SmartAsset Retirement Planner
Estimate your retirement savings and how long they might last. Plan for a secure financial future.
Understanding Your Retirement Outlook
Planning for retirement is one of the most critical financial steps you'll take. A retirement calculator, like this one, helps you visualize your financial future by estimating how much you'll have saved and how long those savings might last based on your desired lifestyle.
How This Calculator Works
This tool takes into account several key factors to project your retirement readiness:
- Your Current Age & Desired Retirement Age: These determine the number of years you have left to save. The longer your savings horizon, the more time your money has to grow through compounding.
- Current Retirement Savings: This is the lump sum you've already accumulated in accounts like 401(k)s, IRAs, or other investment vehicles.
- Annual Savings Contribution: The amount you plan to save each year until retirement. Consistent contributions are vital for building a substantial nest egg.
- Annual Investment Return (Pre-Retirement): This is the estimated average annual growth rate of your investments before you retire. Higher returns can significantly boost your savings, but also come with higher risk.
- Annual Investment Return (During Retirement): The expected average annual growth rate of your investments once you've retired and started making withdrawals. This rate is often more conservative than pre-retirement as many retirees shift to lower-risk investments.
- Desired Annual Retirement Income (in today's $): How much money you believe you'll need to live comfortably each year in retirement, expressed in today's purchasing power.
- Annual Inflation Rate: The rate at which the cost of goods and services increases over time. Inflation erodes purchasing power, so your desired income in the future will need to be higher to maintain the same lifestyle.
- Expected Life Expectancy: How long you anticipate living after retirement. This helps determine how many years your savings need to support you.
Interpreting Your Results
The calculator provides key insights:
- Projected Total Savings at Retirement: This is the estimated total value of your retirement accounts when you reach your desired retirement age, accounting for your current savings, future contributions, and investment growth.
- Inflation-Adjusted Annual Income Needed at Retirement: This shows what your desired annual income (entered in today's dollars) will actually need to be at your retirement age to maintain the same purchasing power, after accounting for inflation.
- Years Your Savings Will Last: This is a critical metric, indicating how many years your accumulated savings are projected to support your inflation-adjusted desired income, considering your post-retirement investment returns. If this number is less than your expected retirement duration (Life Expectancy – Retirement Age), you may need to adjust your plan.
Example Scenario:
Let's consider a 30-year-old individual planning to retire at 65, with a life expectancy of 90. They currently have $50,000 saved and contribute $10,000 annually. They expect a 7% pre-retirement return and a 5% post-retirement return, with a 3% inflation rate. Their desired annual income in retirement is $60,000 (in today's dollars).
Based on these inputs, the calculator might show:
- Projected Total Savings at Retirement: Approximately $1,916,182
- Inflation-Adjusted Annual Income Needed at Retirement: Approximately $168,828
- Years Your Savings Will Last: Approximately 12.9 years
In this example, the savings are projected to last only about 13 years, while the individual needs them to last for 25 years (90 – 65). This indicates a significant shortfall, prompting the need to increase annual contributions, delay retirement, or adjust desired retirement income.
Remember, these are estimates. Market fluctuations, unexpected expenses, and changes in personal circumstances can all impact your actual retirement outcome. It's always wise to consult with a financial advisor for personalized guidance.