$1,000 a month for 5 years at returns from 4% to 10%
| Return | Balance | Of which growth | In today’s dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4% | $66,179 | $6,179 | $57,087 |
| 5% | $67,814 | $7,814 | $58,497 |
| 6% | $69,486 | $9,486 | $59,939 |
| 7% | $71,196 | $11,196 | $61,414 |
| 8% | $72,945 | $12,945 | $62,923 |
| 10% | $76,561 | $16,561 | $66,042 |
Year by year at 7%
| Year | Put in so far | Balance | In today’s dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $12,000 | $12,380 | $12,020 |
| 2 | $24,000 | $25,627 | $24,156 |
| 3 | $36,000 | $39,801 | $36,424 |
| 4 | $48,000 | $54,968 | $48,838 |
| 5 | $60,000 | $71,196 | $61,414 |
The range in 1,000 simulated markets
A 7% average does not arrive as 7% every year. In 1,000 simulated sequences of returns averaging 7% with 12% volatility, this is where $1,000 a month ended up: 1 in 10 markets finished below the first figure, half below the middle one, and 1 in 10 above the last.
| After | Weak (1 in 10 lower) | Middle | Strong (1 in 10 higher) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | $34,470 | $39,995 | $45,979 |
| 5 years | $58,080 | $70,150 | $85,400 |
The middle of the simulation sits below the steady 7% figure of $71,196 because ups and downs cost compounding: a 20% loss needs a 25% gain to get back.
What $71,196 would pay in retirement
At a 4% first-year withdrawal, $71,196 pays about $2,848 a year, $237 a month, before tax; in today’s dollars that is about $2,457 a year. How long a balance near it lasts at each withdrawal: how long $100,000 lasts. To stop saving early and let growth do the rest, see Coast FIRE numbers by age.
$12,000 a year is more than the 2026 IRA limit of $7,500 but fits in a 401(k), 403(b) or TSP, whose limit is $24,500. See contribution limits, the 401(k) calculator and the Roth IRA calculator.
$1,000 a month for other terms
| Years | Balance | In today’s dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 5 years | $71,196 | $61,414 |
| $1,000 a month for 10 years | $171,052 | $127,279 |
| $1,000 a month for 15 years | $311,105 | $199,686 |
| $1,000 a month for 20 years | $507,536 | $281,011 |
| $1,000 a month for 25 years | $783,042 | $373,985 |
| $1,000 a month for 30 years | $1,169,453 | $481,799 |
| $1,000 a month for 35 years | $1,711,414 | $608,208 |
| $1,000 a month for 40 years | $2,471,542 | $757,668 |
Other amounts for 5 years
$50 a month: $3,560, $100 a month: $7,120, $150 a month: $10,679, $200 a month: $14,239, $250 a month: $17,799, $300 a month: $21,359, $400 a month: $28,478, $500 a month: $35,598, $600 a month: $42,718, $750 a month: $53,397, $1,500 a month: $106,794, $2,000 a month: $142,392, $2,500 a month: $177,990, $3,000 a month: $213,588, $5,000 a month: $355,979.
How it is worked out
Monthly amounts are deposited at the end of each month and compounded monthly at the rate that equals the annual return; lump sums compound once a year. The headline return is 7% a year, the Trinity-style average the site’s retirement pages use; stock-heavy portfolios have averaged more over long periods and bond-heavy ones less, which is why every page shows 4% to 10%. Today’s dollars divide by 3% inflation a year. The range comes from 1,000 simulated sequences of yearly returns averaging 7% with 12% volatility, with each year’s deposits added through the year. Fees and taxes are not taken out. More on the methodology page.