Retirement Calculator – Forecast Your Retirement Readiness
Estimate your future retirement account value and understand how savings rates, time, and investment returns affect your long-term plan.
How this retirement calculator helps
Use this retirement planning calculator to model how long-term saving, repeated contributions, and investment growth can support your future income needs.
Formula: This estimate applies a future-value compound growth model to your current retirement balance, annual return assumption, and periodic contributions.
Assumptions: The calculator assumes a steady annual return, regular contributions, and no major changes in savings behavior. It does not model inflation, taxes, or withdrawals during retirement.
Worked example: A $150,000 starting balance, 25 years until retirement, 7% annual return, and $1,000 monthly contributions can show how a steady plan may accumulate over time.
- Current balance: Amount already invested for retirement.
- Years until retirement: Remaining time for compound growth.
- Expected return: Your assumed average annual investment gain.
- Contribution: Recurring deposits to retirement accounts.
- Projected value: Estimated account size at retirement.
What the result means
The projected retirement value reflects the size of your portfolio under your current assumptions. It is a planning estimate and should be checked against inflation, taxes, spending needs, and realistic investment expectations.
Related calculators
Investment calculator for comparing long-term portfolio growth, Savings calculator for short- and medium-term goal planning.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this account for inflation? Not directly. Inflation can reduce purchasing power, so it is important to compare results with your expected lifestyle costs.
- Should I use this for tax planning? Not as a final tax decision tool. Check IRS and retirement-plan rules for contribution and withdrawal limits.
Why sequence of returns risk matters near retirement
The average return assumption used here smooths out year-to-year market swings, but the actual order those returns happen in matters a great deal, especially in the years just before and after retirement. A market downturn early in retirement, while you're withdrawing income, can deplete a portfolio much faster than the same downturn happening mid-career while you're still contributing.
This is why many retirement plans shift toward a more conservative asset mix as retirement approaches, trading some growth potential for reduced volatility. It's also worth factoring in when you plan to claim Social Security, since delaying benefits past full retirement age increases the monthly payment for life.
- Increase contributions with catch-up limits: Retirement accounts typically allow higher contribution limits once you reach a certain age.
- Plan a withdrawal strategy early: Decide roughly how much you'll draw down each year before you actually retire.
- Revisit the plan after major changes: A new job, inheritance, or market downturn are all good reasons to rerun the numbers.
Creator & reviewers
Creator persona
- Avery BennettPersonal finance & everyday budgeting
Reviewer personas
- Devon ShawFormula & assumptions review
- Sage MitchellClarity & usability review