Calculator
Sort an Investment Projection
Line up today’s invested balance, planned monthly buys, and an assumed return. Run more than one return so you sort a range; markets do not grow in a straight line.
For sorting a goal-sized future value from today’s invested balance, planned monthly buys, and an assumed return—planning math, not a market forecast.
Investment details
An assumption, not a guaranteed rate
Results
Estimated final value
Illustration only. Not a guarantee.
$155,274.39
Total contributions
$82,000.00
Estimated growth
$73,274.39
Sorted Finance is an education site. Our tools and writing help you organize questions—they do not replace advice from a licensed professional.
Modeling notes: methodology.
How to use this calculator
- Include only invested assets you truly count toward this goal.
- Set a monthly contribution that survives after emergency cash and high-APR debt plans.
- Choose the return on purpose (for example 5% cautious vs. 7.5% teaching case).
- Run two return assumptions with the same deposits so you sort a range, not a single destiny.
What this estimate includes
- Monthly compounding of the assumed annual return
- Contributions treated as end-of-month additions
- Estimated growth (ending value minus cash you put in)
What it leaves out
- Brokerage costs, advisory fees, and fund expenses
- Taxes on dividends and capital gains
- Rebalancing drag, idle cash, and skipped months
- Any promise of market performance
How this calculation works
The sorter compounds your assumed annual return monthly and adds each contribution at month-end. Estimated growth is ending value minus all money you put in—so you can see how much of the result is deposits vs. assumed compounding.
Markets do not deliver a smooth line. Fees, taxes, and idle cash reduce live results. If all-in costs run near 1% a year, modeling 6.5% instead of 7.5% is a simple way to acknowledge drag without building a full fee schedule.
Pair this tool with dollar-cost averaging and asset allocation basics when you want context beyond a single projected number.
FV = P(1 + r)^n + PMT × [((1 + r)^n − 1) / r]
r is the assumed monthly rate (annual return ÷ 12) and n is months. Growth is an estimate, not a guarantee.
Worked example
$8,000 invested plus $350 a month for 12 years at an assumed 7.5% annual return produces an estimated future value around $101,000 in this model. Contributions would be $58,400, so estimated growth is the difference.
Re-run at 5.5% with the same contributions (about $87,000 ending value here). The lower path is not “wrong”—it is a stress test. If only the higher assumption funds your goal, the plan may be fragile.
Quick comparison
Round-number scenarios for orientation only—not quotes or approvals.
| Start | Monthly | Assumed return | Years | What to notice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $8,000 | $350 | 5.5% | 12 | Cautious stress path |
| $8,000 | $350 | 7.5% | 12 | Higher teaching case |
| $8,000 | $500 | 7.5% | 12 | Higher deposit path |
Practical tips
Return assumption dominates long arcs
Over many years, a couple of points of assumed return can outweigh small contribution bumps. Always sort a lower-return case before leaning on the higher one.
Fees show up as a softer return
If all-in costs run near 0.8–1% a year, modeling 6.5% instead of 7.5% is a quick way to acknowledge drag without building a fee spreadsheet.
Give the goal a dollar and a year
“Build wealth” is not a sorted plan. Anchor the projection to a target amount and date so you can see whether deposits or timeline must change.
Bottom line
Use the projection to sort contributions and deadlines. Markets are not a smooth line—pair this page with a lower-return run and your real fee drag before you set expectations.
Frequently asked questions
Does the assumed return predict the market?
No. It is an input you choose for illustration. Real yearly returns bounce and can be negative. Always sort a lower-return case.
Do fees and taxes appear in the projection?
No. Expense ratios, advice fees, and taxes reduce live results. Lowering the assumed return is a common shortcut to acknowledge that drag.
How does the month-by-month growth work?
The assumed annual return becomes a monthly rate, and each contribution is added at month-end in this model.
Should emergency cash sit in the starting balance?
Only if that cash is truly part of the investment goal. Short-term shock money usually belongs in a safer cash account, not a long-run growth sketch.
What if I skip some months of investing?
This tool assumes steady monthly additions. Missed months lower the ending value versus the smooth path shown here.
Related calculators
- Compound Growth SorterSort how a starting balance and monthly deposits can grow at a rate and compounding frequency you choose. Educational illustration only.
- Retirement Nest-Egg CheckSort whether ages, current savings, monthly contributions, and an assumed return might reach a dollar target by retirement. Simplified model with plain limits.
- Savings Goal Timeline SorterSort how long a goal may take at your deposit rate—or the monthly amount a deadline would need. Optional assumed growth included.
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