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Retirement Calculator

Project your nest egg from age 25–50 to age 65 with monthly contributions and 7% annual return.

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80%

Retirement Projection

Projected Nest Egg

$1,015,810

Monthly Withdrawal (4% Rule)

$3,386.03

Retirement Readiness

Based on 80% income replacement

68%
Target: $1,500,000Projected: $1,015,810
Researched by CentCalc Financial Editorial TeamData: Trinity Study 4% rule + SSA bend points + IRS RMD tables

How This Is Calculated

This retirement calculator projects your savings growth using the compound interest formula with monthly contributions, then frames the result against the 4% safe withdrawal rule.

Compound interest formula: A = P(1+r/n)^(nt) + PMT × [((1+r/n)^(nt) − 1) / (r/n)], where P is initial savings, r is the annual return (default 7%), n is compounding periods per year (12), t is years to retirement, and PMT is the monthly contribution.

The 4% rule (Trinity Study, Cooley et al. 1998) found that withdrawing 4% of your portfolio in year one of retirement — then adjusting for inflation — had a ~95% success rate over 30 years. To retire on this rule, target 25× your annual expenses.

Social Security bend points (2026): The PIA formula uses two bend points — $1,286 and $7,749 per month of AIME. Benefits below the first bend are replaced at 90%, between bends at 32%, above the second bend at 15%. Claiming at full retirement age (FRA 67) gives 100%; claiming early at 62 reduces benefits by ~25%; delaying to 70 increases benefits by ~24%.

See our full methodology for every formula, data source, and assumption.

Who should use this

Anyone age 25–50 planning retirement savings. Most useful for comparing "what if I start now vs. in 5 years" scenarios and for stress-testing whether your current contribution rate will hit your target nest egg.

Key inputs

  • Current age — determines years to retirement (default target age 65)
  • Current savings — your starting principal (401k + IRA + brokerage)
  • Monthly contribution — how much you add each month
  • Annual return — default 7% reflects a balanced, inflation-adjusted equity expectation

How to interpret results

Fidelity's milestones: save 1× salary by 30, 3× by 40, 6× by 50, 10× by 67. If your projected balance at 65 is below 10× your final salary, increase your contribution rate. A result below 25× your annual expenses means the 4% rule will not fully fund retirement without other income (Social Security, pension).

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will I have if I start at 35?
Starting at age 35 with $50,000 saved and $500/month contributions at 7% annual return, you would have approximately $612,000 by age 65. Starting 5 years earlier at 30 adds roughly $180,000 more — compound growth rewards early starts disproportionately. The Rule of 72 (72 ÷ 7 ≈ 10.3 years) means every decade roughly doubles your balance.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule (Trinity Study, 1998) found that withdrawing 4% of your portfolio in the first year of retirement, then adjusting for inflation each subsequent year, had a ~95% success rate over 30 years across historical market conditions. This means you need roughly 25× your annual expenses saved to retire confidently (e.g., $40,000/year expenses → $1,000,000 target).
How much should I save for retirement each month?
Fidelity recommends saving 15% of gross income (including employer match) for retirement. Starting at age 25, 15% typically builds 10× your final salary by age 67. If you start later, the percentage must rise: starting at 35 may need 20–25%. Our calculator lets you model different contribution amounts to see the impact.
When can I retire?
Financial independence arrives when your portfolio reaches 25× your annual expenses (the 4% rule). For $50,000/year expenses, that is a $1,250,000 target. At a 7% real return with $1,000/month contributions, starting from $0, this typically takes 25–30 years. The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement applies this math to retire well before 65.
How does inflation affect retirement savings?
Inflation erodes purchasing power: at 3% inflation, $100,000 today buys what $41,000 will buy in 30 years. A 7% nominal return minus 3% inflation equals a 4% real return. Our calculator shows nominal dollars — for real (inflation-adjusted) purchasing power, subtract expected inflation from the growth rate you enter.

Plan a secure retirement

Books for long-term planners

Affiliate Disclosure:As an Amazon Associate, CentCalc earns from qualifying purchases. This means if you click an affiliate link and make a purchase on Amazon, we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support our free calculators. We only recommend products we believe are genuinely helpful.

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The Simple Path to Wealth (JL Collins)

Explains index fund investing in plain English — the vehicle that makes the 7% return in our calculator realistic for most people.

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The Psychology of Money (Morgan Housel)

The single best book on why most people underperform compounding. Short, practical, and shifts your mindset from "picking stocks" to "time in the market."

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Estimates only. Assumes constant 7% return; real markets are volatile. Not financial advice. Consult a qualified financial advisor.