Start investing at 20, 30 or 40?

The cost of waiting ten years, shown as three lines that never catch up.

Post it

Suggested caption: “Which one are you? Start early, even if it's small.”

Source line: Monthly compounding, 7% nominal annual return, no taxes or fees.

Date	Start at 20	Start at 30	Start at 40
Age 20	0	0	0
Age 21	6,232	0	0
Age 22	12,915	0	0
Age 23	20,082	0	0
Age 24	27,766	0	0
Age 25	36,005	0	0
Age 26	44,841	0	0
Age 27	54,314	0	0
Age 28	64,473	0	0
Age 29	75,367	0	0
Age 30	87,047	0	0
Age 31	99,572	6,232	0
Age 32	113,003	12,915	0
Age 33	127,404	20,082	0
Age 34	142,847	27,766	0
Age 35	159,406	36,005	0
Age 36	177,162	44,841	0
Age 37	196,201	54,314	0
Age 38	216,617	64,473	0
Age 39	238,508	75,367	0
Age 40	261,983	87,047	0
Age 41	287,154	99,572	6,232
Age 42	314,145	113,003	12,915
Age 43	343,087	127,404	20,082
Age 44	374,121	142,847	27,766
Age 45	407,399	159,406	36,005
Age 46	443,082	177,162	44,841
Age 47	481,345	196,201	54,314
Age 48	522,374	216,617	64,473
Age 49	566,368	238,508	75,367
Age 50	613,544	261,983	87,047
Age 51	664,129	287,154	99,572
Age 52	718,372	314,145	113,003
Age 53	776,535	343,087	127,404
Age 54	838,904	374,121	142,847
Age 55	905,780	407,399	159,406
Age 56	977,492	443,082	177,162
Age 57	1,054,387	481,345	196,201
Age 58	1,136,841	522,374	216,617
Age 59	1,225,256	566,368	238,508
Age 60	1,320,062	613,544	261,983
Age 61	1,421,722	664,129	287,154
Age 62	1,530,731	718,372	314,145
Age 63	1,647,620	776,535	343,087
Age 64	1,772,959	838,904	374,121
Age 65	1,907,359	905,780	407,399