Retirement Calculator
Project your retirement savings and check whether they will last through retirement.
Please note: This is an illustration, not financial advice. Speak to a qualified adviser about your own circumstances.
What the Retirement Calculator does
Retirement planning has two halves: accumulating capital while you work, then drawing it down without running out. This projects both, inflating your target income to the year you retire and using a real rate of return during retirement so your spending keeps pace with prices.
Formula
Projected = Current × (1+r)ⁿ + PMT × ((1+r)ⁿ − 1) ÷ rTarget income = Desired × (1 + inflation)^years to retirementRequired capital = PV of the income stream at the real return rate
Inputs explained
| Input | Unit | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current age | number | Yes | Accepts 16 or more, up to 100. |
| Retirement age | number | Yes | Accepts 30 or more, up to 100. |
| Plan until age | number | Yes | Accepts 50 or more, up to 120. |
| Current retirement savings | selected currency | Optional | Accepts 0 or more. |
| Monthly contribution | selected currency | Yes | Accepts 0 or more. |
| Return before retirement | % | Yes | — |
| Return during retirement | % | Yes | — |
| Desired monthly income in retirement | selected currency | Yes | In today's money. Accepts more than 0. |
| Inflation rate | % | Yes | — |
| Currency | one of 10 options | Optional | — |
How to use it
- Choose Currency.
- Enter Current age, Retirement age, Plan until age and Monthly contribution and 4 more.
- Optionally add Current retirement savings.
- Select Calculate.
Worked example
Age 35, retiring at 65, planning to 90, $50,000 saved, $800 a month, 7% before and 4% after, wanting $4,000 a month in today's money.
- Age
- 35
- Retire
- 65
- Until
- 90
- Current
- 50000
- Monthly
- 800
- Income
- 4000
Projected $1,381,801.67 against $2,585,250.90 required — a $1,203,449.23 shortfall, closed by saving $986.46 more a month.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 4% rule?
A guideline suggesting you can withdraw 4% of your starting balance annually, rising with inflation, with a good chance of lasting 30 years. It is a starting point, not a guarantee.
Why use a lower return during retirement?
Most people shift toward bonds and cash as they age to reduce volatility, which lowers expected return but protects against a crash right when withdrawals begin.