The goal is not to guess the future. It is to see what changes when an assumption moves.
Instead of treating one high return as the answer, calculate conservative, baseline, and optimistic assumptions on equal terms. This reveals which inputs drive the outcome.
Separate the values you vary from the values you hold constant
The Future Balance comparison calculator gives every scenario the same initial investment, monthly contribution, time horizon, and compounding frequency. Only price return and dividend yield differ by scenario, so the source of the final-value difference remains clear.
Three scenarios describe a range, not a probability
Assumptions of 2%, 5%, and 8% show the final value and growth path under each rate, but they do not calculate the probability of any scenario occurring. Use the spread to test your objective and tolerance for an unfavorable result rather than copying a historical return as a forecast.
A portfolio adds each item’s estimated value at the same point in time
Investments, deposits, and installment savings are first calculated with their own rules, then their balances are added month by month. Total contributed principal is also summed. Projected earnings equal final value minus principal, and each final allocation equals the item’s final value divided by the portfolio total.
Portfolio final value = Σ item final value; item weight = item final value ÷ portfolio final valueCurrent allocation and projected final allocation are different
When rates and monthly contributions differ, item weights change through time. The final allocation is the distribution implied by unchanged assumptions. It is not a target allocation, an automatic rebalancing recommendation, or a statement of suitability.
Checklist for a fair comparison
- Use the same currency and calculation period for every item.
- Check whether dividends are already included in a return assumption to avoid duplication.
- Remember that savings use an after-tax estimate while investment growth is a pre-tax assumption.
- Separate growth from new contributions when interpreting changes in the balance.
Items that should not be combined directly
Do not add different currencies without an explicit exchange-rate assumption. Avoid entering the same asset twice or adding a portfolio item that is already included in the initial investment. Names are labels only and do not change the calculation.
What the portfolio projection does not tell you
It does not model correlation, volatility, maximum drawdown, rebalancing costs, foreign exchange, or tax optimization. It is a cash-flow and return-assumption simulation—not an asset-allocation recommendation or suitability assessment.