Number of Periods Calculator: Determine Investment Growth Time
Enter present value, future value and rate—then the tool returns the exact number of compounding periods. Growing $5,000 to $25,000 at 7 % needs about 23.8 periods. Just three inputs give you an investment timeline. 40 % of U.S. adults rely on online financial calculators for planning (FINRA Investor Education Foundation, 2022).
Number of Periods Calculator
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How to use the tool
Follow these four steps to discover how long your money needs to grow:
Future Value (FV) – type the amount you want to reach. Example entries: 25 000 or 60 000.
Present Value (PV) – enter today’s balance. Try 5 000 or 12 000.
Rate per Period (%) – supply the expected return, e.g. 7 or 0.5 (monthly).
Calculate – the result shows the number of identical periods needed.
A 10 % average long-term U.S. stock return is widely cited (Morningstar, 2023).
Rule of 72 estimates doubling time: 72 / rate ≈ periods (Investopedia, 2023).
SEC defines compound interest as “interest on interest” (SEC Investor.gov).
Average U.S. savings rate 0.46 % APY in 2023 (FDIC Chartbook, 2023).
FAQ
What does the calculator do?
It returns the exact number of compounding periods needed for your present sum to reach a chosen future value.
How should I choose the rate per period?
Match the rate to the compounding frequency—annual return for yearly periods, monthly rate for monthly periods (SEC Investor.gov).
Does the tool assume compound interest?
Yes. “Compound interest is interest on interest—it makes your money grow faster” (SEC Investor.gov).
What counts as a period?
A period is any consistent interval—year, quarter, month—over which the rate applies (CFA Institute, 2022).
Can I include additional deposits?
No; the formula assumes a single lump sum. Use a future-value-with-payments calculator for recurring contributions.
Why is the result fractional?
The math returns exact periods. Fractional years or months show partial periods—round up for conservative planning.
Is the Rule of 72 accurate?
At 6–10 % rates it’s within ±1 year, yet the logarithmic formula is precise (Graham & Harvey, 2019).
Can I enter a negative rate?
No; the logarithm requires positive growth. For declining values, use depreciation models instead (IRS Pub. 946, 2022).
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