What is Rule 72?
In personal finance, if you divide the number 72 by the rate of interest, you get to know the number of years it will take for you to double the money..
Eg: if the rate of interest is 9%, simply divide the number 72 by 9% and the answer is 8.
Thus it will take 8 years to double your money if you invest at 9% p.a. rate of interest.
INTEREST: We can use this rule in reverse to know the rate of interest needed to double your money to achieve your set goal.
Eg: If you have 250k today and you need 500k in 5 years. Just divide the number 72 by 5, the answer is 14.41%.
Thus you need a type of investment avenue, where you earn at least 14.41% p.a. as rate of interest/returns to double your investment amount in 5 years.
INFLATION:
This 'Rule 72' helps you to understand about inflation also. It helps you to calculate the amount of time it will take for inflation to make the real value of money half.
Let's say present inflation is 5.5%. When you divide 72 by 5.5% the answer is 13.09 years.
That is to say, if you have 100k in your kitty bank today, it would take around 13.09 years for the value of the money to be halved..
Hope it helps you in your day to day investments and other finance related activities.