What is the impact of compound interest on savings over time?

The impact of compound interest on savings over time is profound, primarily because it allows interest to be calculated on both the initial principal and the accumulated interest from previous periods. This means that as time progresses, the interest earned on an account also earns interest, leading to exponential growth of the savings.

This compounding effect means that even small amounts can grow significantly over longer periods, making it a powerful tool for building savings. The longer the money is invested or saved, the more pronounced the impact of compound interest becomes. The rate at which this growth occurs is often described by the "Rule of 72," which estimates how long it will take for an investment to double based on its annual interest rate.

In contrast to the other options, asserting that compound interest has no impact on savings, decreases savings, or only benefits high-value accounts misrepresents the fundamental nature of compounding. It's a universal benefit, applicable to any savings amount, regardless of its size, reinforcing the importance of starting to save early to take full advantage of this powerful financial principle.