Long-term planning
Estimate how your current savings and monthly contributions could grow by retirement.
Last updated: October 2026
Projection covers 32 years and assumes a steady 6.0% annual return.
Try lower and higher return assumptions, then adjust contributions. The result is shown in future dollars and does not account for inflation, taxes, fees, Social Security, pensions, or required minimum distributions.
The income figure simply divides 4% of the projected balance by 12. It is not a guaranteed or personalized withdrawal recommendation.
It projects how a current savings balance and a steady monthly contribution could grow by a target retirement age, using compound growth at an assumed annual return. It helps you see whether your current savings rate is roughly on track for a savings target, and how sensitive that outcome is to your assumed rate of return.
A 35-year-old retiring at 67 with $50,000 saved, contributing $800 per month at an assumed 6% annual return, would project to roughly $1.27 million by retirement, with about $357,000 of that total coming directly from contributions and the rest from investment growth. Lowering the assumed return to 4% or raising it to 8% can change that ending balance by several hundred thousand dollars, which is why comparing more than one scenario matters more than trusting a single number.
No. The projection only covers the savings balance, contributions, and assumed investment return you enter. Add expected Social Security or pension income separately when planning your full retirement income.
There is no single correct answer. Many planners use a range, such as 4-5% for a conservative estimate and 7-8% for a more optimistic one, and compare the outcomes rather than relying on one assumption.
It is a simple, widely referenced illustration that divides 4% of the projected balance by 12 to estimate a monthly income figure. It is not a personalized withdrawal strategy and does not account for market sequence risk, taxes, or your specific spending needs.
It is a planning estimate based on the numbers you enter, using a simplified constant-return model. Real markets fluctuate, so treat the result as a directional guide and revisit it periodically as your income, savings, and goals change.
In depth
A retirement projection is only as good as its assumptions. This section explains the math behind the estimate above, shows how sensitive the result is to the return you choose, and lists the 2026 contribution limits that cap how much you can put into tax-advantaged accounts.
Each month, the balance grows by one-twelfth of the annual return, then your monthly contribution is added. The "income" figure applies a 4% annual withdrawal to the final balance and divides by 12. That 4% figure comes from historical U.S. market studies and is a rough planning heuristic, not a guarantee of sustainable income.
Here is the same plan with three return assumptions: a $10,000 starting balance, $300 a month, for 30 years.
| Annual return | Balance after 30 years | Total contributed |
|---|---|---|
| 4% | about $241,000 | $118,000 |
| 6% | about $362,000 | $118,000 |
| 8% | about $556,000 | $118,000 |
A four-point change in the return assumption more than doubles the final number. Run at least a low, middle and high case rather than relying on one projection.
The calculator shows future dollars. If you enter a nominal return such as 7%, the result will look larger than its purchasing power in today's money. A common shortcut is to subtract expected inflation from the return (for example, 7% − 3% = 4% real) so the result is roughly in today's dollars.
Employer matches do not count toward your employee deferral limit, so include them in the monthly contribution if you receive one.
Figures checked October 2026. Tax rules change; confirm with the linked official pages before filing or signing anything.