See how a starting balance plus regular contributions grow over time at a given rate of return.
What it means
Each year, you earn returns not just on your original money but also on the returns from previous years. Over decades, this snowballs — the share of your final balance that came from growth, not contributions, becomes the dominant chunk.
Historical US stock returns have averaged roughly 10% nominal, but that's before inflation, fees, and behavior. Plan with 6%–7% real (after-inflation) or 7%–8% nominal for a conservative-but-not-pessimistic estimate.
FAQ
Any of them — just pick the return rate that matches the asset. Savings/CDs: enter the APY. Stocks: enter your assumed annual return. Bonds: enter the yield to maturity.
No — this is a pre-tax growth model. For after-tax planning, use a return rate adjusted for your expected tax drag, or use the 401(k) / retirement calculators which do model taxes.
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