🏖️ Retirement Calculator
Enter your age, savings, monthly contributions and return to project your balance at retirement — and the number you need under the 4% rule.
Projected at retirement
$1,869,790
in 30 years
Your number (FIRE)
$1,250,000
25× annual expenses
From growth
$1,387,790
vs $482,000 contributed
✓ On track
Your projected $1,869,790 meets the $1,250,000 needed to draw $50,000/yr at 4%.
Projects savings and monthly contributions (plus employer match) forward at a constant assumed return — real returns vary, so treat it as an illustration. “Your number” uses the 4% safe-withdrawal rule (Bengen / Trinity study): annual expenses ÷ withdrawal rate, i.e. about 25× your yearly spending. It ignores inflation, tax and Social Security/pensions. Educational information, not financial advice. 🔒 In your browser.
How the retirement calculator works
The tool grows your current savings and monthly contributions (including any employer match) at your assumed annual return to your retirement age, using compound growth. It then works out your "number" — the nest egg needed to live off your investments — from the 4% safe-withdrawal rule: annual retirement expenses ÷ your withdrawal rate, roughly 25× your yearly spending. It compares the two to tell you whether you're on track.
This is an illustration with a constant assumed return; real markets vary year to year, so the actual outcome will differ. It ignores inflation, taxes and other income like Social Security or a pension. The 4% rule (from the Bengen and Trinity studies) is a well-known guideline, not a guarantee — retirement planning is complex. Educational information, not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to retire?
A common rule of thumb is about 25× your annual expenses — the flip side of the 4% withdrawal rule. If you'll spend $50,000 a year, that's roughly $1.25 million. The tool calculates your number from your own expenses and withdrawal rate.
What is the 4% rule?
A guideline from retirement research (Bengen; the Trinity study) suggesting you can withdraw about 4% of your portfolio in the first year, adjusting for inflation after, with a low chance of running out over ~30 years. Your "number" is annual expenses ÷ 4% = 25× expenses.
What is FIRE?
Financial Independence, Retire Early — accumulating roughly 25× your annual expenses so investment income can cover your lifestyle. This tool shows both your projected balance and that FIRE number so you can see the gap.
Should I count my employer match?
Yes — it's free money that compounds like your own contributions, so include it (many people at least contribute enough to get the full match). Enter it as a monthly amount alongside your own contribution.
Why does the tool ignore inflation and tax?
To keep it a simple illustration. In reality, inflation raises the number you'll need and taxes reduce what you keep, while a pension or Social Security reduces what your portfolio must cover. Use this as a starting estimate, then plan in detail. Not financial advice.
Educational information, not financial advice. These calculators use standard formulas with the figures you enter; results are illustrations, not guarantees. For decisions about your money, consult a qualified, regulated financial professional.