Estimate future investment growth.
Project the value of your portfolio using your starting balance, annual return, time horizon, and recurring contributions.
How this investment calculator works
Use this investment growth calculator to model how regular deposits, compound returns, and time can grow your portfolio over the years.
Formula: This estimate combines your starting investment, recurring deposits, and compound growth using a standard future-value model with periodic compounding.
Assumptions: The calculator assumes a fixed annual rate, consistent periodic deposits, and no taxes, fees, or external withdrawals. Actual results can vary based on market performance and account type.
Worked example: A $25,000 starting balance, 7% annual return, 15 years, and $500 monthly contributions produces a projected future value that reflects both your saved contributions and compound growth.
- Starting value: Your existing investment balance before new contributions.
- Years: The time you plan to keep your money invested.
- Return rate: Annual growth assumption for the investment.
- Contribution: Recurring deposits added over time.
- Projected value: Estimated ending balance before taxes and fees.
What the result means
The projected value shows what your investment could be worth if the assumptions hold. It is most useful for comparing planning scenarios rather than predicting an exact market outcome.
Related calculators
Savings calculator for short-term goal planning, Retirement calculator for long-term income planning.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this account for inflation? No. It shows nominal growth only, so you may want to adjust your return expectation for inflation.
- Does it include taxes or fees? No. Those can materially reduce real returns and are worth factoring into your planning.
Why this estimate matters
Use the Estimate future investment growth. to test a realistic scenario before making a financial or health decision. The result is most helpful when you understand the inputs and how a small change in rate, payment, income, savings goal, or time horizon can change the outcome. This makes the calculator useful for planning, comparison, and early decision-making instead of relying on guesswork.
Because every household, budget, and payment schedule is different, the output should be treated as an estimate rather than a promise. Key assumptions like fixed costs, tax treatment, rate changes, or expected returns are built into the model and should be reviewed before making a commitment. When the decision is significant, compare a few scenarios, update the numbers as your situation changes, and consider professional guidance for taxes, debt strategy, mortgage planning, or long-term financial goals.
- Check your assumptions: Replace default values with your real numbers to see how the estimate changes.
- Compare scenarios: Test lower, base, and higher-cost versions of the same decision before finalizing your plan.
- Review trade-offs: A faster payoff or lower payment may affect cash flow, flexibility, or long-term goals.
- Update regularly: Revisit the tool whenever income, rates, costs, or goals change.