Retirement Savings Calculator
See if your retirement savings are on track. Enter your age, savings, monthly contributions, and desired retirement income to get a projection of your savings over time. The calculator adjusts for inflation and shows how long your money may last in retirement.
Educational purposes only.
These projections are hypothetical and do not guarantee future results. Actual investment returns, inflation, and expenses may vary significantly. Consider consulting a financial professional for personalized retirement planning.
Educational purposes only. These calculators illustrate concepts and do not constitute investment advice. Read our disclaimer
StockCram is not a broker-dealer, investment adviser, or financial institution. All content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice. Consult a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions. Past performance does not guarantee future results.How It Works
Enter your current situation
Your age, retirement age, current savings, and monthly contribution amount.
Set return and inflation rates
Expected annual investment return and inflation rate. 7% and 3% are common starting assumptions.
Set desired retirement income
How much annual income you want in retirement, in today's dollars. The calculator adjusts for inflation.
See your projection
View your projected savings at retirement, how long they last, and a lifetime chart of your balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
A common guideline is 25 times your desired annual income (the "4% rule"). For example, if you want $50,000/year in retirement, you would aim for $1.25 million in savings. However, the right number depends on your desired lifestyle, location, health care needs, Social Security, and other income sources.
A diversified stock-and-bond portfolio has historically returned 6-8% after inflation over long periods. For the accumulation phase (before retirement), 7% is a common assumption. For the withdrawal phase, some planners use a more conservative 5-6% since you cannot wait out a downturn as easily. These are estimates — actual returns vary.
Inflation erodes purchasing power over time. $50,000 today will not buy the same amount of goods in 30 years. At 3% inflation, you would need about $121,000 in 30 years to have the same purchasing power. This calculator adjusts your desired income for inflation during retirement.
The 4% rule suggests withdrawing 4% of your retirement savings in the first year, then adjusting for inflation each year. Based on historical data, this approach has been shown to sustain savings for 30 years in most scenarios. However, it is a guideline, not a guarantee — actual sustainability depends on market conditions and your specific spending.
This calculator does not include Social Security, pensions, or other income sources. You can account for them by reducing your "desired annual income" by the amount you expect from those sources. For example, if you want $60,000/year and expect $20,000 from Social Security, enter $40,000 as your desired income.
A common guideline is 15-20% of your pre-tax income. Starting early is more important than the exact amount due to compound growth. Someone who saves $300/month from age 25 will typically accumulate more than someone saving $600/month from age 40, assuming the same return rate.
If the calculator shows your savings running out early, consider increasing monthly contributions, delaying retirement by a few years, reducing desired income in retirement, or adjusting your investment strategy. Even small changes — like saving $100 more per month or retiring 2 years later — can significantly extend how long your savings last.