🌅 Retirement Planning Suite
Retirement Calculator
4 powerful tools: estimate retirement savings, calculate income, find how long funds last, and set savings goals. Includes inflation adjustment and year-by-year schedules.
4% Rule
Safe withdrawal rate
80% Rule
Income replacement
10–15%
Save of income
25×
Target nest egg
Retirement Savings Calculator
How much will you have at retirement?
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$
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FUTURE VALUE AT RETIREMENT
$1,247,000
After 35 years of saving
$210,000
Total Contributions
$1,037,000
Investment Growth
$831,000
Inflation-Adj. Value
📈 Savings Growth Over Time
📋 Year-by-Year Schedule
How to Plan for Retirement
Our retirement calculator suite helps you plan every aspect of retirement — from how much you'll save to how long your money will last. The 4 calculators cover the full retirement planning picture: accumulation, income, longevity, and goal-setting. For complementary planning, also see our compound interest calculator, salary calculator, and income tax calculator.
📐 Key Retirement Rules of Thumb
- 4% Rule: Withdraw 4% of nest egg per year — historically sustainable for 30 years
- 80% Rule: Need 80% of pre-retirement income to maintain lifestyle
- 25× Rule: Save 25× your desired annual income (e.g., $50K/yr = $1.25M)
- Save 10–15%: Of gross income throughout working years
- Start early: $1 invested at 25 = $21.70 at 65 (at 8%)
💰 Retirement Account Types
- 401(k): Employer-sponsored, pre-tax, 2026 limit $23,500 (+$7,500 catch-up 50+)
- Traditional IRA: Pre-tax contributions, taxed on withdrawal
- Roth IRA: Post-tax now, tax-free withdrawals — great for young savers
- 403(b): Like 401(k) for non-profits and schools
- SEP-IRA / Solo 401k: Self-employed options — higher limits
📊 The 4 Calculators Explained
- Calculator 1 — Savings: How much will you have at retirement?
- Calculator 2 — Income: How much can you withdraw annually from a nest egg?
- Calculator 3 — Withdrawal Years: How long will your savings last at a given withdrawal rate?
- Calculator 4 — Goal: How much do you need to save monthly to hit your income target?
🌡️ Inflation's Impact on Retirement
$1,000,000 today at 2.5% inflation over 25 years = $539,000 in real purchasing power.
- Always plan in real (inflation-adjusted) dollars, not nominal
- Healthcare inflation runs 2–3% faster than general CPI
- A 3% inflation rate doubles prices every 24 years
- TIPS, I-Bonds, dividend stocks help hedge against inflation
- Social Security is adjusted for CPI annually (COLA)
Frequently Asked Questions
Using the 4% rule, you need 25× your desired annual income. To replace $60,000/year: $1,500,000. To replace $80,000/year: $2,000,000. These are pre-Social Security figures — SS income reduces the portfolio needed. Key factors: expected lifespan, healthcare costs, lifestyle expenses, and whether you have a pension. Use Calculator 4 (Goal) to find your exact target based on your income needs and investment return assumptions.
The 4% rule (from the Trinity Study) states that a retiree can withdraw 4% of their initial portfolio balance annually (adjusted for inflation) with high probability of not running out of money over a 30-year retirement. For example, a $1,000,000 portfolio supports $40,000/year in withdrawals. In today's lower-yield environment, some planners suggest 3–3.5% for more conservative planning, especially for early retirees with longer time horizons. Use Calculator 3 to model how long any balance lasts at your withdrawal rate.
Not at all — while starting earlier is better, there's still significant compounding potential. A 45-year-old saving $15,000/year for 20 years at 7% ends up with about $620,000. Catch-up contributions (401k allows +$7,500 at 50+; IRA allows +$1,000) exist precisely for this. Key strategies: maximize tax-advantaged accounts, consider delaying Social Security (each year from 62–70 increases benefit ~6–8%), and plan a realistic Social Security bridge strategy. Use Calculator 1 to see what's possible from your current position.
Inflation erodes purchasing power over time. At 2.5% annual inflation, $1 today buys only $0.54 worth of goods in 25 years. This means your nominal retirement nest egg of $1,500,000 might only have $810,000 in real purchasing power. Always plan using inflation-adjusted returns (real return = nominal return − inflation). Our calculator shows both nominal and inflation-adjusted results. Invest in assets that historically outpace inflation: stocks, real estate, TIPS, and I-Bonds provide natural inflation hedges.
Choose Roth if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement than now — contributions are after-tax, but withdrawals are completely tax-free, including all growth. Choose Traditional IRA if you want a tax deduction now and expect lower taxes in retirement. General guidance: young/early-career workers often benefit more from Roth (low current tax rate, decades of tax-free growth); mid/late career workers with peak income may benefit from Traditional (deduction reduces current high tax). Consult a tax advisor — many people benefit from having both.