Investment Calculator

An investment calculator goes beyond basic compound interest by adding the variables that matter most for real portfolio planning: fees and inflation. Even a small annual fee compounds over decades and can consume a meaningful share of returns. Similarly, nominal growth numbers look impressive but overstate future purchasing power if inflation is ignored. By modeling both, this calculator produces projections that are closer to reality than a simple growth curve.

The calculator shows two projections: nominal balance and inflation-adjusted balance. The nominal projection uses the expected return minus fees as the growth rate. The real projection further subtracts the expected inflation rate. The difference between these two numbers widens over time and illustrates why long-term investors need to think in real terms. The fee drag metric makes the cost of expensive funds tangible by showing how much wealth is lost to management fees over the full time horizon.