The Rule of 72 (2024)

FAQs

Does the Rule of 72 really work? ›

The Rule of 72 is reasonably accurate for low rates of return. The chart below compares the numbers given by the Rule of 72 and the actual number of years it takes an investment to double. Notice that although it gives an estimate, the Rule of 72 is less precise as rates of return increase.

Rules of 72, 69.3, and 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.

Rule 72(t) allows penalty-free early withdrawals from retirement accounts, but comes with major restrictions. While avoiding the 10% penalty, you still owe income taxes on distributions. Payments are fixed for 5+ years and can't be changed without penalty. You lose tax-deferred growth and can't contribute anymore.

Errors and Adjustments

The rule of 72 is only an approximation that is accurate for a range of interest rate (from 6% to 10%). Outside that range the error will vary from 2.4% to 14.0%. It turns out that for every three percentage points away from 8% the value 72 could be adjusted by 1.

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.

The Rule of 72 is a calculation that estimates the number of years it takes to double your money at a specified rate of return. If, for example, your account earns 4 percent, divide 72 by 4 to get the number of years it will take for your money to double. In this case, 18 years.

For a 14% rate of return, it would be the rule of 74 (adding 2 for 6 percentage points higher), and for a 5% rate of return, it will mean reducing 1 (for 3 percentage points lower) to lead to the rule of 71. For example, say you have a very attractive investment offering a 22% rate of return.

Similarly, the rule of 114 tells you approximately the number of years needed to triple your money. Use this rule to find out the time it will take your investment to quadruple. Instead of 72 you just need to use 144 (2 x 72 = 144). For instance, if your return is 9% you need to divide 144 by 9 and you will get 16.

In an action in which any part of the relief sought is a judgment for a sum of money or the disposition of a sum of money or the disposition of any other thing capable of delivery, a party, upon notice to every other party, and by leave of court, may deposit with the court all or any part of such sum or thing.

This is where the rule of 55 comes in. If you turn 55 (or older) during the calendar year you lose or leave your job, you can begin taking distributions from your 401(k) without paying the early withdrawal penalty. However, you must still pay taxes on your withdrawals.

What is the 72t rule? ›

Internal Revenue Code section 72(t) allows penalty-free¹ access to assets in IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans under certain conditions, such as account holder death or disability, first-time home purchases, and taking substantially equal periodic payments (SEPP).

You can also apply the Rule of 72 to debt for a sobering look at the impact of carrying a credit card balance. Assume a credit card balance of $10,000 at an interest rate of 17%. If you don't pay down the balance, the debt will double to $20,000 in approximately 4 years and 3 months.

The Rule of 78 is an important consideration for borrowers who potentially intend to pay off their loans early. The Rule of 78 holds that the borrower must pay a greater portion of the interest rate in the earlier part of the loan cycle, which means the borrower will pay more than they would with a regular loan.

Basically, the rule says real estate investors should pay no more than 70% of a property's after-repair value (ARV) minus the cost of the repairs necessary to renovate the home. The ARV of a property is the amount a home could sell for after flippers renovate it.

One of the key rules within my unique Income Method is the Rule of 42 - holding at least 42 income-generating investments that enable you to have reduced risk from any individual holding.