Investment Calculator
A $1 million portfolio in 30 years sounds impressive — until you consider what $1 million will actually buy in 30 years. This calculator projects both the nominal figure and its inflation-adjusted "real" equivalent, so the number you see is honest about future purchasing power, not just a big-looking total.
Enter your details to see your projected value.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your initial investment and monthly contribution.
- Enter your expected annual return and inflation rate.
- Click "Project my investment" to see both the nominal future value and its inflation-adjusted equivalent in today's dollars.
How the calculation works
The nominal value uses standard compound growth at your entered return rate — the same math as the Compound Interest Calculator. The real value repeats that projection using an adjusted rate that subtracts inflation's effect from the return, showing what your nominal total would be worth if prices stayed at today's level. The gap between the two grows the longer your time horizon runs, since inflation compounds too.
A worked example
Say you invest $10,000 now, add $400 a month, expect a 7% annual return, and assume 3% average inflation over 30 years. The nominal projection lands around $560,000 — but adjusted for 3% inflation, that same balance is worth closer to $231,000 in today's purchasing power. Both numbers are "correct" — they just answer different questions: what the account statement will say, versus what that money will actually be able to buy.
Frequently asked questions
What inflation rate should I use?
The U.S. has historically averaged around 2-3% annual inflation over the long run, though any given year can vary significantly.
Why is the real value lower than the nominal value?
Inflation reduces purchasing power over time — the real value estimate shows what your nominal total would be worth if prices had stayed at today's levels.
Does this include taxes?
No — this is a pre-tax growth projection, similar to the Compound Interest Calculator.
Which number should I actually plan around?
The real (inflation-adjusted) value is generally more useful for long-term goal setting, since it reflects what your future balance can actually buy rather than an inflated-looking nominal figure.
Should I use a different return rate for stocks versus bonds?
Yes — a diversified stock-heavy portfolio and a bond-heavy one have historically produced meaningfully different long-term returns. Run this calculator with a few different rates to see the range of realistic outcomes for your actual allocation.