Understanding the Power of Compounding (2024)

Albert Einstein is reputed to have said: “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it; he who doesn’t, pays it.” (although we’re not sure he was the one who really said that.)

As an investor, making your money work for you is the best way to increase your wealth. And the wealth you will accumulate is the result of 2 things: how long you invest and the rate of return on your investment.

[You will also need psychological qualities to make the whole thing work, such as being patient, disciplined, knowing the value of things, and being able to act decisively on your own reasoning (and not on the opinion of others) when the odds are in your favour]

Doing the Math

Why is compound interest so “magical”? The simple answer is: “Because it’s reinvested”. Compound interest is, simply put, interest on interest.

Here’s an example. Assume you invest $100. The following table shows how much return you’d get over different lengths of time, and at varying rates of return.

Exhibit 1: The Power of Compounding

Understanding the Power of Compounding (1)

Source: Author’s Calculations

If you invest $100 at 5% over 5 years, you get $128, but if you wait 10 years, that amount rises to $163. The longer you wait, the more you make! Of course, this goes even higher if you can get a higher return.

For example, if you can find an investment that returns 15% for 10 years, you multiply your money by a factor 4. If you wait for 20 years and still earn 15% a year (which is a lot), you get 16 times your money back.

20% seems like a very high unachievable return. Actually, it’s pretty rare, reserved to the most talented investors, such as Warren Buffett (the annual return of per-share market value of Berkshire Hathaway has been 20% per annum, over 55 years…).

Two Factors to Remember

If you want to accumulate wealth, you will need to start as early as possible and then focus on the best prospective return you can find.

The second factor is obviously the most difficult to get, because it depends on careful study of key elements such as the price you pay for the assets in which you invest, and their intrinsic qualities.

For instance, if you want to invest your money in stocks, you will need to select individual companies that boast high quality, and that trade at cheap valuation.

High quality companies are companies that have a strong competitive position in their market, have growth in their industry, generate high return on capital and growing free cash-flow, a strong balance sheet, and are managed by competent people.

Cheap valuation is also not an element you control. It’s usually the reflection of other people’s opinion, aka “Mr. Market”, that sometimes agrees to pay a lot for a company and at other times is willing to sell at a huge discount (per Benjamin Graham’s real quote in his must read book The Intelligent Investor or those quotes from Warren Buffett in his 1987 letter to shareholders).

But if you’re patient enough and know which companies/assets you want to buy, you just have to be patient and wait for the market to provide the opportunity to buy something you like at a fair price.

Then you will just have to stick to your guns and wait for other opportunities to come along.

Understanding the Power of Compounding (2024)

FAQs

Understanding the Power of Compounding? ›

Compounded interest means the interest on interest. Every time you earn interest on your principal, it gets added to your original principal amount. So the next time you earn the interest on the increased principal amount. Over time, this allows your interest to grow drastically.

How do you explain power of compounding? ›

What is the power of compounding? Mathematically speaking, compounding is defined as, 'the increase in the value of an investment, due to the interest earned on the principal, as well as the accumulated interest. ' Simply put, it is a strategy that makes your money work for you.

What is the 80 20 rule in compounding? ›

Pareto's principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, is a concept that states that, in many areas in life, 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes, or that 80% of the results can be achieved with 20% of the effort.

What is the secret of power of compounding? ›

As the frequency of compounding increases, the difference becomes significant. Higher the rate, more you gain Higher the rate of returns, the more you can accumulate. No wonder why experts advise investing in equities if one has a long investment horizon; they offer a better potential rate of return over the long term.

What is the rule of 72 in power of compounding? ›

What is the Rule of 72? The Rule of 72 is a calculation that estimates the number of years it takes to double your money at a specified rate of return. If, for example, your account earns 4 percent, divide 72 by 4 to get the number of years it will take for your money to double. In this case, 18 years.

What Einstein said about compound interest? ›

Compound Interest is The Most Powerful Force in The Universe.” This famous quote from Albert Einstein speaks to the significance of compound interest as a financial concept. Those are strong words from someone who most people consider a credible source on math-type stuff.

What are 3 ways to maximize the power of compounding? ›

Allow your savings to bloom: Maximize the power of compounding interest
  • Start early. The earlier you start saving and investing, the more time your money has to grow. ...
  • Make regular contributions. ...
  • Invest in high-yield accounts. ...
  • Avoid high fees. ...
  • Reinvest.
Feb 28, 2023

What is the 5% rule in compounding? ›

The rule states that the number of years it will take to double is 72 divided by the interest rate. If the interest rate is 5% with compounding, it would take around 14 years and five months to double.

