Compound Interest Guide
Interest Earned vs Total Contributions
Learn how to separate the money you put in from the growth created by compound interest.
In this guide
The final balance has two parts Why the split matters Do not confuse growth with depositsThe final balance has two parts
A future value can look impressive, but it is important to know where it came from. Part of it is money the user contributed. The rest is interest or investment growth.
This calculator separates total contributions from interest earned to make that difference clear.
Why the split matters
If most of the balance comes from contributions, the plan depends heavily on continued deposits. If a large share comes from interest, time and return assumptions are playing a bigger role.
Both parts are useful, but they tell different stories.
Do not confuse growth with deposits
A common mistake is looking only at the future value and assuming all of it is profit. The interest earned number gives a cleaner view of growth.
For real accounts, taxes and fees may reduce the spendable growth.