Investment Return Calculator
Calculate your investment returns with inflation adjustment. See both nominal and real returns with a detailed yearly breakdown of your portfolio growth.
Investment Details
Real Value After 20 Years
Portfolio Growth
Year-by-Year Breakdown
| Year | Nominal Value | Real Value | Contributions | Total Gains |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $17,055 | $16,558 | $16,000 | +$1,055 |
| 2 | $24,695 | $23,278 | $22,000 | +$2,695 |
| 3 | $32,970 | $30,172 | $28,000 | +$4,970 |
| 4 | $41,932 | $37,256 | $34,000 | +$7,932 |
| 5 | $51,637 | $44,542 | $40,000 | +$11,637 |
| 6 | $62,148 | $52,048 | $46,000 | +$16,148 |
| 7 | $73,531 | $59,787 | $52,000 | +$21,531 |
| 8 | $85,859 | $67,778 | $58,000 | +$27,859 |
| 9 | $99,210 | $76,036 | $64,000 | +$35,210 |
| 10 | $113,669 | $84,581 | $70,000 | +$43,669 |
| 11 | $129,329 | $93,430 | $76,000 | +$53,329 |
| 12 | $146,288 | $102,604 | $82,000 | +$64,288 |
| 13 | $164,655 | $112,122 | $88,000 | +$76,655 |
| 14 | $184,546 | $122,007 | $94,000 | +$90,546 |
| 15 | $206,088 | $132,280 | $100,000 | +$106,088 |
| 16 | $229,419 | $142,966 | $106,000 | +$123,419 |
| 17 | $254,685 | $154,089 | $112,000 | +$142,685 |
| 18 | $282,049 | $165,674 | $118,000 | +$164,049 |
| 19 | $311,684 | $177,749 | $124,000 | +$187,684 |
| 20 | $343,778 | $190,342 | $130,000 | +$213,778 |
Investment Return Calculator FAQ
What is the difference between nominal and real return?
Nominal return is the raw percentage growth of your investment before accounting for inflation. Real return subtracts inflation to show your actual gain in purchasing power. A portfolio earning 8% nominal in a year with 3% inflation has a real return closer to 5% — that 5% is what actually grows your buying power, which is why long-term FIRE planning should use real returns.
What average return should I assume for a stock portfolio?
The S&P 500 has averaged roughly 10% nominal (about 7% real, after inflation) over long historical periods, though any single decade can vary widely above or below that average. Many FIRE planners use a more conservative 7% nominal / 4-5% real assumption to avoid over-projecting future growth based on an unusually strong historical stretch.
How does this calculator handle regular contributions?
It compounds your starting balance and adds each contribution at the interval you choose, then applies your expected return to the running balance each period. This models dollar-cost averaging into an account over time rather than assuming a single lump sum, which is closer to how most people actually invest through a 401(k), IRA, or brokerage account.
Why does my projected balance change so much with a small change in return rate?
Compounding is exponential, not linear, so small differences in annual return compound into large differences over long time horizons. A 1-2 percentage point difference in assumed return can change a 20-30 year projection by tens of thousands of dollars or more — this is why it is worth running the calculator at a few different, realistic return assumptions rather than relying on a single number.