🏦 Retirement Calculator
Plan your financial future. Calculate how much you need to save for retirement, estimate your retirement income, and see if you're on track for your goals.
Plan your financial future. Calculate how much you need to save for retirement, estimate your retirement income, and see if you're on track for your goals.
Retirement planning is one of the most important financial decisions you'll make. The earlier you start, the more time compound interest has to grow your savings exponentially.
A commonly used retirement rule suggests you can safely withdraw 4% of your retirement savings annually. This rate is designed to make your savings last approximately 30 years.
| Total Savings | Annual Withdrawal (4%) | Monthly Income |
|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $20,000 | $1,667 |
| $1,000,000 | $40,000 | $3,333 |
| $1,500,000 | $60,000 | $5,000 |
| $2,000,000 | $80,000 | $6,667 |
Most financial advisors recommend replacing 70-80% of your pre-retirement income. Here's a quick guide:
Someone who starts saving $500/month at age 25 will have approximately $1.4 million at 65 (assuming 7% returns). Waiting until 35 to start would yield only about $610,000 × less than half!
Always contribute enough to get your full employer match × it's essentially free money. A typical match is 50% up to 6% of salary.
Max out IRA contributions ($7,000/year in 2026). Choose Traditional IRA for tax deduction now, or Roth IRA for tax-free withdrawals later.
Increase your savings rate by 1% each year or whenever you get a raise. Small increases compound significantly over time.
These funds automatically adjust your portfolio from growth to conservative as you approach retirement age.
| Account Type | 2026 Limit | Tax Treatment | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 401(k) | $23,500 | Pre-tax contributions | Employees with employer match |
| Traditional IRA | $7,000 | Tax-deductible | Higher earners wanting tax break |
| Roth IRA | $7,000 | Tax-free growth | Young savers, lower tax brackets |
| Catch-up (50+) | +$7,500 (401k) | Varies | Late starters |
Fidelity Investments × the largest 401(k) administrator in the US × publishes these age-based savings benchmarks. They represent multiples of your current annual salary that you should have saved to retire comfortably at 67:
| Age | Fidelity Benchmark | Example ($70K salary) | Example ($120K salary) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 1× salary | $70,000 | $120,000 |
| 35 | 2× salary | $140,000 | $240,000 |
| 40 | 3× salary | $210,000 | $360,000 |
| 45 | 4× salary | $280,000 | $480,000 |
| 50 | 6× salary | $420,000 | $720,000 |
| 55 | 7× salary | $490,000 | $840,000 |
| 60 | 8× salary | $560,000 | $960,000 |
| 67 | 10× salary | $700,000 | $1,200,000 |
Small, steady contributions compound into a large nest egg. Examples assume an 8% average return.
Investing $500 per month from age 25 to 65 (40 years) at an 8% average annual return.
Result: Projected balance ≈ $1,745,504 from $240,000 of contributions — the power of starting early.
The same $500/month but starting 10 years later, over 30 years.
Result: Projected balance ≈ $745,180 — waiting a decade roughly halves the result.
A later start of $1,000/month for 20 years at 8%.
Result: Projected balance ≈ $589,020.
A common target is 25× your annual expenses (the basis of the 4% rule). If you spend $50,000 a year, aim for about $1.25 million — adjust for pensions and Social Security.
It suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfolio in year one, then adjusting for inflation, to make savings last ~30 years. It's a guideline, not a guarantee — markets vary.
No. With 25+ years to retirement, compound growth still works strongly. Maximize contributions, use catch-up limits after 50, and a later start mainly means saving a higher percentage.
Generally contribute enough to get the full 401(k) employer match first (free money), then a Roth IRA for tax-free growth, then return to maxing the 401(k).