Cost of Waiting Calculator

Procrastination Can Be Expensive

When saving for retirement or other long-term goals, you want time on your side. The sooner you begin investing, the greater wealth you may accumulate.

This calculator demonstrates the benefit of compounding interest. It should only be used as a first step toward increasing your awareness of the positive impact time may have on your investment portfolio.

For a personalized and detailed analysis, please contact us. We have sophisticated retirement planning software to create retirement plans under specific assumptions tailored to your individual financial situation.

Definitions

Starting amount

The starting balance or current amount you have invested or saved. For this calculator, we assume 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 type of investments you select. For example, from December 2000 to December 2010, the annual compounded rate of return for the S&P 500 was 0.899%, including reinvestment of dividends. From January 1970 to December 2010, the average annual compounded rate of return for the S&P 500, including reinvestment of dividends, was approximately 10.05% (source: www.standardandpoors.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 bank may pay as little as 1% 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 funds and/or investment companies may charge.

Years to wait

The number of years you might wait before you begin saving. We will then delay your new contributions for that number of years.

Cost of waiting

The difference in your savings or investment balance between your delayed and non-delayed plans.

Required contribution

If you wait to start saving, this is the amount you would need to contribute each period to achieve the same result as starting your savings plan immediately.

Information and interactive calculators are made available to you as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment advice. We cannot and do not guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal finance issues.

Calculators are provided by an independent third party and are being made available to you as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment advice or be representative of actual results. We do not guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. The determinations made by these calculators should not be construed as guarantees or projections. Moreover, the reasonableness of certain information may change over time because of changes in tax law, investment trends and your personal circumstances. The information contained here is based on current law and has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy. Investment results can vary considerably depending on the type of securities involved, general market conditions and other factors. It is important that you periodically review and update your plans. Raymond James does not provide tax or legal advice. You should contact your tax or legal advisor concerning your particular situation. All investments carry a degree of risk, and past performance is not a guarantee of future results.