Investment Return Calculator
Project how much your investments will grow with regular contributions. See year-by-year portfolio growth instantly.
Investment Growth Projector
How to Project Investment Returns
This free investment return calculator uses the future value formula to project how your portfolio grows over time, factoring in both your starting principal and regular monthly contributions. It's perfect for retirement planning, college savings, and long-term wealth building.
Monthly Contributions Often Matter More Than Your Starting Amount
Investing $500/month for 30 years at 7% annual return yields over $566,000 — even though your total contribution was only $180,000. The remaining $386,000 is pure investment growth. Consistent contributions leveraged with time and compound returns are the foundation of wealth building.
Realistic Return Rate Benchmarks
The S&P 500 has returned approximately 10% annually before inflation and 7% after inflation over the past 50 years. Bonds return 3–5%, real estate 5–8%, and high-yield savings accounts currently offer 4–5%. Diversification across asset classes can balance risk and return effectively.
The Cost of Waiting
Waiting just 5 years to start investing can cost you hundreds of thousands in retirement. $500/month from age 25 at 7% grows to $1.3M by 65. Starting at 30 yields only $898K. Those 5 extra years of compounding create an $400,000 difference.