Retirement Calculator
Project savings growth and retirement income with custom contributions.
Projected nest egg at age 65
$1,015,810
Note: Assumes monthly contributions and compound monthly. Inflation, taxes, and fees not included. Use 7% return for inflation-adjusted projection.
A retirement calculator projects how a nest egg grows from your current savings and ongoing contributions, then estimates the annual income it could support once you stop working.
Enter your current balance, monthly or annual contributions, an expected rate of return, and the years until retirement. The tool compounds the balance forward and shows both the projected total and a sustainable withdrawal figure.
Small changes compound into large differences over decades, so seeing the effect of saving a bit more, or retiring a couple of years later, is often more motivating than any single rule of thumb.
How this calculator works
The projection compounds your current balance forward at the expected annual return and adds the future value of your contributions, each of which grows for the time remaining until retirement. For income, a common starting point is the 4% rule: multiply the projected balance by about 4% to estimate a first-year annual withdrawal that has historically had a good chance of lasting roughly 30 years. So a $1,000,000 balance suggests around $40,000 in the first year, adjusted for inflation thereafter. The calculator is an estimate; real markets vary year to year, and sequence-of-returns risk means the order of good and bad years matters, not just the average.
What affects the number
- Years until retirement drive the result; more time means more compounding cycles on a growing base.
- Contribution rate is the factor most under your control; raising it even a few percent adds up over decades.
- Employer 401(k) matching is effectively free money and should usually be captured in full before other saving.
- Expected return assumptions matter, and using a conservative figure avoids overestimating your future balance.
- Inflation reduces the buying power of future dollars, so plan in inflation-adjusted terms where possible.
- Withdrawal rate and retirement length determine how long the balance lasts; a lower rate is safer but requires more savings.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to retire?
A rough guide is 25 times your desired annual spending, which pairs with a 4% withdrawal rate. If you expect to spend $50,000 a year from savings, that points to about $1.25 million. Your number depends on other income like Social Security, your spending, and how long the money must last.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule suggests withdrawing about 4% of your balance in the first year of retirement, then adjusting that dollar amount for inflation each year. It is based on historical data as a starting estimate for a roughly 30-year retirement, not a guarantee, and many planners flex it up or down.
Should I always get my employer match?
In almost all cases, yes. An employer match is an immediate, guaranteed return on your contribution, so capturing the full match is usually the highest-priority retirement move before paying down low-rate debt or investing elsewhere.
How does inflation affect the projection?
Inflation lowers what a future dollar can buy, so a large nominal balance buys less than it appears. Planning with an inflation-adjusted return, or increasing your target to account for rising costs, gives a more realistic picture of the lifestyle your savings will support.
This calculator provides general estimates for educational purposes only and is not financial, medical, legal, or tax advice. Your actual results depend on your specific situation and current rates.