Retirement Calculator
See how your retirement savings could grow between now and your target retirement age.
How this calculator works
This projects your current savings and monthly contributions forward using compound monthly growth at your expected annual return — the same mechanics as any long-term investment projection.
Assumes returns compound monthly and contributions stay constant.
Why starting early matters so much
Because growth compounds on itself, money contributed in your 20s and 30s has decades longer to grow than money contributed in your 50s — even small monthly amounts add up dramatically over a 30+ year horizon.
How much should you have saved by each age?
A commonly cited rule of thumb suggests having roughly 1x your annual salary saved by age 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, and 8-10x by retirement age — though these benchmarks vary widely based on desired retirement lifestyle, other income sources, and when you plan to retire.
The 4% rule is another common reference point: withdrawing about 4% of your retirement savings annually is often considered a sustainable long-term rate, meaning a target of roughly 25x your desired annual retirement spending.
A worked example
A 30-year-old with $15,000 saved, contributing $400/month at a 7% expected return until age 65 (35 years), would project to roughly $706,000 at retirement — with about $183,000 from direct contributions and $523,000 from growth.
Delaying the same plan by just 10 years (starting at 40 instead of 30) drops the projection to roughly $340,000 by 65 — less than half — despite contributing for 25 years instead of 35, underscoring how much earlier starts matter. If part of that plan is a Roth IRA, model its tax-free growth with our Roth IRA Calculator.
Common retirement savings benchmarks
Many financial guidelines suggest aiming to have roughly 1x your annual salary saved by age 30, 3x by 40, 6x by 50, and 8-10x by retirement age — though these are broad benchmarks, not personalized targets, and actual needs vary by lifestyle and retirement age.
A commonly cited withdrawal guideline is the '4% rule' — withdrawing about 4% of your retirement savings in the first year of retirement, adjusted for inflation thereafter, is designed to make savings last roughly 30 years under historical market conditions, though it's a guideline rather than a guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
What return rate should I assume?
7% is a commonly used long-term average for a diversified stock portfolio after inflation, but actual returns vary year to year and aren't guaranteed.
Does this account for inflation?
Not directly — if you want a rough inflation-adjusted projection, use a lower return rate (around 4-5%) to represent real (after-inflation) growth.
How much do I need to retire comfortably?
A common estimate is 25x your desired annual spending, based on a 4% sustainable withdrawal rate — though your actual number depends on expected expenses, other income sources like Social Security, and retirement age.
Should I prioritize retirement savings over paying off my mortgage?
This depends on your mortgage rate versus expected investment returns and any employer match you'd be leaving on the table — many financial planners suggest capturing any employer match first before extra mortgage payments.
How much should I have saved for retirement?
General benchmarks suggest 8-10x your final salary by retirement age, though the right number depends heavily on your desired lifestyle, retirement age, and other income sources like Social Security.
What is the 4% withdrawal rule?
A commonly cited guideline suggesting you can withdraw about 4% of your retirement savings in year one, adjusting for inflation afterward, with a reasonable chance of not running out of money over a 30-year retirement.