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Investment Calculators

Investment Goal Calculator

Use this calculator to see if your investment plan is on track to meet your investment goals - and receive suggestions on how to change it if you are falling short.

Inputs
$
$
%

Estimates only. Adjust any value to recalculate instantly.

Results
Monthly investment needed $608.97 to reach $250,000 in 15 years at 7.00%
You invest $129,615
Market growth $120,385
Final balance $250,000
Growth share 48%
Contributions vs growth
Contributions vs growth Your contributions: $130kGrowth: $120k
  • Your contributions $130k
  • Growth $120k

The higher your return and the longer your horizon, the more the market contributes — and the less you have to invest each month.

Year-by-year growthView table
YearContributionsInterestBalance
1$7,308$1,685$28,993
2$7,308$2,335$38,635
3$7,308$3,032$48,975
4$7,308$3,779$60,062
5$7,308$4,581$71,951
6$7,308$5,440$84,699
7$7,308$6,362$98,368
8$7,308$7,350$113,026
9$7,308$8,410$128,743
10$7,308$9,546$145,597
11$7,308$10,764$163,669
12$7,308$12,071$183,047
13$7,308$13,472$203,827
14$7,308$14,974$226,108
15$7,308$16,584$250,000

How the investment goal calculator works

It solves for the monthly investment needed to reach a target by your deadline, with expected market growth on your contributions and existing balance covering part of the goal.

Worked example

Worked example: with investment goal of $250,000, amount already invested of $20,000 and expected annual return of 7.00%, the investment goal calculator shows monthly investment needed of $608.97.

You invest
$129,615
Market growth
$120,385
Final balance
$250,000
Growth share
48%

The formula

Required monthly = (goal − current × (1 + r)ⁿ) ÷ (((1 + r)ⁿ − 1) ÷ r), where r is the monthly return and n the months.

Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Confirm exact figures with your lender, plan administrator or advisor.

Frequently asked

Questions about the investment goal calculator

How is the required investment calculated?

The tool works backward from your goal, subtracting the projected growth of what you already hold, then spreads the rest across your timeline accounting for growth on each contribution.

What return should I assume?

A realistic long-run figure for your asset mix — historically mid-single digits to around 7% for stock-heavy portfolios, with more risk for higher returns.

Does a longer horizon reduce what I need to invest?

Substantially. More time lets compounding contribute more, so the monthly amount you need falls the earlier you start.

Is the Investment Goal Calculator free to use?

Yes. Every calculator on FinCalculators is completely free, with no sign-up, login or paywall. You can run as many scenarios as you like.

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