Cramer: The magic of compounding — how to double your money in 7 years (2024)

The truth about money in the U.S. is that unless you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth, there aren't many ways to become really wealthy. That is why Jim Cramer is so passionate about helping investors plan for a viable financial strategy.

"Thanks to the magic of compounding, the earlier in your life you start investing in the market, the bigger your long-term gains can be," the "Mad Money" host said.

Cramer is confident that even if an investor doesn't have a high-paying job, as long as they save a decent chunk of their paycheck and invest it wisely each year, they can grow their wealth and become at least financially independent.

When Cramer researched the going all the way back to 1928, before the Great Depression, the average annual return through the end of 2014 was about 10 percent, including dividends.

"Show me an asset class with a better average return. You can't do it! Stocks aren't just the best game in town, they are really the only game in town if your goal is to grow your wealth," Cramer said.

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The 10 percent average return on the S&P 500 may not seem impressive at first, despite the fact that it's more than double what one can expect from a 30-year Treasury bond and way more than what a certificate of deposit from a bank pays.

However, with an understanding of the magic of compounding, it is impressive. For instance, if $100 is invested in the S&P 500 and it gains 10 percent in a year, that will generate $110, after another year it's $121 and after a third year it's $133.

The gains will continue to get larger because each year, money is made from the previous year's profits. With that 10 percent average annual return, one can double their money in about seven years, Cramer said.

"The magic of compounding works best the younger you are, because that means you have more time for your money to grow," Cramer said.

For instance, if a 22-year-old is just entering the work force they have more than 40 years before they retire. They can invest $10,000 in an S&P index fund right now with the anticipation that the next 40 years won't be too different from the last 40 years.

In that case, if the average return remained at 10 percent, in 40 years that $10,000 investment will be worth more than $450,000. Making that money didn't require any stock picking or trading or even research on individual companies.

"All you have to do after you initially save that money is let it sit on the sidelines, ideally in a 401(k) plan or an IRA so that you don't' have to pay capital gains or dividend taxes on your gains," Cramer said.

The same logic can be applied to those in different age groups, but it's best to start early to get the biggest bang for your buck.

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Cramer: The magic of compounding — how to double your money in 7 years (2024)

FAQs

Cramer: The magic of compounding — how to double your money in 7 years? ›

After another year and another 10% gain, it's worth $121. After a third year, it's $133. The gains will continue to grow, because each year money is made from the previous year's profits. With that 10% average annual return, an investor can double his money in about seven years, Cramer said.

What is the 7 year compounding rule? ›

How the Rule of 72 Works. For example, the Rule of 72 states that $1 invested at an annual fixed interest rate of 10% would take 7.2 years ((72 ÷ 10) = 7.2) to grow to $2. In reality, a 10% investment will take 7.3 years to double (1.107.3 = 2). The Rule of 72 is reasonably accurate for low rates of return.

How long will it take money to double itself if invested at 7 compounded annually? ›

With an estimated annual return of 7%, you'd divide 72 by 7 to see that your investment will double every 10.29 years. In this equation, “T” is the time for the investment to double, “ln” is the natural log function, and “r” is the compounded interest rate.

How long does it take to double your money at 7%? ›

Why it Pays to Know the Math
Rate of ReturnRule of 72 # of Years to Double MoneyLogarithmic Formula # of Years to Double Money
4%18.017.7
5%14.414.2
6%12.011.9
7%10.310.2
15 more rows
Sep 14, 2023

Can I double my money in 7 years? ›

All you do is divide 72 by the fixed rate of return to get the number of years it will take for your initial investment to double. You would need to earn 10% per year to double your money in a little over seven years.

What is the rule of 7 doubling? ›

Divide 72 by your average expected annual return

If instead your average expected annual return was a more modest 7% (accounting for the typical annual inflation of around 3%), dividing 72 by 7 would result in 10.3, meaning it would take slightly over a decade for your money to double under those conditions.

What is the 8 4 3 rule of compounding? ›

The rule of 8-4-3 when it comes to compounding indicates a style of investment that accelerates growth with time. Initially, a corpus doubles within 8 years through an average annual return of 12% subsequently another doubling happens for the same period after another 4 years following its initial setting up.

At what rate will 100 double itself in 7 years? ›

Here, the principal sum doubles itself in 7 years. The rate of interest is 14.28%.

How long will it take $750 to double at 8 compounded annually? ›

The given problem is a compound interest problem. Therefore, it will take about 9 years for the investment to double.

What rate of interest compounded is required to double an investment in 7 years? ›

A 10% interest rate will double your investment in about 7 years (72 ∕ 10 = 7.2); an amount invested at a 12% interest rate will double in about 6 years (72 ∕ 12 = 6). Using the Rule of 72, you can easily determine how long it will take to double your money.

What is the rule of 42? ›

One of the key rules within my unique Income Method is the Rule of 42 - holding at least 42 income-generating investments that enable you to have reduced risk from any individual holding.

Does the S&P 500 double every 7 years? ›

According to his math, since 1949 S&P 500 investments have doubled ten times, or an average of about seven years each time.

What is rule 72 in finance? ›

Do you know the Rule of 72? It's an easy way to calculate just how long it's going to take for your money to double. Just take the number 72 and divide it by the interest rate you hope to earn. That number gives you the approximate number of years it will take for your investment to double.

What is the 7% rule in stocks? ›

However, if the stock falls 7% or more below the entry, it triggers the 7% sell rule. It is time to exit the position before it does further damage. That way, investors can still be in the game for future opportunities by preserving capital. The deeper a stock falls, the harder it is to get back to break-even.

What is the 7 year rule for investing? ›

The 7-Year Rule for investing is a guideline suggesting that an investment can potentially grow significantly over a period of 7 years. This rule is based on the historical performance of investments and the principle of compound interest.

How to double $10,000? ›

7 Proven Ways to Double $10k Quickly
  1. Retail Arbitrage.
  2. Invest in Stocks & ETFs.
  3. Start an AirBnb.
  4. Invest in Real Estate.
  5. Peer to Peer Lending.
  6. Cryptocurrency.
  7. Resell Products on Amazon FBA.
Apr 19, 2024

Does a 401k double every 7 years? ›

One of those tools is known as the Rule 72. For example, let's say you have saved $50,000 and your 401(k) holdings historically has a rate of return of 8%. 72 divided by 8 equals 9 years until your investment is estimated to double to $100,000.

What is the 7% rule for retirement? ›

The 7 Percent Rule is a foundational guideline for retirees, suggesting that they should only withdraw upto 7% of their initial retirement savings every year to cover living expenses. This strategy is often associated with the “4% Rule,” which suggests a 4% withdrawal rate.

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