Retirement Calculator

Project your retirement savings from your current age, savings, monthly contributions and expected return, then estimate a sustainable monthly retirement income in today's dollars.

Enter your current age, planned retirement age, current savings, monthly contribution, expected annual return and an inflation assumption. The calculator projects your balance at retirement, total contributions, investment growth and a 4%-rule monthly income.

Balance at retirement
Total contributed
Investment growth
Monthly income (4% rule)
Monthly income (today's $)

A retirement calculator shows how saving consistently and compounding returns combine over decades. Small increases in contribution rate or time horizon can dramatically change the outcome.

How it works

Savings compound monthly at the expected return, with contributions added each month. At retirement, a 4% withdrawal rate is a common rule of thumb: withdrawing 4% of the balance per year (here shown monthly) is designed to last ~30 years. The 'today's dollars' figure deflates the income by your inflation assumption.

Examples

  • Starting earlier matters more than starting with more
  • The 4% rule assumes a balanced portfolio and ~30-year retirement
  • Higher returns mean more risk — stress-test with a lower rate

Frequently asked questions

Is the 4% rule safe?

It's a widely used starting point based on historical US markets, but it can fail in poor return sequences, especially for early retirees with 40+ year horizons. Many planners now suggest 3–3.5%.

What return should I assume?

Be conservative. A diversified balanced portfolio has historically averaged ~5–7% real after inflation; use a lower figure for safety. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

Just for the giggles, much love.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram