ScoutMyTool

Investment Return Calculator

Total return, annualized return (CAGR), and dollar gain.

Inputs

$
$0$50K
$
$0$80K
0.160
%
0%10%
expense ratio + advisor

Result

Annualized return (CAGR)
9.86%
compound annual growth rate
  • Total return60.00%
  • Dollar gain$6,000.00
  • CAGR after feessubtracting 0.10% annual fee drag9.76%
  • Investment doubled in7.3 years (Rule of 72)

How to use this calculator

  • Enter what you invested and what it's worth now (or sold for).
  • Type how many years you held it (decimals OK — 1.5 = 18 months).
  • Add the annual fees — typical index fund: 0.03-0.10%, actively managed: 0.5-1.5%.

About this tool

Two return numbers most people confuse: total return (raw % gain since you bought) and CAGR (compound annual growth rate — what your money actually earned per year on average). For investments held more than a year, CAGR is the apples-to-apples number you want. This calculator shows both, plus the brutal effect of annual fees: a 1% expense ratio over 30 years can eat 30% of your final balance. The "Rule of 72" line is a useful shortcut — divide 72 by your annual return to estimate doubling time.

Frequently asked

Total return is the raw % gain. CAGR smooths it into "what % per year would I need to earn to get this result." For 1-year holds they're the same; for multi-year holds CAGR < total return because of compounding.

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