Adjust your parameters and visualize your financial future.
Retirement portfolio target: $1,500,000 — based on 4% annual withdrawal of $60,000 in expenses.
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Projection based on current scenario parameters
The dashed vertical line marks when your portfolio is projected to reach your retirement target — the balance at which a 4% annual withdrawal (the Bengen safe withdrawal rate) covers your annual expenses indefinitely without depleting principal. Projections assume continued contributions and growth and do not model post-retirement withdrawals.
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A retirement calculator does more than estimate a future balance — it tells you exactly how much you need to save, the age you can stop working, and how close you are to financial independence each year. This tool models your complete retirement trajectory using mathematically correct compounding and lets you stress-test different scenarios.
The most important number in retirement planning isn't how much you have — it's how much you need. Your retirement target is determined by two variables: your expected annual expenses in retirement and your withdrawal rate. Using the formula Target = Annual Expenses ÷ Withdrawal Rate, a household spending $70,000 per year with a 4% withdrawal rate needs a portfolio of $1,750,000 before they can retire sustainably.
Your withdrawal rate is the percentage of your portfolio you draw down each year in retirement. A lower rate is more conservative and makes your money last longer, while a higher rate means you can retire with a smaller portfolio but face more risk of running out of funds. The widely-cited 4% rule was derived from historical market data showing high success rates over 30-year retirements. For early retirees with 40+ year horizons, many financial planners suggest 3–3.5% for added safety.
Once you enter your retirement parameters, the calculator adds two visual guides to the projection chart: a horizontal dashed line at your target portfolio balance, and a vertical line marking the age you reach that target. The "% to Retirement" column in the table shows your exact progress each year — the first year this hits 100% is your projected retirement age. Adjust your inputs and watch these markers shift in real time.
The FIRE movement — Financial Independence, Retire Early — is based on the same math as traditional retirement planning, just applied more aggressively. Higher savings rates, lower expense targets, and longer compounding periods accelerate the timeline dramatically. Someone saving 50% of a $100,000 income can reach financial independence in roughly 17 years. Our calculator makes it easy to model these scenarios by adjusting your contributions, timeline, and withdrawal rate.
Most retirement calculators assume annual contributions, which understates the true impact of monthly investing. When you contribute monthly, each payment compounds for the remainder of the year at the monthly rate. Over 30 years, this difference between monthly and annual compounding can represent tens of thousands of dollars. WealthAssist calculates each frequency correctly using the Future Value of an Annuity formula.
Retirement planning works best when you explore multiple possibilities. What if the market returns 5% instead of 7%? What if you increase contributions by $300/month? What if you retire at 55 vs. 60? With WealthAssist Pro, you can save each version as a named scenario and compare two projections side by side to make confident, informed decisions about your retirement strategy.
Enter your current age, portfolio balance, monthly contributions, and expected annual return. Then set your target annual expenses and withdrawal rate in the Retirement Parameters section. The calculator computes your year-by-year portfolio growth, determines the exact retirement target portfolio size (expenses ÷ withdrawal rate), and shows your progress as a percentage each year. A reference line on the chart marks the age you reach your retirement target.
The 4% rule is a widely cited guideline suggesting that retirees can withdraw 4% of their portfolio in the first year of retirement, then adjust for inflation annually, with a high probability of not running out of money over a 30-year retirement. It means a portfolio of $1,000,000 supports roughly $40,000/year in expenses. Our calculator lets you set any withdrawal rate — use 3% for a more conservative plan or 5% if you have other income sources.
Your retirement target is calculated as annual expenses ÷ withdrawal rate. For example, if you expect to spend $60,000 per year in retirement and use a 4% withdrawal rate, you need $1,500,000 ($60,000 ÷ 0.04). Enter your expected expenses in the Retirement Parameters section and the calculator will show this target on the chart and track your yearly progress toward it.
The calculator projects your portfolio year by year and marks the exact age at which your balance reaches your retirement target. It appears as a vertical line on the chart labeled 'Retirement Age.' You can adjust your contributions, return rate, or expenses to see how different choices affect your retirement age — useful for modeling decisions like 'if I save an extra $500/month, how many years earlier can I retire?'
That depends on whether you plan to sell or downsize your home in retirement. If yes, home equity is a significant asset worth including. Enable the Home Equity section, enter your current property value and mortgage details, and the calculator will project your growing equity and include it in your total net worth figures. Note that home equity is not included in the retirement target calculation — that's based on your investment portfolio alone.
Create a free WealthAssist account to save your current projection as a named scenario. Pro users can save unlimited scenarios, compare two retirement plans side by side, set a default scenario that loads on login, and track their actual net worth over time in the Net Worth Tracker. Sign up free and upgrade to Pro when you're ready.