Calculate how your savings plan grows. Determine final capital from savings rate or calculate the required savings rate for a goal — with chart and progress table.
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Calculate final capitalHow much wealth is created by regular saving?
€
Optional starting capital.
€
Regular savings amount per interval.
%
Expected annual return.
Savings period in full years.
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For illustration only – your own calculation is what counts.
Explanation
How Savings Plan Calculator works
The savings plan calculator shows how regular deposits develop over time. Unlike a lump-sum investment, not just a starting amount earns interest — each individual savings rate contributes to capital growth.
Savings plan final value formulaFV = K₀ × (1+r/n)^(n×t) + PMT × ((1+r/n)^(n×t) - 1) / ((1+r/n)^(n/p) - 1)
K0 is the initial capital, PMT the regular savings rate, r the annual interest rate, n the compounding frequency, p the deposit frequency per year, and t the duration in years.
The key advantage of a savings plan lies in regularity. Due to the compound interest effect, earlier deposits work especially long — the majority of final capital often arises in the last years of the term.
Knowledge
Understanding savings plan basics
Why regular saving with compound interest is so powerful in the long run.
A savings plan combines two powerful principles: regularity and compound interest. Those who start early and deposit consistently benefit disproportionately from exponential growth — even with small monthly amounts.
Start early: EUR 200/month from age 25 is worth more than EUR 400/month from age 40.
Stay consistent: Interruptions cost disproportionately much compound interest.
Calculate return assumptions as different scenarios, not as forecasts.
Include product costs separately using the actual terms of the selected product.
Plan for taxes: Optimally use the saver's allowance (EUR 1,000/year).
Practice
Practical examples
For illustration only – your own calculation is what counts.
ETF savings plan 30 years
EUR 200 monthly in an ETF savings plan at 7% average return over 30 years. What is the final capital?
Result: After 30 years, a wealth of approx. EUR 243,994 is created. Deposits total EUR 72,000, interest earned approx. EUR 171,994.
€100/month savings rate€121,997.10
€200/month savings rate€243,994.20
€500/month savings rate€609,985.50
Savings rate for EUR 100,000 in 15 years
How much must be saved monthly to reach EUR 100,000 in 15 years at 5% return?
Result: Approx. EUR 374 must be saved monthly to reach EUR 100,000 at 5% return in 15 years.
Savings plan with initial capital
EUR 10,000 initial capital plus EUR 300 monthly at 6% over 20 years. How much wealth is created?
Result: The final capital is approx. EUR 172,305. The initial capital grew to approx. EUR 33,102, plus the compounded savings rates.
5% return, 20 years€82,206.73
7% return, 20 years€104,185.33
9% return, 20 years€133,577.37
Savings account with low interest
EUR 150 monthly in a savings account at 1.5% interest over 10 years.
Result: After 10 years, approx. EUR 19,396 is in the savings account. Deposits total EUR 18,000, interest earned approx. EUR 1,396.
Quarterly deposits
EUR 1,000 quarterly at 5% interest with quarterly compounding over 15 years.
Result: After 15 years, the final capital is approx. EUR 89,304. Deposits total EUR 60,000, interest earned approx. EUR 29,304.
Notes
Common mistakes
Unrealistically high return expectation
A constant return assumption cannot represent fluctuating markets. Even long-term historical averages are not a forecast for the selected investment period.
Calculate several transparent scenarios and label every return input as an assumption, not an expected result.
Not accounting for fund costs and taxes
Product and transaction costs, taxes and inflation act differently and depend on the product and personal situation. The calculator includes none of them.
Use the actual applicable values for costs, taxes and inflation separately instead of a blanket return deduction.
Underestimating the impact of savings plan pauses
Pausing the savings plan for one year loses not only that year's deposits but also all the compound interest those deposits would have earned in subsequent years.
Maintain the savings plan consistently — even small rates during difficult times are better than a pause.
Confusing total deposits with profit
The final capital consists of deposits plus interest income. Those who read the final capital as 'profit' overestimate the actual yield. With EUR 200/month over 10 years, the deposits alone are already EUR 24,000.
Always separate deposits and interest income — the actual yield is only the difference between final capital and total deposits.
Overestimating the effect of savings interval
Whether EUR 1,200 is saved annually or EUR 100 monthly makes less difference than expected. The theoretical advantage of monthly deposits (earlier availability for interest) is small at typical rates.
Choose the savings interval based on practical convenience (salary rhythm), not to optimize hundredths of percentage points.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is a savings plan?
A savings plan is a regular deposit into a savings or investment product — usually monthly. Through constant deposits, wealth is gradually built up regardless of the current price level.
How does compound interest help with a savings plan?
Each deposit earns interest from the moment it is credited. Early deposits work longer for you. Over decades, interest earned often exceeds the sum of your own deposits — that is the power of the compound interest effect.
Monthly or annual savings — which is better?
Monthly deposits have a slight return advantage because money is invested earlier and earns interest longer. Additionally, monthly contributions smooth the entry price for equity and ETF savings plans (cost-averaging effect).
Savings plan or lump-sum investment — which is more worthwhile?
Mathematically, the lump-sum investment is superior because all capital works immediately. In practice, however, a large sum is rarely available. A savings plan is the more realistic path for most people and reduces timing risk.
What return is realistic for a savings plan?
The entered return is a scenario assumption, not a forecast. A suitable assumption depends on the product, period and risk; past performance does not reliably predict future results.
Are costs and taxes considered?
No. The calculator excludes product and transaction costs, taxes and inflation. Assess them separately using the specific product and personal situation; a blanket return deduction is not reliable.
Can I set the initial capital to zero?
Yes. Many savings plans start without initial capital. The calculator works with and without initial capital — it is an optional field.
How do I calculate the required savings rate for my goal?
Select the 'Calculate savings rate' mode, enter your target capital, expected interest rate, and duration. The calculator determines the monthly (or quarterly/annual) rate that leads to the goal.
Limits
Limitations
Assumption of a constant return: The calculator uses a fixed interest rate. Real investments fluctuate considerably annually — the final result can be significantly above or below the calculated value.
No costs and taxes reflected: Custody fees, fund costs (TER), transaction costs, and capital gains tax are not considered.
No inflation adjustment: The result shows the nominal final value. The real value (purchasing power) is approx. 45% lower after 30 years at 2% inflation.
Mathematical model calculation: The result serves as guidance and does not replace individual investment advice or financial planning.
Sources
Sources and references
BVI Bundesverband Investment — Sparplan-StatistikenBVI Bundesverband Investment und Asset Management
Long-term savings plan returns for various fund types and market phases from the German fund industry association.
View sourceRetrieved: 07/23/2026 · Verified on: 07/23/2026
What is left at the end of an ETF savings plan depends on the contribution, the assumed return, ongoing costs, taxes and purchasing power. This article sorts these factors and names their limits.
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