The future value uses your entered annual return as-is. The "in today's dollars" figure deflates that by your assumed inflation rate, showing what the balance is actually worth in purchasing power — the number that matters when comparing a future goal against today's cost of living.
Taxable brokerage accounts are taxed on gains as they accrue, which lowers the effective compounding rate every year. Tax-advantaged accounts (401(k), IRA) defer that tax until withdrawal, so the full pre-tax return compounds the whole time — taxes are only applied once, to the final balance, when you turn on tax-adjusted values in Advanced mode.
Simple mode projects growth from a fixed contribution. Goal Planning solves for the contribution needed to hit a target amount. Advanced adds contribution timing, compounding frequency, and the tax-treatment comparison — useful once you know which account type you are actually investing through.
A single projected return is a best guess, not a guarantee — real markets vary year to year. The Investment Strategies panel compares conservative, moderate, and aggressive return assumptions side by side, and the Monte Carlo section runs many randomized market-return sequences to show a realistic spread of outcomes rather than one deterministic answer.
This models a single lump sum plus regular contributions at one assumed return — it does not track individual holdings, fund fees/expense ratios, or contribution limits (e.g. annual 401(k)/IRA caps). For a pure savings account with no market risk, use the Savings Calculator instead.
Investment Strategies: Compare conservative, moderate, and aggressive strategies with asset allocation breakdowns by expected return profile.
Risk Analysis: Run Monte Carlo simulations showing volatility and 90%/50% confidence intervals across a realistic spread of outcomes.
Compound Growth: Visualize long-term growth from compounding and recurring contributions.
Export Data: Export projections to JSON, CSV, or PDF for planning and record-keeping.
Retirement Planning: set years to grow based on years until retirement, enter your current 401(k)/IRA balance as principal, and add planned monthly contributions.
Down Payment Saving: set years to grow until your target purchase date, use conservative or moderate allocation assumptions, and estimate the monthly contribution required.
College Fund (529): start from your current education savings balance, enter years until college begins, and include annual contributions.
Plan your savings goals
Plan for retirement
Calculate investment returns
Calculate loan payments and interest.
Calculate car loan payments, total interest, and amortization schedule.
Calculate break-even point and target profit for business planning.
Calculate markup and margin percentages for pricing strategy.
Estimate monthly mortgage payments.
Calculate your debt-to-income ratio for loan eligibility.
Calculate time and interest to pay off credit card debt.
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