Investing & retirement · Canada
Canadian investing and retirement calculators.
Compound growth is the engine of every Canadian retirement plan. Whether you're projecting a TFSA balance in 25 years, modeling FHSA growth toward a first home, or comparing RRSP and TFSA contributions on after-tax math, the same compounding mechanics drive the answer. CalcNorth's investing and retirement tools run those numbers honestly: with realistic Canadian return assumptions, inflation adjustments where they matter, and the tax-sheltering rules of each registered account.
The Compound interest calculator is the foundational tool: it handles any contribution frequency, supports both nominal and inflation-adjusted projections, and is the building block under the upcoming FHSA, RRSP, and TFSA calculators. Each registered-account tool layers Canadian-specific tax mechanics on top of the same growth math, so the long-term projection you see matches the rules the CRA actually applies. Start with compound interest if you want the pure growth picture, and add the registered-account layer once those tools ship.
Calculators in this category
Compound interest calculator
How much will your savings actually be worth in 25 years? Project compound growth with any contribution frequency, plus the inflation-adjusted real return.
FHSA calculator
Project your First Home Savings Account balance over the years until your purchase, with the cumulative tax refunds from the deduction at your marginal rate. Enforces the $8,000 annual and $40,000 lifetime caps.
RRSP calculator
Project your RRSP balance at retirement, the cumulative tax refunds from the deduction during accumulation, and the after-tax value once you account for withdrawal tax at your retirement marginal rate.
TFSA calculator
Project your TFSA balance with annual contributions and tax-free growth. Tuned to the 2026 $7,000 federal limit and the cumulative-room rules in place since the program opened in 2009.
Frequently asked questions
- RRSP vs TFSA: which should I prioritize?
- If you expect your retirement marginal tax rate to be lower than your current rate, the RRSP usually wins on long-run after-tax math. If you expect your retirement rate to be similar or higher (high earners, those with workplace pensions), the TFSA usually wins because withdrawals are tax-free and don't claw back OAS. For most middle-income Canadian households, the practical answer is both, in this order: capture any employer RRSP match first, then max the FHSA if you're saving for a first home, then split the remainder between TFSA and RRSP based on the marginal-rate comparison.
- What's the difference between the FHSA and the RRSP Home Buyers' Plan?
- The First Home Savings Account combines an immediate tax deduction (like an RRSP) with tax-free qualifying withdrawals (like a TFSA), capped at $40,000 lifetime ($8,000 per year). The Home Buyers' Plan lets a first-time buyer withdraw up to $60,000 from an existing RRSP, repaid to the RRSP over 15 years. The FHSA is generally the better tool for new savings; the HBP is the better tool for accessing existing RRSP balances. Most first-time buyers use both: max the FHSA first, then top up with the HBP if more is needed.
- How does compound interest work?
- Each period (month, quarter, year), interest accrues on the current balance and is added to it, so the next period's interest is calculated on the larger balance. Over time the growth becomes exponential rather than linear. A $10,000 contribution at 7% real return becomes $19,672 in 10 years, $76,123 in 30 years. The same calculation, but starting 10 years earlier, would compound to $147,853 over 40 years. Time is the largest variable; the rate is second; the contribution amount is third.
- What's a realistic return assumption for a Canadian portfolio?
- A balanced ETF (60% equities, 40% bonds) like Vanguard's VBAL has historically returned 6 to 7% nominal long-term, or 4 to 5% real after inflation. An all-equity portfolio (VEQT, VGRO) historically returned 7 to 9% nominal, with much more year-to-year volatility. Cash and short GICs return roughly the inflation rate plus a thin real premium. The honest range to project against: 5 to 7% nominal for a balanced portfolio, 6 to 9% for an aggressive one. Test the lower bound to make sure your plan still works if returns disappoint.
- Should I worry about inflation in retirement projections?
- Yes, especially over horizons of 20+ years. A 3% inflation rate halves the purchasing power of a fixed dollar amount in about 24 years. Canadian projections should distinguish between nominal returns (the percent gain in dollar terms) and real returns (the gain after inflation). For a retirement target, work in real terms: aim for $X of inflation-adjusted spending power in today's dollars, project at a real-return rate (4 to 5% for a balanced portfolio), and the math stays sane regardless of what nominal inflation does over the period.