What if you changed
one thing?
Not sure whether to save more each month or push for a higher return? This free tool lets you compare two savings scenarios side by side so you can see the difference in real dollars. Useful for Canadians weighing TFSA contribution room, RRSP catch-up strategies, or the impact of starting earlier versus saving more.
Frequently asked questions
On $500 per month invested for 30 years, a 7% annual return produces roughly $567,000 while a 10% return produces roughly $1,130,000 — nearly double. The difference is not the 3 percentage points themselves but the additional doubling cycles a higher rate fits into the same window. This comparison is the default setup when you first open this tool.
Set both scenarios to the same annual return and end year. In Scenario A, use the years you plan to actually save; in Scenario B, increase the time horizon by 5 or 10 years to simulate starting earlier with a smaller monthly amount. The milestone table shows you the dollar difference at each checkpoint.
The calculator models pre-tax growth for both accounts identically because the compounding math is the same inside either wrapper. The real TFSA vs RRSP comparison is about tax treatment on the way in and out, not about growth rates. For a full breakdown of which account to prioritise, see our guide to TFSA vs RRSP.
Delta shows the difference in total portfolio value between Scenario B and Scenario A at each milestone year. A positive delta (green) means Scenario B is worth more at that point; a negative delta (red) means Scenario A is ahead. This lets you see not just which scenario wins at the end but at what point in time one pulls away from the other.
Yes. In DCA mode, the calculator adds a fixed monthly contribution to a compounding balance each month. In lump sum mode, it applies compound interest to a single initial deposit with no ongoing contributions, so the contribution line on the chart is flat. You can switch each scenario independently, which lets you compare a lump sum investment against an ongoing DCA strategy in the same chart.