Skip to main content
CIC
Investing · Free Calculator

Investment Calculator

Forecast your portfolio's future value with monthly contributions, step-up SIPs, and inflation-adjusted returns. Compare conservative, balanced, and aggressive scenarios.

Investment Growth Calculator

Final Balance

$512,214.08

Total Contributions

$155,000

Total Interest

$357,214

Effective APY

8.30%

Inflation-adjusted (real) value: $244,636.30

Growth Over Time

Final Balance Breakdown

Key Insights

  • Time is your biggest asset

    Over 25 years, your money grows 102.4 times.

  • Interest does the heavy lifting

    69.74% of your final balance comes from interest, not deposits.

  • Compounding frequency matters

    Compounding monthly gives you an effective rate of 8.30% per year.

  • Inflation erodes purchasing power

    In today's money, your final balance is worth $244,636.30.

Year-by-Year Schedule

Calculations update instantly.

The power of long-term compounding

Investing $500/month at a 9% annual return for 30 years grows to roughly $920,000 — yet only $180,000 of that comes from your contributions. The remaining $740,000 is cumulative interest, generated entirely by leaving the money invested and letting returns compound on themselves.

Realistic return assumptions

  • Cash / money market: 2–5% (often less than inflation)
  • Bonds (broad index): 3–5% historically
  • Diversified stock index: 7–10% nominal historically
  • Aggressive growth: 9–12% with much higher volatility

These are historical averages, not guarantees. Use the calculator to stress-test multiple rate scenarios.

Why step-up contributions matter

Setting a static $500/month contribution for 30 years assumes your saving capacity never grows. In reality, raises and inflation push deposits higher each year. Setting a 5% step-up models this and can produce 30%+ more wealth over a long horizon.

Investment Calculator — FAQ

What annual return should I assume for stocks?
Historically, the U.S. stock market has returned about 7%–10% annually before inflation, depending on the period measured. A common conservative assumption is 7% real (after-inflation) or 10% nominal. Always plan for variability — actual returns can differ widely year to year.
Does this calculator account for market volatility?
No — this is a deterministic compounding calculator that assumes a steady annual rate. Real markets fluctuate. For stress testing, try comparing scenarios with different rates (4%, 7%, 10%) on our Compare page.
How do step-up SIPs work?
A step-up SIP increases your monthly deposit by a fixed percent each year (typically 5–10%). It models real-life income growth and significantly improves long-term outcomes. Enable it in the Advanced options.
Are returns shown after taxes?
By default no — but you can set a tax rate on interest in advanced options. Note that capital gains and dividend taxes vary by country, account type (401(k), IRA, ISA), and holding period.