Retirement Calculator

How this retirement projection works

This calculator models the two forces that build a retirement nest egg: the money you contribute each month, and the returns those dollars earn while they sit invested. Every month your balance grows at one twelfth of the annual return you entered, and then your monthly contribution is added. That cycle repeats until the retirement age you set.

Compounding does most of the work

In the first few years, your balance moves mostly because of what you contribute. In the last decade before retirement, the balance moves mostly because of returns on money you saved years ago. That is compounding. It is why starting early, even with small amounts, tends to beat starting late with larger amounts.

Nominal vs real, and why real matters

The nominal value is the raw dollar amount at retirement. The real value adjusts for inflation, showing what that future balance would buy in today's dollars. If you project a $1.5 million nominal balance thirty years from now with 2.5 percent inflation, the real value is closer to $715,000 in today's purchasing power. Real is the number to plan against.

What return should you use?

Long-run US stock returns have averaged roughly 7 to 10 percent before inflation. Bond returns are lower. A blended portfolio of stocks and bonds falls somewhere in between. For planning, many people use 5 to 7 percent as a conservative expected return so that surprises are on the upside.

Contribution rate is the lever you control

You cannot control market returns. You can control how much you save each month. Bumping your monthly contribution by a small amount for thirty years often changes the final number more than chasing a higher return in a riskier portfolio.

What this tool does not include

• Social Security, pensions, or part-time work income.
• Taxes on withdrawals from traditional retirement accounts.
• Health care costs, long-term care, or one-time large expenses.
• Market volatility. Real returns bounce; the projection is a smooth line.

Treat the result as a directional estimate. It is a great way to see how contribution changes, return assumptions, and retirement dates affect the picture. It is not a substitute for a personal financial plan.