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Plan for a comfortable retirement with our comprehensive calculator. Determine how much you need to save, calculate monthly contributions, and see if you're on track to meet your retirement goals.
Historical stock market average: ~7-10%
Historical average: ~2-3%
In today's dollars
Estimated Savings at Age 65:
$1,434,356
Required Nest Egg:
$2,158,593
Shortfall:
-$724,237
Tip: Consider increasing your monthly contributions or adjusting your retirement age to reach your goals.
| Age | Balance | Gains |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | $499,685 | $419,685 |
| 40 | $1,136,866 | $1,026,866 |
| 45 | $2,039,725 | $1,899,725 |
| 50 | $3,319,044 | $3,149,044 |
| 55 | $5,131,802 | $4,931,802 |
| 60 | $7,700,439 | $7,470,439 |
| 65 | $11,340,157 | $11,080,157 |
Retirement planning is one of the most important financial goals, yet many people don't know how much they need to save. Our retirement calculator uses proven financial principles to estimate the savings required to maintain your desired lifestyle in retirement, accounting for investment growth, inflation, and withdrawal strategies.
The calculation considers multiple factors: your current age and planned retirement age, current savings and monthly contributions, expected rate of return, desired retirement income, and life expectancy. We use the 4% safe withdrawal rule as a baseline—the principle that you can withdraw 4% of your retirement portfolio annually with low risk of running out of money over a 30-year retirement.
Time is your greatest ally in retirement planning. Someone who starts saving $500/month at age 25 will likely accumulate far more than someone saving $1,000/month starting at 45, due to compound growth. Every year you delay costs exponentially more in required future contributions. Even if you can only save small amounts initially, starting now is better than waiting for the "perfect" time.
Don't forget to maximize employer matching—it's free money and an instant 100% return. Consider tax-advantaged accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs to reduce current taxes and let money grow tax-deferred. Adjust your plan as life changes, reviewing it annually. Remember, retirement planning isn't about predicting the future perfectly—it's about making informed decisions today to create financial security for tomorrow.
A common rule is 25x your annual expenses (based on 4% withdrawal rate). If you need $60,000/year, target $1.5 million. However, this varies based on retirement age, expected longevity, lifestyle, healthcare costs, and whether you have pension or Social Security income.
Possibly, through strategies like geographic arbitrage (moving to lower cost areas), part-time work, rental income, or lean living. The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) community often retires on less through careful planning and reduced expenses. However, this requires flexibility and discipline.
Include it in your plan, but don't rely on it entirely. Estimate benefits at ssa.gov. Conservative planners assume reduced benefits (75-80% of projected) to account for potential policy changes. Social Security provides a baseline, while your savings provide security and lifestyle flexibility.