Financial Regret Cost Calculator
Enter the amount affected, the loss and the years since.
Total cost of the mistake
β
Enter values above
Immediate loss
β
Opportunity cost
β
Value if left alone
β
Cost as % of the original
β
Cost per year
β
Worked example
With the default inputs shown below, this calculator returns the following results:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Amount affected ($) | 10000 |
| Loss on that amount (%) | 20 |
| Years since the mistake | 3 |
| Return you would have earned (%) | 7 |
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Total cost of the mistake | $4,450 |
| Immediate loss | $2,000.00 |
| Opportunity cost | $2,450.09 |
| Value if left alone | $12,250 |
| Cost as % of the original | 44.50% |
| Cost per year | $1,483 |
Values shown are produced by this page in your browser; change any input to update them.
How to use the Financial Regret Cost Calculator
- Amount affected ($) β default 10000
- Loss on that amount (%) β default 20
- Years since the mistake β default 3
- Return you would have earned (%) β default 7
- Press Calculate to update the results instantly.
Frequently asked questions
Because the money you lost would have kept compounding for however many years have passed. A 20% loss at age 30 is not 20% of your retirement, it is 20% of everything that amount would have become.
Add them to the loss percentage if you want the full picture. Trading costs, early withdrawal penalties and tax on gains all inflate the real cost.
The useful part is identifying the decision process that failed, not the number. If the mistake was panic selling, the fix is an automatic investment plan and a written policy, not more analysis.