Investment Calculator
Model portfolio growth from an initial amount plus monthly contributions.
Your plan
Raise your contribution each year, e.g. with your salary
Portfolio value after 20 years
$343,778
2.64× your total invested
- Total invested$130,000
- Total returns$213,778
- Total invested
- $130,000
- Total returns
- $213,778
- Portfolio value
- $343,778
- Returns share
- 62%
Portfolio growth over 20 years
Compounding returns stack on top of everything you invest.
Yearly breakdown
| Year | Invested | Returns | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $16,000 | $1,055 | $17,055 |
| 2 | $22,000 | $2,695 | $24,695 |
| 3 | $28,000 | $4,970 | $32,970 |
| 4 | $34,000 | $7,932 | $41,932 |
| 5 | $40,000 | $11,637 | $51,637 |
| 6 | $46,000 | $16,148 | $62,148 |
| 7 | $52,000 | $21,531 | $73,531 |
| 8 | $58,000 | $27,859 | $85,859 |
| 9 | $64,000 | $35,210 | $99,210 |
| 10 | $70,000 | $43,669 | $113,669 |
About the Investment Calculator
An investment calculator projects how a portfolio could grow over time when you combine an initial lump sum with regular monthly contributions and let compounding do the work. It's the tool to answer questions like “what could my retirement account be worth?” or “is investing $500 a month enough?”.
The single biggest driver is time, followed by your contribution amount and expected return. Because returns compound, money invested early has decades to grow — which is why starting sooner usually beats investing more later. The annual contribution increase lets you model raising your investments each year as your income grows, which can dramatically lift the final balance.
Returns are not guaranteed: markets rise and fall, and the “expected return” you enter is an assumption, not a promise. Use conservative figures and treat the result as a projection for planning, not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions
What return rate should I use?
Use a realistic long-term average for your asset mix. Historically a diversified, stock-heavy portfolio has averaged roughly 7–10% before inflation, but past performance doesn't guarantee future results. More conservative assumptions give you a safer plan.
What does the annual contribution increase do?
It raises your monthly contribution by the percentage you choose at the start of each year — handy for modelling contributions that grow with your salary. Even a small annual increase compounds into a noticeably larger final balance.
Is this suitable for retirement planning?
It's a great starting point for projecting a pot from regular investing. For a complete plan you should also factor in inflation, taxes and withdrawals — see our retirement calculator and consider a qualified adviser.
Why is most of my balance 'returns' over long periods?
Compounding is exponential, so over long horizons the growth on your money — and the growth on that growth — can far exceed what you actually contributed. That's the core reason to invest early and stay invested.
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