The Power of Compounding: How Small Steps Today Lead to Big Results Tomorrow

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The Power of Compounding: How Small Steps Today Lead to Big Results Tomorrow

When it comes to building wealth, one principle stands above most others: compounding. Often called the “eighth wonder of the world,” compounding is the secret behind many successful long-term investment strategies.

At Fogel Capital Management, we help clients harness this powerful force to grow their wealth steadily over time. Here’s how compounding works and why starting early matters.

What Is Compounding?

Simply put, compounding means earning returns not only on your initial investment but also on the returns those investments generate over time. This creates a snowball effect where your money grows faster as time goes on.

Example:  If you invest $10,000 with an annual return of 7%, after one year, you earn $700 in interest. The next year, you earn interest on $10,700, and so on.

Why Does Time Matter?

The longer you leave your money invested, the more dramatic the compounding effect becomes.

  • After 10 years, your investment might nearly double. 
  • After 20 years, it can grow almost fourfold. 
  • After 30+ years, the growth can be exponential. 

Starting even a few years earlier can add tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to your retirement nest egg.

 

How to Maximize Compounding

  1. Start Early: Time is your greatest ally in compounding. 
  2. Be Consistent: Regular contributions boost growth potential. 
  3. Reinvest Earnings: Let dividends and interest roll back into your investment. 
  4. Stay Patient: Resist the urge to withdraw or time the market. 

Real-World Impact

Consider two investors: one starts investing $5,000 a year at age 25, and the other waits until age 35 to start the same investment. By age 65, the first investor could have nearly twice as much, even though they contributed only 10 years more.

 

Final Thoughts

Compounding rewards patience and discipline. It’s not about timing the market, it’s about time in the market. At Fogel Capital Management, we design strategies to help you take full advantage of compounding and build wealth that lasts.

Ready to start—or accelerate—your compounding journey? Contact us for a personalized consultation.

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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice

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Deena Jones

TRUST ADMINISTRATOR

Deena Jones joined Fogel Capital Management in fall of 2018. Her role as Trust Administrator includes maintaining account administration, providing clients with exceptional service, and ensuring accuracy for billing and accounting. Deena graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and majored in Finance.

She also participated in the MBA program at Nova Southeastern University from 2010-2011. Deena has over 10 years in Banking, Customer Service, Sales, and Bank Operations experience. In addition, she holds the Series 65 Uniform Investment Advisor License.

Kelly Rosario

TRUST ADMINISTRATOR

Email: Kelly.Rosario@fogelcapital.com

Kelly administers Trust & Guardianship assets for the benefit of the beneficiaries. Kelly’s responsibilities include paying bills, preparing accounting statements for guardianship accounts to be filed with the courts, and taking care of our clients’ needs. Kelly graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. In addition to this, she has 20 years of experience in the Financial Services Industry having worked for PNC Wealth Management for 17 years before joining Fogel Capital Management. Kelly also graduated from the Florida Bankers Trust & Wealth Management School.

Sheila Ruiz

DIRECTOR OF CLIENT SERVICES

Email: Sheila@fogelcapital.com

Sheila joined Fogel Capital Management in 2014 as an Account Analyst. She then transitioned into Trust Administrator and is now leading the Client Services Division. Sheila believes maintaining regular communication with clients is a key component among the services we provide. Sheila holds a Bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University. Additionally, she has over 10 years of experience in customer service, budget management, and an extensive background in social services. She is also fluent in Spanish and provides training and support to the Trust Administration staff. Responsibilities include overseeing the yearly financial reporting required by the Court, ensuring we are in compliance with court decisions, and enhancing the customer service experience.

Casey West

VP, PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISOR

Email: Casey.west@fogelcapital.com

Casey joined Fogel Capital Management in the Fall of 2016. As Trust Administrator, she worked very closely with the families of Special Needs Trust recipients. Her duties included preparing check requests, documenting all activity within trust accounts, preparing and filing annual accountings, and assisting our clients with any request they may have. Casey attended Rhodes College in Memphis, TN and began her professional career working as accounts receivable coordinator, sales representative, and bookkeeper for two successful accessories companies. She is now an Investment Advisor on the Fogel Capital Team. She holds the Series 65 Uniform Investment Advisor License and is dedicated to providing the highest level of service and decorum to our clients.

