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Retirement calculator
See when you can retire, your FI number, and the monthly savings you need to get there. Free, instant, no sign-up.
Coverage: Compound interest · Retirement · FIRE · Debt payoff · Mortgages · Fraud prevention
Built from: IRS · FINRA · SEC · BLS · Federal Reserve · Freddie Mac30+ primary sources verified
2026 retirement rules snapshot · As they actually stand
2026 contribution limits
401(k) $23,500 (+$7,500 catch-up at 50+, +$11,250 super-catch-up at 60-63) · IRA $7,000 (+$1,000) · HSA family $8,550. (IRS Notice 2025-79.)
SECURE 2.0: RMD age moves to 75
Required Minimum Distributions now start at age 73 (born 1951–1959) or 75 (born 1960+). Two extra years of tax-deferred growth vs the old 72 rule.
4% rule: still the right anchor
Bengen (1994) + Trinity Study + Pfau updates. 30-year horizon ~95% success on 60/40 portfolio. Our 10,000-scenario simulation shows why rate variance — not contribution size — drives outcome spread.
IRMAA brackets bite at modest incomes
Medicare Part B/D surcharges start at $106k single / $212k joint MAGI in 2026. Roth conversion strategy lives or dies on staying under these cliffs.
Quick answer · 4 most-asked retirement scenarios
Spend $50K/yr → need $1.25M (4% rule)
$25K start + $1,500/mo @ 7% real → hits $1.25M in 23 years. Starting at 35 → retire at 58.
Spend $80K/yr → need $2M
$50K + $2,500/mo @ 7% real → $2M in 22 years. SS adds ~$24K/yr at FRA — reduces required portfolio.
Spend $40K/yr → need $1M (Lean FIRE)
$0 + $2,000/mo @ 7% real → $1M in 22 years. Achievable starting at 25, retire by 47.
Spend $150K/yr → need $3.75M (Fat FIRE)
$200K + $5,000/mo @ 7% real → $3.75M in 21 years. Requires top-decile income.
Key retirement terms (used throughout this page)
- 4% rule (SWR)
- Withdraw 4% year-one, adjust by inflation each year. Trinity Study showed 30-yr survival in 96%+ of historical periods at 50/50 to 75/25 stock/bond.
- FI number
- Annual spending × 25 = portfolio needed for financial independence. The inverse of the 4% rule.
- Sequence-of-returns risk
- Bad markets in the first 5-10 years of retirement cause more damage than identical losses later. Mitigated by glide-path and cash buffer.
- Roth conversion ladder
- Annually convert traditional → Roth, wait 5 years, then withdraw conversions penalty-free. Used by early retirees to bridge to 59½.
- Rule 72(t) SEPP
- Substantially Equal Periodic Payments. IRS-blessed penalty-free withdrawal before 59½. Locks the schedule for 5 years or until 59½.
- RMD (Required Min Distribution)
- IRS-mandated withdrawals starting at age 73 (SECURE Act 2.0). Applies to traditional IRA/401k. Roth IRA exempt.
How to use this retirement calculator
Enter your current portfolio balance (401k + IRA + taxable brokerage), your monthly contributions (yours plus any employer match), an expected annual return, and the years until you want to retire. The result is your projected portfolio value — multiply your annual spending by 25 to compare against your FI number.
Your FI number (the 4% rule)
| Annual spending | FI number (25×) | Monthly withdrawal at 4% |
|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1.0M | $3,333 |
| $60,000 | $1.5M | $5,000 |
| $80,000 | $2.0M | $6,667 |
| $100,000 | $2.5M | $8,333 |
| $120,000 | $3.0M | $10,000 |
How long to retirement at different savings rates
With a 7% real return, your savings rate (percent of take-home pay you save) determines your time horizon:
- 10% savings rate: 51 years to retirement
- 20% savings rate: 37 years
- 30% savings rate: 28 years
- 40% savings rate: 22 years
- 50% savings rate: 17 years
- 65% savings rate: 10.5 years
- 75% savings rate: 7 years
Where US retirement readiness stands in 2026
- Median retirement savings by age (Federal Reserve SCF, current):
- Under 35: ~$18K · 35-44: ~$45K · 45-54: ~$115K
- 55-64: ~$185K · 65-74: ~$200K · 75+: ~$130K
- 2026 IRS contribution limits: 401(k) $24,000 employee deferral ($8,000 catch-up 50+). IRA/Roth $7,500 ($1,000 catch-up). Combined 401(k) limit (employee + employer) $72,500.
- Social Security max benefit at FRA (67): ~$4,250/mo in 2026. Avg retired-worker benefit: ~$1,975/mo per SSA. Annual COLA tied to CPI-W.
- Full Retirement Age (FRA): 67 for anyone born 1960+. Claim at 62 = ~30% permanent cut; claim at 70 = ~24% permanent boost.
- Life expectancy at 65 (CDC): male ~17 more years (to 82), female ~20 more years (to 85). Healthy non-smokers add 3-5 years.
- Medicare eligibility: 65. Plan a healthcare bridge if retiring before 65 (ACA marketplace, COBRA, or HSA cash).
Who this retirement calculator is for
20s starter
$0 + $500/mo @ 7% real for 45 years → $1.84M. Time is everything. Auto-invest the Roth IRA max ($7.5K/yr) and you finish life rich.
30s catching up
$40K + $1,500/mo @ 7% real for 32 years → $2.32M. Aim 15-20% savings rate. 401(k) match first, then Roth, then taxable.
40s late start
$50K + $2,500/mo @ 7% real for 22 years → $1.74M. Hit catch-up contributions at 50. Working to 70 adds ~$700K to terminal balance.
50s glidepath
$400K + $3,000/mo @ 6% real for 15 years → $1.85M. Lower rate reflects de-risking to 60/40. Plan SS claim age and Medicare bridge if retiring before 65.
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Methodology & sources
- 4% rule: Cooley, Hubbard & Walz Trinity Study (1998 + updates); Wade Pfau follow-up research
- Median retirement savings by age: Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances (current edition)
- 2026 IRS limits: IRS Notice on cost-of-living adjustments for qualified retirement plans
- Social Security benefits & FRA: SSA Annual Statistical Supplement and Quick Calculator
- Life expectancy: CDC National Vital Statistics Reports
- SECURE Act 2.0 RMD age: HR 2954 (2022)
- Long-run real return ~7%: Robert Shiller CAPE dataset; NYU Stern (Damodaran) historical returns
Retirement calculator FAQ
How much do I need to retire?
Multiply your expected annual retirement spending by 25 — that's your FI (Financial Independence) number under the 4% rule. If you spend $50,000/year, you need $1.25M. If you spend $80,000/year, you need $2M.
What is the 4% rule?
The 4% rule (Trinity Study) says you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one of retirement and adjust for inflation each year after, with very high odds of not running out over 30 years. It assumes a 50/50 to 75/25 stock/bond portfolio.
Can I retire at 55? At 50? At 45?
Yes, if you have 25× your annual spending invested. Retiring before 59½ means you need to access funds via a Roth conversion ladder, Rule 72(t) SEPP, or taxable brokerage to bridge until traditional retirement accounts unlock penalty-free.
How much should I save each month to retire?
Aim for 15–25% of gross income if you start in your 20s, 25–40% if you start in your 30s, and 40%+ if you start later. Saving rate matters more than investment return for the first 10–15 years.
Does this retirement calculator account for Social Security?
This calculator projects your portfolio value. To factor in Social Security, reduce your portfolio's required income by your expected monthly Social Security benefit. Use our Social Security estimator for the benefit number.