal — with a stacked growth chart and a full year-by-year accumulation schedule.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CALCULATE?
💰 Future Value Calculator
Calculate how much your investment will grow
FUTURE VALUE
$300,851
$10,000 + contributions at 7% for 20 yrs
TOTAL ROI7.0%
RATE
$10,000
Initial Investment
$120,000
Total Contributions
$170,851
Total Interest Earned
📈 Investment Growth Over Time
💡 What Makes Up Your Final Balance
📅 Accumulation Schedule
ANNUAL| Year | Opening Balance | Contribution | Interest Earned | Closing Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $10,000 | $6,000 | $919 | $16,919 |
| Year 2 | $16,919 | $6,000 | $1,419 | $24,339 |
| Year 3 | $24,339 | $6,000 | $1,956 | $32,294 |
| Year 4 | $32,294 | $6,000 | $2,531 | $40,825 |
| Year 5 | $40,825 | $6,000 | $3,148 | $49,973 |
| Year 6 | $49,973 | $6,000 | $3,809 | $59,782 |
| Year 7 | $59,782 | $6,000 | $4,518 | $70,299 |
| Year 8 | $70,299 | $6,000 | $5,278 | $81,578 |
| Year 9 | $81,578 | $6,000 | $6,094 | $93,671 |
| Year 10 | $93,671 | $6,000 | $6,968 | $106,639 |
| Year 11 | $106,639 | $6,000 | $7,905 | $120,544 |
| Year 12 | $120,544 | $6,000 | $8,910 | $135,455 |
| Year 13 | $135,455 | $6,000 | $9,988 | $151,443 |
| Year 14 | $151,443 | $6,000 | $11,144 | $168,587 |
| Year 15 | $168,587 | $6,000 | $12,383 | $186,971 |
| Year 16 | $186,971 | $6,000 | $13,712 | $206,683 |
| Year 17 | $206,683 | $6,000 | $15,137 | $227,820 |
| Year 18 | $227,820 | $6,000 | $16,665 | $250,486 |
| Year 19 | $250,486 | $6,000 | $18,304 | $274,790 |
| Year 20 | $274,790 | $6,000 | $20,061 | $300,851 |
🎯 Investment Growth Strategies
How Investment Returns Are Calculated
Investment growth combines compound interest with periodic contributions: your starting balance grows at the chosen rate and compounding frequency, while each new deposit gets its own runway to grow before the end date. This calculator can solve for any single unknown — the ending balance, the contribution you need, the rate required, the lump sum to start with, or the time it takes — while holding the rest fixed. For the no-contributions version of this math, see our compound interest calculator, and for retirement-specific planning see our retirement calculator.
P = starting amount · r = annual return rate · n = compounding periods per year · t = years · C = contribution per period
Historical Investment Returns by Asset Class
| Asset Class | Historical Avg. Return | Inflation-Adj. Return | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Stocks (S&P 500) | ~10% annually | ~7% annually | High |
| Global Stocks | ~8-9% annually | ~5-6% annually | High |
| Corporate Bonds | ~5-6% annually | ~2-3% annually | Moderate |
| US Treasury Bonds | ~4-5% annually | ~1-2% annually | Low |
| Real Estate (REITs) | ~8-9% annually | ~5-6% annually | Moderate-High |
| High-Yield Savings | ~4-5% annually | ~1-2% annually | Very Low |
| 60/40 Portfolio | ~7-8% annually | ~4-5% annually | Moderate |
The Power of Starting Early
Three investors, each contributing $500/month at a 7% annual return, starting at different ages and stopping at 65:
| Investor | Years Invested | Total Contributed | Balance at 65 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starts at 25 | 40 years | $240,000 | ~$1,310,000 |
| Starts at 35 | 30 years | $180,000 | ~$609,000 |
| Starts at 45 | 20 years | $120,000 | ~$261,000 |
The 25-year-old contributes only 33% more than the 45-year-old but ends up with roughly 5x the balance — the gap is entirely down to extra decades of compounding.
— FAQ