Menu

Saving & investing

Investment goal calculator

Estimate how much to invest regularly to reach a target balance within your chosen timeline.

Results are educational estimates based on your assumptions, not financial advice or a guarantee of investment performance.

Goal details

Example inputs are illustrations. All calculations stay in your browser. Required fields are marked.

Basic inputs
For today’s dollars, enter annual inflation under Additional assumptions.
The 7% example is not a forecast or recommended return.
Additional assumptions
Inflation, fees, and comparisons
At 0%, future and today’s dollars are equal.
Lower and higher rates are clipped to −99% and 100%. These are illustrations, not probability ranges.

Contribution comparisons

Each row solves for its own contribution to reach the same goal. These constant-return illustrations do not express probabilities.

Required contribution at each return assumption, with the same fees and timeline
ScenarioAnnual returnRecurring contribution

How to use this estimate

Enter your target, current investment balance, timeline, contribution frequency, and assumed annual return. A target in today's dollars is increased by your inflation assumption to find the future amount needed for that purchasing power. Start with the examples, then enter your own assumptions.

Calculation method

The calculator reuses the investment returns model with fixed contributions at the end of each selected period. Annual effective returns and fees are converted to monthly rates. It projects the starting balance without deposits and separately projects a $1 recurring contribution.

Required contribution = max(0, future target − projected starting balance) / ending value of $1 recurring contributions
Future target = target in today's dollars × (1 + annual inflation)years

The solver retains full precision. Contributions are displayed to cents; balances are rounded for display. The chart uses the unrounded contribution. For full conventions, see the investment methodology.

Worked example

With no starting balance, a $12,000 target in one year, 0% return, and no fees, the required contribution is $1,000 at the end of each month. If the target is in today's dollars and inflation is 5%, the future target becomes $12,600 and the monthly contribution becomes $1,050.

Assumptions and limitations

  • Returns, fees, and inflation remain constant. Market volatility and sequence risk are excluded.
  • Contributions stay fixed and occur at the end of each month, quarter, or year. Taxes, withdrawals, and contribution limits are excluded.
  • A $0 contribution means the existing balance is projected to meet the future goal under that scenario; it does not guarantee success.
  • If a scenario needs more than $1 billion per contribution, it is reported as beyond the calculator's supported range.

Frequently asked questions

Should I choose future dollars or today's dollars?

Future dollars means the account balance you want at the end of the timeline. Today's dollars means the purchasing power you want, expressed in current dollars; enter an inflation assumption to adjust the future target.

Why does a lower return need a larger contribution?

When less of the target comes from modeled investment growth, more must come from deposits. Each comparison independently solves for its contribution.

Glossary

Recurring contribution
The fixed amount deposited at each selected interval.
Annual effective return
The assumed compounded change over one year before modeled fees.
Purchasing power
The value of money after accounting for the inflation assumption.