Project the future value and return on investment of your portfolio. Enter your starting amount, contributions, expected annual return, and time horizon.
Test different return assumptions and contribution levels to understand how long it takes to reach a target amount.
It combines your starting amount, any recurring contributions, an expected annual rate of return, and a time horizon, then applies compound growth across the period. Each year (or contribution period), the balance grows by the expected return and any new contributions are added, after which they too begin compounding. The result is an estimated future value and the total return on your investment. This helps you set realistic targets and understand how contributions and time interact to build wealth.
There is no single correct figure, because returns depend on what you invest in and on market conditions. Diversified stock portfolios have historically averaged high single-digit annual returns over long periods, while bonds and cash typically return less. Because past performance does not guarantee future results, it is wise to test a range — a conservative, a moderate, and an optimistic rate — to see how sensitive your plan is to the assumption rather than relying on one number.
Diversification — spreading money across different asset classes, sectors, and regions — reduces the impact of any single investment performing poorly. It does not eliminate risk, but it smooths returns and lowers the chance of a severe loss from one concentrated position. While this calculator models an overall return rate rather than individual holdings, the return you choose should reflect a sensibly diversified mix rather than a single speculative bet.
Contributions are the money you add yourself; growth is the return generated by the market on your accumulated balance. Early on, contributions usually dominate the balance. Over long horizons, growth — especially compounded growth — can eventually exceed the total of everything you contributed. Seeing this crossover in the calculator illustrates why staying invested for the long term is so valuable.
Both work. Investing a lump sum puts more money to work sooner, which historically tends to win when markets rise over time. Contributing regularly — known as dollar-cost averaging — spreads purchases across different prices, which can reduce the risk of investing everything just before a downturn and is easier to sustain from income. The calculator supports both approaches so you can compare outcomes for your situation.