Projection Inputs
Enter your assumptions and press Calculate. The tool computes monthly compounding and displays annual checkpoints. Fees are applied as a reduction to the annual return. You can choose whether contributions occur at the beginning or the end of each month.
Results Summary
Future value (nominal)
£0
Future value (real)
£0
Total contributions
£0
Growth over contributions
£0
Effective annualised
0%
Projection Chart
Assumptions
- Compounding frequency applies to growth; contributions remain monthly.
- Annual fee reduces the stated return before compounding.
- Inflation is used to estimate the purchasing power of the final amount.
- Conservative and optimistic cases adjust the annual return by the volatility input.
This tool is for education and planning. It is not financial advice and cannot predict future returns.
How the projection works
The calculator models compound growth using your annual return assumption, translated into a compounding rate that matches the frequency you select. If you choose monthly compounding, the tool converts the annual figure into an equivalent monthly rate and applies it at each step. Contributions are added either at the beginning or at the end of each month depending on your timing selection. Fees reduce the return before compounding, which mirrors how ongoing charges and platform costs drag on performance. For the conservative and optimistic paths, the annual return is adjusted by the volatility field, creating a simple range that highlights the sensitivity of outcomes. While this is not a probabilistic forecast, it provides a practical illustration of how small differences in costs, inflation, or returns can translate into large shifts over long horizons.
Real purchasing power is estimated by discounting the nominal result using your inflation input over the full period. This helps frame the difference between headline balances and what they may actually buy in future. The chart presents annual checkpoints for clarity, and the CSV export includes the full monthly series so you can review cash flows in detail or build custom visuals. The purpose of this approach is transparency: each assumption is explicit, replicable, and easy to change, allowing you to stress test ideas quickly and record the scenarios that fit your goals and constraints.
Using results responsibly
Projections are only as useful as the discipline that follows. Consider running several versions of the calculation that reflect different market backdrops, and build your plan around the range rather than the best case. Keep expected returns conservative, account for fees realistically, and review your inflation assumption at least annually. If your cash flow is variable, test lower and higher contribution levels to understand how much flexibility you have without jeopardising longer-term goals. The tool does not access your personal data or accounts, so use it alongside statements from your providers to ensure numbers align with real balances, transaction dates, and tax wrappers.
CapitalBridge is an educational publisher and does not provide regulated financial advice. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or product. If you are unsure about the suitability of an investment, speak with a qualified adviser who can consider your full circumstances. Before acting, read key documents from providers, check fees and risks, and create a simple written policy that sets contribution targets, rebalancing rules, and review dates. Small, consistent actions tend to matter more than one-off optimisations.