Rule of 72 as of
In a household notebook, Rule of 72 is judged from . The line is “Name the cash flows” and the figure in the sum is 72. A blinking gain on a screen is not the reason. Rule of 72 sits in the foundations family of this atlas: mechanisms first, products second, hype never.
Do I need a high return for compounding to matter? 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.
For Rule of 72 in , the figure that stays is 72, named “Name the cash flows.” Sparkle is not a figure.72
Figures to keep
- Year of the rule
- 72
- Figure in the sum
- 72
- Item
- Rule of 72
- Reason kept
- Name the cash flows