Investors love to use rules to help them predict outcomes. For example, there is a one-percent rule (a one-percent increase in interest rates equates to ten percent less you can borrow to keep the same payment), a two-percent rule (the percentage of a home’s cost that you should be asking for in monthly rent), and more. Some of these rules can help estimate potential results, but others are outdated or possibly never really held much value.
What Is the 69 Percent Rule?
The Rule of 69 is a simple calculation to estimate the time needed for an investment to double if you know the interest rate and if the interest is compounded. For example, if a real estate investor earns twenty percent on an investment, they divide 69 by the 20 percent return and add 0.35 to the result. In this example, the double in value would require 3.8 years.
For simplicity’s sake, many investors use the 72 rule instead because you can leave off the .35. Instead, you divide 72 by the rate of return. For example, if the return is ten percent, the Rule of 72 would suggest that the value of the investment will double in 7.2 years.
Do These Rules Make Sense?
These calculations provide a simple back-of-the-envelope formula to forecast doubling over time if you invest in something with a fixed return. However, real life doesn't always follow simple recipes. For example, since the Rule of 69 percent relies on compounding, it may not be accurate. That’s because a lower appreciation early in the forecast period will continue to hold down the total gains by reducing the denominator. Here’s an example.
Suppose Joe buys a property and expects a 20 percent return. The Rule of 69 states that the investment would double in 3.8 years. However, if values drop initially, the investment needs to catch up before the compounding can start to increase the value, which will lengthen the timeline.
Appreciation Isn’t Guaranteed
Whether a real estate investment grows in value quickly, slowly, or not at all depends on factors not within the investor's control. Overall economic conditions like inflation and unemployment are significant, as are supply and demand. As with any investment, there is a risk that value will drop rather than increase. Investors should examine their risk tolerance and appetite when deciding whether to purchase a specific property. "Rules" can help as shortcuts for estimating possible growth but can't substitute for due diligence or guarantee outcomes.
This material is for general information and educational purposes only. Information is based on data gathered from what we believe are reliable sources. It is not guaranteed as to accuracy, does not purport to be complete and is not intended to be used as a primary basis for investment decisions. Examples are hypothetical and for illustrative purposes only. Withdrawal strategies should take into account the investment objectives, financial situation and particular needs of the individual.
FAQs
The Rule of 69 is a simple calculation to estimate the time needed for an investment to double if you know the interest rate and if the interest is compounded. For example, if a real estate investor earns twenty percent on an investment, they divide 69 by the 20 percent return and add 0.35 to the result.
What is the rule of 69 in investing? ›
The Rule of 69 tells you how long it takes to double your money with different returns. 🚀 The formula is simple: 69 divided by your investment's annual return rate.
What is the rule of 69 doubling technique? ›
It's used to calculate the doubling time or growth rate of investment or business metrics. This helps accountants to predict how long it will take for a value to double. The rule of 69 is simple: divide 69 by the growth rate percentage. It will then tell you how many periods it'll take for the value to double.
What is the Rule of 72 rule of 69? ›
The Rule of 72 states that by dividing 72 by the annual interest rate, you can estimate the number of years required for an investment to double. The Rule of 69.3 is a more accurate formula for higher interest rates and is calculated by dividing 69.3 by the interest rate.
How to double $2000 dollars in 24 hours? ›
How To Double Money In 24 Hours – 10+ Top Ideas
- Flip Stuff For Profit.
- Start A Retail Arbitrage Business.
- Invest In Real Estate.
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- Invest In Dividend Stocks & ETFs.
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How To Double 10K Quickly
- Flip Stuff For Money. One of the more entreprenurial ways to flip 10k into 20k is to buy and resell stuff for profit. ...
- Invest In Real Estate. ...
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- Invest In Debt.
The Rule of 69 states that when a quantity grows at a constant annual rate, it will roughly double in size after approximately 69 divided by the growth rate. The Rule of 69 is derived from the mathematical constant e, which is the base of the natural logarithm.
What is the Rule of 72 trick? ›
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 70 percent rule for doubling time? ›
The Rule of 70 Formula
Hence, the doubling time is simply 70 divided by the constant annual growth rate. For instance, consider a quantity that grows consistently at 5% annually. According to the Rule of 70, it will take 14 years (70/5) for the quantity to double.
What is the rule of 69.3 used to calculate? ›
The Rule of 69.3 leverages this concept to give a quick approximation of how long it will take for an investment to double when interest is compounded continuously. Since the growth is exponential, you don't simply add a fixed amount each year; rather, the amount added grows as the investment itself grows.
Choice of rule
| Rate | Actual Years | Rule of 69.3 |
|---|
| 6% | 11.896 | 11.550 |
| 7% | 10.245 | 9.900 |
| 8% | 9.006 | 8.663 |
| 9% | 8.043 | 7.700 |
19 more rowsThe Rule of 72 is not precise, but is a quick way to get a useful ballpark figure. For investments without a fixed rate of return, you can instead divide 72 by the number of years you hope it will take to double your money. This will give you an estimate of the annual rate of return you'll need to achieve that goal.
What is the Rule of 72 if you invest 1000? ›
This determines the number of years it will take for your investment to double. For example, if you invest $1,000 and the growth rate is 8 percent, all you have to do is divide 72 by eight, which is nine. That's to say, it will take approximately nine years for your $1,000 investment to become $2,000.
What is the 70 rule investing? ›
The rule of 70 is used to determine the number of years it takes for a variable to double by dividing the number 70 by the variable's growth rate. The rule of 70 is generally used to determine how long it would take for an investment to double given the annual rate of return.
