Investment Calculator
Calculate how your investment grows over time with an initial amount and regular monthly contributions.
Investment Calculator
Calculate how your investment grows over time with an initial amount and regular monthly contributions.
Real-World Examples
You invest $10,000 initially plus $500/month at 8% for 25 years. What is the total value?
$511,612.32
You invest $25,000 initially plus $300/month at 6% for 20 years. What is the total value?
$246,977.11
You invest $5,000 initially plus $1,000/month at 10% for 30 years. What is the total value?
$2,297,876.85
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Stopping contributions during market downturns
Fix: Market dips are often the best times to invest, as you buy more shares at lower prices. Stopping contributions locks in losses and misses the recovery. Dollar-cost averaging helps smooth out volatility.
Using an unrealistic return rate
Fix: The S&P 500 has averaged about 10% annually before inflation, but individual returns vary widely. Using 6-8% provides a more conservative estimate. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Ignoring investment fees and taxes
Fix: Expense ratios, advisory fees, and taxes on gains all reduce your actual return. A 1% annual fee on a $500,000 portfolio costs $5,000/year, compounding into a massive drag over decades.