Project how much your retirement savings could grow to, based on what you have now, what you add monthly, and how many years you have left.
This calculator grows your current savings and monthly contributions forward using compound interest, assuming a steady average annual return. Your existing balance compounds every month, and each new contribution starts compounding from the moment it's added — so contributions made early in your working life have far more time to grow than ones made close to retirement.
The 4% rule is a widely referenced (though not guaranteed) guideline suggesting that withdrawing about 4% of your retirement savings in the first year, then adjusting for inflation each year after, gives a reasonably high chance the money lasts 30 years. This calculator uses it just to translate your projected balance into a rough estimate of annual retirement income — not as financial advice for your specific situation.
Because of compounding, the gap between starting at 25 versus starting at 35 is much larger than 10 years of contributions would suggest — those early contributions get an extra decade to compound on top of themselves. This is why the "growth from investment returns" line often ends up larger than the "total you'll contribute" line for anyone with a long time horizon.
| Assumption | Effect if too optimistic |
|---|---|
| Return rate | Overestimates final balance if markets underperform |
| Steady contributions | Real contributions often vary year to year |
| No withdrawals before retirement | Early withdrawals reduce compounding significantly |
This tool doesn't account for inflation, taxes, employer matching, or changes to your contribution amount over time — treat the result as a rough planning estimate, not a guarantee.