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Pick a starting amount, a monthly contribution, an assumed growth rate, and a number of years, and watch how the balance could build. The rate is an assumption you choose for illustration, not a predicted or guaranteed return. Then see the cost of waiting: what starting a few years later, on the same assumptions, would leave on the table.
Putting in $65,000 over 20 years could grow to about $114,718 if it earned a steady 5% every year. That puts roughly $49,718 of the total down to growth rather than deposits. Waiting 5 years to start, then running to the same end date, would leave about $38,117 less. The early years do a lot of the work, because they have the longest to compound.
| Year | You put in | Growth | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | $11,000 | $802 | $11,802 |
| 4 | $17,000 | $2,302 | $19,302 |
| 6 | $23,000 | $4,570 | $27,570 |
| 8 | $29,000 | $7,685 | $36,685 |
| 10 | $35,000 | $11,735 | $46,735 |
| 12 | $41,000 | $16,815 | $57,815 |
| 14 | $47,000 | $23,031 | $70,031 |
| 16 | $53,000 | $30,499 | $83,499 |
| 18 | $59,000 | $39,347 | $98,347 |
| 20 | $65,000 | $49,718 | $114,718 |
The gold bar shows the share of each year’s balance that is growth rather than money you put in, 43% by the final year.
This is an illustrative projection on a rate you set, not a prediction and not advice. It assumes the same return every year with no fees or taxes. Real returns move around year to year and can be negative.
This is an educational estimate to help you plan, not financial advice.
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