Is this a guarantee?
No. Returns vary. This is a projection based on a constant annual return assumption.
Finance
Retirement Savings Calculator
Enter your current savings, monthly contribution, expected return, and years until retirement to project your nest egg.
Live calculator output
Enter your savings details to see the projected retirement balance.
How it works
The calculator projects growth using two components: your existing savings growing at compound interest, and your monthly contributions accumulating with compound growth.
The combined formula is: Total = Current Savings × (1 + r)^n + Monthly × ((1 + r)^n − 1) ÷ r, where r is the monthly rate and n is the total months. This is the same math financial advisors use for retirement projections.
Practical example
Starting with 50,000 in savings, contributing 500/month at 7% annual return for 25 years: your initial savings grow to about 271,372, and your contributions grow to about 405,168.
Total balance: roughly 676,540. You contributed 200,000 out of pocket — the rest is compound growth. This demonstrates the power of starting early and contributing consistently.
Frequently asked questions
Does it include taxes?
No. The result is pre-tax. Your actual amount may differ after taxes.
What return rate should I use?
Historically, a diversified portfolio averages around 6-8% per year, but past performance does not guarantee future results.
How much do I need to retire?
A common rule of thumb is 25× your annual expenses (the "4% rule"). If you spend 40,000/year, aim for 1,000,000 in retirement savings.
Should I use a pre-tax or post-tax return rate?
If your retirement account is tax-deferred (401k, traditional IRA), use the pre-tax rate. For Roth accounts, the returns are already tax-free.
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