Question:
❓You’re 35 years old and start investing $500/month with a 7% annual return.
How much more will you have at age 65 compared to someone who waits until 45 to start with the same amount?
A) $149,000
B) $249,000
C) $349,000
D) $449,000
Answer:
✅ C) $349,000
Waiting 10 years to start costs you about $349,000—starting at 35 instead of 45, at $500 a month and a 7% return, more than doubles what you have at 65.
| Start investing $500/month at… | Value at age 65 (7% return) |
|---|---|
| Age 35 (30 years of growth) | ~$609,985 |
| Age 45 (20 years of growth) | ~$260,463 |
| The cost of waiting | ~$349,000 |
Same monthly amount, same return—the only difference is 10 extra years of compounding. Time, not a bigger budget, did that.
Run your own start date and watch the gap—the Lisa-vs-Mark example shows it too.
