The most comprehensive free retirement calculator available. Uses monthly compounding, employer match, Social Security, inflation-adjusted projections, and gap analysis to show exactly where you stand -- and what to do about it.
| Age | Balance (Nominal) | Balance (Today's $) | Monthly Income* |
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The 4% rule comes from the 1994 Trinity Study, which found that retirees who withdrew 4% of their portfolio in year one (adjusting for inflation each year after) had a 95% chance of their money lasting 30 years. With a $1,000,000 portfolio, that means withdrawing $40,000 in year one. The rule assumes a balanced stock/bond portfolio. Some financial planners now recommend 3.5% for extra safety given longer life expectancies.
FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) means saving 50-70% of your income to retire decades before the traditional age. The math is simple: save 25x your annual expenses and live off the 4% withdrawal. Variations include LeanFIRE (under $40k/year), FatFIRE ($100k+/year), and BaristaFIRE (semi-retirement with part-time income). At a 70% savings rate, you could reach FIRE in roughly 8.5 years regardless of income level.
Compound interest turns time into your greatest asset. Investing $500/month starting at age 25 at 7% returns gives you roughly $1,200,000 by age 65. Starting at 35 with the same amount yields only about $567,000 -- less than half. Each decade you delay cuts your final balance nearly in half. Even small amounts invested early outperform large amounts invested later. Start now, even if it is only $50/month.
If your employer offers a 401(k) match, always contribute enough to get the full match. A common structure is 50% match on the first 6% of salary. On an $80,000 salary, contributing 6% ($4,800) earns a $2,400 match -- an instant 50% return before any investment gains. Not maximizing your match is leaving part of your compensation on the table. This calculator includes employer match in your projections automatically.
Traditional IRA/401(k): Contributions are tax-deductible now; you pay taxes when you withdraw in retirement. Best if you are in a high tax bracket now and expect lower income in retirement. Roth IRA/401(k): Contributions are after-tax, but all growth and withdrawals are tax-free. Best if you are early in your career, in a lower bracket, or expect tax rates to rise. Many advisors recommend having both for tax diversification.
You can claim Social Security as early as age 62 (reduced ~30%), at Full Retirement Age of 66-67 (100%), or delay until 70 for maximum benefits (~124-132% of full). Each year you delay past 62 adds roughly 6-8% to your benefit. For a healthy person expecting to live past 80, delaying often maximizes lifetime income. Check your personalized estimate at ssa.gov/myaccount. This calculator factors in your expected benefit if provided.