Investment calculator
What return do you need to reach your target, and what will fees and taxes take along the way? Project a portfolio in a taxable, traditional or Roth account, see the range of outcomes markets could give you, and check the return you have actually earned.
Quick answer: Investing $10,000 plus $500 a month for 25 years at a 7% yearly return, with 0.25% a year in fees in a Roth account, grows to about $427,372. You put in $160,000, and fees take $10,289 along the way.
By John Crane, MBA & the Editorial Team · Updated for the 2026 tax year. How we check our numbers
Balance in 25 years
$427,371.66
Simulating markets...
| Your contributions | $160,000 | 37.4% |
|---|---|---|
| Growth after fees and taxes | $267,372 | 62.6% |
- Ending balance, future dollars
- $427,372
- In 2051 dollars, before tax
- After tax (Roth)
- $427,372
- After tax, today's dollars
- $170,667
- Fees cost you
- $18,424
- Contributed
- $160,000
- Net return after fees
- 6.75%
Growth over time, future dollars
Year by year
25 years| Year | Contributed | Growth | Fees | Balance | Today's dollars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 2027 | $6,000 | $889 | $33 | $16,856 | $16,249 |
| 02 2028 | $6,000 | $1,369 | $51 | $24,174 | $22,463 |
| 03 2029 | $6,000 | $1,880 | $70 | $31,985 | $28,649 |
| 04 2030 | $6,000 | $2,426 | $90 | $40,321 | $34,814 |
| 05 2031 | $6,000 | $3,009 | $112 | $49,219 | $40,964 |
| 06 2032 | $6,000 | $3,631 | $135 | $58,716 | $47,106 |
| 07 2033 | $6,000 | $4,295 | $159 | $68,852 | $53,247 |
| 08 2034 | $6,000 | $5,004 | $185 | $79,670 | $59,392 |
| 09 2035 | $6,000 | $5,760 | $213 | $91,217 | $65,548 |
| 10 2036 | $6,000 | $6,568 | $243 | $103,542 | $71,722 |
How this is calculated
Monthly model
balance × (1 + r)^(1/12) × (1 − fee / 12) × (1 − yield × tax / 12)
Each month the balance grows at the yearly return, the fee is charged on the balance, and in a taxable account tax is paid on that month's distributions, which are reinvested. With no fees or taxes this matches the compound interest calculator exactly.
Taxes on the way out
A taxable account owes capital gains tax on the gain over its cost basis (contributions plus reinvested after-tax distributions). Traditional 401(k) and IRA withdrawals are taxed in full at your retirement rate. Roth withdrawals are tax-free. Today's dollars divide by inflation.
Range of outcomes
1,000 simulated markets draw each year's return from a lognormal distribution with your expected return and volatility (the same seeded method as the retirement calculator), and report the 10th, 50th and 90th percentile balances.
Sources
Related guides
- The Rule of 72: how fast money doublesDivide 72 by the rate to estimate how long money takes to double. How close the shortcut comes at every rate, and what it says about debt and inflation.
Questions
How much do fund fees really cost?
More than they look. At 7% a year, a 1% fee leaves $10,000 about 26% smaller after 30 years than with no fee, because the fee is charged on the whole balance every year. Compare shows the cost for your plan.
What return should I assume?
Long-run averages before inflation have been roughly 9 to 10% for US stocks and 4 to 5% for high-quality bonds, but no future return is guaranteed. Use a lower figure for safety, and look at the weak-market line in the range of outcomes.
Roth, traditional or taxable: which grows the most?
Roth and traditional balances grow alike; the difference is when you pay tax: a Roth on the money going in, a traditional account on everything coming out. A taxable account pays a little tax every year on dividends and again on the gain when sold, which usually leaves it with the least.