Free Financial Calculator

Investment Growth Calculator

Project an investment balance with contributions, an annual return assumption, a simplified investment-cost assumption and inflation.

Reviewed · Aug 16, 2026

What this does

Projects a balance using contributions, return, investment costs and inflation so you can inspect the tradeoffs together.

Have ready

Your starting balance, contributions, years, return assumption, annual costs and inflation assumption.

Terra approachTransparent assumptionsEducational comparisonNo product recommendationHow Terra handles revenue →

Your assumptions

Change the numbers yourself. Terra shows a deterministic scenario, not a prediction.

Starting investment

Monthly contribution

Illustrative gross annual return (%)

Annual investment cost assumption (%)Expense ratio, advisory cost, or a simplified combined cost assumption. Terra models the annual cost as a percentage removed from the invested balance rather than simply subtracting it from the stated return.

Illustrative inflation (%)

Years

Saved scenarios stay privately in this browser under My Terra. Nothing is saved unless you choose Save this scenario.

Your result

The headline answer stays simple. Open the graph or table only when you want to see how the result develops over time.

Modeled ending balance$0

Ending balance in today's dollars$0

Ending-value difference vs. 0% cost$0

Modeled growth after contributions$0

The comparison holds the gross return and contributions constant and changes only the annual cost assumption. Today's dollars are estimated by deflating the modeled balance with your inflation assumption.

How to read this result

Today's dollarsThe inflation-adjusted figure is not a second forecast. It translates the modeled future balance into approximate present purchasing power.

The cost comparison isolates one variableGross return and contributions stay the same while the annual cost changes, making the ending-value gap easier to interpret.

Why recurring fees compound too →

Help improve TerraWas this page helpful?

One click helps us see what needs improving. Terra does not send your calculator inputs or questionnaire answers with this feedback.

Will this money live in a taxable account?

Growth is only part of what you keep. If the investment will be taxable, model how dividends, distributions and realized gains could create tax drag.

Take the next step →

How to read it

Useful math, with visible limits.

How is this different from compound interest?

This version adds a simplified annual percentage cost and inflation so you can compare a future nominal balance with its approximate purchasing power in today's dollars. The cost is modeled as a percentage removed from the invested balance, consistent with Terra's Investment Fee calculator and homepage illustration.

Does “0% cost” mean a real investment is free?

No. It is only a comparison line that isolates the mathematical effect of the cost assumption you entered.

What is missing?

Taxes, changing returns, changing contributions, withdrawals, account rules and investment-specific behavior. For taxable accounts, continue to Tax Drag Reality Check.

Terra calculators are educational scenario tools. Results depend on the assumptions entered and do not predict returns, taxes, employer plan rules, advisor value, or future financial outcomes.