Retirement Calculator

A retirement calculator matters because the gap between what people think they need and what they actually need is often large. The core question is straightforward: given your current savings, contribution rate, expected returns, and spending goals, will your money outlast you? This calculator models that question by projecting a savings balance forward to a target retirement age, then comparing the result against sustainable withdrawal income.

The math uses compound growth to project savings forward, then applies a safe withdrawal rate to estimate annual retirement income. The 4% rule is a common starting point: it suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfolio in year one and adjusting for inflation thereafter. The calculator shows both the projected balance and the income it can sustain, plus the gap or surplus relative to your spending target. That gap analysis is the most actionable output because it tells you whether to save more, retire later, or adjust spending expectations.