Mintmere CALCULATOR / 01

The Head Start Calculator.

They haven't even entered the world yet. Their money could already be getting a head start. See how early starts, contributions and long-term growth might add up.

Build their head start

Start with five numbers, then open Advanced to model contributions after childhood, different pots and ownership. Currency changes the symbol only — not exchange rates.

Your currency

Child's age now−2 = two years before birth.

Already invested

Parent adds / month

Look ahead to age

Annual investment return (%)

Quick Start models savings to age 18 with £0 from the child. Switch to Advanced for later-life projections and contribution options.

See the big picture

Illustrations assuming smooth annual returns converted into effective monthly growth, with deposits at each month-end.

—Child-owned flexible pot at handover

—Child-owned flexible pot at target age

—Earlier-start edge vs starting later

—Target pot in today's purchasing power

Watch their money grow

ValuePaid in

The gap between the lines represents illustrative investment growth, not guaranteed returns. A planning handover age does not automatically transfer ownership.

Compare two starting points

Compare the same parent contribution plan starting now versus later. Decide whether the later-start plan also receives your starting lump sum — this makes the assumptions explicit.

Later start: child's ageBirth = 0. Start age must be at or after your current start.

Later plan's starting lump sum

Child's flexible pot · start now—

Child's flexible pot · start later—

—

The two futures

Start nowStart later

Explore what happens next

—Parent-controlled pot at target age

—Earmarked retirement pot (incl. any assumed bonus)

—Total paid into child-owned flexible pot

—Illustrative growth of flexible pot

If the child changes their monthly saving

Same parent plan, different child contribution assumptions, shown at your chosen target age.

Child monthly contribution	Flexible pot

Three possible futures

These returns are simply scenarios with constant annual rates, not probability ranges or forecasts.

—Lower return

—Higher return

Useful milestones

Child's age	Flexible investments

Handover is a planning/teaching milestone, not a legal transfer. Child-owned, parent-controlled and retirement pots can have different ownership and access restrictions; the allocation here is for illustration. Returns, charges, tax, contribution limits and incentives depend on circumstances and jurisdiction. This is financial education, not personal advice.

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