Retirement Savings Calculator, See If You're on Track

Use our free Retirement Savings Calculator to estimate how much you'll have saved by the time you retire, or how much you should save each month to reach your retirement goals. Get instant results, interactive charts, and insights to help you plan for the future.

Enter Your Retirement Information
Input your current financial details and retirement goals

Current Financial Details

1860
5075

Expected Growth

Retirement Goals

All calculations happen in your browser. No personal data is collected or stored.

Your Retirement Savings Projection

Enter your retirement information and click "Calculate" to see your projection

How the Retirement Savings Calculator Works

Our retirement savings calculator uses compound interest formulas to project your future savings growth. The calculation accounts for both your current savings and future monthly contributions, showing how they grow over time through the power of compound interest. The calculator also factors in inflation to provide a realistic estimate of your future purchasing power.

Starting early is one of the most powerful strategies for retirement planning. The longer your money has to grow, the more significant the impact of compound interest becomes. Even small, consistent contributions can grow substantially over decades. This calculator helps you visualize that growth and understand whether you're on track to meet your retirement goals.

The calculator makes reasonable assumptions about market returns and inflation, but remember that actual returns may vary. It's important to regularly review your retirement strategy and adjust your contributions as your income and goals change. Consistency in contributions and a long-term perspective are key to successful retirement planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I save for retirement?

Many experts recommend saving 10–15% of your income for retirement. However, the ideal amount depends on your current age, desired retirement lifestyle, and existing savings. Use our calculator to determine if you're on track based on your specific goals.

What is a good retirement goal?

A common benchmark is 25× your annual expenses, which allows you to withdraw 4% annually. For example, if you need $50,000 per year in retirement, you might aim for $1.25 million in savings.

How accurate is this calculator?

This calculator provides estimates based on compound growth assumptions and historical market returns. Actual returns may vary due to market volatility, economic conditions, and personal circumstances. Consider it a planning tool rather than a guarantee.

Should I include Social Security in my calculations?

This calculator focuses on your personal retirement savings. You can factor in expected Social Security benefits by reducing your retirement goal accordingly, or use this calculator to plan your personal savings separately from government benefits.

What rate of return should I expect?

Historically, a diversified portfolio has returned 6-8% annually before inflation. Conservative investors might expect 4-6%, while aggressive investors might project 8-10%. Consider your risk tolerance and investment strategy when setting your expected return.

Understanding Retirement Planning

Retirement planning is one of the most important financial goals you'll ever undertake. The earlier you start saving, the more time your money has to grow through compound interest. This powerful concept means your investment returns start generating their own returns, creating an exponential growth effect over time. Even modest contributions made in your 20s can grow into substantial sums by retirement age.

Inflation plays a crucial role in retirement planning. While your savings might grow nominally, inflation reduces their purchasing power over time. That's why it's important to aim for returns that exceed inflation and to regularly increase your contributions as your income grows. Our retirement calculator accounts for inflation to give you a more realistic picture of your future financial resources.

Market returns compound over time, but they also come with volatility. Historically, diversified portfolios have delivered average annual returns of 6-8%, but individual years can vary significantly. This is why a long-term perspective is essential. Time in the market generally beats timing the market, and consistent contributions through market cycles can help smooth out volatility and enhance your long-term returns.

Effective retirement planning strategies include maximizing employer matches in 401(k) plans, utilizing tax-advantaged accounts like IRAs, diversifying your investments, and regularly reviewing your progress. As you approach retirement, you may want to shift toward more conservative investments to preserve your savings. However, maintaining some growth exposure can help ensure your money lasts throughout your retirement years.