Goals & planning
Investment-goal calculator
'1 million in 10 years' is a solvable equation, not a slogan: target minus what your principal becomes is the gap monthly saving must fill. Vary the rate and horizon to feel the pressure shift.
Monthly saving needed
5,379.23
Principal grows to
164,700.95
Gap to fill
835,299.05
Total contributed
745,507.56
Interest earned
+254,492.44
Same goal at other rates
| Annual return | Monthly saving |
|---|---|
| 0% | 7,500 |
| 2% | 6,614.54 |
| 3% | 6,190.47 |
| 4% | 5,778.73 |
| 5% | 5,379.23 |
| 6% | 4,991.85 |
| 8% | 4,252.82 |
Year-by-year progress
| Year | Value | Contributed | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 171,166.97 | 164,550.76 | 17.1% |
| 2 | 245,974.99 | 229,101.51 | 24.6% |
| 3 | 324,610.32 | 293,652.27 | 32.5% |
| 4 | 407,268.78 | 358,203.03 | 40.7% |
| 5 | 494,156.21 | 422,753.78 | 49.4% |
| 6 | 585,488.96 | 487,304.54 | 58.5% |
| 7 | 681,494.47 | 551,855.30 | 68.1% |
| 8 | 782,411.81 | 616,406.05 | 78.2% |
| 9 | 888,492.27 | 680,956.81 | 88.8% |
| 10 | 1,000,000 | 745,507.56 | 100.0% |
Compound the principal first, then solve the annuity
Existing savings compound on their own: FV = principal ×(1+r)ⁿ with monthly r = annual÷12 and n = years×12. The target minus this is the gap that monthly saving must fill: PMT = gap·r ÷ [(1+r)ⁿ−1].
At 0% it degrades to the simplest plan: monthly = (target − principal) ÷ months. Higher assumed returns shrink the required saving — 'money working for you', quantified.
How rate-sensitive the monthly figure is
The comparison rows solve the same goal at 0–8%. The spread is often hundreds or thousands per month: an optimistic assumption lightens the plan — but it is still an assumption, and a goal that only works under rosy rates deserves a second look.
The 'progress' column is each year-end's value as a share of the target. Early on the growth is mostly your deposits; compounding only visibly helps later.
Frequently asked
Does the monthly figure guarantee the goal?
No. It assumes a constant annual return while real returns are lumpy. Treat it as a what-if ruler — budgeting on a conservative rate is the safer habit.
Can current savings be 0?
Yes — the whole target then rides on monthly contributions. If your principal alone compounds past the target, the monthly figure shows 0 and notes the goal is already covered.
What return rate should I try?
Reference points: 1–3% for deposits/cash funds, 5–8% for broad-index long-run backtests. The table shows several rates — judge the plan by the pessimistic row.
How does this relate to the compound calculator?
They are inverses. That one answers 'save X a month, get what in N years'; this one answers 'need Y in N years, save how much monthly'. Same formula, different unknown.
Constant-rate estimate with monthly contributions; fees, taxes and volatility excluded. Estimates only, not investment advice.