What if I'd invested a little every month?
Move the sliders to see the illustrative impact of regular monthly investing over time. The relationship between starting age and final value is the number most people wish someone had shown them earlier.
728×90 ad · ISA & investment platforms
Starting at 22 and putting away £200/month, compound growth does the heavy lifting — £221,000 in growth on top of what you actually saved. Waiting just 10 years to start cuts the final pot by almost half.
Responsive ad · ISA & investment platforms
Why does starting age matter so much?
Compound growth means your returns earn returns. In the early years this effect is small and easy to dismiss — but it accelerates dramatically over time. The last decade before you stop is worth more than the first two decades combined, which is why starting earlier multiplies the outcome so significantly.
The 7% default growth rate is a commonly referenced long-term average for diversified global stock market investment. It is not guaranteed, and actual returns will vary — sometimes significantly — year to year. The model above assumes a constant rate for simplicity.
Try these next
Maxed my Stocks & Shares ISA every year?
Started my pension 10 years earlier?
Overpaid my mortgage every month?
Illustrative purposes only. This calculator is not financial advice. It uses a simplified compound growth model assuming a constant annual return, with no allowance for inflation, tax, charges, or changes in contributions. Stocks and shares investments can fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you put in. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future results. For personalised advice, consult a qualified independent financial adviser authorised by the FCA.