Can compounding interest be used to calculate the future value of a series of regular deposits?
Curious about Compound interest
Yes, compound interest can be used to calculate the future value of a series of regular deposits. This concept is often referred to as "compound interest with regular deposits" or "compound interest with recurring contributions."
To calculate the future value of regular deposits with compound interest, you can use the following formula:
FV = P (1 + r)^n + C [(1 + r)^n 1] / r
Where:
FV = Future value of the investment
P = Initial principal amount or starting balance
r = Interest rate per compounding period (usually expressed as a decimal)
n = Number of compounding periods
C = Amount of each regular deposit or contribution
Here's a stepbystep process to calculate the future value:
1. Determine the interest rate per compounding period: Divide the annual interest rate by the number of compounding periods per year. For example, if the annual interest rate is 5% and it compounds monthly, the interest rate per compounding period would be 0.05/12 = 0.004167 (approximately).
2. Determine the total number of compounding periods: Multiply the number of years by the number of compounding periods per year. For example, if you plan to make monthly deposits for 10 years, and it compounds monthly, the total number of compounding periods would be 10 12 = 120.
3. Apply the formula: Plug in the values into the formula mentioned above. The P term represents the initial principal amount, and the C term represents the regular deposit amount.
4. Calculate the future value: Use a calculator or spreadsheet to compute the result based on the formula. The output will represent the future value of your investment, including both the initial principal amount and the accumulated interest from the regular deposits.
By using this formula, you can determine the future value of regular deposits with compound interest, which can help you estimate the growth of your savings or investment over time.