← Calculators
Behavioral · 2 min
For illustration only — not financial advice. Verify assumptions before making decisions.
Same monthly contribution, run from five different start points — this isolates what waiting actually costs, in dollars.
Impact of Waiting
| Start Now | $1,146,941 | |
| Wait 1 year | $1,053,293 | −$93,648 |
| Wait 2 years | $966,823 | −$180,119 |
| Wait 5 years | $745,180 | −$401,762 |
| Wait 10 years | $475,513 | −$671,428 |
Every year you delay costs approximately $67,143 in final retirement savings.
Balance at Retirement by Start Date
The Power of Starting Early
- The later you start, the more you must save each month to catch up.
- Compounding works exponentially — the first dollars you invest earn the most.
- Even saving a small amount now beats waiting to save a large amount later.
- Set up an automatic transfer so the decision is made once, not every month.