Investment Growth Calculator
Project your portfolio growth over time. See how your investments will grow with regular contributions and understand the impact of fees on your returns.
Investment Details
Your starting portfolio value
Amount you'll invest each month
Historical stock market average: 8-10%
Annual fund fees (index funds: 0.03-0.2%, active funds: 0.5-1.5%)
Enter values and click Calculate to see results
How the Investment Growth Calculator Works
This calculator projects portfolio growth by applying a net annual return (gross return minus expense ratio) to your investments each month. The key insight: your net return is what you actually keep. Even a small expense ratio compounds against you over decades, silently eroding a large portion of your wealth.
Net Return = Gross Return - Expense RatioGross= Total annual return before fees (e.g. 8%)Expense= Annual fund fee deducted from returns (e.g. 0.5%)Net= What you actually earn each year (e.g. 7.5%)Example Scenarios
Index Fund (Low Fee)
With a 0.03% expense ratio (typical index fund), you keep almost all your returns.
Active Fund (High Fee)
A 1.0% expense ratio costs you ~$92,500 over 25 years vs the index fund — nearly 2 years of contributions lost to fees.
The Hidden Cost of Fees
Even small differences in expense ratios can cost you tens of thousands of dollars over time. A 1% annual fee might seem small, but it compounds just like your returns — except it works against you. Choosing low-cost index funds over actively managed funds can save you a fortune.
Dollar-Cost Averaging
By investing a fixed amount each month regardless of market conditions, you automatically buy more shares when prices are low and fewer when prices are high. This strategy reduces the risk of investing a large sum at the wrong time.
Time in the Market
Time is your greatest ally when investing. The longer your money is invested, the more it can grow. Starting early, even with smaller amounts, typically beats starting later with larger amounts due to the power of compound growth.