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Free Tool · Compounding Calculator

Real life isn't a flat monthly payment.

Contributions and risk change as your career grows. Set what each stage of life invests, and see what compounding does with it. Teachers: there is a ready-to-assign lesson built on this calculator, The Life Stage Experiment (printable PDF).

Life StageMonthly $YearsReturn %
Teen/Student
Part-time, side hustles
First Job
Entry-level
Career Growth
Raises, promotions
Peak Earning
Established career
Pre-Retirement
Max contributions

Why do return rates change?

When you're young with decades ahead, you can be nearly all stocks (historically about 10% per year). As you age, you shift toward bonds and stable investments for safety: lower returns, less volatility. This is how real financial planning works.

After 44 years of investing through every life stage

$2,115,360

You contributed $529,200 · Compound growth added $1,586,160

Total balanceYou contributed
$0$625K$1.3M$1.9M$2.5MYr 0Yr 5Yr 10Yr 15Yr 20Yr 25Yr 30Yr 35Yr 40BalanceContributed
Teen/Student
$25/mo × 4yr @ 10%
+$1,468
First Job
$200/mo × 5yr @ 10%
+$16,435
Career Growth
$500/mo × 10yr @ 9%
+$122,741
Peak Earning
$1,200/mo × 15yr @ 8%
+$739,699
Pre-Retirement
$2,000/mo × 10yr @ 7%
+$1,235,017