Retirement Date Calculator
Estimate when you can retire based on your current savings, ongoing contributions, investment growth, and desired retirement income.
Current situation
Retirement target
Options
Retirement date formulas
1. Required portfolio for target income
Required portfolio = Target annual income ÷ Withdrawal rate
Example:
Target income = $60,000
Withdrawal rate = 4% (0.04)
Required portfolio = 60,000 ÷ 0.04 = $1,500,000
2. Portfolio growth with contributions
Each year:
Contributions grow by contribution growth rate (optional)
Portfolio grows by investment growth rate
Portfolio_next = (Portfolio_current + Contribution) × (1 + Growth rate)
3. Inflation‑adjusted target income (optional)
If adjusting for inflation:
Target income in future year = Target income today × (1 + Inflation rate)^(years)
The calculator projects your portfolio forward year by year and checks when it can support your target income at the chosen withdrawal rate.
How to use this retirement date estimate
Retirement planning is about matching your future income needs with a portfolio that can support them. This calculator gives you a rough timeline based on your savings, contributions, and growth assumptions.
Choose realistic growth and withdrawal rates
Higher growth and withdrawal rates make retirement look closer, but they also increase risk. Many planners use 3–4% withdrawal rates and moderate growth assumptions for long‑term planning.
Decide whether to adjust for inflation
If you want your retirement income to keep its purchasing power, enable inflation adjustment. This increases the required portfolio over time but gives a more realistic target.
Worked example
Imagine you’re 35 with $150,000 saved, contributing $18,000 per year, expecting 6% growth, and targeting $60,000 in today’s dollars with a 4% withdrawal rate:
- Required portfolio: 60,000 ÷ 0.04 = $1,500,000
- The calculator projects your savings forward and finds the age when your portfolio first reaches that level (adjusted for inflation if enabled).
Practical tips
- Run multiple scenarios: conservative, base case, and optimistic.
- Increase contributions or delay retirement to improve safety.
- Review your plan regularly as your income, savings, and markets change.
Use this estimate as a starting point for deeper planning, not as a fixed promise. Retirement readiness is a moving target.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this include Social Security or pensions?
This version focuses on portfolio‑based retirement. You can treat Social Security or pensions as reducing your required portfolio or target income.
Is the withdrawal rate fixed forever?
The calculator uses a single withdrawal rate for simplicity. In reality, you may adjust withdrawals over time.
What if markets perform worse than expected?
Lower returns push your retirement date later. Use conservative assumptions and revisit your plan regularly.
Can I export the projection?
Yes. Use Export CSV to download year‑by‑year portfolio and retirement readiness data.
Related tools
Information on this site is for educational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Calculations are estimates and may not reflect actual results. See our Privacy Policy and Disclaimer.