Retirement Calculator

Free retirement calculator — project your savings growth, estimate retirement income, and see if you're on track. No annuity sales pitches, just honest projections.

Retirement Savings
$0
Monthly Income (4% Rule)
$0
Total Contributions
$0
yrs
1865
yrs
5575
$
$0$2M
$
$0$5K
%
1%15%
%
0%8%

Retirement Savings Projection

Formula Used

Retirement Savings at Year t: FV_t = FV_(t-1) × (1 + r) + Contribution × (1 + r) Where: r = Expected annual return (e.g., 0.07 for 7%) Contribution = Annual contribution (catch-up included if age ≥ 50) Monthly Retirement Income: Income = Retirement Savings × Safe Withdrawal Rate / 12 (Common SWR: 4%, i.e., 0.04)

How This Retirement Calculator Works

Our retirement calculator projects your savings growth using compound interest, annual contribution increases, and the widely-accepted 4% safe withdrawal rate for estimating monthly retirement income.

Understanding the 4% Rule

The 4% rule suggests you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one of retirement, then adjust for inflation each year. On a $1M portfolio, that's about $3,333/month before taxes. This was designed for a 30-year retirement with a 60/40 stock/bond allocation.

Contribution Strategy Matters

  • Start early: $500/month from age 25 at 7% = ~$1.2M by 65. Starting at 35 = ~$566K. Ten years costs you over $600K.
  • Catch-up contributions: After 50, you can contribute extra to 401(k) and IRA — use them.
  • Annual raises: Our calculator factors in raise increases to your contributions, which dramatically boosts final savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do I need to retire?
A common rule suggests 10-12x your final salary. At $100K final income, aim for $1M-$1.2M in savings. But your actual number depends on desired lifestyle, Social Security, and other income sources.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule suggests withdrawing 4% of your retirement portfolio in year one, then adjusting for inflation. On a $1M portfolio, that's $40K/year. It was designed for a 30-year retirement with a 60/40 stock/bond mix.
Should I contribute to 401(k) or IRA first?
Generally: (1) 401(k) up to employer match — it's free money, (2) max out Roth IRA for tax diversity, (3) return to 401(k) up to the annual limit, (4) consider taxable brokerage for the rest.