When it comes to financial "success," everybody has a different perspective. However, the $1 million mark has long been a milestone many people strive for as a sign of financial freedom. Whether it's security and peace of mind, a retirement savings goal achieved, or the flexibility to live the life you want, there's something symbolic about $1 million.
At first thought, hitting the million-dollar mark may seem like it's only possible for those earning six figures or more. However, that couldn't be further from the case. Reaching that milestone is possible by investing as little as $10 daily. Let me show you how.
Image source: Getty Images.
The power of compound earnings in investing
Arguably the greatest wealth-generating phenomenon in the stock market is compound earnings, which occur when the money you earn on investments begins to earn money on itself.
Think about it like this: If you invest $1,000 and earn a 10% return, you make $100. If you reinvest that $100 and earn 10% again, you're now making it on $1,100 ($110 earned). If you reinvest the $110 and earn 10% again, you're now making it on $1,210 ($121 earned).
The more this happens, the faster and more your money grows. It's like a snowball that continues getting bigger the more it rolls.
How $10 daily can get you to $1 million
If you invest $10 daily, below is how long it would take you to hit the million-dollar mark based on average annual returns.
| Average Annual Returns | Years Until $1 Million |
|---|---|
| 10% | 36 |
| 12.5% | 31 |
| 15% | 27 |
Calculations by author via investor.gov.
The exact time it takes will inevitably depend on your returns, but the larger point is how powerful time is when it comes to building wealth and accelerating compound earnings.
For perspective, averaging 10% annual returns grows your investment to around $1.07 million in 36 years, but you would've only personally invested $129,600 in that span. In 27 years, averaging 15% annual returns would grow your investment to around $1.02 million, while you would have personally contributed only $97,200.
One of the greatest assets any investor can have is time. Not everyone has thousands to invest regularly, but time is a great equalizer that rewards consistency and patience. Don't underestimate just how much regular small investments can pay off in the long run.
