Brokerage Account Calculator: Project a Taxable Investment Balance
Project how a taxable brokerage account could grow — the flexible account with no contribution limits and no withdrawal age rules.
Adjust the inputs and select Calculate for a full breakdown.
Year-by-year growth schedule
Compare Common Scenarios
How the numbers shift across typical situations for this calculator:
| Scenario | Future value | Total contributions | Total interest earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15k · $400/mo · 8% · 20yr | $309,510.21 | $111,000.00 | $198,510.21 |
| $0 · $600/mo · 7% · 25yr | $486,043.02 | $180,000.00 | $306,043.02 |
| $100k · $1k/mo · 6% · 15yr | $536,228.07 | $280,000.00 | $256,228.07 |
| $5k · $200/mo · 9% · 30yr | $439,801.58 | $77,000.00 | $362,801.58 |
How This Calculator Works
Enter the current balance, the average annual return you expect, the years invested, and your monthly contribution. The calculator compounds the balance monthly and adds each contribution, showing the projected balance and the growth that compounding produced.
The Formula
Future Value with Regular Contributions
P = starting amount, PMT = monthly contribution, r = monthly rate (annual ÷ 12), n = number of months
Worked Example
With $15,000 invested, $400 added monthly, and an 8% average return over 20 years, a brokerage account reaches about $309,500. Contributions make up $111,000; investment growth supplies the other $198,500.
Key Insight
A brokerage account trades the tax advantages of a retirement account for total flexibility: contribute any amount, withdraw at any age. The trade-off is that dividends and realized gains are taxed along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a taxable brokerage account?
It is a standard investment account with no contribution limits and no age rules for withdrawal. Unlike a retirement account, its dividends and realized gains are taxed.
How is a brokerage account taxed?
Dividends and interest are taxed in the year received, and selling an investment for a profit creates a capital gain. The projection here shows pre-tax growth.
Why use a brokerage account over a retirement account?
For flexibility. There are no contribution caps and no penalty for withdrawing before retirement age, which suits goals other than retirement.
Should I fill retirement accounts first?
Often yes. Tax-advantaged accounts and any employer match usually come first; a brokerage account is a common place for investing beyond those limits.
How can I reduce the tax drag?
Holding investments longer for lower long-term capital gains rates, and limiting frequent selling, both reduce the tax a taxable account incurs.
Related Calculators
Data Sources & Benchmarks
This calculator draws on 3 independent, dated sources. The starting values for expected annual return are taken from the benchmarks below and refresh whenever the snapshots are updated.
Methodology & Review
The projection compounds the balance monthly at a constant expected return and adds a fixed monthly contribution. It shows pre-tax growth; tax on dividends and gains in a taxable account is not deducted.
Written by Ugo Candido · Last updated May 17, 2026.