On Aug 20, 9:01 pm, Crackles McFarly wrote:
On Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:56:42 -0700, joeu2004 wrote:
For example, consider an
initial investment of $10,000 and monthly investments of $100, with a
return of 1% per month compounded over 5 years.
=fv(1%, 12*5, -100, -100000)
This results in the (correctly) positive value of $189,836.64 (rounded).

http://www.dinkytown.net/java/CACompoundSavings.html
THAT ONE doesn't jive with Excel's results...Don't know why either.

You are probably entering incorrect parameters. That calculator
matches my result above (rounded to the dollar) when I enter 12% for
"rate of return", select "compound monthly" and uncheckmark "make
deposits at the start of each period".

If you describe the parameters that you are entering, I might be able
to explain any difference that you see, if the above explanation does
not.

But I should note that jurisdiction might also be a factor. Note that
that is a calculator for Canadian savings account, whereas I am
speaking from a US perspective; and your jurisdiction might be
something else altogether, for I know.

I know that Canadian __loans__ rely on "semi-annual compounding" (a
misnomer, IMHO). I don't know if Canadian __savings__ accounts do. I
suspect not, since the calculator matches my formula, as I noted above.