How to Use the Investment Return Calculator

Our Investment Return Calculator is a versatile tool to help you plan your investments, whether you’re using it as an investment calculator for general savings or a mutual fund return calculator for mutual fund projections. Follow these step-by-step instructions to calculate your investment returns and visualize your growth.

Step 1: Enter Your Starting Amount

Begin by entering the initial amount you plan to invest. For example, if you’re using this as an investment growth calculator and starting with $20,000, input “20000” in the Starting Amount field.

Step 2: Add Additional Contributions

Specify any additional contributions you’ll make regularly. For instance, input “$1000” if you plan to contribute $1,000 monthly or annually to your investment.

Step 3: Set Contribution Timing and Frequency

Choose whether contributions are made at the beginning or end of each period, and select the frequency—monthly or yearly. This setting is useful when using this as a mutual fund calculator to simulate regular investments.

Step 4: Input the Rate of Return

Enter the expected annual rate of return. For example, input “6” for a 6% annual return, which this investment return calculator will use to calculate your growth.

Step 5: Select Compound Frequency

Choose how often interest compounds—annually, quarterly, monthly, or daily. More frequent compounding can significantly impact your returns, especially in mutual funds using a mutual fund return calculator.

Step 6: Specify Investment Length

Enter the number of years you plan to invest. For example, input “10” for a 10-year investment period to see long-term growth with this investment calculator.

Step 7: Add Tax Rate (Optional)

Input the tax rate if applicable. For example, enter “0” if there’s no tax, or “10” for a 10% tax rate, to calculate after-tax interest.

Step 8: Add Inflation Rate (Optional)

Enter the expected inflation rate to see your investment’s buying power after inflation. For example, input “2” for a 2% annual inflation rate.

Step 9: Calculate Your Returns

Click the Calculate button to see your results. The Investment Return Calculator will display your end balance, total contributions, and more.

Step 10: Review Your Results

• End Balance: The total amount at the end of the term, such as “$198,290.40”.
• Starting Amount: Your initial investment, like “$20,000.00”.
• Total Contributions: The sum of additional contributions, for example, “$120,000.00”.
• Total Interest: The interest earned, such as “$58,290.40”.
• After-Tax Interest: The interest after tax, like “$58,290.40”.
• Buying Power After Inflation: The real value after inflation, such as “$198,290.40”.

Step 11: Explore the Balance Breakdown

The Balance Breakdown section shows a pie chart illustrating the proportion of your end balance from the starting amount, contributions, and interest.

Step 12: Analyze Growth Over Time

The Growth Over Time section displays a stacked bar chart showing how your investment grows annually with contributions and interest.

Step 13: View Investment Trend

The Investment Trend section provides a line chart comparing your total principal and end balance over time, useful for long-term planning with this investment growth calculator.

Step 14: Review Accumulation Schedule

The Accumulation Schedule table offers a yearly or monthly breakdown of deposits, interest, and ending balance. Use the Annual or Monthly buttons to switch views, and download the data as a CSV file using the Download CSV button.

Step 15: Print or Get Started

Click the Print button to print the schedule, or the Get Started Now button to begin your investment journey.

This Investment Return Calculator helps you make informed decisions by providing a clear view of your investment growth.