Retirement Planner

Project retirement balance from contributions and returns, plus the 4% rule annual draw

About this calculator

The Retirement Planner projects your nest egg from your current balance, annual contributions, and a constant annual return, compounding each year from your current age to retirement. It reports the nominal balance at retirement, its inflation-adjusted value in today's dollars, and the 4% rule's sustainable annual and monthly withdrawals, along with a year-by-year growth curve. Retirement age must exceed current age, and negative balances or contributions are rejected.

How to use the Retirement Planner calculator

  1. Enter your amounts, rates and terms into the input fields.
  2. Read the result — it updates instantly as you type.
  3. Adjust the inputs to compare scenarios side by side.
  4. Copy the page URL to share the exact calculation.

Common examples

  • $50k saved, $12k/yr at 7% from age 30 to 65 → ≈$2.31M nominal, ≈$972,858 in today's dollars (2.5% inflation)
  • From zero, $6k/yr at 6% from 25 to 67 → ≈$1.12M → 4% rule draws ≈$44,762/yr ($3,730/mo)
  • $200k saved, $20k/yr at 8% from 45 to 62 → ≈$1.47M, ≈$4,897/mo under the 4% rule

Frequently asked questions

How does the Retirement Planner calculator work?

Enter your amounts, rates and terms, and the calculator applies the standard financial formulas to show the outcome, including intermediate figures where they help you understand the result. All arithmetic runs at high precision, so rounding errors do not build up across periods.

When would I use the Retirement Planner calculator?

Use it when planning a purchase, loan, investment or budget, to compare options before committing, or to sanity-check figures quoted to you. It is an educational tool, not financial advice — confirm important decisions with your provider or a professional.

How accurate are the results?

The formulas are the standard ones used in finance and run at 30 significant digits internally. Real products may differ in fees, compounding conventions and rounding rules, so treat the result as a close estimate rather than a contractual figure.

Can I share a specific calculation with someone else?

Yes. Every value you enter updates the URL, so copying the address bar and sharing the link reopens the exact same calculation for whoever clicks it.