How to Use the Retirement Calculator
Enter your current retirement savings, monthly contribution amount, expected annual investment return, and your target retirement age. The calculator uses the 4% safe withdrawal rule to determine how large your portfolio needs to be at retirement to sustain your desired annual spending. It then projects your portfolio value at retirement and shows whether you are on track.
If you expect Social Security income, enter your estimated monthly benefit to reduce the savings gap your portfolio must cover. To test the impact of different scenarios, adjust your monthly contribution upward and observe how this accelerates your projected retirement date. The 4% rule means you need 25 times your annual expenses — if you spend $60,000 per year, your target portfolio is $1.5 million.
Why Use This Retirement Calculator?
- Based on the 4% safe withdrawal rule from the Trinity Study — the most widely validated retirement planning framework
- Accounts for Social Security income to show your true savings gap
- Shows whether your current savings rate puts you on track for your target retirement age
- Helps model FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) scenarios alongside traditional retirement
- Free and private — all calculations run in your browser, no data transmitted
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I need to retire comfortably?
The 4% rule states you need 25 times your annual expenses. If you spend $50,000 per year, you need $1.25 million. If you spend $80,000, you need $2 million. This assumes a 50-75% stock / 25-50% bond portfolio and a 30-year retirement. For early retirement lasting 35-40 years, consider a 3.5% withdrawal rate (28.5x expenses) for additional safety.
Is $1 million enough to retire in 2026?
At a 4% withdrawal rate, $1 million provides $40,000 per year. Combined with average Social Security benefits ($23,000/year), that is $63,000 annually — enough for a modest retirement in many parts of the US but tight in high-cost cities. Whether $1 million is sufficient depends entirely on your annual spending level and geographic location.
What is the biggest risk to my retirement plan?
Sequence-of-returns risk — experiencing poor market returns in the first few years of retirement — is the most dangerous threat. A 30% market drop right after retiring can permanently deplete a portfolio, even if markets recover later. This is why many planners recommend holding 2-3 years of expenses in cash or bonds when entering retirement.
How much should I save per month for retirement?
Financial advisors recommend saving 15-20% of gross income for retirement, including employer match contributions. For someone earning $75,000 per year, that is $938-$1,250 per month. If you started saving late, you may need to save 25-30% to catch up. Use this calculator with your actual numbers to find the exact monthly amount for your retirement age target.
Can I retire early with $500,000?
At a 4% withdrawal rate, $500,000 provides only $20,000 per year — generally not enough for early retirement in the US unless you have very low expenses, significant other income (rental properties, part-time work), or plan to relocate to a lower-cost country. Most early retirees (FIRE movement) target $1-2 million minimum.
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