See your future growth—based on your current investments, monthly contributions and time horizon.
Investment Inputs
Contributions compound at the selected frequency
Rate of return is annual (0-30%)
Final Values
Final Balance
$107,144
Total Contributions
$70,000
Total Interest
$37,144
Growth Over Time
How compound interest works
Compound Interest Grows Your Wealth by earning returns on your returns. It's like a snowball rolling downhill—starting small but picking up size and speed as it goes. Given enough time, even modest savings can grow into something substantial.
Time Is Your Best Friend when it comes to building wealth. Start investing five years earlier, and you could end up with significantly more money. Compound interest doesn't care about perfect timing; it cares about time itself.
Small Amounts Add Up faster than you'd think. Adding even $100 or $200 monthly to your investments makes a huge difference over the years. You don't need to be wealthy to build wealth—you just need to start and be consistent.
The Right Strategy Depends on Your Goals and where you are in life. Whether you're saving for retirement, a child's education, or building generational wealth, compound interest works differently for each timeline. Understanding your specific situation helps you make the most of compounding's power.
Factors that impact your growth
Your Interest Rate Matters more than you might think. Even a 2% difference in annual returns can mean tens of thousands more in your account decades later. This is why finding the right investment mix matters—balancing risk and reward for your unique situation.
Contribution Frequency accelerates your growth potential. Contributing monthly instead of yearly means your money starts compounding sooner. Many people find automatic monthly transfers as the easiest way to stay consistent and maximize their compound growth.
Tax Treatment can significantly affect your final balance. Tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s let your money compound without the drag of annual taxes (or, any taxes depending on your withdrawal timeline). Understanding these options helps you keep more of what your investments earn, for more insight on what's right for you, read our guide "Finding Your Fit: Roth IRAs vs Traditional IRAs".
Investment Fees quietly eat away at compound growth. A 1% annual fee might not sound like much, but over decades it can reduce your final balance substantially. Knowing what you're paying—and why—helps ensure more of your returns stay in your pocket.
Disclaimer
Datalign Advisory calculators offer estimates based on your inputs and generally accepted financial principles. Results are for illustrative purposes only and may differ from actual outcomes. These tools are intended for educational use and are not a substitute for professional financial advice.
Get more than estimates — talk to an advisor about your goals.
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