Tell the calculator your age, when you want to retire, and what you are saving. It projects your balance year by year and translates the final number into monthly retirement income using the classic 4 percent withdrawal rule.
The projection compounds your balance monthly at your chosen return and adds your contribution each month until your retirement age. The summary then applies the 4 percent rule, which suggests withdrawing 4 percent of your nest egg in year one as a sustainable starting point.
Small changes early have outsized effects. Working two extra years or adding 100 dollars a month in your thirties can move the final number more than far larger sacrifices made in your fifties, because every dollar gets more time to compound.
It is a planning guideline drawn from historical United States market data, not a guarantee. Many planners now suggest a range of 3.5 to 4.5 percent depending on your age, your mix of investments, and your flexibility.
This tool projects only your savings. Add your estimated Social Security benefit, which you can check at ssa.gov, on top of the monthly income shown here.
A diversified portfolio has historically returned around 7 percent annually over long periods, before inflation. If you plan to shift toward bonds as you age, try 5 or 6 percent for a gentler assumption.
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