Cost of waiting calculator
Compare starting today with starting in 1, 5 or 10 years, and see the gap in dollars.
Waiting 5 years costs you
Start now and you have $787,444 at 65. Start in five years with the same $300 a month and you end with $540,316, even though you only skipped $18,000 of deposits.
How this calculator works
The calculator runs the same monthly plan from today and from several later start dates, all ending at the same age.
The money you skip by waiting is small. The growth you lose on it, over decades, is not.
Common questions
Is it better to wait for a market drop?
History says no on average. Time invested matters more than timing; see our worst-timing investor calculator.
What if I have debt?
Paying off high-interest debt first usually beats investing. Compare with the debt vs invest calculator.
How much do I need to start?
Many brokers let you start with a few dollars using fractional shares.
FatDCA calculators are educational estimates, not investment, tax or legal advice. Results depend on the assumptions you enter, and past returns do not predict future returns.
One small deposit a week, for your brain
- 1chart from real data
- 1idea in plain English
- 1thing to do this week