Retirement Calculator

A retirement calculator projects how large your nest egg will grow by the time you stop working, based on what you've already saved, what you contribute each month, the age you'll retire, and your expected investment return. It uses compound growth to model decades of saving and investing in a single number you can react to today. Some calculators also estimate how long that money will last in retirement and convert future dollars back to today's purchasing power so you can judge whether the goal actually covers the lifestyle you want. Think of it as a pressure-test for your long-term plan, not a guarantee.

Enter your current age, the age you plan to retire, the amount you've already saved, and how much you can contribute each month. Set an expected annual return — 5–7% after inflation is a reasonable long-term assumption for a diversified stock-and-bond portfolio. Optionally include an inflation rate so the result reflects today's purchasing power. The calculator returns your projected balance at retirement and how it grew over time. Adjust the inputs to test scenarios: retiring five years later, contributing $200 more per month, or assuming a more conservative return — see how each changes the outcome.

Your projected balance is a single number, but it depends on assumptions that compound over decades. A 1% lower annual return over 30 years can shrink the result by 25% or more — small differences matter enormously over time. The 'today's dollars' figure is usually the more meaningful number, because $1,000,000 in 35 years won't buy what $1,000,000 buys today. As a rough guide, the 4% rule suggests you can withdraw 4% of your nest egg each year in retirement with high odds of not running out. Revisit the calculator yearly and adjust as your income, savings rate, and goals evolve.