About the Wealth Projector
This wealth projector forecasts how your net worth could grow over the next 5 to 50 years. Start with what you own today, add how much you save each year and how fast that saving grows with your income, and compare three return scenarios side by side — conservative, moderate and aggressive.
It is meant for long-range planning: checking whether you are on track to become a millionaire, seeing what a raise or higher savings rate does over decades, or showing a partner why investing beats cash. The moderate scenario is the headline figure, and it is also shown in today’s dollars after inflation so the number stays meaningful.
Savings are added at the end of each year and grow by your savings growth rate, while the whole balance compounds annually at each scenario’s return. The projection treats net worth as invested assets; home equity and debt paydown can be folded into your yearly savings figure.
With the default inputs, the moderate scenario is $4,649,969.93. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the wealth projector
- 1Enter your current net worth or invested assets.
- 2Enter how much you save a year and how fast that should grow with income.
- 3Pick how many years to project.
- 4Adjust the three return scenarios and inflation, or keep the defaults.
- 5Compare the three paths and the inflation-adjusted figure in the table.
Formula and method
Each year the whole balance compounds at the scenario return R, then that year’s savings are added. Savings start at S and increase by g each year to reflect pay rises, so year 10 savings are S × (1 + g)^9. The same savings stream is run through the conservative, moderate and aggressive returns.
The moderate result is also deflated by inflation i over N years to show its purchasing power in today’s dollars. Growth share is the part of the final moderate balance that came from investment returns rather than your own savings and starting wealth.
- W(t)
- Net worth at the end of year t
- R
- Annual return for the scenario
- S
- Savings in the first year
- g
- Yearly growth in savings
- i
- Inflation rate
- N
- Years projected
Worked examples
$100k today, $30k/yr savings rising 3%, 30 years
Saving $30,000 in year one and 3% more every year adds about $1.43 million over 30 years. At 7% the total grows to about $4.65 million (roughly $2.22 million in today’s money); at 5% it is $3.27 million and at 10% about $8.18 million.
Starting out: $25k, $12k a year for 40 years
Putting away a flat $12,000 a year for 40 years totals $505,000 of your own money. At 6% it grows to about $2.11 million, or about $648,000 in today’s dollars after 3% inflation.
Mid-career: $500k, $50k a year for 15 years
Over 15 years, $500,000 plus $50,000 a year rising 2% reaches about $2.51 million at 6%. The range runs from about $2.04 million at 4% to $3.46 million at 9%.
Frequently asked questions
How do I project my net worth?+
Start with today’s net worth, add what you expect to save each year, and compound the total at an expected rate of return. Running several return scenarios gives a realistic range instead of one precise-looking number.
What rate of return should I use?+
The S&P 500 has returned roughly 10% a year before inflation over long periods, about 7% after inflation. A balanced stock-and-bond portfolio is often modelled at 5%–7%, and cash or bonds at 3%–5%.
How long does it take to become a millionaire?+
Saving $1,000 a month from zero at a 7% annual return reaches $1 million in about 27½ years. Starting with savings, saving more or raising contributions with income shortens that considerably.
Why show the result in today’s dollars?+
Inflation erodes purchasing power. At 2.5% inflation, $1 million in 30 years buys about what $477,000 buys today, so the real figure is a better guide to the lifestyle your wealth could support.
Should home equity count in this projection?+
You can include it in your starting net worth, but homes usually appreciate more slowly than a stock portfolio. For a cleaner projection, model invested assets here and treat mortgage principal payments as part of yearly savings.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.