Guide · 8 tools
Investing
Growth of a lump sum or regular investment, real returns after fees and inflation, portfolio risk and rebalancing, and the maths behind bonds, fund fees and dollar-cost averaging.
Investment returns compound, and so do the fees and inflation that eat into them. These calculators show both sides: what an investment could grow to, and what is actually left in today’s money after costs and tax.
Use them to compare choices rather than forecast markets; a 1% difference in fees or return changes the ending balance more than most people expect.
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Growth over time
Lump sums, monthly investing and the rate that turns one number into another.
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What you really keep
Fees, inflation and tax on gains.
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Risk and portfolio
Position sizing, rebalancing, risk-adjusted return and bonds.
Common questions
Investing: the questions people ask
- What is a realistic long-term investment return?
- Broad stock indices have returned about 7% a year after inflation over long periods, with large swings year to year. Bonds and cash return less; fees come off whatever you earn.
- How much do fund fees matter?
- A 1% annual fee on a 7% return takes roughly a quarter of the final balance over 30 years. The fund fee impact calculator shows the exact figure for your amounts.
- Should I invest a lump sum or drip-feed it?
- Investing at once has the higher expected return; drip-feeding (dollar-cost averaging) reduces the regret of bad timing. The DCA calculator compares both on real price paths.
Results are estimates based on the figures entered, for general information only, and not financial, investment, tax or legal advice.