Play · compound growth
The Third Servant Compounder
Updated 2026-07-25 · Concept: compound growth, and the cost of fear
In the parable, a master entrusts money to three servants. Two put it to work; one, afraid, buries it in the ground. This tool runs all three side by side: one invests at a long-run market-like return, one leaves it in a bank account at a token rate, one buries it, adding the same faithful monthly amount in each case, so the only difference is what the money is doing.
Predict first
After 30 years, the investor's pile is how many times the buried pile?
Pick an estimate, or skip to your own numbers.
Assumptions: monthly compounding; bank account at 0.5%/yr; long-run US stock returns have averaged ~10%/yr nominal before inflation (S&P 500, 1926 onward, per investor.gov). 8% is a deliberately modest default. This is a teaching model, not a forecast or advice.
His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant… thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.Matthew 25:26-27
KJV. The parable's point is faithfulness with what the Master entrusts, not a promised return. The burying servant's failure was fear that refused even the bankers. Read the whole parable before building doctrine on a detail: Matthew 25:14-30.