Patience can be a virtue when investing money and building a nest egg, especially as you're trying to grow your wealth to $1 million or more.
But you can’t just put some money away and forget about it. It also takes smart money moves like investing consistently and taking advantage of compounding interest.
So, how can you start with $10,000 and end up with $1 million? Here are some possible scenarios to help you save toward that milestone.
Grow Your $$: 11 brilliant ways to build wealth after 40
1. Investing $10,000 but nothing else at 10% for 25 years
First, let’s start with what not to do. It may sound great to have $10,000 that you can put into something like an S&P; 500 Index and not touch it. After all, putting money aside and letting it grow sounds like a good plan to build up wealth over time.
But while the S&P; 500 Index can get you an annual return of around 10%, letting it sit for 25 years without touching it won’t exactly let you get ahead financially .
In fact, you’ll fall way too short, making it to only $108,347 over 25 years.
Want to learn how to build wealth like the 1%? Sign up for Worthy to get ideas and advice delivered to your inbox.
2. Investing $10,000 but nothing else at 20% for 25 years
There are other options you may want to try like investing that $10,000 in something that can earn you 20% in interest over 25 years. A $10,000 investment earning 20% for 25 years will grow to $953,962.17.
But is that even possible? Not likely. It’s nearly impossible to find something that can earn you 20% interest each year for 25 years.
Warren Buffett, for example, has had an annualized rate of return of 19.8% since 1965 for his Berkshire Hathaway shares. Most investors aren't experts and don’t come close to that type of return.
3. Investing $10,000 plus $1,000 monthly at 10% for 25 years
So how can you reasonably reach that $1 million nest egg?
One way is to start with an initial investment and add to it every month. Adding to that initial investment means you have a larger core investment earning interest each month that can be put back into the account and get your compound interest rolling.
So with an initial $10,000 investment plus an additional $1,000 per month earning you that typical 10% annual return, you could get above your $1 million goal with $1,288,511.77 in 25 years.
Enjoying our content? Click the Follow button above to see more from us.
4. Investing $10,000 plus $1,500 monthly at 10% for 20 years
Bumping up the monthly addition to that initial $10,000 investment can also bump up your compounding interest.
But it can be hard to cut your budget for everyday expenses in exchange for saving more. However, you may think it’s a small price to pay for reaching your $1 million goal in less time.
And you would be right, although just barely. Your $10,000 initial investment with 10% annual returns for 20 years could squeeze you past that $1 million mark with $1,098,224.99.
5. Investing $10,000 plus $2,550 monthly at 10% for 15 years
You would also reach the $1 million mark if you make some big savings sacrifices or find a way to make more money .
Check your budget to see how much you can save each month. Extra cash means extra savings so see if you have $2,550 in your budget that can go to an investment like an S&P; 500 Index fund.
What would that get you after 15 years? The tight budget and expedited timeline can work for you, giving you $1,014,010.42 in only 15 years and helping you reach major financial goals.
6. Investing $10,000 plus $1,100 monthly at 8% for 25 years
It’s good to remember that while the S&P; 500 has an estimated annual return of 10%, some years will be better than others and you may have times when your portfolio ends the year in the red.
To account for that, you may want to factor in a lower annual rate of 8% over the life of your investment for a more conservative estimate.
Even with the drop in annual return, you can reach $1,033,483.16 over 25 years with an initial $10,000 investment and $1,100 in monthly investments.
Find Out: 8 must-do things before 60 for a stress-free retirement
7. Investing $10,000 plus $1,800 monthly at 8% for 20 years
You can put in extra cash each month while still assuming only an 8% annual rate of return to make it to $1 million in only 20 years.
Bumping your monthly contributions up could be an easy option if you’re sticking with a budget or spending below your means such as buying a smaller house, getting a less expensive car, or paying off student loans .
With $1,800 each month in addition to your initial $10,000 savings, you can reach $1,035,068.00 in 20 years.
8. Investing $10,000 plus $3,000 monthly at 8% for 15 years
Another bump in your monthly savings can give you a closer date to potentially retire early or invest your cash into a business, home, or other option.
You can achieve this in 15 years if you invest $3,000 each month after your initial $10,000 investment. Once again, you’ll probably need a significant income boost to reach this monthly contribution.
With the initial $10,000 and the additional $3,000 each month, you can reach your $1 million goal — barely — with $1,009,197.79.
9. Investing $10,000 plus $5,100 monthly at 10% for 10 years
Patience is important in all these scenarios as you need to give your cash time to grow. But what if you have a large chunk of change each month and you’re not sure what to do with it?
It’s possible to reach that $1 million milestone, but it’s going to take some serious savings or even a side hustle so you make extra money to invest .
You’ll be able to cross that $1 million mark with $1,001,307.81 over 10 years if you’re able to get an annual rate of 10% with an initial investment of $10,000 followed by $5,100 invested each month.
Can you retire early? Take this quiz and find out.
Bottom line
There are many options when trying to reach that $1 million milestone, and you can choose your own adventure depending on your financial goals.
Consider how much you can reasonably save and invest monthly. The sooner you start, the more time your money will have to grow, and the easier it will be to boost your bank account .
It’s also a good idea to create a budget that can help you identify areas where you can save money each month, even if you’re struggling financially to get the cash you need to invest and reach that $1 million mark.
Money tips that can work for everyone
No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.
Focus on paying off your debt . Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.
Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.
Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).
Most Popular
Comments / 0