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CentExact

Saving & investing

Investment Calculator

Project an investment from a starting sum and regular contributions that rise each year, at an expected return, with the result in today's money too.

Reviewed by CentExactCalculated in your browser. Shared links include inputs.

Value after 25 years

$445,795.27

$240,457.77 in today's money, at 2.5% inflation

Show the value
What you invest
$
$
Contribution frequency
Contributions arrive
%

To keep pace with pay rises; 0 keeps them level

Growth and prices
%

After fund charges; an annual effective rate

0%15%
yrs
170
%

Used for the value in today's money

0%10%

  • Total paid in

    $160,000.00

    $10,000.00 to start, $150,000.00 in contributions

  • Investment growth

    $285,795.27

    64% of the final balance

  • Real return

    4.39%

    7% less 2.5% inflation, compounded

Why $445,795.27 is worth $240,457.77 today

Prices rising 2.5% a year for 25 years multiply by 1.854, so the final balance is divided by that to show what it would buy today. Equivalently the money grows at the real return, (1 + 7%) ÷ (1 + 2.5%) − 1 = 4.39%, not 7% − 2.5%.

How the return is applied

The 7% is treated as an effective yearly return, so each month grows the balance by (1 + 7%)^(1/12) − 1 = 0.5654%, and a sum left for a full year grows by exactly 7%. Contributions arrive at the end of each month.

A constant return, before tax. An estimate, not financial advice, providers may calculate differently.

The balance, as it will be and in today's money
  • As it will be
  • In today's money
  • Paid in

Year by year

Investment balance at each year end, nominal and in today's money
YearBalanceIn today's money

A result link includes the numbers you entered. Share it only with people you want to see them.

How this is calculated

Starting from the sum you invest now, the calculator adds each contribution at the start or end of its month or year, raises the contribution once a year by the percentage you choose, and grows the balance at the expected return, read as an effective annual rate so that money left alone for a year grows by exactly that rate. It then divides each year's balance by the rise in prices since today, so you see both the figure your statement will show and what that figure would buy now. The real return beside the result is the growth left over after inflation.

VB ÷ (1 + π)t

V
the balance in today's money
B
the projected balance after the Years you set
π
Inflation a year, as a decimal
t
Years
B itself is the starting amount and every contribution grown at the Expected return a year; the derivations under the result show both steps with your figures.

What this does not include

  • Market swings: one return is applied every year, which no real portfolio delivers.
  • Tax on gains, dividends and withdrawals.
  • Platform and fund charges, unless your return is already net of them.
  • Withdrawals or pauses in contributions.

Investment growth explained: returns, contributions and inflation. How the projection applies an annual return month by month, what contribution timing and yearly increases do, and why the figure in today's money matters most.

CentExactCalculator publisher

CentExact publishes the calculation method, worked examples and available data sources. Automated checks cover reference calculations; they do not certify a result for your circumstances or imply approval by a lender or tax authority.

How we build and test our calculators

This calculator is for general information only and is not financial advice. Results are estimates based on the figures you enter and the stated formula; lenders and providers may round or calculate differently. Check any decision with the institution involved or a qualified adviser.