PV and FV face opposite directions
Present value is money at the starting date; future value is the balance or obligation at the ending date. Discounting moves backward while compounding moves forward.
Five-variable time-value-of-money workstation
Solve any TVM variable and preserve the direction of cash flow
Calculate present value, future value, periodic payment, nominal rate, or number of periods for an accumulating account or an amortizing debt, with independent payment and compounding frequencies, payment timing, inflation, required return, sensitivity, and a full period ledger.
Plan with context
Time value of money depends on direction, frequency, and timing—not only five numbers.
A five-key TVM equation becomes useful when deposits and debt payments are treated differently, payment and compounding frequencies are converted consistently, and the solved result is connected to real value and a required return.
PMT can add or reduce value
A deposit increases an accumulating account, while a repayment reduces debt. The workspace makes that direction explicit instead of requiring signed-number conventions.
P/Y and C/Y are independent
Payment frequency controls cash-flow intervals, while compounding frequency controls rate conversion. They can differ and should not be silently treated as equal.
Annuity due shifts every payment
Beginning-of-period payments receive or avoid one additional period of interest compared with ordinary end-of-period payments.
A solved rate needs context
The nominal annual rate is not the same as effective annual yield, and neither alone captures inflation, tax, fees, risk, or irregular cash flows.
NPV tests an opportunity cost
Discounting the modeled cash flows at a required return estimates whether their present value is positive or negative under that hurdle rate.
Included
Accumulation and debt modes, five-variable solver, up to 1,200 periods, five payment frequencies, five compounding frequencies, beginning or end timing, nominal and effective rates, inflation-adjusted value, required-return NPV, timing comparison, rate sensitivity, Chart.js paths, and full period ledger.
Not included
Irregular dated cash flows, multiple rate phases, taxes, fees, default, credit risk, market volatility, day-count conventions, floating rates, currency changes, or spreadsheet-style signed cash flows.
Use it well
Sketch a cash-flow timeline first, confirm whether rates are nominal or effective, match the exact P/Y and C/Y settings, and compare the solved result with a conservative required return.