Retirement Savings Calculator
The big question, answered in numbers: what will you have at retirement, what monthly income can it safely pay, and how long will it last? Set your ages, savings and spending — the whole picture updates instantly.
▸ Show year-by-year breakdown
| Period | Contributed | Growth | Balance |
|---|
Estimates are for illustration and education only — not financial advice. Returns are assumed constant; real markets, taxes and pensions will differ.
How to read your retirement projection
Retirement planning has two phases, and the calculator models both. In the accumulation phase your contributions plus compounding build the nest egg. In the drawdown phase you stop contributing and start spending — the balance keeps earning your in-retirement return, while withdrawals pull it down. The chart shows the whole arc: solid line up, dashed line down.
The 4% rule, briefly
A widely used rule of thumb says you can withdraw about 4% of your nest egg per year (adjusting for inflation) with a good chance of the money lasting 30+ years. The "safe income" stat applies it as a monthly figure. It's a planning anchor, not a guarantee — spending flexibility matters more than any fixed percentage.
Why the two return rates differ
Most people invest more conservatively in retirement — shifting from stocks toward bonds — so the calculator uses a separate, typically lower rate for the drawdown phase. Try 6–7% before retirement and 3–5% after as reasonable starting points.
Levers worth testing
Small changes compound dramatically over decades: retiring two years later, adding $100/month, or starting five years earlier can each shift the nest egg by six figures. If a target number emerges from this page, the savings goal calculator tells you the exact monthly amount to hit it, and the monthly investment calculator shows the habit-building view.
Nest egg at 65 by starting age
Saving $600/month at 7% until age 65, starting from $0. The cost of waiting, in plain numbers.
| Start at | Years saving | You contribute | Growth adds | Nest egg at 65 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 40 | $288,000 | $1,286,888 | $1,574,888 |
| 30 | 35 | $252,000 | $811,981 | $1,063,981 |
| 35 | 30 | $216,000 | $515,983 | $731,983 |
| 40 | 25 | $180,000 | $306,159 | $486,159 |
| 45 | 20 | $144,000 | $168,556 | $312,556 |
Figures are rounded and assume a constant 7% with monthly compounding, deposits at end of month — illustrative only.
The two halves of retirement math
Retirement planning runs in two stages: growing a nest egg while you work, then drawing it down once you stop. The calculator projects the first and pressure-tests the second.
What moves the needle most
A comfortable retirement is built on a few high-leverage habits. Time in the market is the biggest, and it's the one you can never buy back.
Grows your nest egg helps
- Starting early — decades of compounding are irreplaceable
- Capturing the full employer match — it's free money
- Raising contributions with every pay rise
- Using tax-advantaged accounts (401(k), IRA)
Shrinks it hurts
- Cashing out retirement accounts when changing jobs
- High fund fees quietly compounding against you
- Under-estimating inflation over a 30-year retirement
- Withdrawing too fast in the early retirement years
The 4% rule is a starting point, not gospel. It came from historical U.S. market data and assumes a roughly 30-year retirement. If you retire early, expect lower returns, or want more certainty, a more conservative 3–3.5% withdrawal gives extra cushion. Revisit it as markets and your spending change.
Think in today's dollars. A million dollars decades from now won't buy what it does today. Judge your target against future prices, and lean on tax-advantaged accounts so more of your growth stays yours.