Free Investment Calculators: Answers in Seconds

Compound interest means your returns start earning returns of their own. Growth is slow at first, then speeds up the longer you stay invested. For example, $500 a month for 20 years at an assumed 7% a year means you pay in $120,000 and end with about $260,463. That is an illustration, not a forecast.

Try three: a cautious, a middle and a hopeful rate, then plan around the range. US stocks have returned roughly 10% a year before inflation over very long periods (see the sources under this FAQ), but returns over any 10 or 20 year stretch can be much lower or higher than that.

It depends on how much you will spend each year. A common rule of thumb is about 25 times your yearly spending, based on the 4% rule. The Retirement and FIRE calculators show what your savings could grow to by then. Treat the result as a starting point, not a guarantee.

The math is exact, but the answer is only as good as your assumptions. Over 30 years, a return just two points lower can cut the final amount by more than everything you paid in. Use calculators to compare choices, not to predict the future.

At an assumed 7% a year with monthly compounding, about $86,542 after 10 years, $260,463 after 20 years and $609,985 after 30 years, from $60,000, $120,000 and $180,000 paid in. Returns are never guaranteed, so try a lower rate too and add fees, tax and inflation.

ROI shows your total gain or loss as a percentage of what you put in, over the whole period. CAGR shows the steady yearly growth rate that would turn your starting amount into your ending amount. For example, a 100% ROI over 10 years is a CAGR of about 7.2% a year.

Divide the yearly dividend per share by the share price, then multiply by 100. A stock that pays $2 a year in dividends at a $50 share price has a 4% yield. A very high yield can mean the share price has fallen, so check that the dividend is affordable before you rely on it.

A retirement rule of thumb: take about 4% of your savings in the first year of retirement, then raise the amount with inflation. In the US history studied by Bengen (1994) and the Trinity study (1998), that pace usually lasted at least 30 years. It implies a target of about 25 times your yearly spending, but it is a guide, not a guarantee. Sources are listed under this FAQ.

Yes. Inflation means $1,000,000 in 30 years will buy far less than $1,000,000 today, so check results with the Inflation Calculator. Fund fees compound against you, and tax depends on your country and the account you use. Each one can change the answer a lot.

Every calculator here is free and opens right away, with no account and no card. Each calculator page explains how it works and what it assumes, so you can check the math. StockEducation is funded by its operator, Stock Education Publishing Pty Ltd.