Max Fogel

VP, PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISOR

Email: mcfogel@fogelcapital.com

Max joined Fogel Capital Management in the fall of 2022. As an Investment Advisor, Max works closely with our clients to help them achieve their financial goals. Max began his career in finance in 2019 as a Financial Analyst on the Merchant Capital team at Maxim Group where he advised pharmaceutical companies on raising capital through private placements. He quickly moved into traditional investment banking and joined Canaccord Genuity – Global Capital Markets, where he worked in the Technology, Media, and Telecommunication (TMT) division. During his time at Canaccord Genuity, he offered sell-side M&A advisory services to private companies engaged in Digital Transformation, E-Commerce-Focused Digital Marketing and Advertising, and Information Services. His work resulted in successful growth investments or acquisitions by growth-oriented private equity firms. In the summer of 2021, Max took on a role as a Senior Analyst at Madison Alley Global Ventures, where he provided expert advice on numerous transactions in the TMT sector. Max attended Indiana University, where he earned a Master of Science in Finance degree from the Kelley School of Business and a Bachelors of Science in Public Financial Management. He is registered as an investment advisor in Florida, New York, and New Jersey, and holds Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses. Max's commitment to providing the highest level of service and expertise to our clients is evident in his work. He brings a wealth of knowledge and insights to the team, and we are proud to have him as an Investment Advisor on the Fogel Capital Team.

Nick Skillman, CFA

VP, PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Email: Nick.Skillman@fogelcapital.com

Nick joined Fogel Capital Management in the spring of 2019, after graduating from the University of Florida with his Bachelor's Degree in Finance. He serves a variety of roles on the investment team, of which include assisting Fogel Capital’s Head of Trading in the management of client accounts, conducting extensive capital market research, and communicating personalized investment analysis to clients with regards to investment strategy, portfolio construction, individual security selection, and risk exposure. He holds the Series 65 Uniform Investment Advisor License and strives to provide personalized investment advice for each individual client. He has also furthered his knowledge and capabilities in portfolio management and asset valuation through his completion of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program, where he is an active charter-holder.

Blaise Hayden

MANAGING DIRECTOR, HEAD OF TRADING

Email: blaise@fogelcapital.com

Prior to joining FCM Blaise served as Director of Portfolio Trading at Smith Barney. Before joining Smith Barney he served as Vice President of Equity Derivatives at Lehman Brothers. In the early 1990’s he joined the Zenith Group, a hedge fund traded out of Greenwich Connecticut. Before joining the Zenith Group he spent several years at Paine Webber where he served as Vice President on the equity derivatives desk. Blaise started his career in 1987 with Citibank as a securities trader and developed artificial intelligence applications specific to investments.

Michael Fogel

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER

Email: michael@fogelcapital.com

For over 20 years Michael Fogel has served as portfolio manager at Fogel Capital Management, Inc. He manages a diverse group of equity and fixed income portfolios for individuals, families, trusts, guardianships, corporations, and Native American governments. Before taking over as Chief Investment Officer for FCM he worked for Lehman Brothers as an equity derivatives and program trader. He was also employed by Prudential Securities as a Performance Analyst evaluating the overall performance of the firms recommended investment managers. Early in his career he was employed by Drexel Burnham Lambert in the Financial Systems and High Yield Department.

Deena Jones

TRUST ADMINISTRATOR

Deena Jones joined Fogel Capital Management in fall of 2018. Her role as Trust Administrator includes maintaining account administration, providing clients with exceptional service, and ensuring accuracy for billing and accounting. Deena graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and majored in Finance.

She also participated in the MBA program at Nova Southeastern University from 2010-2011. Deena has over 10 years in Banking, Customer Service, Sales, and Bank Operations experience. In addition, she holds the Series 65 Uniform Investment Advisor License.

Kelly Rosario

TRUST ADMINISTRATOR

Email: Kelly.Rosario@fogelcapital.com

Kelly administers Trust & Guardianship assets for the benefit of the beneficiaries. Kelly’s responsibilities include paying bills, preparing accounting statements for guardianship accounts to be filed with the courts, and taking care of our clients’ needs. Kelly graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. In addition to this, she has 20 years of experience in the Financial Services Industry having worked for PNC Wealth Management for 17 years before joining Fogel Capital Management. Kelly also graduated from the Florida Bankers Trust & Wealth Management School.

