Retirement Calculator
See if you're on track to retire comfortably. Add your retirement accounts, factor in employer matching, Social Security, tax implications, and additional income to get the full picture.
About You
Retirement Accounts
$938/mo totalContributions reduce taxable income. Withdrawals taxed as ordinary income.
Contributions from after-tax income. Qualified withdrawals are tax-free. No RMDs.
Additional Retirement Income
Social Security
Check yours at ssa.gov/myaccount. ~85% is taxable.
Growth, Inflation & Tax
S&P 500 avg: ~10% (7% after inflation)
More conservative portfolio
Advisors recommend 70-80%
0% in TX, FL, NV etc.
Results
Your money runs out at age 88
At your current savings rate, you'll run short 2 years before your life expectancy.
Above 4% guideline
Fed + 5% state
How You'll Get There
Account Balances at Retirement
Subject to RMDs No RMDs
Portfolio Balance Over Time
Accumulation Retirement
Year-by-Year Breakdown
| Age | Contributions | Withdrawals | Growth | Est. Tax | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | $11,250 | — | $5,067 | — | $81,317 |
| 31 | $11,318 | — | $6,249 | — | $98,883 |
| 32 | $11,387 | — | $7,521 | — | $117,791 |
| 33 | $11,459 | — | $8,890 | — | $138,140 |
| 34 | $11,532 | — | $10,363 | — | $160,035 |
| 35 | $11,608 | — | $11,949 | — | $183,592 |
| 36 | $11,687 | — | $13,654 | — | $208,933 |
| 37 | $11,767 | — | $15,489 | — | $236,189 |
| 38 | $11,850 | — | $17,462 | — | $265,501 |
| 39 | $11,936 | — | $19,584 | — | $297,021 |
| 40 | $12,000 | — | $21,864 | — | $330,885 |
| 41 | $12,000 | — | $24,312 | — | $367,197 |
| 42 | $12,000 | — | $26,937 | — | $406,134 |
| 43 | $12,000 | — | $29,752 | — | $447,887 |
| 44 | $12,000 | — | $32,770 | — | $492,657 |
How This Retirement Calculator Works
This calculator projects your retirement savings from today through your life expectancy, modeling both the accumulation phase (while you're saving) and the distribution phase (while you're spending). It tells you whether your money will last, what your withdrawal rate looks like, and estimates your tax burden in retirement.
Unlike simple retirement calculators, this one supports six account types — Traditional 401(k), Roth 401(k), Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, HSA, and taxable brokerage — each with its own tax treatment, contribution limits, catch-up rules, and RMD requirements. You can add multiple accounts, factor in employer matching, Social Security, pensions, rental income, and other income sources to build a complete picture.
Tax-aware withdrawal strategy
During retirement, the calculator draws from your accounts in a tax-efficient order: taxable brokerage first, then Traditional accounts, then Roth accounts. This preserves tax-free growth in your Roth accounts as long as possible. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from Traditional accounts are taken automatically starting at age 73 using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table factors from SECURE 2.0.
Tax estimates use current federal brackets with standard deductions, long-term capital gains rates for taxable account withdrawals, and your specified state tax rate. Social Security income is assumed 85% taxable, which applies to most retirees above modest income levels.
Employer matching and catch-up contributions
For 401(k) accounts, you can specify your employer's match rate and cap. The calculator models the match as additional contributions during your working years. If you're 50 or older, catch-up contributions are automatically included — an extra $7,500/year for 401(k) plans, $1,000/year for IRAs, and $1,000/year for HSAs (age 55+). These limits reflect 2025 IRS rules.
Example scenarios
Starting at 30
$50K in 401(k) · $500/mo + 50% match · retire at 65
~$1.4M
At 7% pre-retirement return · money lasts to 90+
Late starter at 45
$100K saved · $1,000/mo · retire at 67
~$740K
Catch-up contributions kick in at 50 to help close the gap
Early retirement at 55
$800K saved · $2,000/mo · no SS until 67
~$1.2M at 55
12 years before SS — withdrawal rate is critical
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do I need to retire?
A common target is 25 times your annual expenses in retirement, which aligns with the 4% withdrawal rule. If you need $60,000/year in retirement income, you'd target $1.5 million in savings. But this varies significantly based on your Social Security benefits, pension income, expected healthcare costs, tax situation, and where you live. This calculator models all of these factors rather than relying on a single rule of thumb.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfolio in your first year of retirement, then adjusting that dollar amount for inflation each year. Based on historical stock and bond returns, this approach has a high probability of lasting 30 years. However, it was designed for a 50/50 stock/bond portfolio and doesn't account for taxes, RMDs, or variable spending. This calculator uses your actual inputs instead of assuming 4%, and shows you whether your specific plan sustains through your life expectancy.
What's the difference between Traditional and Roth accounts?
Traditional accounts (401k, IRA) give you a tax deduction now — contributions reduce your taxable income today. But withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income, and you must take Required Minimum Distributions starting at age 73. Roth accounts use after-tax money, so no deduction now, but qualified withdrawals are completely tax-free and Roth IRAs have no RMDs. Having both types gives you flexibility to manage your tax bracket in retirement.
What are Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)?
RMDs are mandatory annual withdrawals from Traditional 401(k)s, Traditional IRAs, and Roth 401(k)s starting at age 73 under SECURE 2.0. The amount is calculated by dividing your account balance by an IRS life expectancy factor that decreases each year, forcing increasingly larger withdrawals. Roth IRAs are exempt from RMDs, which is one reason they're valuable for later retirement years. This calculator automatically applies RMDs and factors them into your tax estimate.
How much should I contribute to my 401(k)?
At minimum, contribute enough to capture your full employer match — anything less is leaving free money on the table. If your employer matches 50% up to 6% of your salary, contributing 6% gets you the maximum match. Beyond that, financial advisors generally recommend saving 15% of your gross income for retirement (including employer match). The 2025 contribution limit is $23,500 per year, plus $7,500 in catch-up contributions if you're 50 or older.
What return rate should I use?
This calculator defaults to 7% pre-retirement and 5% post-retirement. The lower post-retirement rate reflects a more conservative portfolio as you shift from stocks to bonds. The S&P 500 has historically returned about 10% annually before inflation and 7% after. If you're using inflation-adjusted inputs, 7% is a reasonable estimate for a stock-heavy portfolio. A blended 60/40 stock/bond portfolio historically returns about 8% before inflation.
How does Social Security factor into my plan?
Social Security reduces how much you need to withdraw from your savings. The average monthly benefit is about $1,900, but yours depends on your earnings history and when you claim. You can check your estimated benefit at ssa.gov/myaccount. This calculator treats approximately 85% of Social Security income as taxable, which applies to most retirees with income above $34,000 (single) or $44,000 (married filing jointly). Delaying Social Security past full retirement age increases your benefit by about 8% per year up to age 70.
Related tools: Compound Interest Calculator · Savings Goal Calculator · Tax Withholding Calculator · RMD Calculator