Projecting a savings plan
$20,000 saved today plus $400 a month for 25 years at a 6% return projects to $366,497.00 at retirement.
Retirement calculator
This is an estimate for information only. It is not financial or retirement advice — consult a qualified advisor for a plan based on your full situation.
Result
Fill in the fields to see your result.
How it works
Each mode uses the same time-value-of-money mathematics, just arranged around a different unknown: a target income becomes a required nest egg, a savings plan becomes a projected balance, a gap between the two becomes a required monthly contribution, and a fixed withdrawal against a balance becomes a number of years.
The "how long will it last" mode also shows the balance year by year, since a withdrawal that is smaller than the return the balance earns will never fully deplete it — a useful check before locking in a spending plan.
Formulas used
Nest egg needed
Needed = Monthly income × (1 − (1 + i)^−n) ÷ i
Projected balance
Balance = Current × (1 + i)^n + Contribution × ((1 + i)^n − 1) ÷ i
Worked examples
How long a nest egg lasts
An $800,000 nest egg, withdrawing $3,500 a month at a 4% return during retirement, lasts about 36.0 years.
Assumptions and limits
- Returns are constant and compound monthly — real markets fluctuate year to year.
- Contributions and withdrawals are level amounts, made monthly.
- No taxes, fees or required minimum distributions are modelled.
Frequently asked questions
What return rate should I assume?
A commonly used range for a diversified portfolio before retirement is 5–7% nominal, and a more conservative 3–5% during retirement when portfolios are usually shifted toward lower-risk assets — these are examples, not guarantees.
What is a safe withdrawal rate?
A frequently cited starting point is about 4% of the balance in the first year, adjusted for inflation afterward, though the right rate depends on your time horizon, other income and risk tolerance.
Why does "how long will it last" sometimes say indefinitely?
If your withdrawal is smaller than what the balance earns each month at the assumed return, the balance never shrinks to zero — it can in principle support that withdrawal forever, market conditions permitting.
Does this account for taxes, Social Security or a pension?
No — it works purely with the numbers you enter. Subtract expected outside income from your desired income first if you want a net savings target.
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