Sheila Ruiz

DIRECTOR OF CLIENT SERVICES

Email: Sheila@fogelcapital.com

Sheila joined Fogel Capital Management in 2014 as an Account Analyst. She then transitioned into Trust Administrator and is now leading the Client Services Division. Sheila believes maintaining regular communication with clients is a key component among the services we provide. Sheila holds a Bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University. Additionally, she has over 10 years of experience in customer service, budget management, and an extensive background in social services. She is also fluent in Spanish and provides training and support to the Trust Administration staff. Responsibilities include overseeing the yearly financial reporting required by the Court, ensuring we are in compliance with court decisions, and enhancing the customer service experience.

Casey West

VP, PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISOR

Email: Casey.west@fogelcapital.com

Casey joined Fogel Capital Management in the Fall of 2016. As Trust Administrator, she worked very closely with the families of Special Needs Trust recipients. Her duties included preparing check requests, documenting all activity within trust accounts, preparing and filing annual accountings, and assisting our clients with any request they may have. Casey attended Rhodes College in Memphis, TN and began her professional career working as accounts receivable coordinator, sales representative, and bookkeeper for two successful accessories companies. She is now an Investment Advisor on the Fogel Capital Team. She holds the Series 65 Uniform Investment Advisor License and is dedicated to providing the highest level of service and decorum to our clients.

Max Fogel

VP, PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISOR

Email: mcfogel@fogelcapital.com

Max joined Fogel Capital Management in the fall of 2022. As an Investment Advisor, Max works closely with our clients to help them achieve their financial goals. Max began his career in finance in 2019 as a Financial Analyst on the Merchant Capital team at Maxim Group where he advised pharmaceutical companies on raising capital through private placements. He quickly moved into traditional investment banking and joined Canaccord Genuity – Global Capital Markets, where he worked in the Technology, Media, and Telecommunication (TMT) division. During his time at Canaccord Genuity, he offered sell-side M&A advisory services to private companies engaged in Digital Transformation, E-Commerce-Focused Digital Marketing and Advertising, and Information Services. His work resulted in successful growth investments or acquisitions by growth-oriented private equity firms. In the summer of 2021, Max took on a role as a Senior Analyst at Madison Alley Global Ventures, where he provided expert advice on numerous transactions in the TMT sector. Max attended Indiana University, where he earned a Master of Science in Finance degree from the Kelley School of Business and a Bachelors of Science in Public Financial Management. He is registered as an investment advisor in Florida, New York, and New Jersey, and holds Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses. Max's commitment to providing the highest level of service and expertise to our clients is evident in his work. He brings a wealth of knowledge and insights to the team, and we are proud to have him as an Investment Advisor on the Fogel Capital Team.

Nick Skillman, CFA

VP, PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Email: Nick.Skillman@fogelcapital.com

Nick joined Fogel Capital Management in the spring of 2019, after graduating from the University of Florida with his Bachelor's Degree in Finance. He serves a variety of roles on the investment team, of which include assisting Fogel Capital’s Head of Trading in the management of client accounts, conducting extensive capital market research, and communicating personalized investment analysis to clients with regards to investment strategy, portfolio construction, individual security selection, and risk exposure. He holds the Series 65 Uniform Investment Advisor License and strives to provide personalized investment advice for each individual client. He has also furthered his knowledge and capabilities in portfolio management and asset valuation through his completion of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Program, where he is an active charter-holder.

Blaise Hayden

MANAGING DIRECTOR, HEAD OF TRADING

Email: blaise@fogelcapital.com

Prior to joining FCM Blaise served as Director of Portfolio Trading at Smith Barney. Before joining Smith Barney he served as Vice President of Equity Derivatives at Lehman Brothers. In the early 1990’s he joined the Zenith Group, a hedge fund traded out of Greenwich Connecticut. Before joining the Zenith Group he spent several years at Paine Webber where he served as Vice President on the equity derivatives desk. Blaise started his career in 1987 with Citibank as a securities trader and developed artificial intelligence applications specific to investments.

Michael Fogel

PRESIDENT AND CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER

Email: michael@fogelcapital.com

For over 20 years Michael Fogel has served as portfolio manager at Fogel Capital Management, Inc. He manages a diverse group of equity and fixed income portfolios for individuals, families, trusts, guardianships, corporations, and Native American governments. Before taking over as Chief Investment Officer for FCM he worked for Lehman Brothers as an equity derivatives and program trader. He was also employed by Prudential Securities as a Performance Analyst evaluating the overall performance of the firms recommended investment managers. Early in his career he was employed by Drexel Burnham Lambert in the Financial Systems and High Yield Department.