Retirement Savings Calculator
Estimate how much your savings will grow over time using compound interest.
Estimated Retirement Balance
How to Use the Retirement Savings Calculator
Planning for retirement is one of the most critical financial tasks you will undertake. This calculator helps you visualize how your current nest egg and monthly contributions will grow through the power of compound interest. By adjusting variables like your rate of return and timeline, you can create a realistic roadmap for your financial independence.
Key Variables Explained
- Current Savings: This is the total amount you have already set aside in 401(k)s, IRAs, or brokerage accounts.
- Monthly Contribution: The amount you plan to add to your accounts every month. Consistency is more important than the initial amount!
- Annual Return: While the stock market fluctuates, a long-term average return for a diversified portfolio is often estimated between 6% and 8% (after inflation).
- Years Until Retirement: Your "time horizon." The longer your money stays invested, the more time compound interest has to work its magic.
Retirement Planning Example
Imagine you are 35 years old with $20,000 already saved. If you contribute $800 per month and achieve a 7% annual return, what would you have by age 65 (30 years)?
- Initial Investment: $20,000
- Total Contributions over 30 years: $288,000
- Estimated Final Balance: ~$1,128,400
Notice how the final balance is significantly higher than the total contributions. This growth represents the "interest on interest" earned over three decades.
Strategies for Success
If your projected total isn't where you want it to be, consider three levers: increase your monthly savings, extend your working years, or evaluate your asset allocation to potentially improve your rate of return. Even a 1% difference in annual returns can lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars in difference over a long career.