Retirement Calculator
Last reviewed: May 2026
How to use the Retirement Calculator
Model your retirement savings journey from accumulation through withdrawal, see how long your corpus lasts, and identify any shortfalls.
Enter your current age and target retirement age
Set your current age and the age you plan to retire. The difference determines how many years of contributions and compounding you have.
Enter your current retirement savings
If you already have savings in a 401(k), IRA, or other retirement account, enter the total balance. The calculator compounds this amount alongside your monthly contributions.
Set your monthly contribution
Enter the amount you plan to save and invest every month toward retirement. Even a small increase can compound into a significantly larger corpus over decades.
Choose your expected return rates
Set the annual return rate for the accumulation phase (while you are working and investing) and a separate, typically lower, return rate for the post-retirement withdrawal phase.
Enter your desired monthly expense in retirement
Provide the monthly income you would need in retirement in today's dollars. The calculator inflates this amount to your retirement year using the inflation rate you set.
Set inflation and life expectancy
Adjust the expected average inflation rate and the age you want your savings to last until. These two values determine whether your corpus sustains your lifestyle or falls short.
Review your results
The summary shows your projected corpus, existing savings growth, total contributions, total returns, how long the corpus lasts, and any shortfall. The bar chart and growth table break down the accumulation year by year.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to save for retirement?
The amount depends on your desired monthly income in retirement, how many years you expect to be retired, and the rate of return on your investments after you stop working. A common starting point is to aim for a corpus that can sustain your desired lifestyle for the full length of your retirement. Enter your existing savings, monthly contribution, and target expenses into this calculator to see whether you are on track.
What is the 4% rule and should I follow it?
The 4% rule suggests withdrawing 4% of your retirement corpus in the first year and adjusting for inflation each subsequent year. It was designed to sustain a 30-year retirement based on historical US stock and bond returns. It is a useful starting benchmark, but your actual safe withdrawal rate depends on your asset allocation, post-retirement returns, and how long your retirement lasts. This calculator lets you set your own withdrawal amount and post-retirement return to model your specific scenario.
How does inflation affect my retirement savings?
Inflation erodes purchasing power over time. If you need $3,000 per month today and inflation averages 3%, that same lifestyle will cost roughly $7,300 per month in 30 years. This calculator automatically inflates your desired monthly expense to your retirement year so the withdrawal simulation reflects real-world costs.
When should I start saving for retirement?
The earlier the better. Compounding rewards time more than it rewards contribution size. Starting at age 25 instead of 35 with the same monthly contribution can result in a corpus that is 2 to 3 times larger at retirement, because those extra 10 years of compounding add up dramatically. Even small contributions early on make a meaningful difference.
Does the calculator account for money I have already saved?
Yes. Enter your current retirement savings balance and the calculator compounds that amount alongside your monthly contributions. Existing savings grow during the entire accumulation phase, which can significantly increase your projected corpus at retirement.
How does life expectancy affect the results?
The life expectancy slider determines how many years of withdrawals your corpus needs to sustain. A longer life expectancy means you need a larger corpus. If the calculator projects that your corpus runs out before your chosen life expectancy, it reports a shortfall and suggests adjustments you can make.
Should I rely on Social Security or a pension to cover my retirement expenses?
Social Security and employer pensions provide a baseline, but they rarely cover full living expenses in retirement. We recommend treating them as a supplement and planning your personal savings to cover the majority of your needs. Use this calculator to figure out how much you need to save on top of any guaranteed income.
How should my asset allocation change as I approach retirement?
A common strategy is to shift from growth-oriented assets (equities) toward income-oriented assets (bonds, fixed deposits) as retirement nears. This reduces portfolio volatility when you no longer have time to recover from market downturns. The "post-retirement return" slider in this calculator lets you model a more conservative return rate for the withdrawal phase.
What are catch-up contributions and do they help?
Catch-up contributions are additional amounts you can invest when you start saving later in life. Many tax-advantaged retirement accounts (like 401(k) and IRA in the US) allow higher contribution limits for people over 50. Even without special account limits, increasing your monthly savings in your 40s and 50s can significantly close a retirement shortfall. Use the calculator to see how a higher monthly contribution changes your projected corpus.
What does "shortfall" mean in the results?
Shortfall is the additional corpus you would need at retirement to sustain your desired monthly withdrawals through your chosen life expectancy. If your corpus already lasts past that age, the shortfall is zero. A positive shortfall means you should consider increasing your monthly contributions, adding to your existing savings, extending your working years, or reducing your planned retirement expenses.