$2,500 Compound Interest Over 15 Years

Questions about this calculator

Is a lump sum of $2,500 better than depositing it monthly over 15 years?

For growth, yes. $2,500 invested at the start reaches $6,135. The same money split into 180 equal monthly deposits reaches only $4,039 at 6 percent because most of it spends less time growing. Monthly deposits suit a budget while a lump sum suits cash you already have.

Is 15 years long enough for $2,500 to double at 6 percent?

$2,500 reaches $5,000 after about 11.6 years. So 15 years is more than enough. A quick check is to divide 72 by the rate, which gives 12 years.

What if the return on $2,500 over 15 years were one point lower than 6 percent?

At 5 percent the balance after 15 years is $5,284 instead of $6,135. One point higher gives $7,122.

What is $6,135 worth after prices rise 2.5 percent a year?

If prices rise at 2.5 percent a year for 15 years the final balance has the buying power of about $4,236 in starting-year money. Enter your own inflation rate in the calculator to test other cases.