What is the rule of 69 in compounding? ›

The Rule of 69 is a simple calculation to estimate the time needed for an investment to double if you know the interest rate and if the interest is compound. For example, if a real estate investor can earn twenty percent on an investment, they divide 69 by the 20 percent return and add 0.35 to the result.

What is 15 15 15 compounding rule? ›

The 15*15*15 rule says that one can amass a crore by investing only Rs 15,000 a month for a duration of 15 years in a stock that offers 15% returns per annum. It is purely an effect of compounding.

What does Warren Buffett say about compounding? ›

He is often quoted for saying, “My wealth has come from a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest.

What is Warren Buffett compound interest? ›

Legendary investor Warren Buffett has called compound interest an investor's best friend because it grows at a faster rate than simple interest, since it earns returns not only on your initial investment but on the interest you accumulate as well.

What is the number one rule of compounding? ›

Charlie Munger once said that the first rule of compounding is to never interrupt it unnecessarily.

What is the 7% rule for investing? ›

To make money in stocks, you must protect the money you have. Live to invest another day by following this simple rule: Always sell a stock it if falls 7%-8% below what you paid for it.

What is the rule of 12 in compounding? ›

A borrower who pays 12% interest on their credit card (or any other form of loan that is charging compound interest) will double the amount they owe in six years. The rule can also be used to find the amount of time it takes for money's value to halve due to inflation.

What is the rule of 42? ›

The so-called Rule of 42 is one example of a philosophy that focuses on a large distribution of holdings, calling for a portfolio to include at least 42 choices while owning only a small amount of most of those choices.

What is a famous quote on compounding? ›

Compounding Quotes
  • “The Compound Effect is the principle of reaping huge rewards from a series of small, smart choices” ...
  • “Nature has mastered compounding. ...
  • “l*ttle disciplines compounded over time make a huge difference.” ...
  • “Money Compounding is one concept that does not hit you unless your stars are aligned”

Why compounding is called eighth wonder of the world? ›

Albert Einstein famously referred to compounding interest as the eighth wonder of the world. He went on to state that those who understand it, earn it and those who don't, will pay it. It is therefore important to understand what interest is, where compounding interest fits in and how to use it in your everyday life.

Why is compound interest hard to understand? ›

That's because the simple compound interest equation is simultaneously eroded by five factors: fees, inflation, taxes, market performance and the other ways you could spend your money.

How to get rich with the power of compounding? ›

Mutual funds are designed to make the most out of the power of compounding. Investors gain when the value of fund units goes up. If you invest with a long-term horizon, then the power of compounding will be unleashed to the fullest, which helps you grow your investment.

What is the most accurate rule of compounding? ›

For maximum accuracy—particularly for continuous compounding interest rate instruments—use the Rule of 69.3. The number 72 has many convenient factors including two, three, four, six, and nine. This convenience makes it easier to use the Rule of 72 for a close approximation of compounding periods.

What builds the most compound interest? ›

The best compound interest investments are high-yield savings accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs), bonds or bond funds, money market accounts (MMAs), real estate investment trusts (REITs), and dividend-paying stocks.

What is the 7 year rule for compounding? ›

The most basic example of the Rule of 72 is one we can do without a calculator: Given a 10% annual rate of return, how long will it take for your money to double? Take 72 and divide it by 10 and you get 7.2. This means, at a 10% fixed annual rate of return, your money doubles every 7 years.

What is the compound rule of 70? ›

The rule of 70 is used to determine the number of years it takes for a variable to double by dividing the number 70 by the variable's growth rate. The rule of 70 is generally used to determine how long it would take for an investment to double given the annual rate of return.

What is the magic of compounding and the rule of 70? ›

Compound Interest and the Rule of 70

Compound interest is calculated on the initial principal and the accumulated interest of previous periods. The rate at which compound interest accrues depends on the frequency of compounding. The higher the number of compounding periods, the greater the compound interest.

What is Rule 114 in compound interest? ›

So, if you divide 114 by 12, which comes to 9.5. It means if you invest your money at 12% CAGR then your money will triple in 9.5 years. The exact time will be 9.69 years if calculated in excel using the NPER formula. It shows that one can rely on such rules of thumb to get fairly accurate estimates.

