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Compare two investment scenarios side by side. Test how contribution amount, time horizon or return rate changes the outcome, with nominal and real (inflation adjusted) values plus best/worst case bands.
A future balance adds the growth of each monthly payment for the time it remains invested. The return assumption has a large effect. Investing $500 a month for ten years contributes $60,000. At an annual return of 7%, it grows to about $86,000. At 4%, it grows to about $73,000. The free StockEducation Investment Return Simulator shows contributed money and estimated growth in a chart and table for the period selected. Markets do not rise at a steady rate, and taxes and fees reduce results, so each figure is a scenario rather than a prediction.
Project one savings plan or compare two contribution scenarios side by side using return, inflation and time-period assumptions.
Set up your scenario and click Simulate My Growth to see projected returns, inflation-adjusted value and a year-by-year breakdown.
General education only — check the assumptions before using the result.
Purpose: This calculator is a general educational tool that performs a numerical calculation from the values you enter. It does not recommend, advertise or promote a specific financial product.
Assumptions: The calculation uses the input values and assumptions displayed in the calculator. Default values are illustrative starting points, not forecasts. Change each non-statutory assumption so it matches the scenario you want to test.
Limitations: Actual market returns, prices, dividends, interest rates, fees, tax, inflation and timing may differ from the assumptions. The calculator may omit factors relevant to you. Small input changes can materially change the result, so the output is an illustration rather than a prediction.
This financial calculator is not intended to be relied on for the purposes of making a decision in relation to a financial product. You should consider obtaining advice from a financial services licensee before making any financial decisions.
You can print this page or save it electronically using your browser controls. See ASIC Instrument 2026/41 for the conditions applying to generic financial calculators.
Disclaimer · Terms of Use
Educational content only. Projections assume constant annual returns and inflation. They do not reflect actual market variability, fees, taxes or sequence of returns risk. Use as a planning guide only and confirm with a qualified financial adviser.
$500 per month for 5 years at 8% annual return grows to $36,738 nominal, which is about $32,471 in today’s dollars after 2.5% inflation. Doubling to $1,000/month produces $73,477. The simulator runs two scenarios side by side so you can compare contribution levels, return assumptions or time horizons. Best and worst case bands show the sensitivity to return rate variation.
Compare two contribution scenarios, nominal vs real, in three steps.
Contribution amount, frequency (monthly or yearly), expected growth rate, inflation rate and projection period.
Change one variable at a time to isolate its effect. Common comparisons: double contribution, longer horizon, higher rate.
The result panel shows Scenario 1 and Scenario 2 final values, a What This Means For You summary, best/worst case bands, a Portfolio Growth Over Time chart, a Scenario 1 vs Scenario 2 comparison, and a Year-by-Year Breakdown. Always read the inflation-adjusted (“in today’s money”) figure alongside the headline value — they can diverge by a third or more over 20+ years.
A four-stage written walkthrough — the chapters a video would cover, available now in text.
Four chapters covering inputs, outputs and the common mistakes to avoid.
4 min watch. Auto captions available. Walkthrough chapters listed above.
Specific outcomes, not generic claims.
Stop guessing whether $500 or $1,000 monthly gets you to your target. See the comparison in dollars.
Best and worst case bands show how sensitive your outcome is to small changes in return rate.
Most calculators show nominal dollars. The simulator translates to real purchasing power, which is what matters for planning.
Most calculators hide the formula. We show it because understanding the math is the point.
Future value of an annuity formula with inflation adjustment.
FV
PMT
r
n
Real FV
The projection is a mathematical model, not a forecast. Six assumptions baked into the math, plus what real outcomes look like.
Each card pairs an assumption the calculator makes with what real world investing actually looks like.
Reality: Real returns are volatile. The smooth projection is an average, not a sequence.
Reality: Different cost categories inflate at different rates. CPI is an average.
Reality: Job loss or major life events interrupt savings, especially in downturns.
