Tools
Investment growth calculator
See how a starting balance and monthly contributions could grow under a constant return scenario, after an annual fee and inflation. The inputs stay visible, the fee drag is separated, and the result is an educational illustration — not a forecast or a recommendation.
Calculated results
- Ending balance
- $135,283.89
- Contributions
- $48,000.00
- Investment growth
- $77,283.89
- Estimated fee drag
- $4,920.23
- Balance in today’s dollars
- $82,559.83
- Purchasing-power difference
- $52,724.06
240 months. The ending balance is after the modeled annual fee. This is a scenario, not a forecast.
Yearly progression
| Period | Contributions | Balance | Today’s dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | $0.00 | $10,000.00 | $10,000.00 |
| 1y | $2,400.00 | $13,146.44 | $12,825.79 |
| 2y | $4,800.00 | $16,504.71 | $15,709.42 |
| 3y | $7,200.00 | $20,089.07 | $18,654.70 |
| 4y | $9,600.00 | $23,914.76 | $21,665.59 |
| 5y | $12,000.00 | $27,998.00 | $24,746.15 |
| 6y | $14,400.00 | $32,356.15 | $27,900.61 |
| 7y | $16,800.00 | $37,007.72 | $31,133.31 |
| 8y | $19,200.00 | $41,972.45 | $34,448.74 |
| 9y | $21,600.00 | $47,271.43 | $37,851.58 |
| 10y | $24,000.00 | $52,927.17 | $41,346.62 |
| 11y | $26,400.00 | $58,963.67 | $44,938.86 |
| 12y | $28,800.00 | $65,406.59 | $48,633.46 |
| 13y | $31,200.00 | $72,283.28 | $52,435.76 |
| 14y | $33,600.00 | $79,622.93 | $56,351.32 |
| 15y | $36,000.00 | $87,456.73 | $60,385.86 |
| 16y | $38,400.00 | $95,817.94 | $64,545.36 |
| 17y | $40,800.00 | $104,742.07 | $68,835.97 |
| 18y | $43,200.00 | $114,267.02 | $73,264.12 |
| 19y | $45,600.00 | $124,433.23 | $77,836.44 |
| 20y | $48,000.00 | $135,283.89 | $82,559.83 |
Assumptions and limits
- The annual return is an effective annual rate, held constant for the whole illustration. Real investments do not earn a constant return and can lose money.
- Contributions are made monthly. Beginning-of-month contributions are invested before that month’s return; end-of-month contributions are invested after it.
- The annual fee is a percentage of assets and is applied as a reduction to the annual growth factor. It is not a fund expense ratio, advisory fee, tax, or trading cost unless you choose to model it that way.
- Inflation reduces the real value of the ending balance. The real balance is nominal balance divided by compounded inflation; it is not a withdrawal plan or a tax calculation.
- Taxes, withdrawals, contribution increases, market timing, and changes in fees are excluded. Displayed values are illustrative, not a promise or a recommendation.
- Calculations retain full precision; displayed currency rounds to cents. Estimated fee drag is the difference between the same schedule with no fee and the fee scenario.
Compare with the compound interest / APY calculator for savings-rate conventions, or read What is APY?.
Disclaimer
TickerGrove is education and journalism only. It is not investment advice, not a broker-dealer, and not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security.
Nothing on this site is a pick or a return promise. Official economic prints and company filings are dated observations. External quote links open a separate service; TickerGrove does not host those prices.