📈 Investment Calculator

Initial Investment ($)

Monthly Contribution ($)

Annual Return (%)

Investment Period (Years)

Compound Frequency

What is the Investment Calculator?

The Investment Calculator projects how a portfolio grows over time from an initial lump sum, ongoing monthly contributions, an annual return rate, and a compounding frequency. It returns the projected future value, total amount invested, total earnings, return on investment, a growth chart, and a year-by-year breakdown of balance versus contributions.

How to Use It

Enter your initial investment, planned monthly contribution, expected annual return, investment period in years, and how often returns compound (monthly, quarterly, or annually). Press Calculate to see the future value alongside a chart comparing your total contributions to your projected portfolio value, plus a detailed year-by-year table.

When to Use It

Use it to project retirement savings growth, compare how different monthly contribution amounts change your long-term outcome, or see the effect of starting to invest earlier versus later. It's also useful for testing "what if" scenarios with different assumed rates of return.

Who Benefits

Anyone planning for retirement, saving toward a long-term goal, or deciding how much to contribute to an investment account each month. Past performance does not guarantee future results — use it for planning and consult a financial advisor for personalized advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Future Value = P(1+r)^n + PMT × [((1+r)^n − 1) / r], where P is the initial lump sum, r is the periodic return rate, n is the number of periods, and PMT is the regular contribution amount. This accounts for both compound growth and ongoing contributions.

Historically, a diversified US stock market index has returned about 7–10% annually before inflation (roughly 4–7% after inflation). Bond-heavy portfolios return less. These are long-term historical averages — any single year can vary significantly.

Nominal return is the raw percentage gain. Real return adjusts for inflation. If your portfolio returns 8% but inflation is 3%, your real return is about 5% — meaning your purchasing power grew by 5%. Long-term planning should consider real returns.

📈 Investment Calculator