How Much Do I Need to Retire?
A common rule of thumb is 25× your annual expenses (the 4% rule). If you spend $50,000/year, you need $1.25 million. This calculator projects your savings growth to help you determine if you're on track to meet your target.
The 4% Rule Explained
The 4% rule suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfolio in the first year of retirement, then adjusting for inflation. Research shows this strategy has a high probability of sustaining a portfolio for 30+ years. Your monthly income shown uses this rule.
Why Starting Early Matters
Compound growth is exponential. A 25-year-old saving $500/month at 7% has $1,068,048 by age 65. Starting at 35 yields only $486,388. Those 10 extra years of compounding are worth $581,660 — but only cost an extra $60,000 in contributions.