Investment Calculator
Lump sum + regular contributions over time.
Last updated: January 2025 · Built for the 2024–25 financial year
Inputs
Results
Future value
$300,851
Total contributions
$130,000
Investment growth
$170,851
Results are estimates only. For financial advice, consult a licensed adviser.
Overview
Project the future value of a portfolio
An investment calculator combines a starting balance, regular contributions, expected return and time horizon to project a future value. Long-run Australian equity returns have averaged 9-10% nominal (6-7% real after inflation).
Returns aren't linear. Sequence-of-returns risk — getting bad years early — devastates retirement portfolios more than the same returns received late. Diversification and rebalancing are the practical defences.
Formula
Future value with contributions
FV = PV(1+r)^n + PMT · [((1+r)^n − 1)/r]
Asset-class long-run real returns
| Asset | Real return p.a. |
|---|---|
| Australian shares (ASX 200) | ~6.5% |
| International shares | ~6% |
| Listed property (REITs) | ~5% |
| Australian bonds | ~2% |
| Cash / HISA | ~0-1% |
Pro tips
- •Index funds beat 80% of active managers over 15 years (SPIVA).
- •Reinvest dividends — they account for ~40% of long-run total return.
- •Match risk to time horizon, not to age.