Retirement Calculator
See what your savings could grow to by your target retirement age — and the income that balance can support.
The short answer
How much will I have saved by retirement?
Your projected balance is today's savings compounded at your assumed return plus the future value of every monthly contribution; a common planning benchmark converts that balance to income by withdrawing 4% in the first year.
This is a nominal projection for planning. It does not model taxes, market volatility, sequence-of-returns risk, or fees.
Who qualifies
Anyone saving in a 401(k), IRA, or taxable brokerage account who wants a target number.
How the process works
Enter current age, retirement age, balance, monthly contribution, and expected return. Results update instantly.
Typical timeline
Projections run to your chosen retirement age, month by month.
Cost and fees
Free and ungated — no email, phone, or payment required.
Credentials
Standard future-value compounding math. Educational only, not investment advice.
What happens next
Compare the projection against your spending goal, then adjust savings rate, retirement age, or both.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-31
Your plan
Your projection
Estimated balance at age 65
$1,090,192
- Years of saving
- 25
- Total you contribute
- $240,000
- Projected investment growth
- $730,192
- Income at a 4% withdrawal
- $43,608/yr
- That is about
- $3,634/mo
How this is calculated
Figures used: 2026 planning assumptions
The projection compounds monthly. Your existing balance grows at the monthly equivalent of your annual return, and each monthly contribution is treated as an ordinary annuity paid at period end.
Retirement income uses the 4% guideline: 4% of the projected balance in the first year of retirement, expressed here as both an annual and a monthly figure. Lower withdrawal rates such as 3% or 3.5% are more conservative for longer retirements.
Not modeled: inflation, taxes on withdrawals, investment fees, employer matching, Social Security, market volatility, and sequence-of-returns risk. To think in today's dollars, reduce the return assumption by your expected inflation rate.
| Withdrawal rate | First-year income | Monthly income | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0% | $30,000 | $2,500 | Very long retirement or early retirement |
| 3.5% | $35,000 | $2,917 | Conservative planning |
| 4.0% | $40,000 | $3,333 | Common 30-year benchmark |
| 5.0% | $50,000 | $4,167 | Higher risk of depleting the portfolio |
Results are estimates for educational purposes only and are not tax, legal, or investment advice. Confirm current-year figures at IRS.gov or with a licensed professional.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to retire?
A common planning rule is 25 times your expected annual spending, which corresponds to an initial 4% withdrawal rate. Someone spending $60,000 a year beyond Social Security would target roughly $1.5 million in invested assets.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfolio in year one of retirement, then adjusting that dollar amount for inflation each year. It is a planning benchmark from historical US market data, not a guarantee.
How much should I save each year for retirement?
Many planners suggest 15% of gross income including any employer match. Starting later usually requires a higher rate, because fewer years of compounding must do the same work as a longer runway would.
What return should I assume in a retirement projection?
Long-run diversified portfolios are often modeled at 6% to 7% nominal growth. Lower assumptions build in a safety margin, and shifting toward bonds near retirement typically lowers both expected return and volatility.
Does this calculator account for inflation?
It projects nominal balances using your assumed return. To think in today's dollars, subtract expected inflation from your return assumption — for example, model 4% instead of 7% to approximate inflation-adjusted growth.
Should I count Social Security in my retirement plan?
Yes, as a partial income floor. Estimate your benefit at your intended claiming age, subtract it from your target spending, and size the portfolio only for the remaining income gap you must fund yourself.
Are retirement withdrawals taxable?
Traditional 401(k) and IRA withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income, Roth withdrawals are generally tax free when rules are met, and part of Social Security may be taxable depending on your combined income for the year.