Growing

Retirement Planner

Are you on track? Project your savings, see how long they last, and find the monthly amount that closes any gap. Results are in today's money.

How the retirement check works

First, your savings grow with monthly contributions and employer match until retirement. Then the calculator works out the income gap: the yearly income you want minus Social Security and pensions. It asks what lump sum, earning your retirement return, pays that gap every year until the age you plan for.

Everything is shown in today's dollars, adjusted for inflation, so $65,000 means what $65,000 buys now. Future-dollar figures look much larger, and they can make a plan seem safer than it is.

Choosing the inputs

Plan past your life expectancy. Planning to 90 or 95 covers the real chance of a long life.
Get your Social Security estimate from your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. It is personalized to your earnings record.
Many people need 70–80% of their working income in retirement, but your own expenses are a better guide.

Common questions

How much do I need to retire?

Enough savings to cover the gap between the income you want and what Social Security and pensions pay, every year until the age you plan for. The calculator works this out in today's dollars.

What is the 4% rule?

A guideline that withdrawing about 4% of savings in the first year, then adjusting for inflation, has historically lasted about 30 years. This calculator uses your own return and inflation assumptions instead.

Why are results shown in today's dollars?

Future amounts look much larger because of inflation. Showing everything in today's dollars makes it clear what your savings will actually buy.