Reality: Taxable accounts are taxed on dividends and capital gains annually.
Reality: Fund expense ratios and platform fees reduce net returns.
Reality: The +/-3pp band is a rough range, not a probability distribution.
Same base scenario, one variable changed at a time. The projection is highly sensitive to small changes.
The calculator assumes a smooth return every year. Here is how that compares to verified historical data.
Written by Dr. Charles Lo, Associate Professor, CPA. Reviewed annually.
Return simulation projects how a contribution stream grows under a chosen rate and time horizon. The math is the future value of an annuity formula, applied period by period. Two scenarios run side by side make it easy to test how changes in any single variable affect the outcome.
Best and worst case bands handle the obvious objection that real returns are not constant. By applying plus and minus three percentage points to the central return, you see a range that captures most realistic outcomes. This is not a Monte Carlo simulation; it is a simpler stress test.
Real value (inflation adjusted) is the number that matters for long horizon planning. A $1M nominal projection in 30 years at 3% inflation is worth roughly $412k in today’s purchasing power. Always check both nominal and real numbers before drawing conclusions.
Use 6 to 8% nominal for diversified equity heavy portfolios, 5 to 6% for 60/40 balanced, 4 to 5% for bond heavy. The lower the assumed rate, the more robust the plan if reality matches the historical average.
Use 2.5 to 3% inflation as a reasonable default. Higher if you live in a high inflation environment; lower if recent disinflation persists.
Compare Scenario 1 and Scenario 2 final values. The difference quantifies the effect of whatever you changed. If the gap is small, the variable does not matter much for your horizon.
Always read the real value alongside the nominal. For horizons over 10 years, real value is the more honest planning number.
Real numbers calculated from the same formula as the live tool. Every figure below is verified, not approximated.
S1: $500/mo, S2: $1000/mo, both 8%, 5 years, 2.5% inflation
Test whether doubling monthly contribution doubles the outcome.
Both $500/mo at 8%. S1: 5y, S2: 10y
Test how doubling the time horizon changes the outcome at the same monthly contribution.
Both $500/mo for 10 years. S1: 6%, S2: 9%
Test how a 3 percentage point difference in return changes long horizon results.
$500/mo, 5y, central rate 8%, bands at 5% and 11%
See how sensitive a typical plan is to return variation.
$1000/mo, 30 years, 7% return, 3% inflation
Test what monthly contributions can build over a full career, in real terms.
The questions users most often ask about calculator output.
Yes. Free to use, no signup. Your inputs are not stored or shared.
Match to portfolio mix: 6 to 8% for equity heavy, 5 to 6% for 60/40 balanced, 4 to 5% for bond heavy. Lower if you want margin of safety.
2.5 to 3% is the long run developed market average. Use higher if inflation is currently elevated, lower if recent disinflation persists.
The default is plus and minus three percentage points around the central return. This is a stress test, not a probability distribution.
Inflation compounds. At 3% per year, 25 years of inflation cuts purchasing power roughly in half. The longer the horizon, the bigger the gap between nominal and real.
Yes, but change one variable at a time. If you change rate AND contribution between scenarios, you cannot tell which one drove the difference.
No. Use a gross return assumption and discount mentally for the tax efficiency of your account type.
The compound interest calculator handles one detailed scenario with year by year breakdown. The simulator focuses on side by side scenario comparison.
Other tools for different parts of your financial picture.
The simulator uses the standard future value of annuity formula with inflation adjustment. Historical return ranges referenced from NYU Stern and Federal Reserve datasets.
This calculator is provided for general educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial product advice. Projected returns are illustrative; actual results depend on market conditions, fees, taxes and personal circumstances. Consult a licensed financial adviser before relying on this for material financial decisions.
This calculator gives you the number. Our free courses teach you the why behind the math, the assumptions to question, and how to apply it to your own portfolio.
Enter contribution, return, inflation and period for two scenarios. Compare nominal and real outcomes side by side.
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