What is Rule 72 in finance? ›

Do you know the Rule of 72? It's an easy way to calculate just how long it's going to take for your money to double. Just take the number 72 and divide it by the interest rate you hope to earn. That number gives you the approximate number of years it will take for your investment to double.

What is the disadvantage of the 72% compounding rule? ›

One potential disadvantage of using the rule of 72 is that it does not consider compounding, which can significantly impact the time it takes for an investment to double. Another potential disadvantage of using the rule of 72 is that it is only an estimate.

What is Rule 144 in compound interest? ›

Rule of 144:

This concept essentially applies to people who stay invested for a very long time in order to watch their money grow four times as much. For example: If you invest Rs. 1,000,000 with a 10% annual expected return, then Time by Fourfolding is 144/10 = 14.4 years.

How long would it take for my money to double if I earn a 7% compounded rate of return on my investments? ›

With an estimated annual return of 7%, you'd divide 72 by 7 to see that your investment will double every 10.29 years.

How long will it take $750 to double at 8 compounded annually? ›

Therefore, it will take about 9 years for the investment to double.

What are the 2 rule of Warren Buffett? ›

Warren Buffett once said, “The first rule of an investment is don't lose [money]. And the second rule of an investment is don't forget the first rule. And that's all the rules there are.”

What is Rule #1 in investing according to Warren Buffett? ›

Rule 1: Never lose money.

This is considered by many to be Buffett's most important rule and is the foundation of his investment philosophy.

Is compounding interest the 8th wonder of the world? ›

The great Albert Einstein once said: “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it … he who doesn't … pays it.”

How to become a millionaire with compound interest? ›

The easiest way to become a millionaire is to take advantage of compounding by starting to save your money as soon as possible. The earlier you save, the more interest you accumulate. And you'll earn more money on the interest you earn. You should aim for at least 15% of your income.

What is Warren Buffett's famous quote? ›

Price is what you pay, value is what you get.” This famous Buffett quote strikes at the heart of the “value investor” approach and reveals the secret of how Buffett made his fortune.

What are the top 5 portfolio of Warren Buffett? ›

Key Takeaways. Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio's five largest positions are in Apple Inc. (AAPL), Bank of America Corp (BAC), Chevron (CVX), The Coca-Cola Company (KO), and American Express Company (AXP). Apple is Berkshire's largest holding, accounting for 39% of its stock portfolio.

What is the basic compounding formula? ›

The compound interest formula is ((P*(1+i)^n) - P), where P is the principal, i is the annual interest rate, and n is the number of periods.

Which is the best example of compounding? ›

Real-world compounding example
  • Year one: $1,000 x 0.05 = $50.
  • Year two: $1,000 x 0.20 = $200.
  • Year three: $1,000 x 0.08 = $80.
6 days ago

What is power of compounding with example? ›

It essentially means reinvesting the earnings you get from your initial invested amount instead of spending it elsewhere. For example, if you invest Rs 100 with 8% interest every year, then your principal amount is Rs 100 and the earnings, at the end of the year, are Rs 8 (8% of Rs 100).

What is compounding explained simply? ›

Compound interest is when you add the earned interest back into your principal balance, which then earns you even more interest, compounding your returns. Let's say you have $1,000 in a savings account that earns 5% in annual interest. In year one, you'd earn $50, giving you a new balance of $1,050.

How do you explain compounding to a child? ›

What is compound interest? 'Compound interest' simply means earning interest on your savings, and also, eventually, on the interest that those savings earn. The earlier your child begins to save, the more compound interest they'll earn. An adult example would be, say, $1,000 to save.

What is compounding in easy words? ›

In grammar, compounding, also called composition, is when two or more words are combined together to form a new word. For example, the word underground is a combination of the words under and ground.

What is a good example of compounding? ›

So let's say you invest $1,000 (your principal) and it earns 5 percent (interest rate or earnings) once a year (the compounding frequency). After the first year, you would have $1,050 – your original principal, plus 5 percent or $50. The second year, you would have $1,102.50.

How do I start compounding? ›

For compounding to work, you need to reinvest your returns back into your account. For example, you invest $1,000 and earn a 6% rate of return. In the first year, you would make $60, bringing your total investment to $1,060, if you reinvest your return.

