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Future Value Calculator
Future value answers a narrow question precisely: if I invest this today at this rate for this long, what will it be worth? The honest version of the answer also tells you what that number buys.
Lump sum plus contributions · Real-value toggle
At a glance
Interactive calculator
Live — results update as you type
The investment
What a sum today is worth later, with or without top-ups.
Future value
$0—
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The four inputs and what they do
Present value sets the floor
Your starting amount compounds untouched. On a long horizon it matters less than contributions, which is why saving monthly beats waiting for a lump sum.
Timing of contributions
Contributing at the start of each period rather than the end adds one period of return per contribution. Over thirty years that is worth roughly 3–4% of the final balance.
Real versus nominal
A nominal figure flatters every projection. Converting to today’s dollars at 2.5% inflation cuts a 25-year projection by about 46%. The real number is the one you can plan a lifestyle around.
$100,000 left alone for 20 years at 7%
Compounded monthly, $100,000 becomes $403,874. Of that, $303,874 is earnings rather than the original money, and the balance doubles every 10.3 years.
Switch the inflation toggle to 2.5% and the real figure is closer to $246,000 in today’s money. The nominal number is the one that gets quoted in planning meetings; the real one is the one that buys the lifestyle.
Future value questions
What is the difference between future value and compound interest?
They are the same calculation from different directions. Compound interest describes the mechanism; future value is the resulting number. Future value also lets you add regular contributions, which is the version that matches real investing.
Which compounding frequency should I use?
Whatever matches the product. Savings accounts compound monthly or daily; most Australian managed funds and ETFs are priced daily but reported annually. The difference between monthly and annual compounding at 7% is about 0.2% a year.
Should I use a nominal or real return?
Either, consistently. Using a nominal return and then converting the answer to today's dollars gives the same result as using a real return from the start. The error is mixing them — quoting a nominal balance while thinking in today's spending power.
What is a realistic return assumption?
6.5–7.5% nominal for a diversified growth portfolio before fees and tax, 4–5% for balanced. After 0.5% fees and tax on income, a realistic planning number for Australian equities is closer to 6%.
Does this account for tax?
No. It is pre-tax and pre-fee. Outside super, you pay tax on distributions annually and capital gains on disposal; inside super, 15% on earnings in accumulation and 0% in pension phase.
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Turn these numbers into a decision
A calculator gives you a range. An adviser gives you a decision — pressure-tested against your super, your tax position and the life you actually want to fund.
General advice only · No obligation · No product push
Assumes a constant rate of return with no volatility, fees or tax. Real investments deliver the same average through a volatile path, and actual outcomes will differ. Projections are illustrative only.
Reviewed November 2026 · FY2026–27 rates and thresholds