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Printed August 5, 2026 · https://trycleartally.com/investment-return-calculator
Estimates for educational purposes only — not financial advice. See https://trycleartally.com/disclaimer.
Investment Return Calculator
Project the future value, total gains, and return on investment (ROI) of a lump sum plus any recurring contributions, with your choice of contribution and compounding frequency.
Reviewed by the ClearTally editorial team · Last updated July 16, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Part of the retirement calculators collection — 6 tools in the order most people need them.
Future value
$225,974
After 20 years
Total contributions
$82,000
Total gains
$143,974
ROI
175.6%
Gains ÷ contributions
Growth over time
The nominal return is converted to an effective annual rate for the compounding frequency you choose; contributions are added at the end of each period. Assumes a constant return — real markets vary. Estimate for planning only, not investment advice.
Investment Return Projection
Future value
$225,974
Assumes a constant return. Estimate only, not investment advice.
Calculated using the standard formulas described at https://trycleartally.com/methodology — for educational estimates only, not a quote or financial advice. Verify with your lender or financial institution before making decisions.
For a simpler view of pure growth, the compound interest calculator focuses on a balance plus monthly contributions, and the retirement calculator projects your savings to your retirement age.
How it works
Your money grows by compounding: each period's return is earned on everything you've accumulated so far, including past returns. We convert your annual return into an effective rate for the compounding frequency you pick, apply it over time, and add each contribution as it's made.
- Future value — what your investment is worth at the end.
- Total gains — future value minus everything you put in (your initial investment plus all contributions).
- ROI — total gains divided by total contributions, expressed as a percent.
Example: $10,000 up front plus $300/month for 20 years at an 8% return (compounded monthly) grows to about $225,974. You'd have contributed $82,000, so roughly $143,974 of that is gains — an ROI of around 176%.
Sources & further reading
FAQ
Your annual return is the growth rate per year (e.g. 8%). ROI is the total gain over the whole period as a percent of what you put in — so a modest annual return compounds into a large ROI over many years. This calculator shows both the dollar gains and the overall ROI.
More frequent compounding earns slightly more at the same nominal rate, because returns start earning returns sooner. The effect is small — daily vs annual compounding at 8% over 10 years differs by a few percent — but it's real, and you can compare the options here.
Both work; this calculator handles either or both. A lump sum has longer to compound, while regular contributions (dollar-cost averaging) spread your buying over time and are how most people invest from a paycheck. Enter your real plan to see the projected outcome.
No. This assumes a constant annual return, but real investment returns vary year to year and can be negative. Use a realistic long-run estimate (historically, a diversified stock portfolio has averaged roughly 7–10% before inflation) and treat the result as a projection, not a promise.
No — the figures are nominal (before inflation) and pre-tax. To gauge real purchasing power, subtract an inflation estimate from your return, and remember that gains in taxable accounts may be taxed. Tax-advantaged accounts like a 401(k) or IRA change the after-tax picture.