Consistent investing is unglamorous and devastatingly effective. Set your starting balance, what you'll add each month, and a realistic return — then see where the curve lands.
Diversified equity portfolios have historically returned ~7% real.
Assumes monthly compounding and contributions at the start of each month. Returns are estimates, not guarantees — markets fluctuate. All math runs locally in your browser; nothing is sent to a server.
The emerald area is your projected portfolio value; the grey dashed line is the cash you put in. Early on the two track closely — most of your balance is simply money you deposited. As the years pass, returns begin compounding on previous returns, and the shaded gap between the lines becomes the larger story.
Try holding the return steady and dragging the years slider. The shape barely moves for the first decade, then bends sharply upward. That bend is the reason patience, not cleverness, is the dominant variable in long-term investing.