Project your nest egg, calculate your retirement number & find your savings gap — instantly
Your retirement number is the total nest egg you need to retire comfortably. It's calculated using the 4% safe withdrawal rule — divide your desired annual retirement income by 0.04. If you want to live on $50,000 per year in retirement, your retirement number is $1,250,000. This calculator shows whether your current savings trajectory will reach that number by your target retirement age.
If your projected nest egg falls short of your retirement number, the gap tells you how much more you need. The calculator also shows how much extra you'd need to save each month to close that gap — giving you an actionable target rather than just a scary number. If you have a surplus, congratulations — you're on track or could retire earlier than planned.
For a diversified long-term investment portfolio (stocks and bonds), 6–8% nominal annual return is a widely used conservative assumption based on historical market averages. For more conservative portfolios or those close to retirement, 4–6% may be more appropriate. Always use a conservative rate — overestimating returns is one of the most dangerous retirement planning mistakes.
Revisit annually: Update this calculator every year as your income, savings rate, and market returns change. Factor in pension income: If you'll receive Social Security, a state pension, or employer pension, reduce your required retirement number accordingly. Account for inflation: Your $50,000 income target today will need to be higher in 30 years. A rough rule: double your income target for every 25 years to account for 2.8% average inflation.
The 4% rule states you can withdraw 4% of your retirement portfolio annually with a very high probability of your money lasting 30 years. It's based on historical market returns research. This calculator uses it to calculate both your retirement number and projected monthly income.
If you'll receive guaranteed pension or Social Security income, subtract that annual amount from your desired retirement income before entering it. For example, if you want $50,000/year and will receive $15,000/year from a pension, enter $35,000 as your desired income.
For a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds held over 20–30 years, 6–8% has been a historically reasonable long-term expectation. However, past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Always use a conservative figure and review your plan annually.
Consider increasing contributions even slightly — small increases make a big difference over time. Also explore retiring 2–3 years later (it dramatically improves the outcome), reducing your target retirement income, or both. Run different scenarios in the calculator to find a realistic path forward.