From the MSN Money article…

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“If your money is invested in common stocks and you achieve the average compound annual rate on large-capitalization U.S. stocks, 10.7%, your account will grow to $9,378 at the end of the fourth year. You will be 20 years old. Invested in the same way, with no additional savings, the account will grow to:

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• $25,917 by the time you are 30


• $71,625 by the time you are 40


• $197,943 by the time you are 50


• $547,037 by the time you are 60


• And $1,114,423 by the time you are 67

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And you will have started and finished all of your saving before turning age 21.

I wish I’d thought of that 25 years ago.

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[Update] I left out the initial investment amount of $2,000.