Investment Calculator
A brokerage account or retirement-style investment compounds over time just like a savings account — usually at a higher expected return. Enter your starting balance, your realistic expected annual return, your time horizon, and how much you plan to add each month to see your projected portfolio value.
Year-by-year breakdown
| Period | Contributions | Interest | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $11,000 | $880 | $11,880 |
| Year 2 | $17,000 | $2,310 | $19,310 |
| Year 3 | $23,000 | $4,335 | $27,335 |
| Year 4 | $29,000 | $7,002 | $36,002 |
| Year 5 | $35,000 | $10,362 | $45,362 |
| Year 6 | $41,000 | $14,471 | $55,471 |
| Year 7 | $47,000 | $19,389 | $66,389 |
| Year 8 | $53,000 | $25,180 | $78,180 |
| Year 9 | $59,000 | $31,914 | $90,914 |
| Year 10 | $65,000 | $39,668 | $104,668 |
| Year 11 | $71,000 | $48,521 | $119,521 |
| Year 12 | $77,000 | $58,563 | $135,563 |
| Year 13 | $83,000 | $69,888 | $152,888 |
| Year 14 | $89,000 | $82,599 | $171,599 |
| Year 15 | $95,000 | $96,807 | $191,807 |
| Year 16 | $101,000 | $112,631 | $213,631 |
| Year 17 | $107,000 | $130,202 | $237,202 |
| Year 18 | $113,000 | $149,658 | $262,658 |
| Year 19 | $119,000 | $171,150 | $290,150 |
| Year 20 | $125,000 | $194,842 | $319,842 |
| Year 21 | $131,000 | $220,910 | $351,910 |
| Year 22 | $137,000 | $249,542 | $386,542 |
| Year 23 | $143,000 | $280,946 | $423,946 |
| Year 24 | $149,000 | $315,342 | $464,342 |
| Year 25 | $155,000 | $352,969 | $507,969 |
| Year 26 | $161,000 | $394,086 | $555,086 |
| Year 27 | $167,000 | $438,973 | $605,973 |
| Year 28 | $173,000 | $487,931 | $660,931 |
| Year 29 | $179,000 | $541,286 | $720,286 |
| Year 30 | $185,000 | $599,388 | $784,388 |
Why investment returns compound more aggressively
Equity and broad-market index investments historically deliver higher long-run returns than cash savings — but with that higher expected return comes volatility. This calculator uses a deterministic average annual return; it cannot predict market crashes, sequence-of-returns risk, or years when your portfolio shrinks. Use it as a long-horizon planning aid, not a guarantee.
Because investment returns are often quoted annually, the default compounding here is annual rather than monthly. The engine underneath is the same as the savings and retirement calculators on this site — only the defaults and framing differ.