A realistic return on investment (ROI) from the stock market is typically about 7% to 10% per year after accounting for inflation. For example, if you invest $1,000 in the stock market and it generates a 7% return, in one year, you would have approximately $1,070. In five years, assuming the same return, your money could grow to around $1,403, and in ten years, it could grow to about $1,979. These numbers illustrate the potential growth of an investment compounded over time.

Return on Investment (ROI) is a financial metric used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or compare the efficiency of several investments. It is calculated by taking the net profit from the investment, dividing it by the original cost of the investment, and then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage. A higher ROI indicates a more profitable investment.