Calculators
Calculators help you answer financial questions quickly. Test scenarios before making major decisions.
Available Calculators
Compound Interest Calculator
Calculate how investments grow over time with compound returns.
Available now.
Loan & Mortgage Calculator
Calculate monthly payments, total interest, and amortization schedules.
Coming soon.
Savings Goal Calculator
Determine how much to save monthly to reach a target amount.
Coming soon.
Using the Compound Interest Calculator
Inputs
Enter three values to calculate growth:
Principal Amount
The starting balance of your investment.
Examples:
- Initial retirement account balance
- Current savings account amount
- Starting investment principal
Annual Interest Rate
The expected yearly return percentage.
Common rates:
- 3-4% - Savings accounts, CDs
- 5-6% - Bonds, conservative portfolios
- 7-8% - Balanced stock/bond portfolios
- 9-10% - Stock-heavy portfolios
Time Period
How many years the money will grow.
Common periods:
- 5 years - Short-term goals
- 10 years - Medium-term goals
- 20-30 years - Retirement planning
Results
Click Calculate to see:
- Final Amount - Total value at the end of the period
- Total Interest - Earnings from growth alone
- Growth Multiple - How many times the original principal multiplied
Example Scenarios
Retirement Growth
- Principal: $50,000
- Rate: 7%
- Years: 30
- Result: $380,000+ (7.6x growth)
Emergency Fund Growth
- Principal: $10,000
- Rate: 4%
- Years: 5
- Result: $12,200+ (1.2x growth)
College Savings
- Principal: $20,000
- Rate: 6%
- Years: 18
- Result: $57,000+ (2.85x growth)
Comparing Scenarios
Test multiple inputs to compare outcomes:
Rate Comparison
- Calculate with 6% return
- Note the final amount
- Change to 8% return
- Compare the difference
A 2% higher return over 20+ years produces significantly more wealth.
Time Comparison
- Calculate with 10 years
- Note the final amount
- Change to 20 years (same rate and principal)
- Compare results
Starting earlier more than doubles the outcome due to compounding.
Principal Comparison
- Calculate with your current savings
- Note the final amount
- Add $5,000 to the principal
- See how much extra starting capital produces
Understanding Compound Interest
Compound interest means you earn returns on previous returns:
- Year 1: $100 at 10% = $110
- Year 2: $110 at 10% = $121 (not $120)
- Year 3: $121 at 10% = $133.10
Over decades, this “interest on interest” produces most of the growth.
The Rule of 72
Estimate doubling time by dividing 72 by the interest rate:
- 6% return → doubles in ~12 years (72 ÷ 6)
- 8% return → doubles in ~9 years (72 ÷ 8)
- 10% return → doubles in ~7 years (72 ÷ 10)
Best Practices
Use Realistic Rates
Historical stock market returns average 7-10% annually. Use conservative estimates (6-7%) for planning.
Factor in Inflation
The calculator shows nominal returns. Subtract 2-3% for inflation to estimate real purchasing power.
Combine with Budget
Use calculated results to inform your budget:
- Calculate required savings for your goal
- Adjust spending to meet that savings target
- Track progress in Allowealth budgets
Limitations
Simplified Model
The calculator assumes:
- Constant interest rates (rates fluctuate)
- No additional contributions (unrealistic for most)
- No taxes or fees
Use results as estimates, not guarantees.
Not Investment Advice
This tool demonstrates mathematical growth. It does not recommend specific investments or strategies.
Related Features
- Forecast - Project wealth with ongoing contributions
- Budget - Set savings targets based on calculations
- Accounts - Track actual investment balances