Utilix

Investment Calculator

Plan monthly investments or a one-time lump sum and see the power of compounding over time.

Adjust assumptions
Monthly investment
$500$200 K
Expected return rate
annual, assumed
1% p.a.30% p.a.
Time period
1 yr40 yr
Future valueLive
$294,510
2.45× growth$500/mo · 8% · 20 yr
See full breakdown
Breakdown
Invested
$120 K
40.7% of total
Est. returns
$175 K
59.3% of total

Growth over time

Compounded monthly
Total value$295 KInvested$120 KYear 1 → Year 20

About the Investment calculator

Investment calculator for monthly contributions (SIP / DCA) or a one-time lump sum into index funds, ETFs or mutual funds. Estimate the future value of your portfolio based on contribution, expected annual return and time horizon, with an optional inflation adjustment to see today's purchasing power.

This free investment calculator estimates the future value of your portfolio whether you invest a fixed amount every month (dollar-cost averaging into index funds, ETFs or mutual funds) or a one-time lump sum. Pick your monthly contribution, expected annual return and time horizon to see how your money compounds over 10, 20 or 30 years. Optional inflation adjustment shows the real value in today's dollars so you can plan retirement, a home down payment or a college fund with confidence — works globally in any currency.

How it works

  1. 1
    Pick monthly or lump sum
    Toggle between recurring monthly contributions (dollar-cost averaging) and a one-time investment.
  2. 2
    Enter your contribution
    The amount you plan to invest every month into an index fund, ETF or mutual fund — or your starting lump sum.
  3. 3
    Set expected return
    Annual return you expect. Long-term US equity averages ~7–10% nominal; balanced 60/40 portfolios closer to 6–7%.
  4. 4
    Choose time period
    Longer durations dramatically increase the future value due to compounding. Compare 10-year and 30-year horizons.

Formula

FV (monthly) = P × [((1 + i)ⁿ − 1) ÷ i] × (1 + i)
FV (lump sum) = PV × (1 + r)ᵗ
P
Monthly contribution amount
i
Monthly return rate (annual ÷ 12)
n
Total number of months
PV
Initial lump-sum amount
r
Annual expected return
t
Number of years invested

Worked example

$500/month for 25 years at 8%

Investing $500 a month for 25 years at an 8% average annual return grows to about $477,000 — of which $150,000 is your contributions and $327,000 is investment growth. Bump the contribution to $1,000/month and the final balance roughly doubles to ~$954,000. Stretching the same $500/month plan to 35 years (instead of 25) compounds to roughly $1.15M — illustrating why time in the market beats timing the market.

Frequently asked questions

  • We use the standard future-value annuity formula: FV = P × ((1 + i)^n − 1) / i × (1 + i), where P is the monthly contribution, i is the monthly return (annual / 12), and n is the number of months. Lump-sum mode uses FV = PV × (1 + r)^t.

  • No. Returns depend on market performance. The calculator shows projections based on a constant assumed rate — actual market returns vary year to year. Use a conservative rate (5–7%) when planning, and a higher rate (8–10%) only for stress-testing optimistic scenarios.

  • Yes — for a real (inflation-adjusted) view, turn on the inflation input or subtract expected inflation (~2–3% in the US, higher elsewhere) from your assumed return. A 7% nominal return at 3% inflation is roughly 4% real growth in purchasing power.

  • Yes. Most brokerages let you increase, pause or stop automatic investments anytime. A step-up plan that grows your contribution by 5–10% a year typically lifts the final balance significantly.

  • It depends. Investing a lump sum immediately tends to win in rising markets because more money is invested earlier. Dollar-cost averaging (monthly) reduces timing risk and is more practical when you don't have a large lump sum to deploy.

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