Finance

Personal Return on Investment Calculator (15 Years)

Calculate return on investment as a percentage. This personal version uses a 15-year planning term as its starting point.

The Return figure is the total gain or loss over the full 15 years, shown as a percentage of the amount invested. A positive Return means the final value is higher than the amount invested, a negative Return means it is lower, and a Return of 0.00% means the money came back unchanged. Because it covers the whole 15 years, it is not a yearly rate, so compare it only with returns measured over the same length of time and with similar risk.

Formula

Return equals final value minus invested amount, divided by invested amount, times 100.

How it works

A positive return means the final value is higher than the amount invested.

Worked example

Amount invested $10,000, final value $15,000, term 15 years. First, the gain is $15,000 minus $10,000, which is $5,000. Using the page formula, return is $5,000 divided by $10,000, times 100, which is 50.00%. That is the total return over the whole 15 years, not a yearly rate. As an illustration only, not the output of this page, the annualised rate behind the same result is about 2.74% a year, because $15,000 divided by $10,000 is 1.50, and the 15th root of 1.50 is about 1.0274. Over 15 years the headline flatters the result: the money grew, but only slowly each year, so rising prices over the same 15 years matter a great deal to what the $15,000 can actually buy.

Who this term suits for a person: A 15-year term suits a person in mid-career reviewing a long holding, for example a retirement seed started in their thirties, or a fund meant to help with a future house move. The useful question after 15 years is whether about 2.74% a year, before fees and tax, still fits the plan, or whether the money should be moved, topped up, or left alone for longer.

FAQs

What is a good ROI?
There is no single good figure. Compare returns over the same period and with the same risk before deciding.

Is this personal calculator exact?
No, it is an estimate for planning only, based on the numbers you enter.

Are these figures financial advice?
No, they are estimates for planning only, not financial advice. Check with a qualified adviser for decisions involving large sums.

Is 50.00% over 15 years still a win?
It is a gain in cash terms, but a slow one: about 2.74% a year. Whether it counts as a win depends on the risk taken and on how much prices rose over the same 15 years. A low-risk holding at 2.74% a year may be acceptable, while a high-risk holding at the same rate probably was not worth the worry.

What risk was taken for 2.74% a year?
That is the question this page cannot answer, because it only sees the start and end amounts. A holding that fell sharply and recovered, a holding that paid no income for years, and a steady holding can all end at $15,000. Before judging a 15-year result, check the risk, the fees, and whether any tax is still due on the gain.

Should I add more money or wait longer after 15 years?
Neither follows from the ROI alone. If the holding still fits the goal and the risk is acceptable, adding money or waiting may make sense. If about 2.74% a year is below what the goal needs, waiting longer at the same rate will not fix the plan, and a different mix should be considered with a qualified adviser.

Estimates only, not financial advice. Figures are approximate and do not include all fees, taxes, or changing rates unless stated.