What Is Compound Interest?

Shawn Plummer

CEO, The Annuity Expert

Compounding is a powerful financial tool that allows your money to grow exponentially. It is the process of generating earnings on an asset’s reinvested earnings. In simpler terms, your interest on your investments can also earn interest. This guide will give you a deeper understanding of compounding, how compound interest works, and how you can use it to grow your wealth over time.

What is Compounding?

Compounding is the process of generating earnings on an asset’s reinvested earnings. This means that the interest earned on an investment is reinvested to earn even more interest. The longer the investment is left to compound, the more significant the growth becomes.

What is Compound Interest?

Compound interest is the interest earned on the original principal and previous interest. This is a critical aspect of compounding, as the reinvestment of interest makes the process so powerful. Over time, the interest earned on interest can become substantial and can significantly increase the total amount of your investment.

What Does Compound Interest Mean?

How Does Compound Interest Work?

The formula for calculating compound interest is straightforward. It is calculated by multiplying the initial principal by (1 + the interest rate) raised to the power of the number of compounding periods. The longer the investment is left to compound, the more significant the growth becomes.

Use our free online compound interest calculator to see your savings grow!

Examples of Interest Compounding

Let’s take a look at a few examples to understand better how compound interest works:

  • Example 1: If you invest $10,000 at an interest rate of 5% per year, after ten years, your investment would be worth $16,105. This is the power of compounding in action.
  • Example 2: If you invest $10,000 at an interest rate of 10% per year, after 20 years, your investment would be worth $67,275. The growth of your investment is substantial due to the reinvestment of interest over time.
Define Compounding Interest

Benefits of Compounding

Compounding offers several benefits for investors:

  • First, the longer the investment is left to compound, the more significant the growth becomes.
  • Compounding can help you achieve your financial goals faster.
  • Compounding is a passive form of investing, meaning you do not need to manage your investments for them to grow actively.

How to Use Compounding to Your Advantage

Here are some tips on how to use compounding to your advantage:

  1. First, start investing early: The earlier you start investing, the more time your investment has to compound, leading to substantial growth over time.
  2. Invest regularly: Regular investing is essential for taking advantage of compounding. It allows you to take advantage of compounding over an extended period, leading to substantial growth.
  3. Choose investments that offer high-interest rates: High-interest rates are essential for maximizing the benefits of compounding. Therefore, look for investments that offer high-interest rates, such as savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and bonds.
  4. Reinvest your earnings: Reinvesting your earnings is crucial for taking advantage of compounding. It allows your investment to continue growing, leading to substantial growth over time.
Interest Compounded Meaning

Earn The Highest Interest Rates On Savings Today

Fixed annuities are almost identical to Certificates of Deposit (CDs) accounts and provide higher interest rates and penalty-free withdrawals for income.

TermInsurance CompanyInterest Rate
N/AUFB Bank Savings Account5.02%
N/AUFB Bank Money Market5.02%
12 MonthsWestern Alliance Bank CD5.01%
36 MonthsOceanview Fixed Annuity5.00%
48 MonthsAmerico Fixed Annuity5.05%
5 YearsAspida Fixed Annuity5.50%
6 YearsAmerican National Fixed Annuity5.45%
10 YearsAmerican National Fixed Annuity5.45%
*Fixed annuities are only for saving money to use in retirement.

Disclaimer: This is a review. The Annuity Expert is not associated with a bank or credit union. However, fixed annuities are sold at most financial institutions. We aim to help you find the highest interest rates for your retirement savings. We may receive a small referral fee if you purchase something using a link in this article.

Find And Compare The Highest Interest Rates

Find the highest interest rates for your savings ranging from 3 months to 10 years, all in one place.

Next Steps

The ability to earn interest on your interest makes compounding so powerful. When you reinvest your earnings, you’re essentially giving yourself a raise. And the more money you have working for you, the easier it becomes to reach your financial goals. Now is the time to start if you’re not already taking advantage of compounding in your investments. With our help, compound interest can work for you and grow your wealth over time. Request a quote from us today, and let’s get started.

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Shawn Plummer

CEO, The Annuity Expert

I’m a licensed financial professional focusing on annuities and insurance for more than a decade. My former role was training financial advisors, including for a Fortune Global 500 insurance company. I’ve been featured in Time Magazine, Yahoo! Finance, MSN, SmartAsset, Entrepreneur, Bloomberg, The Simple Dollar, U.S. News and World Report, and Women’s Health Magazine.

The Annuity Expert is an online insurance agency servicing consumers across the United States. My goal is to help you take the guesswork out of retirement planning or find the best insurance coverage at the cheapest rates for you. 

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