Retirement Calculator

A common rule of thumb is to have 25 times your expected yearly spending saved, which matches the well-known 4% rule. This calculator goes a step further by using your own age, savings, contributions, expected return and inflation to estimate what you will actually need.

The 4% rule suggests you can withdraw about 4% of your portfolio in your first year of retirement, then adjust that amount for inflation each year, with a good chance your money lasts around 30 years. It is a guideline, not a guarantee.

Many planners use 5% to 7% per year before inflation for a diversified, stock-heavy portfolio and 3% to 4% for a conservative one. Be cautious: actual returns vary year to year and are never guaranteed.

Prices rise over time, so a million dollars in 20 years buys less than it does now. Showing results in today's dollars lets you compare them directly with what you spend today.

If you expect Social Security or a pension, include it. It reduces how much your savings must provide each month. You can check your estimate at ssa.gov. Enter 0 if you want to see a savings-only picture.

You still have powerful options: increase monthly contributions (including catch-up contributions after age 50 in many retirement accounts), work a few years longer, delay claiming Social Security for a larger benefit, or trim your planned retirement spending. Try each in the calculator above and watch the results change.