How Does My Money Grow?
Maximize savings, compound returns, and minimize fees — everything about growing your portfolio.
Saving is step one. Growing your money is what accelerates FIRE. Compound interest turns time into wealth. Dividend investing creates passive income. Fee analysis protects your returns — a 0.03% expense ratio vs 0.3% can mean tens of thousands more over 30 years. This category covers the engine room of wealth building.
You've built an emergency fund and started saving. Now learn how to optimize. Run the Compound Interest Calculator to see the power of starting early. Use the Savings Rate Calculator to understand the single most important FIRE metric. Compare accounts with Roth vs Traditional and 401(k) calculators.
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Frequently Asked Questions About How Does My Money Grow?
What savings rate do I need for FIRE?
A 50% savings rate means ~17 years to FI from zero. At 70%, it's under 9 years. Your savings rate is the single most powerful lever in FIRE — more important than investment returns, more important than income level.
Why do investment fees matter so much?
A 1% annual fee on a $500K portfolio costs $5,000/year. Over 30 years, that's $150,000+ in fees plus the lost compounding on those fees. A 0.03% fund costs just $150/year. Fee differences add years to your FIRE timeline.
Should I prioritize Roth or Traditional accounts?
Traditional (pre-tax) is better if you expect lower taxes in retirement. Roth (post-tax) is better if you expect higher taxes or want tax-free withdrawals. Many FIRE investors use both: Traditional during high-earning years, Roth conversions during low-income retirement years.