How do you teach power of compounding? ›

So here are five possible ways we recommend explaining compound interest so it sticks with your students for life!
  1. Tell a story. People are hardwired to remember stories. ...
  2. Do an activity. ...
  3. Make it practical. ...
  4. Play a game. ...
  5. Work a real-life problem.
Jan 11, 2023

What are the three types of compounding? ›

The 3 types of compound words
  • Open compound words: spaces between the words.
  • Closed compound words: no spaces between the words.
  • Hyphenated compound words: hyphens between the words.
Nov 11, 2022

Why is it important to understand compounding? ›

Why is compound interest important? Compound interest causes your wealth to grow faster. It makes a sum of money grow at a faster rate than simple interest because you will earn returns on the money you invest, as well as on returns at the end of every compounding period.

How is the future value of $500 invested for one year at 6 percent annual interest computed? ›

Summary: The future value of $500 one year from today if the interest rate is 6 percent is $530.

What is the rule of 72 in finance? ›

Do you know the Rule of 72? It's an easy way to calculate just how long it's going to take for your money to double. Just take the number 72 and divide it by the interest rate you hope to earn. That number gives you the approximate number of years it will take for your investment to double.

How does compounding work in life? ›

Power of compounding is essentially an act of 'adding interest on interest,' i.e. the amount of money you invest will generate earnings from both the initial principal amount and the accrued earnings from preceding compounding periods. Eventually, thus, power of compounding helps grow your wealth over time.

What does compounding mean in psychology? ›

The compound effect meaning is exactly what it sounds like. Specifically, it refers to how making small behavior changes can compound into life-changing results over time.

What is compounding in psychology? ›

a stimulus comprising two or more simple stimuli that occur at the same time.

Top Articles
What Do UK Bank Account Closures Mean For Expats In The EU? - Expat Focus
Abolition of “Squatters Rights” in the Province of Alberta - Bishop & McKenzie
Euro Jackpot Uitslagen 2024
The Fappening Blgo
Car Parts Open Now
Inside Watchland: The Franck Muller Watch Manufacturing Facilities | aBlogtoWatch
Australian Gold zonbescherming review - Verdraaid Mooi
Boost Mobile 69Th Ashland
24 Hour Bookings Savannah
Jocelyne Mirando
Www.1Tamilmv.con
Fireboy And Watergirl Advanced Method
Old Navy Student Discount Unidays
Ingersoll Greenwood Funeral Home Obituaries
All classes in Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
2006 Lebanon War | Summary, Casualties, & Israel
As Trump and Harris spar, ABC's moderators grapple with conducting a debate in a polarized country
Lots 8&9 Oak Hill Court, St. Charles, IL 60175 - MLS# 12162199 | CENTURY 21
JPMorgan and 6 More Companies That Are Hiring in 2024, Defying the Layoffs Trend
Aston Carter hiring HR Specialist in Inwood, WV | LinkedIn
Rainbird E4C Manual
Fajr Azan Time Today
Starter Blocked Freightliner Cascadia
3850 Colonial Blvd Suite 100 Fort Myers Fl 33966
Tri-State Dog Racing Results
Hendraheim Skyrim
Palmer Santin Funeral Home Fullerton Nebraska Obituaries
Vegamovies Home
How To Use Price Chopper Points At Quiktrip
Sdsu Office Of Financial Aid
OSRS F2P Melee Combat Guide: Fastest Way From 1-99
Channel 3000 News Madison Wisconsin
Dumb Money Showtimes Near Cinemark Century Mountain View 16
Goose Band Setlists
Fuzz Bugs Factory Hop Halloween
Comcast Business Downdetector
Kytty_Keeet
Ny Lottery Second Chance App
Booknet.com Contract Marriage 2
Fandafia
Feetfinder Reviews Trustpilot
Kona Airport Webcam
Directions To Pnc Near Me
Thoren Bradley Lpsg
Breitling ENDURANCE PRO X82310E51B1S1 für 2.885 € kaufen von einem Trusted Seller auf Chrono24
Drew Gulliver Bj
Skid B Gon Brake Pads
Basis Phoenix Primary Calendar
The Starling Girl Showtimes Near Alamo Drafthouse Brooklyn
Texture Ids For Custom Glove In Slap Battles
Dominos Nijmegen Daalseweg
Lanipopvip
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Chrissy Homenick

Last Updated:

Views: 6237

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Chrissy Homenick

Birthday: 2001-10-22

Address: 611 Kuhn Oval, Feltonbury, NY 02783-3818

Phone: +96619177651654

Job: Mining Representative

Hobby: amateur radio, Sculling, Knife making, Gardening, Watching movies, Gunsmithing, Video gaming

Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.