Future Value Calculator
Calculate the future value of an investment with regular contributions at any interest rate.
Future Value
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Total Contributions
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Total Interest
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What is Future Value Calculator?
A future value calculator projects how much an investment will grow over time, accounting for compound interest and regular contributions. It's useful for retirement planning, college savings, and any goal where you're building wealth through consistent investing.
How to use
- 1 Enter your starting amount (present value).
- 2 Enter the expected annual interest rate.
- 3 Enter the number of years you'll invest.
- 4 Optionally enter a regular contribution amount and its frequency.
- 5 Future value, total contributions, and total interest earned are shown instantly.
Formula
Example calculation
Start with $10,000, add $500/month at 7% for 20 years: FV ≈ $284,000. Total contributions ≈ $130,000. Total interest earned ≈ $154,000.
Frequently asked questions
Does this use compound interest?
Yes. Interest compounds at the frequency matching your contribution frequency — monthly contributions use monthly compounding, which is more realistic than annual compounding for most investment accounts.
What interest rate should I use?
For long-term stock market investments, 7% is a commonly used real (inflation-adjusted) average. Nominal returns average around 10%. For bonds or savings accounts, use current market rates.
Why does compound interest grow so fast?
Because you earn interest on your interest. At 7%, money doubles roughly every 10 years (Rule of 72: 72/rate = doubling time). The longer the timeline, the more dramatic the effect.
Does this account for inflation?
No. To see inflation-adjusted growth, subtract the inflation rate from your expected return before entering it. If you expect 9% nominal returns and 3% inflation, use 6% as your real rate.
What is the difference between future value and net worth?
Future value projects the growth of a specific investment. Net worth is your total assets minus liabilities. Future value is one input into estimating future net worth, not the whole picture.