See how your investments can grow over time using the power of compound interest
See how your money grows over time
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Your investment of $0.00 with annual contributions of $0.00 will grow to $0.00 after 0 years at 0.00% annual interest.
| Year | Starting Balance | Annual Contribution | Interest Earned | Ending Balance |
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Fill in the calculator above and click "Calculate" to see your results.
Everything you need to know about future value calculations
The future value (FV) is the value of a current asset at a specified date in the future based on an assumed rate of growth. It's what your investment will be worth after a certain period of time, considering both your initial investment and any additional contributions, plus the compound interest earned over time.
Simple interest is calculated only on the initial principal, which means the interest amount remains the same each year. Compound interest, on the other hand, is calculated on both the initial principal and the accumulated interest from previous periods. This means your investment grows at an increasing rate over time, creating a "snowball effect" that significantly increases your returns in the long run.
For a single lump sum investment, the formula is:
FV = PV × (1 + r)^n
Where:
For investments with regular contributions, the formula is more complex and accounts for both the initial investment and the periodic additions.
More frequent contributions (e.g., monthly instead of annually) generally result in higher returns because you're putting your money to work earlier. When you contribute monthly, you're adding money throughout the year that starts earning interest sooner, rather than waiting until the end of the year to make a single contribution. This is especially powerful over long time periods due to compound interest.
Several key factors affect the future value of your investment:
Generally, higher initial investments, higher interest rates, more frequent compounding, and longer time periods will result in higher future values.
This calculator provides a mathematical projection based on the inputs you provide. The accuracy of the results depends on how closely your actual investment experience matches your inputs. In reality, market returns are variable rather than constant, and factors like inflation, taxes, and fees can impact your actual returns. This calculator is best used as a planning tool to understand potential scenarios rather than as a precise prediction of future outcomes.