Compound Interest Calculator

Compound interest calculator for Australian investors. Project returns on ETFs, shares, and savings.

*Results are estimates only. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Consult a financial advisor for advice.

Investment Summary

Future Value:

Total Invested:

Total Return:

Investment Breakdown

Frequently Asked Questions

Compound interest is when you earn interest not only on your initial investment but also on the accumulated interest from previous periods. It's often called "interest on interest" and can significantly boost your returns over time.

Example:

  • Initial investment: $10,000
  • Annual return: 7%
  • After 1 year: $10,700
  • After 2 years: $11,449 (earning interest on $10,700)
  • After 10 years: $19,672 (nearly doubled through compounding)

This effect becomes more powerful over longer time periods, making it a crucial concept for long-term wealth building.

Australian ETFs benefit from compound growth through:

  • Capital growth (increase in ETF unit price)
  • Dividend reinvestment plans (DRP)
  • Franking credits on Australian shares

Popular Australian ETFs for compound growth:

  • VAS - Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF
  • A200 - BetaShares Australia 200 ETF
  • VGS - Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF

By reinvesting dividends through DRP, you can accelerate your compound growth by automatically buying more ETF units with your dividend payments.

Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) is an investment strategy where you invest a fixed amount regularly, regardless of market conditions. In Australia, this might mean:

  • Investing a portion of each paycheck (e.g., $500 monthly)
  • Automatic investment plans through your broker
  • Regular super contributions beyond employer contributions

Benefits of DCA:

  • Reduces impact of market volatility
  • Helps develop consistent investing habits
  • Works well with compound interest over time
  • Removes emotional decision-making from investing

Franking credits (also called imputation credits) can enhance your compound returns in Australia by:

  • Providing tax credits for dividends where companies have already paid tax
  • Potentially increasing your after-tax return
  • Offering tax refunds if your tax rate is below the company tax rate

Example:

  • $70 cash dividend with 100% franking
  • $30 franking credit (30% company tax rate)
  • Total gross dividend: $100
  • If reinvested, this larger effective dividend accelerates compound growth

This unique Australian system can significantly boost long-term returns when combined with compound interest.

The frequency of your contributions can significantly impact your compound growth:

  • More frequent contributions (e.g., monthly vs yearly) typically result in better returns
  • Regular contributions help average out market volatility
  • Starting earlier, even with smaller amounts, can lead to larger final balances

Example comparison:

  • Annual contribution of $12,000
  • Monthly contribution of $1,000
  • Weekly contribution of $230.77

With the same annual total but more frequent contributions, the weekly strategy often performs better due to putting money to work sooner and capturing more compounding opportunities.

Compound interest and investment growth visualization

Finance Topics

I write about personal finance in Australia, hoping to make it a bit easier to understand. Check out my articles on salary sacrifice, crypto tax, CGT, and the FIRE movement.

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This calculator is for estimation purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. The results provided are based on general assumptions and may not reflect your exact financial situation. For accurate and personalized advice, please consult a qualified financial professional or tax advisor.