Investment Calculator
Project a portfolio with contributions, fees, and inflation.
Ending balance after 30 years
$704,159
- You invested
- $181,000
- Growth
- $523,159
- Growth share
- 74%
of the ending balance
You'd put in $181,000; growth adds $523,159 — 74% of the ending balance. From year 10, your money earns more each year than you add.
Try a what-if
Your numbers
$1,000
$500
30 years
7.75% annually
Fees & inflation0.10% fees · nominal dollars
0.10% a year
Education · Young Adults
Why investing at 22 beats investing at 32
Next steps
The Investment Projection Calculator models a portfolio over time with contributions, expected return, fees, and inflation — and shows BOTH the nominal ending balance (the big number) and what it's worth in today's dollars (the honest number). Every default value is sourced (S&P 500 long-run return per NYU Stern, CPI inflation per BLS), so the math reflects what historical markets have actually done.
How this calculator works
- Enter your current portfolio balance (use $0 if you're starting from scratch).
- Set your monthly contribution. Even small amounts compound meaningfully over decades.
- Pick an annual return. 7% real / 10% nominal is the long-run US stock average; use lower numbers if you hold meaningful bonds.
- Add expected fees (0.10% by default). Broad-market index funds (VTI, VOO, similar) are 0.03%–0.20%. Anything above 0.5% is worth questioning.
- Read the ending balance and what it's worth in today's dollars. Flip 'Show in today's dollars' (inflation defaults to 3%, the long-run CPI average) to see the totals and the chart in today's purchasing power.
i = (r − f) / 12, n = 12t
FV = P × (1 + i)^n + C × [((1 + i)^n − 1) / i]
today's $ = FV / (1 + π)^tStandard future value of monthly contributions plus an initial principal, compounded monthly at (r − f)/12 — the annual return less fees, divided by 12. Fees are a drag on the return. In the 'today's dollars' view the balance is divided by (1 + π)^t, and each monthly contribution is deflated from the month it's made, so 'you invested' and 'growth' are both in today's purchasing power.
- FV
- Future portfolio value
- P
- Initial principal
- C
- Monthly contribution
- r
- Annual return before fees
- f
- Annual fees (expense ratio + advisory)
- π
- Annual inflation (3% long-run CPI by default)
- t
- Years invested
Frequently asked questions
How does compound growth work?
Each year your returns earn returns of their own. Over decades this snowballs, which is why starting early matters more than picking the perfect investment.
Why does this calculator show an inflation-adjusted total?
A million dollars in 30 years buys far less than a million dollars today. The inflation-adjusted figure shows what your future balance is worth in today's purchasing power.
What fees should I plug in?
Total expense ratio plus advisor fee. Broad-market index funds often charge 0.03%–0.20%; actively managed funds can be 1% or more.
Sources used in this calculator
- NYU Stern (Damodaran) — S&P 500 Annual Returns 1928–2025S&P 500: 10% (as of 2026 (1928–2025 dataset))(opens in a new tab)
- CRSP US Total Market Index (long-run avg)Total US Stock Market: 9.7% (as of 2026)(opens in a new tab)
- Federal Reserve FRED — 10-Year Treasury (DGS10)10-Year Treasuries: 4.5% (as of May 2026)(opens in a new tab)
- S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller US National Home Price Index (FRED)US Real Estate: 4.2% (as of 2026)(opens in a new tab)
- World Gold Council historical price dataGold: 7.8% (as of 2026)(opens in a new tab)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics — CPI-U (long-run avg)Long-run CPI Inflation: 3% (as of 2026)(opens in a new tab)
- SEC Investor Bulletin — How fees and expenses affect your portfolioWhy fee drag is modeled(opens in a new tab)
Reviewed by the Money Scale editorial team. How we source our data
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Turn this projection into a retirement date, with tax and Social Security in the picture.
Open the Retirement PlannerFree, no signup, runs in your browser. Educational modeling only — not financial advice.
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