What is the 4% rule for retirement?

The 4% rule states you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in the first year of retirement and adjust for inflation each year, with a high probability of your money lasting 30 years. It was derived from historical U.S. stock and bond data. For retirements longer than 30 years, a 3–3.5% withdrawal rate is more conservative.

When should I start saving for retirement?

As early as possible — compound growth is most powerful over long time horizons. Someone saving $500/month starting at 25 will typically accumulate significantly more than someone saving $1,000/month starting at 40, even though the later saver contributes twice as much per month.

Does this retirement calculator account for inflation?

Yes. In Advanced Mode, the calculator applies your chosen inflation rate to grow the retirement target over time (so your future dollars match today's spending power) and uses a separate post-retirement return rate during the drawdown phase. The default inflation rate is 2.5%.

How does Social Security affect my retirement number?

Social Security reduces the amount your portfolio needs to cover. The calculator subtracts your Social Security benefit (and any pension or spouse income) from your monthly spending need before applying the 25x rule. SS income is only counted starting from your chosen claiming age, which can be between 62 and 70.

Retirement Calculator — Full Advanced Planner

Q: How much do I need to retire?

A common starting point is the 25x rule: multiply your expected annual retirement spending by 25. For example, if you plan to spend $60,000 per year, you'd need $1,500,000. This is the inverse of the 4% safe withdrawal rate. The exact amount depends on your retirement age, life expectancy, Social Security benefits, and other income sources.

Your Retirement Planner

Current Age

Target Retirement Age

Current Retirement Savings ($)

Monthly Contribution ($)

Expected Annual Return (%)

Monthly Retirement Spending ($)

⚙️ Advanced Options

Inflation Rate (%)

Life Expectancy

Post-Retirement Return (%)

Social Security Benefit ($/month)

SS Claiming Age

Pension / Other Income ($/month)

State of Residence

Scenario Comparison

Enable A/B scenario comparison

Include spouse/partner retirement income

Estimated nest egg needed to retire:

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⚠️ Calculating...

Move a slider to see your results.

Your personalized interpretation will appear here.

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Projected Balance

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Amount Needed

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Surplus / Gap

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Years to Retire

📘 Scenario A: Current Plan

📙 Scenario B: Work 2 years longer + spend 10% less

Use the quick what-if buttons below to test simple ways to close a gap.

🔍 Safe Withdrawal Analysis:

⚡ Quick "What-If" Scenarios

Toggle any scenario to see the instant impact on your projection.

Next reads based on your inputs

Age	Annual Contribution	Portfolio Balance	Annual Withdrawal	Phase

Return assumptions

Before retirement, the tool uses your selected annual return. After retirement, it uses a separate post-retirement return to reflect a more conservative mix.

Inflation default

The advanced mode defaults to 2.5% inflation and grows your retirement target over time so your future dollars match today's spending goal.

Withdrawal strategy

Your retirement target starts with a 25× annual spending rule, which is the inverse of a 4% withdrawal-rate framework.

Social Security logic

Social Security reduces the amount your portfolio needs to cover, and the drawdown model only adds that income once you reach your claiming age.

Tax treatment

This is a planning estimate, not a tax model. State selection is informational only; for tax-specific planning, review your numbers with a qualified advisor.

Methodology

Want the full framework? Read the methodology page for assumptions, limitations, and planning context.

High-intent retirement pages

How Much Do I Need to Retire?

Quick answers, benchmarks, and direct calculator CTA.

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Retirement Calculator With Inflation

See what rising prices do to your future purchasing power.

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Can I Retire at 60?

Bridge healthcare, Social Security timing, and early retirement risk.

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Can I Retire at 65?

Model the classic retirement age with Medicare and Social Security in the mix.

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