On the surface, an interest rate is just a number. How that number applies to debt or equity opens up a world of possibilities. The first consideration is always whether it’s simple interest vs.

Simple interest calculates earnings or payments based solely on the initial principal, while compound interest grows by calculating interest on both the principal and the accumulated interest over ...

Daniel Jassy, CFA, is an Investopedia Academy instructor and the founder of SPYderCRusher Research. He contributes to Excel and Algorithmic Trading. Compound interest is interest that's calculated on ...

Brian Beers is a digital editor, writer, Emmy-nominated producer, and content expert with 15+ years of experience writing about corporate finance & accounting, fundamental analysis, and investing.

You might have heard people use the term compound interest, but if you can’t answer the question “What is compound interest?” then you’re missing out on how compound interest affects your finances.

With more than 15 years of experience crafting content about all aspects of personal finance, Michael Benninger knows how to identify smart moves for your money. His work has been published by Intuit, ...

Compound interest is commonly described as "interest earned on interest." Compound interest can work to your advantage as your investments grow over time, but against you if you're paying off debt, ...

Compound interest is the interest earned on money that has already earned interest. Compound interest helps your money grow faster, with no additional investment on your part. Many or all of the ...

Understanding compound interest can be simple with the right tools and knowledge. A compound interest calculator is a valuable tool for estimating how an investment grows over time. Once a person ...

When we save money, we want it to accumulate over time. Calculating your savings with a compound interest calculator is an effective method to get an estimate of the wealth creation. This calculator ...