Investment Comparison Calculator
Project two investment scenarios side by side over the same period and see how contributions, returns and charges combine to produce the difference.
Formula and method
Each scenario is simulated monthly: the balance grows at the equivalent monthly rate, the monthly contribution is added at the end of each month and the annual fee is charged pro rata.
Both scenarios run over the same number of years, so the comparison isolates the assumptions rather than the time invested.
The difference shown is the projected ending balance of scenario A minus scenario B.
Worked example
Scenario A: €10,000 plus €250 a month at 6% with a 0.25% charge. Scenario B: identical, but 8% with a 1.2% charge.
The higher gross return in B is partly offset by its higher charge, so the gap between the two is smaller than the two-point return difference suggests.
Lowering B's charge to match A's widens B's advantage — which is exactly the sensitivity the tool is meant to expose.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does this calculator compare?
Two complete scenarios. Each has its own starting amount, monthly contribution, assumed return and annual fee, over a shared time period.
Does a higher projected value mean a better investment?
No. The projection ignores risk, liquidity, tax and the reliability of the assumed return. Two scenarios with the same projected value can carry very different risk.
Why compare over the same period?
Returns compound with time, so comparing different periods rewards the longer one regardless of the underlying investment. A shared period isolates the assumptions you are testing.
How are fees treated?
Each scenario's annual fee is charged monthly against the running balance, so it reduces both the balance and the growth that balance would have earned.
Is tax included?
No. Figures are before any income, dividend or capital gains tax, and before transaction costs.
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