Free calculator
What does waiting actually cost?
Most of us delay investing because the amount we could spare feels too small to matter. Move the numbers below and see for yourself — the amount matters far less than when you start.
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The cost of waiting
If you start now
- Total value
- What you put in
- Started later
The cost of waiting
How this is worked out
No black box. Every figure above comes from these four lines.
Contributions are added monthly and growth is compounded monthly. Figures are rounded and shown before inflation, fees and tax. This is an illustration, not a prediction, and not financial advice.
Before you trust it
What this assumes.
A calculator is only as honest as the assumptions behind it, so here are ours in plain language.
Where does 7% come from?
It's a long-run average for a broadly diversified stock portfolio, before inflation. It is not a promise — real returns vary year to year, and some years are negative. Change it and watch how much the outcome moves; that sensitivity is the point.
Is this halal-specific?
The maths of compounding is the same whatever you invest in. What differs is what you hold — a Shariah-screened portfolio excludes certain sectors and interest-based income, which changes your holdings, not the arithmetic.
Does it account for inflation?
No. These are nominal figures. As a rough adjustment, subtract 2–3% from the return rate to see it in today's money.
So should I invest everything I have?
No — and please don't read it that way. This shows why starting early matters, not how much to commit. Clear high-interest debt first, keep an emergency fund you can actually reach, and only invest money you won't need soon. Then spread it across different holdings and over time rather than putting a lump in at one moment.
Doesn't a page like this just create FOMO?
It can, and we'd rather say so than pretend otherwise. Seeing a number you've 'missed' is uncomfortable, and that discomfort is exactly what pushes people to invest money they need or buy something they don't understand because it feels urgent. The honest takeaway is 'start sooner', not 'buy quickly'. If this page makes you feel behind, the right next step is to learn what you're buying — not to rush.
Is this financial advice?
No. It's an illustration to show how compounding behaves over time. It does not know your situation, and nothing here is a recommendation to buy anything.
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