Find out if you're on track for retirement. Enter your savings, contributions, and goals to get a personalized retirement projection with visual charts showing your path to financial freedom.
Adjust the sliders below to see how different factors affect your retirement outlook.
2 In-Depth Guides
Plan your retirement with confidence using 2026 contribution limits, the 4% rule, and age-based savings milestones. Find out if you are on track.
Read Full GuideCalculate exactly how much you need to retire comfortably in 2026. Covers the 4% rule, Social Security timing, healthcare costs, and age-specific savings benchmarks.
Read Full GuideRetirement planning is one of the most important financial decisions you'll make. The earlier you start, the more time your money has to grow through the power of compound interest. Whether you're just starting your career or nearing retirement age, having a clear picture of your financial future is essential.
Your "retirement number" is the total amount of savings you need to maintain your desired lifestyle throughout retirement. This depends on several factors: your expected annual expenses, how long your retirement will last, your expected investment returns during retirement, and inflation. Our retirement calculator takes all of these factors into account to give you a realistic projection.
Compound interest is often called the eighth wonder of the world, and for good reason. When your investment returns generate their own returns, your money grows exponentially over time. A 25-year-old who saves $500 per month at a 7% annual return will have approximately $1.2 million by age 65. A 35-year-old saving the same amount would have only about $567,000. That extra decade of compounding nearly doubles the final amount.
Our free retirement calculator uses industry-standard financial formulas to project your retirement savings. It models the accumulation phase (your working years) by compounding your contributions and investment returns monthly. Then, it applies the 4% safe withdrawal rate to determine your sustainable monthly income in retirement. The calculator also adjusts your desired income for inflation, giving you a realistic picture of whether your plan meets your future needs.
The amount you need to retire depends on your desired lifestyle, expected expenses, and how long your retirement lasts. A common rule of thumb is to aim for 25 times your annual expenses (based on the 4% safe withdrawal rate). For example, if you need $4,000/month ($48,000/year), you'd need roughly $1.2 million saved. Our retirement calculator helps you determine your specific number based on your unique situation.
The 4% rule is a guideline that suggests you can withdraw 4% of your retirement savings in the first year of retirement, then adjust that amount for inflation each year, and your money should last approximately 30 years. For example, with $1 million saved, you could withdraw $40,000 per year. This rule is based on historical stock and bond market returns and is used as a starting point for retirement planning.
The best time to start saving for retirement is as early as possible. Thanks to compound interest, even small contributions in your 20s can grow significantly by retirement. For example, saving $200/month starting at age 25 with a 7% annual return would grow to approximately $525,000 by age 65. Starting the same savings at age 35 would only grow to about $244,000. Every year you delay costs you significantly in potential growth.
Inflation reduces the purchasing power of your money over time. At a 3% inflation rate, something that costs $4,000 today would cost about $9,400 in 30 years. Our retirement calculator accounts for inflation by adjusting your desired income to future dollars, giving you a more accurate picture of how much you truly need to save for a comfortable retirement.
A commonly used average annual return rate for a diversified stock portfolio is 7% (adjusted for inflation) or 10% (nominal). However, the right rate depends on your investment mix. Conservative portfolios (more bonds) might average 4-6%, while aggressive portfolios (more stocks) might average 8-10%. Our calculator defaults to 7%, which is a widely accepted long-term average for a balanced approach.
If our calculator shows a shortfall, you have several options: (1) Increase your monthly contributions, even by a small amount. (2) Delay retirement by a few years, which gives your savings more time to grow. (3) Reduce your desired retirement income or planned expenses. (4) Seek higher returns by adjusting your investment strategy (with appropriate risk management). (5) Plan for supplemental income in retirement, such as part-time work or Social Security benefits.
More Tools
Get a complete picture of your finances with our full suite of free calculators and planning tools.
Calculate exactly how much you need to save each month to reach your financial goals — house, car, emergency fund, or any target.
Find the fastest way to become debt-free. Compare avalanche vs snowball strategies and see your personalized payoff timeline.
Plan your portfolio growth with inflation-adjusted projections. Compare nominal vs. real returns across conservative, moderate, and aggressive strategies.
Get a clear picture of your income vs expenses. Identify where your money goes and find opportunities to save more.
Get personalized financial advice powered by AI. Input your situation and receive a custom financial roadmap in seconds.
Calculate your net worth by listing assets and liabilities. Track your financial health with visual breakdowns.
Find out how much you need in your emergency fund and how long it will take to build it at your current savings rate.
Visualize the power of compound interest. Compare daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual compounding with year-by-year breakdowns.
Calculate your monthly mortgage payment including taxes, insurance, and PMI. View detailed amortization schedules.
See how inflation erodes your purchasing power over time. Calculate future costs and plan to protect your wealth.
Calculate your monthly car payment, total interest cost, and see amortization schedules. Factor in down payment, trade-in, and sales tax.
Estimate your 2026 federal income tax with detailed bracket breakdowns. See effective rate, marginal rate, and take-home pay instantly.
Calculate your path to Financial Independence and Retire Early. Find your FIRE number, years to freedom, Coast FIRE, and Lean FIRE milestones.
Compare the true cost of renting vs buying a home. See breakeven year, equity growth, and total cost side-by-side over any time horizon.
Calculate your net paycheck after federal taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and deductions. See exactly what you take home per pay period.
Plan your student loan repayment with standard, extended, and graduated plans. See how extra payments accelerate your payoff and save on interest.
Calculate your Return on Investment and compare it against S&P 500, bonds, and savings benchmarks. Find annualized returns instantly.
Compare two loan offers side by side. See monthly payments, total interest, total cost, and which option saves you more money.
Escape the minimum payment trap. See how long it takes to pay off your credit card and how much you save by paying more each month.