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See whether an investment actually made money and how strong the return was over time.
Last reviewed by FinSync LLC
Who this is for
People checking how an investment performed in dollars and percentages.
What to type in
Your starting value, ending value, holding period, and any dividends received.
Start with the assumptions, then use the interpretation below to compare tradeoffs without bouncing between sections.
Market value at the end of the holding period.
Cumulative cash dividends over the holding period.
Investment check
Across 5 years, that works out to about 8.4% per year.
Total return
50.0%
Annualized return
8.4%
This compares $10,000.00 going in with $15,000.00 plus $0.00 in cash received.
Annualized return makes different holding periods easier to compare fairly.
Total return includes both price change and dividends, which is what matters for real performance.
If the annualized return is below your benchmark, compare the result against the risk you took.
Run the same math on a simple index fund before assuming the investment was worth it.
Calculators are useful for scenarios. BetterOff connects supported accounts so you can compare those assumptions with synced balances and transactions.
Connect a supported bank, brokerage, or exchange. Connections are read-only, encrypted, and cannot move money.
Use this if you want to understand how the calculator works, not just plug in numbers.
Step 1
Provide initial investment amount, final value, and holding period in years.
Step 2
Optionally include dividends received for total return analysis.
Step 3
Review dollar gain, total return percentage, and annualized CAGR.
These cover the assumptions, tradeoffs, and edge cases behind the calculator.
Use the calculator for the math, then use these guides to make the decision with more confidence.
Compound Interest
Project long-term portfolio growth using principal, recurring contributions, and configurable compounding frequency.
DCA
Compare dollar-cost averaging and lump-sum investing with preset bull/bear/sideways/volatile paths or your own historical monthly prices.
Inflation
Estimate purchasing-power erosion over time and compare nominal amounts against inflation-adjusted value.
Portfolio Allocation
Get a recommended split across US stocks, international stocks, bonds, and cash based on your time horizon and risk tolerance.
Reviewed by FinSync LLC
Initial vs. ending value
Initial investment
$10.0K
Ending value
$15.0K
50.0% total · 8.45% annualized