Retirement Calculator
Model your retirement savings from accumulation through drawdown. See whether your savings will sustain your desired income, and when they might run out.
Inputs
Results
Retirement Outlook
Your savings are sustainable through age 95
Peak Balance
$2,845,917
At retirement age 65
Years to Retirement
35
Total Contributions
$260,000
Annual Withdrawal
$40,000
Year-by-Year Breakdown
| Year | Age | Contributions | Growth | Withdrawals | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 | $6,000 | $3,920 | — | $59,920 |
| 2 | 32 | $6,000 | $4,614 | — | $70,534 |
| 3 | 33 | $6,000 | $5,357 | — | $81,892 |
| 4 | 34 | $6,000 | $6,152 | — | $94,044 |
| 5 | 35 | $6,000 | $7,003 | — | $107,047 |
| 6 | 36 | $6,000 | $7,913 | — | $120,961 |
| 7 | 37 | $6,000 | $8,887 | — | $135,848 |
| 8 | 38 | $6,000 | $9,929 | — | $151,777 |
| 9 | 39 | $6,000 | $11,044 | — | $168,822 |
| 10 | 40 | $6,000 | $12,238 | — | $187,059 |
| 11 | 41 | $6,000 | $13,514 | — | $206,573 |
| 12 | 42 | $6,000 | $14,880 | — | $227,453 |
| 13 | 43 | $6,000 | $16,342 | — | $249,795 |
| 14 | 44 | $6,000 | $17,906 | — | $273,701 |
| 15 | 45 | $6,000 | $19,579 | — | $299,280 |
| 16 | 46 | $6,000 | $21,370 | — | $326,649 |
| 17 | 47 | $6,000 | $23,285 | — | $355,935 |
| 18 | 48 | $6,000 | $25,335 | — | $387,270 |
| 19 | 49 | $6,000 | $27,529 | — | $420,799 |
| 20 | 50 | $6,000 | $29,876 | — | $456,675 |
| 21 | 51 | $6,000 | $32,387 | — | $495,063 |
| 22 | 52 | $6,000 | $35,074 | — | $536,137 |
| 23 | 53 | $6,000 | $37,950 | — | $580,087 |
| 24 | 54 | $6,000 | $41,026 | — | $627,113 |
| 25 | 55 | $6,000 | $44,318 | — | $677,430 |
| 26 | 56 | $6,000 | $47,840 | — | $731,271 |
| 27 | 57 | $6,000 | $51,609 | — | $788,880 |
| 28 | 58 | $6,000 | $55,642 | — | $850,521 |
| 29 | 59 | $6,000 | $59,956 | — | $916,478 |
| 30 | 60 | $6,000 | $64,573 | — | $987,051 |
| 31 | 61 | $6,000 | $69,514 | — | $1,062,565 |
| 32 | 62 | $6,000 | $74,800 | — | $1,143,364 |
| 33 | 63 | $6,000 | $80,455 | — | $1,229,820 |
| 34 | 64 | $6,000 | $86,507 | — | $1,322,327 |
| 35 | 65 | $6,000 | $92,983 | — | $1,421,310 |
| 36 | 66 | — | $96,692 | −$40,000 | $1,478,002 |
| 37 | 67 | — | $100,660 | −$40,000 | $1,538,662 |
| 38 | 68 | — | $104,906 | −$40,000 | $1,603,568 |
| 39 | 69 | — | $109,450 | −$40,000 | $1,673,018 |
| 40 | 70 | — | $114,311 | −$40,000 | $1,747,329 |
| 41 | 71 | — | $119,513 | −$40,000 | $1,826,842 |
| 42 | 72 | — | $125,079 | −$40,000 | $1,911,921 |
| 43 | 73 | — | $131,034 | −$40,000 | $2,002,955 |
| 44 | 74 | — | $137,407 | −$40,000 | $2,100,362 |
| 45 | 75 | — | $144,225 | −$40,000 | $2,204,588 |
| 46 | 76 | — | $151,521 | −$40,000 | $2,316,109 |
| 47 | 77 | — | $159,328 | −$40,000 | $2,435,436 |
| 48 | 78 | — | $167,681 | −$40,000 | $2,563,117 |
| 49 | 79 | — | $176,618 | −$40,000 | $2,699,735 |
| 50 | 80 | — | $186,181 | −$40,000 | $2,845,917 |
Retirement Planning Basics
Retirement planning involves two distinct phases: accumulation (saving and investing while you work) and drawdown (withdrawing from your savings to fund your lifestyle in retirement). This calculator models both phases, showing you how your savings grow during your working years and how they deplete during retirement.
The key question is whether your savings will last as long as you need them to. Life expectancy in developed countries is around 80-85 years on average, but many people live well into their 90s. This calculator projects through age 95 to provide a conservative estimate.
The 4% Rule
The 4% rule is a widely cited guideline suggesting you can withdraw 4% of your retirement savings in the first year, then adjust for inflation each subsequent year, and your money should last at least 30 years. It was derived from historical US stock and bond returns.
For example, if you retire with $1,000,000, the 4% rule suggests withdrawing $40,000 in the first year. This is a starting point, not a guarantee — actual results depend on market conditions, inflation, and your specific investment mix.
This calculator lets you set any withdrawal amount so you can test different scenarios. Try adjusting the desired annual income to see how it affects your savings longevity.
Accumulation vs Drawdown
During the accumulation phase, your savings benefit from compound growth — your returns generate their own returns. A $500 monthly contribution at 7% annual return grows to over $800,000 in 35 years, even though you only contributed $210,000. The remaining $590,000+ comes from investment growth.
During drawdown, the dynamic reverses. You are withdrawing money while your remaining balance continues to earn returns. If your withdrawal rate exceeds your investment returns, your balance declines. The year-by-year table above shows exactly when this crossover happens and how quickly your savings deplete.
The transition from accumulation to drawdown is the most critical moment in retirement planning. Your balance at retirement determines how much income you can sustainably withdraw.
How Inflation Affects Retirement
This calculator uses nominal returns (before adjusting for inflation). In reality, inflation erodes the purchasing power of your savings over time. If inflation averages 3% per year, $40,000 today will only buy about $22,000 worth of goods in 20 years.
To account for inflation, you can either reduce the expected return rate by the expected inflation rate (e.g., use 4% instead of 7% if you expect 3% inflation), or increase your desired annual income to reflect future prices. Either approach gives you a more realistic picture.
How to Increase Retirement Readiness
If the calculator shows your savings running out too early, there are several levers you can pull: increase your monthly contributions, delay retirement by a few years (which both extends accumulation and shortens drawdown), reduce your desired retirement income, or aim for higher investment returns (with appropriate risk).
Even small changes compound significantly. Increasing your monthly contribution by $100 or delaying retirement by 2 years can add hundreds of thousands to your final balance. Use this calculator to experiment with different scenarios and find the combination that works for your situation. For employer-sponsored savings, see our 401k Calculator or Pension Calculator. For tax-free growth options, explore the Roth IRA Calculator.
Track Your Path to Retirement
Projections are a starting point. EptaWealth tracks your actual investments — stocks, crypto, savings, bonds, and more — so you always know where you stand on the road to retirement. Join the beta.
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