Don't Delay Your Savings!

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Waiting to begin your savings plan may have an important impact on your results. A delay of even a few years could cost thousands of dollars. This calculator helps show you how much postponing your savings plan may really cost.

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Don't Delay Your Savings! Definitions

Starting amount: The starting balance or current amount you have invested or saved. For this calculator, the tool assumes your current savings is earning your annual rate of return whether you decide to delay your new contributions or not. For example, if you have a current balance of $1000 and never make any new contributions, your delayed and non-delayed results will be the same.
Additional contributions: The amount that you plan on adding to your savings or investment each period. The options include monthly, quarterly and annually. This calculator assumes that you make your contributions at the beginning of each period.
Years: The total number of years you are planning to save or invest.
Rate of return: The annual rate of return for this investment or savings account. The actual rate of return is largely dependent on the types of investments you select. The Standard & Poor's 500® (S&P 500®) for the 10 years ending December 31^st 2023, had an annual compounded rate of return of 15.2%, including reinvestment of dividends. From January 1, 1970 to December 31^st 2023, the average annual compounded rate of return for the S&P 500®, including reinvestment of dividends, was approximately 10.9% (source: www.spglobal.com). Since 1970, the highest 12-month return was 61% (June 1982 through June 1983). The lowest 12-month return was -43% (March 2008 to March 2009). Savings accounts at a financial institution may pay as little as 0.25% or less but carry significantly lower risk of loss of principal balances.
It is important to remember that these scenarios are hypothetical and that future rates of return can't be predicted with certainty and that investments that pay higher rates of return are generally subject to higher risk and volatility. The actual rate of return on investments can vary widely over time, especially for long-term investments. This includes the potential loss of principal on your investment. It is not possible to invest directly in an index and the compounded rate of return noted above does not reflect sales charges and other fees that investment funds and/or investment companies may charge.
Years to postpone saving: The number of years you might wait before you begin saving. The tool will then delay your new contributions for that number of years.
Frequency of contributions: How often you make contributions to your account. The options include monthly, quarterly and annually. This calculator assumes that you make your contributions at the beginning of each period.
Cost of waiting: The difference in your savings or investment balance between your delayed and non-delayed plans. All returns and total savings are before tax.