Retirement Calculator

Find out if you're saving enough. Project your retirement balance and check whether it can support your spending until your expected age — across both the accumulation and drawdown phases.

Your Plan

Current Age

Retirement Age

Plan Until Age

Current Savings ($)

Monthly Contribution ($)

Annual Spending in Retirement ($)

In today's dollars — the calculator inflates it every year, starting now.

Results

Balance at age 65

$1,590,404

≈ $670,150 in today's dollars

Money runs out at age 81

Total Saved

$356,000

Investment Return

$1,234,404

Spent in Retirement

$2,142,289

Balance at age 90$0

Age	Phase	Flow	Balance
31	Saving	+$9,600	$31,360
32	Saving	+$9,600	$43,516
33	Saving	+$9,600	$56,522
34	Saving	+$9,600	$70,439
35	Saving	+$9,600	$85,330
36	Saving	+$9,600	$101,263
37	Saving	+$9,600	$118,312
38	Saving	+$9,600	$136,554
39	Saving	+$9,600	$156,073
40	Saving	+$9,600	$176,958
41	Saving	+$9,600	$199,305
42	Saving	+$9,600	$223,217
43	Saving	+$9,600	$248,802
44	Saving	+$9,600	$276,179
45	Saving	+$9,600	$305,472
46	Saving	+$9,600	$336,815
47	Saving	+$9,600	$370,352
48	Saving	+$9,600	$406,237
49	Saving	+$9,600	$444,634
50	Saving	+$9,600	$485,719
51	Saving	+$9,600	$529,679
52	Saving	+$9,600	$576,717
53	Saving	+$9,600	$627,047
54	Saving	+$9,600	$680,901
55	Saving	+$9,600	$738,524
56	Saving	+$9,600	$800,181
57	Saving	+$9,600	$866,154
58	Saving	+$9,600	$936,745
59	Saving	+$9,600	$1,012,277
60	Saving	+$9,600	$1,093,097
61	Saving	+$9,600	$1,179,574
62	Saving	+$9,600	$1,272,104
63	Saving	+$9,600	$1,371,112
64	Saving	+$9,600	$1,477,050
65	Saving	+$9,600	$1,590,404
66	Spending	-$118,660	$1,532,804
67	Spending	-$121,627	$1,469,870
68	Spending	-$124,667	$1,401,312
69	Spending	-$127,784	$1,326,829
70	Spending	-$130,979	$1,246,102
71	Spending	-$134,253	$1,158,802
72	Spending	-$137,610	$1,064,581
73	Spending	-$141,050	$963,076
74	Spending	-$144,576	$853,910
75	Spending	-$148,190	$736,684
76	Spending	-$151,895	$610,985
77	Spending	-$155,693	$476,379
78	Spending	-$159,585	$332,412
79	Spending	-$163,574	$178,611
80	Spending	-$167,664	$14,481
81	Spending	-$14,482	$0
82	Spending	-$0	$0
83	Spending	-$0	$0
84	Spending	-$0	$0
85	Spending	-$0	$0
86	Spending	-$0	$0
87	Spending	-$0	$0
88	Spending	-$0	$0
89	Spending	-$0	$0
90	Spending	-$0	$0

How Retirement Math Works

A retirement plan has two phases. The accumulation phase runs from today to your retirement age, when monthly contributions plus investment returns grow your balance. The drawdown phase runs from retirement to the end of your planning horizon (most plans use age 90-95), when annual spending pulls money out while remaining assets still earn returns. This calculator models both phases with monthly compounding, using separate return assumptions for each — typically 6-8% before retirement (stock-weighted portfolio) and 3-5% after (more conservative as you near and enter drawdown).

The 4% rule is the most popular sustainable-withdrawal benchmark: if your retirement balance is 25× your annual spending — both measured in today's dollars, so compare against the "≈ … in today's dollars" line under your result — the historical odds of running out over a 30-year retirement are very low. So if you spend $50,000/year, you need about $1.25M saved in today's dollars. The rule comes from William Bengen's 1994 study and the 1998 Trinity Study, which back-tested historical US stock and bond returns over 30-year retirements; it is not a guarantee and may fall short for a longer retirement or if markets do worse than history. This calculator's outcome line is the actual simulation of your exact inputs rather than a rule of thumb — it assumes a constant return every year, so it doesn't model sequence-of-returns risk (such as a market drop early in retirement followed by a recovery). Adjust the assumptions to see how close you are.

Inflation makes a real difference over 30+ year horizons. $50,000/year today buys far less in 30 years at 3% inflation — the calculator inflates your spending every year starting today, so your first retirement year already reflects decades of price increases. The most common planning mistake is using nominal dollar spending without adjusting for inflation, which makes the plan look stronger than it is. If you find the success threshold is uncomfortably tight, the highest-impact levers (in order) are: (1) delay retirement 1-3 years, (2) increase monthly contributions, (3) lower target spending, (4) work part-time in early retirement.

For more focused tools: a 401(k) calculator projects employer-matched balances, an investment calculator shows taxable account growth, and compound interest shows the underlying math for the accumulation phase.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do I need to retire?

The 4% rule suggests 25× your annual retirement spending — a rule of thumb back-tested on historical US market data over 30-year retirements, not a guarantee. If you'll spend $60,000/year, aim for $1.5M in today's dollars. But this is a rough rule — your actual number depends on retirement age, life expectancy, return assumptions, and Social Security. This calculator runs the actual math for your specific inputs and tells you whether your savings last to the age you set.

What return rate should I use?

Before retirement (still in growth mode, mostly stocks): 6-8% nominal is reasonable. After retirement (more bonds, less risk): 3-5% nominal. Note these are nominal returns — if you want real (inflation-adjusted) returns, subtract about 2.5% and set inflation to 0. Going too aggressive on either assumption is the most common mistake — many people use 10%+ which makes plans look stronger than reality.

What about Social Security?

This calculator doesn't model Social Security explicitly. If you'll receive $24,000/year in benefits, you can reduce your 'Annual Spending in Retirement' input by that amount (since your savings only need to cover the gap). Or use the gross spending and treat any unused balance at end-of-life as a buffer. Both approaches are common — neither is wrong.

Should I plan until age 85, 90, or 95?

Conventional retirement planning uses age 90 or 95. If you're in good health with longevity in the family, plan to 95. If you have specific health concerns, age 85 is reasonable. Planning to a higher age is more conservative — your money has to last longer, so you'll need a larger balance at retirement. Better to over-save than run out.

How does inflation affect my retirement plan?

Inflation reduces the real purchasing power of your spending. A 3% inflation rate means $50,000 today buys what $90,000 will buy in 20 years. This calculator grows your spending by the inflation rate every year from today — both before and during retirement. Ignoring inflation is the most common planning error — a plan that looks 'good enough' in nominal dollars often falls short once inflation is included.

I'm behind. What helps the most?

In order of impact: (1) Delay retirement 1-3 years — this both adds savings and shortens drawdown, double benefit. (2) Increase monthly contributions, especially if you're under 50 (compound interest has more time). (3) Reduce target spending in retirement. (4) Plan to work part-time in the first 5 years of retirement to reduce drawdown. Don't try to compensate by going more aggressive on returns — adding 'just 1% more' is wishful thinking that doesn't actually happen.

Use the 25× rule, the 4% rule, and a free retirement calculator to estimate your number. Includes Social Security, inflation, and FIRE scenarios.

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