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Retirement

Retirement Calculator

Project your retirement balance and monthly income, including Social Security, a pension, inflation, and a shortfall/surplus versus your income goal.

Inputs

A flat monthly amount. For percent-based 401(k) match modeling, see the 401(k) Calculator.

Used to show your projected balance and income in today's purchasing power.

The share of your balance withdrawn each year in retirement. 4% is the common 'safe withdrawal rate' rule of thumb.

Your estimated monthly benefit at retirement age, from your Social Security statement at ssa.gov.

In today's dollars. Compared against your projected income to show a shortfall or surplus.

Result

Projected balance at retirement

$853,480.42

Balance in today's dollars$406,890.55
Total monthly retirement income$2,844.93
Monthly income in today's dollars$1,356.30
Monthly shortfall vs. goal$1,155.07
Total contributed (incl. current savings)$210,000.00
Growth from investment returns$643,480.42

How the calculation works

Compounds your current savings plus your monthly contribution and employer match at your expected annual return, converted to a monthly rate, over the years until your retirement age. Your projected monthly retirement income combines an annual withdrawal from that balance (4% is a common rule of thumb for a withdrawal that historically had a good chance of lasting 30 years, though it isn't a guarantee) with any Social Security and pension income you enter. Comparing that total to your desired monthly income shows a shortfall or surplus. Because a dollar decades from now buys less than a dollar today, this also shows your projected balance and income in today's purchasing power, using your expected inflation rate.

Formula

Projected Balance = Current Savings × (1 + r)^n + (Contribution + Employer Match) × [((1 + r)^n − 1) ÷ r], with r and n in monthly terms. Monthly Income = Projected Balance × Withdrawal Rate ÷ 12 + Social Security + Pension. Shortfall/Surplus = Monthly Income − Desired Monthly Income. Real (inflation-adjusted) values divide by (1 + inflation)^years.

Examples

  • Age 35 to 65, $30,000 saved, $500/month, 7% return, no Social Security entered

    $853,480.42 projected balance; $2,844.93/month income (a $1,155.07/month shortfall vs. the $4,000 goal)

  • Age 30 to 67, $15,000 saved, $400/month + $200 employer match, 7% return, $2,200/month Social Security

    $1,456,374.31 projected balance; $7,054.58/month income (a $2,054.58/month surplus vs. the $5,000 goal)

FAQ