Compare principal with growth
Early in the timeline, contributions often do more of the work. Over longer periods, compounded growth may become a larger share.
Compound growth calculator
Project how a starting balance and monthly deposits could grow over time at one constant return. The result separates money contributed from modeled growth and shows checkpoints along the way.
Set
Build the savings path
Use a return assumption you are prepared to test, not a return you expect to receive.
Money already invested
Money added over time
Time available
Illustrated return
Projected ending balanceNot calculated
Enter a starting balance, deposits, time, and return.
Starting balance Not calculatedFuture deposits Not calculatedModeled growth Not calculated
Balance checkpoints
| Point | Projected balance | Contributed principal |
|---|---|---|
| Calculate to build the timeline. | ||
This is a constant-return illustration. It is not a market forecast, probability estimate, or guarantee.
Growth is the part you did not deposit
The result first totals the starting balance and every monthly deposit. Anything above that principal is modeled growth. Keeping those amounts separate prevents a large future balance from hiding how much came from saving.
Change only one assumption
Test a lower return, a different contribution, or a shorter horizon separately so you can see which change moved the answer.
Move the balance into a real goal
A future balance has meaning only when it is compared with future spending, inflation, taxes, and the date the money will be needed.
Use the projection in context
A savings projection is a path, not the destination. Compare the projected balance with a retirement income target, then review how investment fees reduce long-term compounding. Save the assumptions beside the result so a later update is comparable.