Investment Goal Calculator

About this calculator

This calculator works backward from a target: given a future dollar goal, a number of years, an expected annual return, and any savings you already have, it solves for the monthly contribution needed to close the gap. It first projects how much your current savings will grow on their own by the target date, then uses the future value of an annuity formula to determine what monthly deposit — compounding alongside that growth — is required to make up the rest.

This is the reverse of a standard compound interest projection, which starts from a contribution and asks what it will become; here you start from the destination and ask what habit gets you there. It is the core calculation behind retirement planning, college savings targets, and any goal-based investing plan where the question is not "what will I have" but "what do I need to do every month." This calculator takes your target amount, timeframe, expected return, and current savings to find the required monthly investment.