Compound interest
Earning returns on earlier returns, so growth speeds up over time.
At 6 % a year, money doubles in about 12 years. Costs compound the same way, which is why low fees matter.
Tools that use it
Related terms
Read more
The numbers
Savings rate: the number that sets how soon you are free
Your savings rate, not your salary, decides how many years you need. A table from 10% to 80% shows 66 years at the low end and 6 at the high end.