Project how your investment portfolio will grow over time. Enter your starting amount, monthly contributions, expected return, and inflation rate. The calculator shows both nominal and inflation-adjusted (real) values to help you plan with purchasing power in mind.
This calculator owns one job: projecting a portfolio with a starting balance and monthly contributions, and showing the result in today’s dollars after inflation. For the mechanics of compounding itself (the formula, compounding frequency, simple vs compound interest), use the compound interest calculator; for choosing the monthly amount, how much to invest each month. All our calculators are listed on the investing basics hub.
How the investment calculator works
This calculator uses monthly compounding to project your portfolio growth. Each month, your existing balance grows by 1/12 of the annual return rate, and your monthly contribution is added. The inflation-adjusted value shows what your future portfolio would be worth in today’s dollars.
Formula: Your balance compounds as $FV = P(1 + r/12)^{12t} + PMT \times \frac{(1 + r/12)^{12t} - 1}{r/12}$, then the real value divides by $(1 + i)^t$ where $i$ is the annual inflation rate.
Long-term return assumptions by asset class
There is no single “average return” to enter above; financial planners in Canada use the Projection Assumption Guidelines that FP Canada and the Institute of Financial Planning publish each spring. The 2026 figures are nominal (before inflation) and before fees:
| Asset class | Assumed annual return | Risk level | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian equities | 6.3% | High | Long-term growth (10+ years) |
| U.S. equities | 6.4% | High | Long-term growth, diversification |
| International developed-market equities | 6.6% | High | Broad diversification |
| Emerging-market equities | 7.5% | Very high | Diversification |
| Fixed income (bonds) | 3.2% | Low to medium | Capital preservation, income |
| Short-term investments (savings accounts, short GICs) | 2.4% | Very low | Emergency fund, short-term goals |
| 60/40 mix of Canadian equities and fixed income | 5.1% | Medium | Moderate risk tolerance |
The same guidelines assume 2.1% inflation, so subtracting that gives an approximate real return. Fees come off the top as well: the guidelines note that fees typically range from 0.5% to 2.5% depending on how the money is managed. Actual returns vary widely from year to year.
How much to invest monthly to reach your goal
| Monthly Investment | 10 Years (7%) | 20 Years (7%) | 25 Years (7%) | 30 Years (7%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $250 | $43,271 | $130,232 | $202,518 | $304,993 |
| $500 | $86,542 | $260,463 | $405,036 | $609,985 |
| $1,000 | $173,085 | $520,927 | $810,072 | $1,219,971 |
| $1,500 | $259,627 | $781,390 | $1,215,108 | $1,829,956 |
| $2,000 | $346,170 | $1,041,853 | $1,620,143 | $2,439,942 |
Assumes 7% annual return compounded monthly with no initial investment.
The impact of inflation on investments
Inflation is often called the “silent tax” on wealth. Even at a modest 2.5% annual rate, inflation significantly erodes purchasing power over time:
| Time Period | $100,000 Nominal | Real Value (2.5% Inflation) | Purchasing Power Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years | $100,000 | $88,385 | 11.6% |
| 10 years | $100,000 | $78,120 | 21.9% |
| 20 years | $100,000 | $61,027 | 39.0% |
| 30 years | $100,000 | $47,674 | 52.3% |
This is why earning returns above inflation is critical for long-term wealth building.
Investing in registered vs non-registered accounts
TFSA – Tax-Free Savings Account
All growth and withdrawals are tax-free. The 2026 annual limit is $7,000 and total room for someone eligible every year since 2009 is $109,000. Use our TFSA calculator to project tax-free growth.
RRSP – Registered Retirement Savings Plan
Contributions are tax-deductible and growth is tax-deferred until withdrawal, which favours people who expect a lower tax rate in retirement. The 2026 limit is 18% of the previous year’s earned income, up to $33,810. See the RRSP calculator.
FHSA – First Home Savings Account
Contributions are tax-deductible and withdrawals for a first home are tax-free. Annual limit of $8,000, lifetime maximum of $40,000. See the FHSA calculator.
Non-Registered Account
No contribution limits, but investment income is taxable. 50% of capital gains are taxable, Canadian eligible dividends receive a tax credit, and interest is fully taxable. Usually used after registered room is filled; which holdings go where is covered in asset location.
Investment strategies for Canadians
Asset allocation
The mix of stocks and bonds is one of the biggest influences on the return to enter above: a balanced portfolio is expected to return less than an all-equity one, with smaller swings. The mix that suits each age and risk tolerance is covered in asset allocation by age; the retirement calculator models the drawdown years.
Index investing
Low-cost index ETFs track a market rather than trying to beat it, which keeps fees low. Canadian all-in-one ETFs such as VGRO (80/20), VBAL (60/40) and XEQT (100% equity) provide global diversification in a single fund; fees are compared in best all-in-one ETFs. Compare management fees with our MER calculator.
Dollar-cost averaging
This calculator assumes the same contribution every month. Whether it is better to invest a large sum at once or feed it in over time is a separate question, answered with examples on the dollar-cost averaging page.
Starting early
Starting 10 years earlier matters more than doubling the contribution: $500 a month for 40 years at 7% grows to $1,312,407, while starting 10 years later takes about $1,076 a month to reach the same amount. The compound interest calculator explains why, and the Rule of 72 calculator gives a quick doubling-time estimate for any return.
Related calculators
- Compound Interest Calculator: Compound interest with custom compounding frequencies
- RRSP Calculator: Project tax-deferred retirement savings growth
- TFSA Calculator: Estimate tax-free investment growth
- FHSA Calculator: Plan your tax-free first home savings
- GIC Calculator: Compare guaranteed investment returns
- How to calculate ROI: total and annualized return on a single investment
- Dividend Calculator: Calculate dividend income from stocks
- Retirement Calculator: Plan how much you need to retire
- MER Calculator: See how management fees impact returns
Putting a projection into practice
A projection only becomes real once the contributions start. Automating your investments makes the monthly amount happen on its own, and if you have no account yet, investing for beginners covers opening one.
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between August 29, 2026 and September 25, 2026. How we check facts.
- BlackRock iShares: iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio | XEQT
- Canada Revenue Agency: MP, DB, RRSP, DPSP, ALDA, TFSA limits, YMPE and the YAMPE
- Canada Revenue Agency: How contributions affect your RRSP deduction limit
- Canada Revenue Agency: Closing your FHSA
- Canada Revenue Agency: FHSA: Definitions for FHSAs
- Canada Revenue Agency: RC725 Request to Make a Qualifying Withdrawal from your FHSA
- Canada Revenue Agency: Reporting FHSA activities on your income tax and benefit return
- Canada Revenue Agency: FHSA: What happens if you contribute or transfer too much to your FHSAs
- Fidelity Investments: How much do I need to retire? | Fidelity
- FP Canada: 2026 PROJECTION ASSUMPTION GUIDELINES
- Justice Laws (Canada): Income Tax Regulations
- Prime Minister of Canada: Prime Minister Carney cancels proposed capital gains tax increase
- Revenu Québec: Source deductions: payment out of an FHSA
- Vanguard: Factsheet | August 31, 2026
- Vanguard: Growth ETF Portfolio | Vanguard Canada
- Vanguard: Factsheet | August 31, 2026
- Vanguard: Balanced ETF Portfolio | Vanguard Canada