Compound Growth With Contributions
Calculator

Inputs

Final balance
$462,290.03

Results

Final balance
$462,290.03
Total contributed
$160,000.00
Total growth
$302,290.03
Share of the balance from growth (%)
65.389692%

Portfolio value over time

0115,573231,145346,718462,2901713.019.025.0
  • Portfolio balance
  • Money put in

Projection schedule

116,000.00919.19919.1916,919.19
222,000.001,419.382,338.5824,338.58
328,000.001,955.734,294.3132,294.31
434,000.002,530.856,825.1640,825.16
540,000.003,147.559,972.7049,972.70
646,000.003,808.8213,781.5359,781.53
752,000.004,517.9018,299.4370,299.43
858,000.005,278.2423,577.6881,577.68
964,000.006,093.5529,671.2293,671.22
1070,000.006,967.7936,639.02106,639.02
1176,000.007,905.2444,544.25120,544.25
1282,000.008,910.4553,454.70135,454.70
1388,000.009,988.3263,443.02151,443.02
1494,000.0011,144.1274,587.14168,587.14
15100,000.0012,383.4786,970.62186,970.62
16106,000.0013,712.41100,683.03206,683.03
17112,000.0015,137.43115,820.45227,820.45
18118,000.0016,665.45132,485.91250,485.91
19124,000.0018,303.94150,789.85274,789.85
20130,000.0020,060.87170,850.72300,850.72
21136,000.0021,944.82192,795.53328,795.53
22142,000.0023,964.95216,760.48358,760.48
23148,000.0026,131.12242,891.60390,891.60
24154,000.0028,453.88271,345.48425,345.48
25160,000.0030,944.55302,290.03462,290.03

Comparison

ScenarioFinal balanceTotal contributedTotal growth
Doing nothing57,254.1810,000.0047,254.18
Your plan462,290.03160,000.00302,290.03

Formula

FV = P(1+i)^n + PMT[((1+i)^n − 1)/i]

= 462290.03

Note

Returns are not guaranteed and this is not investment advice. This projection applies the displayed standard formula to the rates you entered and assumes they repeat, unchanged, every single period. Real markets do not behave that way: returns vary year to year, can be negative, and past or projected performance never guarantees future results. The model ignores taxes, trading costs, currency effects and any fee you did not enter. Treat the figures as an illustration of the arithmetic, not a forecast, and consult a licensed adviser before acting on any of them.

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Frequently asked questions

How is this different from a simple compound interest calculation?+

A basic compound interest calculation grows a single starting amount at a fixed rate. This one adds regular contributions on top, so the final balance comes from two combined sources: growth on the original amount and growth on each contribution from the point it was added — meaning most of an early contribution's growth happens later, and most of a late contribution's growth hasn't happened yet.

Why does contributing earlier in the year (versus later) change the result?+

A contribution made in January has roughly a full year to compound before the next contribution, while one made in December has almost none for that year. Whether contributions are modeled at the start or end of each period is a real, if often small, factor in the final total over a long time horizon.

Does doubling my contribution roughly double the final balance?+

Only approximately, and it depends on the split between the growth from the initial lump sum versus the growth from contributions — if a large starting balance dominates the total, doubling contributions has a smaller proportional effect than if contributions make up most of the growth.

Why does the growth curve look flat early on and steep later?+

This is the nature of compounding: early growth is small in absolute dollars because the base is small, but the same percentage growth rate applied to a much larger base in later years produces much larger absolute dollar gains — the curve isn't misleading, it's just how exponential growth looks.

What's a common mistake people make reading this kind of projection?+

Assuming the projected rate of return is guaranteed and constant every year. Real investment returns are volatile year to year even if the long-run average matches your assumption, so treat the smooth curve as an illustrative average path, not a promise of steady annual gains.