Investment calculator
See what waiting is really costing you.
Most calculators answer “how much will I have?”. This one answers the question that actually gets you moving: how much is waiting costing you?
Your plan
Optional - whatever you’ve already got saved.
What your platform or fund takes each year. UK accounts typically charge 0.2–0.6% - check yours, it’s on your statement. Set to 0 to ignore.
In 30 years you’d have
In 30 years you would have £230,031. You paid in £72,000; growth added £158,031.
£72,000
£158,031
Charges cost you £13,963 over 30 years at 0.3% a year - a cheaper account keeps that money compounding for you.
Growth is the part that isn’t your own money - it’s what compounding did while you got on with your life.
The cost of waiting
That’s what waiting 5 years costs you - the same monthly amount, the same rate, just started later.
“You can’t go back and start five years ago - but you can start today. And today is still five years before the version of you who wishes they’d started now.”
| Year | Start today | Wait 5 years |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | £0 | £0 |
| 1 | £2,475 | £0 |
| 2 | £5,121 | £0 |
| 3 | £7,950 | £0 |
| 4 | £10,975 | £0 |
| 5 | £14,208 | £0 |
| 6 | £17,665 | £2,475 |
| 7 | £21,360 | £5,121 |
| 8 | £25,311 | £7,950 |
| 9 | £29,535 | £10,975 |
| 10 | £34,051 | £14,208 |
| 11 | £38,879 | £17,665 |
| 12 | £44,041 | £21,360 |
| 13 | £49,559 | £25,311 |
| 14 | £55,458 | £29,535 |
| 15 | £61,765 | £34,051 |
| 16 | £68,508 | £38,879 |
| 17 | £75,717 | £44,041 |
| 18 | £83,424 | £49,559 |
| 19 | £91,663 | £55,458 |
| 20 | £100,472 | £61,765 |
| 21 | £109,889 | £68,508 |
| 22 | £119,957 | £75,717 |
| 23 | £130,721 | £83,424 |
| 24 | £142,228 | £91,663 |
| 25 | £154,531 | £100,472 |
| 26 | £167,683 | £109,889 |
| 27 | £181,745 | £119,957 |
| 28 | £196,778 | £130,721 |
| 29 | £212,849 | £142,228 |
| 30 | £230,031 | £154,531 |
How this works
Assumes your money grows 7% a year before charges, compounded monthly, with contributions added at the end of each month. Account charges of 0.3% a year are modelled as a flat deduction from the growth rate - a simplification of how platforms really charge, close enough at typical fee levels. Growth is before inflation. Real returns vary and aren’t guaranteed - this is an illustration of how compounding behaves, not a promise. This is not financial advice. These are ideas to make you a little bit richer.
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