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Author: Amy Tokic

By Amy Tokic

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Investing with long-term growth in mind is an excellent strategy for saving towards your future goals. By using our investment growth calculator, you can visualize the potential growth of your investments over time.

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Investment Goal Calculator

What will it take to reach your investment goal? Use this investment goal calculator to determine how much your investment might grow before taxes, after taxes and after taxes and inflation. It will also provide suggestions on what to change if your plan doesn't look like it will meet your investment goal.

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Information and interactive calculators are made available to you only as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment or tax 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.

Investment growth and return calculator

The objective of investing is to generate a greater amount of cash than the initial investment. Your return on investment (ROI),  represents the profit or loss you experience. By taking advantage of compounding returns, the longer you keep your money invested, the greater your potential returns may become. That’s where our investment return calculator comes in, empowering you to estimate the potential growth of your contributions and returns over time.

How investing works

Investing money enables you to set aside funds today, to save while increasing in value to access in the future. There are various avenues for investment, including businesses, real estate, stocks and other asset classes. It is important to note that investing does not guarantee profits. Businesses can face failure, markets can fluctuate, and the value of stocks can decline. Therefore, investing carries inherent risks and should be guided by educated choices and short and long term goals in mind. 

Factors to consider before investing

If you’re new to the world of investing, it’s important to consider the following factors:

  1. 1.

    Do you have any high-interest debt? Not all types of debt are the same. While you do not need to be completely debt-free to start investing, it is advisable to evaluate any outstanding debts and prioritize paying off high-interest debt before opening an investment account.

  2. 2.

    No investment is entirely risk-free. It's important to remember that any money you invest should be money you are prepared to lose, either partially or entirely. Additionally, some lower-risk investment options, such as bonds and guaranteed investment certificates (GICs), may require you to lock in your funds for an extended period, ranging from months to years. Therefore, the money you invest should be money you are comfortable leaving untouched for a significant duration.

  3. 3.

    You need an emergency fund. An emergency fund is a designated amount of money set aside for unexpected expenses, such as car repairs or sudden unemployment. It is often recommended by financial experts to save three to six months' worth of living expenses, although any amount can provide a sense of security, especially for those just starting out. Even if your investments underperform, you will have a financial safety net to rely on. To start on your emergency fund, use our savings calculator to figure out how much you should be setting aside. 

Types of investments

In Canada, the most common types of investments include:

Annuity: An annuity is an investment contract that provides regular income payments, typically during retirement.

Bond: A bond is a certificate issued by a company or government, representing a loan made by the bondholder. When purchasing a bond, the investor lends money to the issuer in exchange for regular interest payments at a predetermined rate and the repayment of the principal amount at a specified maturity date.

Canada Savings Bond (CSB): A Canada Savings Bond is a savings product backed by the federal government, providing a guaranteed minimum interest rate. These bonds have a maturity term of three years, with the interest rates remaining constant throughout this period. Upon maturity, the Minister of Finance declares new interest rates based on prevailing market conditions. Canada Savings Bonds can be redeemed at any time and continue to accumulate interest until the date of redemption.

Exchange Traded Fund (ETF): An exchange-traded fund is a type of investment fund that holds a diversified portfolio of assets, such as stocks, commodities, or bonds. ETFs are traded on stock exchanges, and their value is closely tied to the net asset value of the underlying assets. Unlike mutual funds, ETFs can be bought and sold throughout the trading day at market prices, providing investors with flexibility and liquidity.

Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC): A GIC is an investment that guarantees the protection of your capital. Your invested money is safe and you will not incur any losses. GICs can offer either a fixed or variable interest rate.

Mutual fund: A mutual fund is an investment vehicle that pools the money of multiple investors to purchase a diversified portfolio of securities. The fund is professionally managed, and the invested money is allocated among stocks, bonds, options, money market instruments, or other securities.

Security: A security is a transferable certificate that represents ownership of an investment product, such as a note, bond, stock, futures contract, or option.

Segregated fund: A segregated fund is a pooled investment fund, similar to a mutual fund, that is established by an insurance company and kept separate from the company's general capital. The key distinction between a segregated fund and a mutual fund is the guarantee that, regardless of fund performance, a minimum percentage of the investor's contributions will be returned when the fund matures.

Stock: A stock, also known as a share or equity, represents ownership in a company and is bought and sold on a stock exchange.

Treasury Bill (T-bill): A T-bill is a low-risk, short-term investment issued by a federal or provincial government. It is available in denominations ranging from $1,000 to $1 million and has a fixed term that can vary from one month to one year.

FAQs

  • How to Calculate Return on Investment (ROI)

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    Return on Investment (ROI) is a measure calculated by dividing the profit earned on an investment by the cost of that investment. In other words, it is a way to assess the profitability of an investment by comparing the return to the initial cost. For example, if an investment generates a profit of $100 and costs $100, the ROI would be one, or 100% when expressed as a percentage.

  • How much money do I really need to retire?

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    The amount needed for retirement varies depending on various factors such as age, lifestyle, and monthly expenses. However, as a general guideline, most individuals will require between $700,000 and $1,000,000,000 for retirement, which is approximately 70-80% of their average pre-retirement income. It’s best to start early and put your money in long-term investment strategies.

  • How much will I have if I invest $1000 a month for 30 years?

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    Investing $1,000 per month for 30 years at a 6% rate of return can potentially result in an investment portfolio exceeding $1 million. However, it is important to note that this projection is based on certain assumptions and does not account for factors such as taxes, fees, fluctuations in rates of return, and the possibility of prolonged market downturns. You may want to download an investment app to help you reach your goals.

Amy Tokic Associate Content Editor (SEO)

Amy Tokic is an SEO content editor for Money.ca. She holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Windsor. Amy is an award-winning author and has been writing professionally for 15 years, publishing articles in the lifestyle and health sectors. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

Disclaimer

The content provided on Money.ca is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter.