Compound Interest: The Secret to Growing Your Money
What Is Compound Interest Compound interest is one of the most powerful ideas in finance because it allows money to grow over time at an increasing rate. Unlike simple interest, which only earns interest on the original amount of money invested, compound interest earns interest on both the original investment and the interest that has already been earned. This means that over time, your money begins to grow faster and faster. The longer money remains invested, the greater the impact of compounding. How Compound Interest Works Imagine investing one thousand dollars with an annual return of eight percent. After the first year, you would earn eighty dollars in interest, bringing the total value of your investment to one thousand eighty dollars. In the second year, the eight percent return would apply to the entire one thousand eighty dollars rather than just the original thousand. This means you earn interest on the interest you previously earned. As the years pass, the growth ...