This calculator projects how an investment portfolio grows year by year, given a starting balance, annual contribution, and a fixed rate of return. The bar chart and table give you a clear view of how starting capital, contributions, and interest each contribute to the final balance.
How to read the year-by-year table
Each row in the table above shows:
- Start balance — the portfolio value at the beginning of that year
- Contribution — the amount added during the year
- Interest — the return earned on the start balance at your rate
- End balance — the total at year-end (start + contribution + interest)
Worked example
- Starting amount: $50,000
- Annual contribution: $10,000
- Rate of return: 7%
- Years: 25
Year 1: $50,000 × 7% = $3,500 interest + $10,000 contribution = $63,500 end balance.
Year 10: roughly $207,000 end balance.
Year 25: roughly $820,000 — with $290,000 contributed and over $480,000 in earned returns.
The chart makes it clear that over long periods, earned interest surpasses total contributions — the typical crossover point at 7% with $10,000/year contributions happens around year 17.
Using this alongside ACB tracking
If you hold equities in a taxable account, your capital gains ACB grows with each reinvested return. Use this calculator to model the trajectory, and use MyCostBase or the capital gains tax calculator to estimate tax on your realized gains.
Scope note: This tool assumes a constant annual return applied once per year (annual compounding). It does not account for variable returns, tax drag, management fees, or contribution room limits.