Investment return with contributions

Last updated: 2026-08-14

An investment projection combines starting money, contributions, return assumptions, fees, taxes, inflation, and time. It is a scenario, not a market forecast.

Contributions change the interpretation

When new money is added over time, total gain is not the same as a simple annual return. Later contributions have less time to grow than money invested at the start.

Fees, tax, and inflation

Fees reduce the balance path, taxes can reduce realized gains, and inflation changes the purchasing-power view of the ending value.

Use the calculator

Use the investment return calculator to test contributions, fees, tax, inflation, and year-by-year balances.