Investment timing & financing

Margin & Growth Calculator

Explore growth with borrowed funds. Compare holding a loan or repaying it with regular contributions, and see how savings, investment gains, and interest shape the outcome.

Learn with an example

Illustrative assumptions. Load a plan, then adjust any input.

3 example scenarios

Example to load

Compare investing upfront with a loan against investing the same monthly budget gradually.

$100,000 own capital + $20,000 loan at 6%; 8% assumed annual return; 12-month repayment, then contributions stop; 5-year horizon.

1. Set your investment

Where would you like to start?

Your invested capital

USD

Your own money invested, before adding margin.

Margin borrowed

USD

Added to your invested capital. Enter 0 to model no borrowing.

Annual borrowing rate

Total invested value: —

Your invested capital + margin borrowed

Market drop & margin cushion · Optional

Initial market drop (%)Assumed maintenance requirement (%)

The drop applies immediately to both investment paths, before growth and contributions. The maintenance percentage is an illustrative assumption; enter your broker’s requirement. Actual requirements vary by holding and can change.

Set your invested capital to see this stress check.

Growth scenarios

2. Plan growth and repayment

Same starting capital. Same assumed portfolio return. See how borrowing changes the outcome.

Illustrative assumptions

Presets demonstrate different outcomes; they are not forecasts for ARC, HYS, or AG.

Assumed total return (CAGR)

Time horizon

CAGR is the assumed annual compound growth rate. This total return includes price changes and reinvested distributions; published income yields are not added again.

Margin repayment

Invest upfront, then repay the loan with regular contributions.

Enter a positive amount of your own invested capital to see your results.

Growth model assumptions

Both paths start with your own capital; the borrowed path invests the loan immediately. Returns compound monthly at the monthly equivalent of your CAGR. Interest uses APR ÷ 12 and is paid from portfolio assets at month end; loan principal stays fixed and contributions are excluded. Net wealth subtracts any outstanding loan. The borrowing rate stays fixed; the Income view stress test is excluded. After any selected initial drop, returns follow a smooth assumed path. The maintenance stress check uses a uniform assumed requirement and does not simulate forced sales; actual volatility, taxes, fees, changing rates, and margin calls are not modeled. Borrowing amplifies losses as well as gains.

SEC guide to margin interest ↗

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