How does compound interest work?

Compound interest earns returns on both your principal and accumulated interest, creating exponential growth. Unlike simple interest that only earns on your initial investment, compound interest creates a snowball effect. For example, $10,000 invested at 7% annually becomes $19,672 after 10 years.

What is a good return on investment?

The S&P 500 has historically returned about 10% annually before inflation (7% after inflation). A 7% return is commonly used in retirement planning as a conservative estimate. More aggressive portfolios might target 8-10%, while conservative portfolios aim for 4-6%. Your appropriate target depends on age, risk tolerance, and timeline.

How much should I invest monthly for retirement?

Financial experts often recommend saving 15-20% of your income for retirement. However, the exact amount depends on your age, retirement goals, and current savings. Use our investment calculator with monthly contributions to see how different contribution amounts affect your retirement portfolio over time.

How do investment fees affect my returns?

Investment fees compound over time and can significantly reduce your returns. A 1% annual fee difference can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars over 30 years. For example, on a $500,000 portfolio, a 1% fee costs $5,000 per year. Use our fee impact calculator to see exactly how much you're paying.

What is the 4% retirement withdrawal rule?

The 4% rule suggests withdrawing 4% of your retirement portfolio in the first year, then adjusting for inflation each year. This strategy is designed to make your money last 30 years. Our retirement withdrawal calculator lets you model different withdrawal rates to see when your portfolio might be depleted.

How does inflation affect my investment returns?

Inflation reduces the purchasing power of your money over time. A million dollars in 30 years won't buy what it does today. Our investment calculator with inflation adjustment shows your future portfolio value in today's dollars, helping you understand the real value of your retirement savings.

Calculators / Investment Forecast

A taste of the engine

Investment Forecast Calculator

See the real range of where your investing could land, not one tidy number. We run thousands of possible markets, the good runs and the crashes alike, so you get an honest picture of what is likely, what is possible, and the odds of reaching your goal.

Save my entries

Your plan

Starting amount

Per month

Every $100 more a month adds about $112,433 by 2056, at your expected return before market swings.

For how many years

How long until you need the money. Longer horizons ride out the rough years.

Growth and costs

Forward-looking estimates from today's market, not past averages.

Your goal (optional)We will show your odds of reaching it. Leave it at 0 to skip.

Now2056

Add a raise, a windfall or a withdrawal and it lands on this line.

By 2056, likely around

Where your money could land

Running the simulation across thousands of outcomes.

Median outcome Likely range Money you put in

Your goal

How likely each outcome is

Sorting every simulated outcome into buckets.

Reached your goal Fell short

The full planner is on its way.

Find the money to investThe forecast is the easy part. FinPal's budget shows what you can genuinely set aside each month, today.
Keep the target in sightGoals hold the number you are aiming for and show every step toward it.
The planner lands soonWhen it arrives, you are already moving toward the number, not starting from zero.

Start with Budget and goals Other calculators

When it lands, the planner also brings

Change an assumption, a sector shock, a rougher decade, and watch the forecast react.

Each stock's makeup, its peers, and how they hold up under stress.

Dividends, returns, and reinvestment, projected over time.

No AI. Hand-crafted math.Thousands of market paths, not one guess.Honest ranges, never a single promise.We never move your money.