Retirement Calculator
Estimate your retirement savings with compound interest, inflation adjustment, and milestone projections
Enter your current age and retirement age above to project your retirement savings.
What is a Retirement Calculator?
A retirement calculator estimates how much money you will have saved by the time you retire, based on your current savings, monthly contributions, expected investment return, and years until retirement. It uses compound interest to project your portfolio growth and helps you understand whether you are on track to meet your retirement goals. Planning early is one of the most powerful steps you can take toward a secure financial future.
How to Use the Retirement Calculator
- Enter your current age and target retirement age
- Enter your current retirement savings balance
- Enter your planned monthly contribution
- Adjust the expected annual return (default 7% reflects long-term stock market averages)
- Optionally set an inflation rate to see the real purchasing power of your savings
- View your projected retirement balance, inflation-adjusted value, and milestone timeline
Features
- Projects retirement savings with compound interest
- Inflation-adjusted real value calculation
- Estimated monthly income using the 4% safe withdrawal rule
- 5-year milestone breakdown showing portfolio growth over time
- Shows total contributions vs. investment growth
- Instant reactive calculation — no submit button needed
Frequently Asked Questions
What annual return rate should I use?
The U.S. stock market has historically returned about 7–10% annually before inflation. A common conservative estimate is 6–7% for a diversified portfolio. Use a lower rate (4–5%) if you hold more bonds or want a more conservative projection.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule is a widely used retirement guideline suggesting you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio per year in retirement without running out of money for at least 30 years. It was developed from historical market data by the Trinity Study. Use it as a rough estimate, not a guarantee.
Why does inflation matter for retirement savings?
Inflation reduces purchasing power over time. $1,000,000 in 30 years will buy significantly less than $1,000,000 today at a 2.5% inflation rate. The inflation-adjusted value shown here tells you what your savings will be worth in today's dollars, helping you set realistic spending expectations.