Retirement Calculator
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Retirement Calculator

Free Retirement Calculator: Estimate your 401(k) or IRA growth to see if you're on track to meet your retirement savings goals. Includes inflation adjustment.

Inputs

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Result

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Enter values and click calculate to see the result.

More Information

Understanding the Retirement Calculator

Planning for retirement is one of the most important financial goals. This calculator helps you project the future value of your retirement savings (such as a 401(k) or IRA) to determine if you are on track. It is a powerful tool to visualize how your savings can grow over time.

Key Factors in Retirement Planning

  • Time Horizon: The number of years until you retire is your most powerful asset. The longer your money is invested, the more time it has to benefit from compound growth.
  • Contribution Rate: The amount you save each month is a direct driver of your final nest egg. Even small, consistent contributions can grow into large sums over decades.
  • Rate of Return: The average annual return on your investments. Historically, diversified stock market portfolios have returned around 7-10% annually, though this is not guaranteed. A higher rate of return can significantly increase your final balance.
  • Inflation: Inflation erodes the purchasing power of your money over time. Our calculator shows you the final balance in "today's dollars" to give you a realistic sense of its future value. You can explore this concept further with our Inflation Calculator.

Common Retirement Accounts

This calculator can model growth in any investment account. Common types include:

  • 401(k) / 403(b): Employer-sponsored plans that often come with a company match, which can significantly boost your savings. Contributions are pre-tax, lowering your current taxable income.
  • Traditional IRA: An individual retirement account where contributions may be tax-deductible. Growth is tax-deferred, and you pay taxes upon withdrawal in retirement.
  • Roth IRA: An individual account where you contribute with after-tax dollars. The money grows tax-free, and qualified withdrawals in retirement are also tax-free.

What's a Good Retirement Goal?

A common rule of thumb is the "4% rule," which suggests you can safely withdraw 4% of your retirement savings each year without depleting your principal. To use this, estimate your desired annual income in retirement and multiply it by 25. For example, to withdraw $50,000 per year, you would need a nest egg of $1.25 million.

Frequently Asked Questions