Retirement Calculator

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Find out if you're on track for retirement, how much you'll need to accumulate, and whether your current savings rate gets you there.

Retirement Calculator

Calculate your projected nest egg, how much you need to retire, and whether you're on track — with Social Security offset and inflation adjustment.

In today's dollars

Retirement Outlook

Projected Nest Egg
Amount Needed (4% Rule)
Surplus / Shortfall
Monthly Income Available
Years of Income Covered
On Track?
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Planning for Retirement

Retirement planning is the most important financial exercise most people never do rigorously. The decisions you make in your 30s and 40s compound dramatically — in either direction — by the time you retire.

The 4% Rule
The 4% rule says you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one of retirement, then adjust for inflation each year, with high probability of not running out of money over 30 years. To find how much you need: multiply your desired annual income (minus Social Security) by 25. For $56K/year from investments, you need $1.4M.
Social Security in Your Plan
Social Security replaces roughly 40% of pre-retirement income for average earners — less for higher earners. It's an important foundation but shouldn't be your entire plan. Check your estimated benefit at SSA.gov. Delaying from 62 to 70 increases your monthly benefit by approximately 76%.
The Cost of Starting Late
Every year you delay saving for retirement has an outsized impact due to compounding. A 25-year-old who saves $500/month until 65 at 7% accumulates roughly $1.3M. A 35-year-old saving the same amount accumulates about $600K — less than half, despite only 10 fewer contributing years.
Healthcare Costs in Retirement
Healthcare is the most underestimated retirement expense. A retired couple may need $315,000+ in today's dollars for healthcare in retirement. Medicare covers a lot, but not dental, vision, hearing, or long-term care. Plan explicitly for these costs.
Tax Strategy in Retirement
Having savings in multiple account types (traditional 401k/IRA, Roth IRA, taxable accounts) gives you flexibility to manage taxes. Traditional withdrawals are ordinary income. Roth withdrawals are tax-free. A financial planner can help you optimize the order of withdrawals to minimize lifetime tax burden.
Sequence of Returns Risk
A market downturn in your first years of retirement can devastate your long-term plan — because you're selling assets at depressed prices to fund withdrawals. Managing this through asset allocation, flexible spending, and cash reserves is critical and often requires professional guidance.

Retirement FAQ

The most common rule of thumb is 25x your expected annual expenses from investments — based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate. If you need $80K/year and Social Security covers $24K, you need $56K from your portfolio — requiring roughly $1.4M saved. Your number will vary based on lifestyle, healthcare needs, and other income sources.

Start now — even small amounts matter. Maximize your employer 401(k) match first (it's free money). If you're 50+, use catch-up contribution limits. Consider working a few extra years — each additional year adds savings while removing a year of withdrawal. A financial planner can model these scenarios for your specific situation.

If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in retirement than today, Roth (pay taxes now) is generally better. If you expect a lower bracket, traditional (defer taxes) is better. Most people benefit from having both — it gives you flexibility to manage taxes in retirement. Under 40 and early career, Roth almost always wins.

At 3% inflation, $100,000 in today's dollars only buys $74,000 worth of goods in 10 years, and $55,000 in 20 years. Your retirement savings need to grow at a rate that outpaces inflation. This is why most financial planners recommend a significant equity allocation even in retirement.

You can start as early as 62 (at a reduced benefit) or delay until 70 (at a significantly higher benefit). Each year you delay past full retirement age increases your monthly benefit by 8%. If you're in good health with other income sources, delaying until 70 is often the highest-value decision — it's guaranteed longevity insurance.