Personal Finance

Retirement Calculator

Will your money outlast you, or the other way around? Project your nest egg from what you've, what you add, and how it grows.

Professionally reviewed 100% private — runs in your browser Updated 2026-08-05
Quick Answer

Retirement savings projections use compound growth: future value = contributions × ((1+r)^n − 1) ÷ r, where r is the periodic return and n the number of periods. Time and steady contributions dominate the outcome. Figures are estimates before taxes and fees — verify details with a licensed advisor where needed.

Start early, compounding is exponential.

Contributions matter more than return %.

Plan withdrawals at ~4%/year.

Calculate Your Retirement Savings

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Results are computed in USD and displayed with approximate static rates (2026-08-18).

01

What Is Retirement Savings?

Retirement math has three inputs: what you've, what you add, and how long it compounds. The formula future-values each stream separately, then adds them.

The 4% rule, withdrawing 4% of the starting balance annually, inflation-adjusted, is the common shorthand for sustainable income.

02

How It Is Calculated

FV = P(1+r)^n + PMT × ((1+r)^n − 1) ÷ r

Example: Example: $50k now + $500/month at 7% for 35 years → ≈ $1.04M

03

The cost of waiting (to $1M at 7%)

The cost of waiting (to $1M at 7%)
Start ageMonthly needed
25$380
35$815
45$1,900
55$5,400
04

Limitations

  • Return assumptions are nominal; taxes and fees reduce real outcomes.
  • Inflation erodes purchasing power, model in today's dollars.
  • Life expectancy, healthcare, and market sequence risk all shape real plans.
05

Sources & Review

References used for this calculator’s formulas and thresholds:

06

Retirement Savings FAQ

How much do I need to retire?

A common target is 25× your annual spending (the 4% rule inverse). Spending $50k/year suggests a $1.25M nest egg.

What return rate should I assume?

5–7% nominal for diversified portfolios is a reasonable planning band; 3–4% if you want conservative real (after-inflation) numbers.

Why does starting early matter so much?

Compounding is exponential: every decade of delay roughly doubles the monthly contribution needed for the same goal.

Should I pay debt or invest first?

Pay off debt above ~6–7% first (guaranteed return), then invest; capture any employer match before either.

Your Next Step

Please read this first: these results are educational estimates. For real decisions, talk to a qualified professional.