Retirement Calculator

How to use the retirement calculator

1. Enter your current age and the age you plan to retire.
2. Add your current retirement savings across all accounts.
3. Enter your monthly contribution, including any employer match.
4. Set an expected annual return and inflation rate.
5. Choose a withdrawal rate — 4% is the classic starting point.

How the projection is calculated

Your savings grow monthly at the expected return, with contributions added at the end of each month:

Balance_next = Balance × (1 + r/12) + contribution

The value in today's money divides the future balance by cumulative inflation:

Real value = Future value ÷ (1 + inflation)^years

Estimated monthly income = nest egg × withdrawal rate ÷ 12.

Worked example

A 35-year-old with 50,000 saved, contributing 750 a month at 6% until 67, could build roughly 1.2 million. With 2.5% inflation that is worth about 548,000 in today's money, supporting around 1,830 a month (today's money) at a 4% withdrawal rate.

How to boost your retirement savings

• Capture the full employer match — it is an instant 50–100% return.
• Use tax-advantaged accounts: 401(k) and IRA in the US, ISA and SIPP in the UK, or your country's equivalent.
• Increase contributions by 1% each year until you reach 15% or more of income.
• Delay retirement a couple of years — it adds contributions, growth and shortens the drawdown period.
• See the power of time with the compound interest calculator.