Retirement planning

When can you retire?

See how long your current savings rate takes to reach financial independence.

Your investment
$
$
7.0%
30 years
%
After 30 years
Final balance
$1,430,000
Total contributions$385,000
Total interest earned+$1,045,000
Growth multiplier3.71×
Real value (3% inflation)$762,018
❄️ 73% of your final balance is pure interest — your money earned 2.71× itself.
The snowball effect
Year-by-year growth
See year-by-year breakdown tableClick to expand
YearContributionsInterestBalance
1$37,000+$2,272$39,272
2$49,000+$5,576$54,576
3$61,000+$9,986$70,986
4$73,000+$15,583$88,583
5$85,000+$22,451$107,451
6$97,000+$30,684$127,684
7$109,000+$40,379$149,379
8$121,000+$51,642$172,642
9$133,000+$64,588$197,588
10$145,000+$79,336$224,336
11$157,000+$96,018$253,018
12$169,000+$114,774$283,774
13$181,000+$135,753$316,753
14$193,000+$159,116$352,116
15$205,000+$185,035$390,035
16$217,000+$213,695$430,695
17$229,000+$245,295$474,295
18$241,000+$280,047$521,047
19$253,000+$318,178$571,178
20$265,000+$359,934$624,934
21$277,000+$405,575$682,575
22$289,000+$455,384$744,384
23$301,000+$509,660$810,660
24$313,000+$568,728$881,728
25$325,000+$632,933$957,933
26$337,000+$702,646$1,039,646
27$349,000+$778,267$1,127,267
28$361,000+$860,223$1,221,223
29$373,000+$948,970$1,321,970
30$385,000+$1,045,000$1,430,000
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How much do you need to retire?

The classic "4% rule" suggests you can safely withdraw 4% of your portfolio each year in retirement. Your retirement number is roughly 25× your annual expenses. Spend $40,000/year? You need $1,000,000. Spend $80,000? $2,000,000.

The "start early" advantage

The single biggest factor in retirement wealth is time. Someone who invests $300/month from age 25 to 35 (then stops) will have more at 65 than someone who invests $300/month from 35 to 65. Compound interest rewards early starters disproportionately.

Recommended reading

  • The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins
  • Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin
  • The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley