Portfolio growth projections

Investment Return Calculator

What will your current portfolio be worth in 10, 20, or 30 years? Enter your numbers and see the projections — including the breakdown of contributions vs compound returns.

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The full tool connects your investment growth to your FIRE date and spending plan.

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Why investment returns dominate over time

In the early years of investing, contributions dominate — you're building the base. But after 15–20 years, something changes: investment returns start to dwarf what you're adding. At 7% returns, a $100,000 portfolio generates $7,000/year in growth — more than $580/month. Double it to $200,000 and it generates $14,000/year — over $1,150/month — purely from compound growth.

This is why starting early matters so much more than contribution amount in the long run. The difference between starting at 22 and 32 is roughly the difference between a $500,000 and a $250,000 portfolio at 55 — with identical monthly contributions.

FAQs

What return rate is realistic?
The global equity market (MSCI World) has returned roughly 7% annually after inflation over long periods. 7% is the standard assumption in FIRE planning. Individual years vary dramatically — the long-run average is what matters. Using 10%+ is overoptimistic and will lead to plans that disappoint.
Does this include inflation?
These projections use nominal returns (not adjusted for inflation). At 7% nominal, real returns are roughly 5% (assuming 2% inflation). For FIRE planning in today's money, either use 5% as your return rate, or use 7% and accept that your FIRE number will be higher in nominal terms.

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