ALEX’S STORY / 2010–2024
An uneven income. A flexible approach.
A freelancer adjusts contributions through busy years, an income interruption, and a gradual restart.
THE LONG VIEW
Dollars at each point in time, without adjusting for inflation.
Monthly savings are modeled as one deposit at each year’s end. Lines connect annual observations; they do not show the path within a year.
LIFE HAPPENS. THE PLAN EVOLVES.
The choices along the way.
Build a base
The scenario starts with $5,000 invested and $400 a month saved.
Use the stronger years
Monthly contributions rise to $800 during a fictional run of stronger income.
An income interruption
New contributions stop for the year. Investments stay invested; emergency savings are outside this model.
Restart at a workable level
Contributions return at $600 per month, below the earlier peak.
THE HARD PART BELONGS IN THE STORY
It wasn’t a straight line.
Annual returns conceal the market’s path within 2020. This chart cannot show the full volatility someone would have experienced.
A SMALL WHAT-IF
What if contributions hadn’t paused?
Continue the last pre-pause contribution during the 2020 pause. All other assumptions stay the same.
BRING IT BACK TO YOUR LIFE
A familiar story. Your own numbers.
Flexibility can mean changing the contribution rather than abandoning the plan. The comparison shows the effect of the missed deposits.
Opens an editable planning template with zero starting savings, an example spending budget, and this story’s final monthly contribution. Historical balances and returns are not carried into your plan.
A related field note: After the earnings surprise: what market drift means for FIRE.
Explore the annual numbers
Nominal dollars. Contributions include the initial investment. Return percentages are nominal, before deposits.
| Year | Portfolio return | Total contributed | Balance | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 13.55% | $9,800 | $10,477 | $677 |
| 2011 | 4.89% | $14,600 | $15,790 | $1,190 |
| 2012 | 13.31% | $19,400 | $22,690 | $3,290 |
| 2013 | 23.90% | $24,200 | $32,914 | $8,714 |
| 2014 | 12.97% | $29,000 | $41,981 | $12,981 |
| 2015 | 1.36% | $38,600 | $52,152 | $13,552 |
| 2016 | 9.55% | $48,200 | $66,735 | $18,535 |
| 2017 | 17.85% | $57,800 | $88,245 | $30,445 |
| 2018 | -3.39% | $67,400 | $94,856 | $27,456 |
| 2019 | 26.90% | $77,000 | $129,968 | $52,968 |
| 2020 | 16.68% | $77,000 | $151,649 | $74,649 |
| 2021 | 21.89% | $84,200 | $192,048 | $107,848 |
| 2022 | -18.00% | $91,400 | $164,684 | $73,284 |
| 2023 | 21.62% | $98,600 | $207,495 | $108,895 |
| 2024 | 19.58% | $105,800 | $255,314 | $149,514 |