Find out what a lump sum plus regular contributions will be worth in the future at a given rate of return.
Future value (FV) is what a sum of money invested today will be worth at a later date once it earns a rate of return. It answers the core planning question: if I invest this amount and add to it regularly, how much will I have when I need it? The core formula for a lump sum is FV = PV × (1 + r)n, extended here to include recurring contributions.
This calculator combines two engines: it grows your initial lump sum and separately grows each monthly contribution from the day it's added. Money invested earlier compounds longer, so the first few years of contributions often end up contributing the most to your final balance.
Future value is only as reliable as the return you assume. Historically the S&P 500 has returned roughly 10% before inflation and about 7% after, while bonds and cash return less. Running the calculator at a few different rates shows you a realistic range rather than a single false-precision number.
Tip: Compare future value against present value to decide whether to take money now or later — the right discount or growth rate is the deciding factor.
Future value projects today's money forward; present value discounts tomorrow's money back to today. They're two sides of the same time-value-of-money coin and together let you compare cash flows that arrive at different times.