Retirement Calculator

How this retirement calculator works

This calculator projects your retirement savings at your target retirement age using compound growth on your current balance plus future monthly contributions. It then compares that nest egg against how much income you will need and estimates whether your savings will last through retirement.

The formula

Future value = Current × (1+r)ⁿ + Monthly × [(1+r)ⁿ − 1] / r

Where r = monthly rate (annual ÷ 12) and n = months until retirement. The 4% rule estimates sustainable annual withdrawal (portfolio × 0.04). To check if savings last, we model year-by-year withdrawals against continued growth.

What return rate to use

• 5%–6% — conservative portfolio (bonds-heavy, lower risk)
• 7% — diversified stock/bond portfolio (historical average after inflation)
• 8%–9% — stock-heavy portfolio (higher risk, longer horizon)

Always plan using a conservative rate. A 1% overestimate on return can leave you tens of thousands short at retirement.