Investment Calculator | Project Growth & Reach Your Goal
Calculate how investments grow over time with regular contributions
Set a target amount and find what monthly investment or return rate you need to reach...
When Should You Use This Calculator?
- Estimating long-term portfolio growth from principal and recurring contributions
- Planning required contributions for target investment outcomes
- Comparing strategy presets (Conservative, Moderate, Aggressive)
- Reviewing portfolio and Monte Carlo analysis sections after core estimate
- Refining inflation, timing, and frequency assumptions in Advanced mode
How to Use This Calculator
- Choose mode: Simple, Goal Planning, or Advanced.
- Enter your starting amount, regular contribution, and expected annual return.
- Set the time horizon in years for the projection.
- In Advanced mode, adjust compounding frequency, contribution timing, and inflation.
- Review the projected balance and how much comes from contributions versus growth.
Key Features:
- Three modes: Simple, Goal Planning, and Advanced
- Strategy presets (Conservative, Moderate, Aggressive, Custom)
- Portfolio comparison, Monte Carlo simulation, and strategy analysis sections
Formula
Future Value = P(1 + r)^t + PMT × [((1 + r)^t − 1) ÷ r]
- P is the starting principal, r the periodic return, and t the number of periods.
- PMT is the recurring contribution made each period.
- The first term grows the principal; the second grows the contributions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is compound interest?
Compound interest means you earn interest on your interest. Over time, this creates exponential growth. The more frequently interest compounds (daily vs. monthly vs. annually), the faster your money grows.
How do I estimate investment returns?
Start with a realistic annual return assumption (many long-term equity-heavy portfolios model around 7-10% before inflation). Use Simple mode for fast projection, then Goal Planning and Advanced modes to stress assumptions.
What is the rule of 72?
The Rule of 72 estimates how long it takes to double your money: divide 72 by your annual return rate. At 8% returns, your money doubles in about 9 years (72 ÷ 8 = 9).
Should I invest or pay off debt?
Compare your debt interest rate to expected investment returns. High-interest debt (like credit cards) should usually be paid off first. Low-rate debt (like some mortgages) may be kept while investing.
How much will my investment grow over time?
Growth depends on your starting amount, monthly contributions, expected annual return, and how long you stay invested. Enter those values and the calculator projects the future balance, showing how much comes from contributions versus compound growth. For example, $10,000 plus $300/month at a 7% annual return grows to roughly $185,000 over 20 years.
Can I export my Investment Calculator calculations?
Yes. In guest mode you can export your calculations to JSON. Signing in adds PDF and CSV export. Click the export button to download your results — useful for record-keeping, sharing, or importing into other tools.
Does this calculator save my history?
Yes. Your calculation history is saved automatically. As a guest you can keep up to 50 calculations per workspace on your device. Sign in for free to keep up to 100 per workspace and access them from any device.
Is this calculator free to use?
Yes. The Investment Calculator is free to use with no sign-up required. A free account adds more calculation history, multiple workspaces, and access to your saved data from any device.
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