Nominal vs real returns as of
Before the leaflet goes back in the folder, reduce Nominal vs real returns to one line: , “Name the cash flows,” 1. Do not copy the button text as the reason you signed. Use the calculator for scenarios, then return to the section pages when you want the vocabulary behind the curve.
Higher net rates help, but time and contributions often dominate — especially early. Costs and behaviour can erase a “good” rate. Treat outputs as scenario sketches. Vary contribution, rate, fees and inflation to see which lever moves your goal date. Always ask whether a figure is nominal or real. A high nominal path can still lose purchasing power.
No. Illustrations use round teaching numbers. Markets, inflation and taxes change. In the net rate that compounds. Expense ratios, advice charges and spreads all reduce terminal wealth. From foundations, continue to contributions-vs-rate or fee-drag; for behaviour, open consistency-habit or panic-selling.
This atlas page keeps the focus on mechanisms you can reason about: rates, time, contributions, costs and behaviour — not stock tips or promised yields. Separate contributions, growth, fees, taxes and withdrawals. Mixing them hides which lever actually moved. Money without a date is storytelling. Compounding and discounting both need a clock.
Keep the name, the year, and 1. “Name the cash flows” is why those three stay.1
Figures to keep
- Year of the rule
- 1
- Figure in the sum
- 1
- Item
- Nominal vs real returns
- Reason kept
- Name the cash flows