Set your starting balance, annual rate, compounding frequency, and optional monthly deposits. The schedule shows balance and interest earned each year.
Growth Inputs
Year-by-Year Balance
| Year | Balance | Interest earned | Contributions |
|---|
Practical tips & common mistakes
Start early, even small
Compound growth is dominated by time in market. Ten extra years often beats doubling your contribution rate.
Ignoring contribution timing
Monthly deposits at period-end vs period-start change results. Match how your brokerage actually debits your account.
Nominal vs real return
Subtract expected inflation from your rate when planning retirement purchasing power — 7% nominal might be 4% real.
Rule of 72
Divide 72 by your annual % return for a rough doubling time. At 8%, money doubles in about 9 years.