Retirement Calculator: Will Your Money Last?
By Hans Goldstein, founder, Retirement Literacy Foundation · Updated
Enrolled Agent, admitted to practice before the IRS.
Enter six numbers and see two things most calculators separate: what you will have at retirement, and how many years it actually lasts once you start spending it.
Free to use. Nothing is sold. Estimates only, not investment or tax advice.
Hans Goldstein, EA
Founder & Executive Director · Retirement Literacy Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit
Admitted to practice before the IRS
If the number above came out lower than you hoped, you are not unusual, and there are only about six levers that actually change it. Put your name below and I’ll send the one-page checklist of those levers, in the order that usually matters most. Reply to the email with your situation and I’ll tell you which one I’d look at first.
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I’ll send this projection plus the six levers that actually change the year your money runs out.
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Common questions
How much do I need to retire?
There is no single number. It depends on what you spend, not what you earn. A common starting point is 25 times your annual spending, which comes from the 4% withdrawal guideline. This calculator works the same problem from the other direction: it takes what you plan to spend and shows how long your savings support it.
What return should I assume?
Most planners use 5% to 7% for a diversified portfolio before retirement and something lower afterward, because sequence risk matters more once you are withdrawing. This calculator defaults to 6% before and 4% after, with spending rising 2.5% a year for inflation.
Does this include Social Security?
Not directly. Enter only the spending your savings must cover: your total yearly spending minus what Social Security and any pension will pay. Our Social Security calculator estimates that benefit.
Why does the money run out sooner than I expected?
Two reasons people miss: inflation raises your spending every year, and withdrawals in a down market permanently shrink the balance. That second effect is called sequence-of-returns risk.
Related free tools
- Social Security Calculator: file at 62, 67 or 70
- 401(k) Calculator: what your balance grows to
- RMD Calculator: what you must withdraw at 73
The Retirement Literacy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. This calculator is general financial education, not individualized investment, tax, or insurance advice. Projections assume a steady rate of return; real markets vary year to year. Consider speaking with a licensed professional before making decisions.