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Punch in your numbers and see if your retirement plan actually works. Two-phase chart shows the full picture — saving up and spending down.
The single biggest factor in retirement planning isn't your salary or your investment returns — it's time. Someone who starts saving $500/month at 25 with a 7% return ends up with over $1.3 million by 65. Wait until 35 to start, and that number drops below $600K. Same monthly amount, same return rate, but a decade of compound growth makes all the difference.
A million dollars sounds like a lot today, but at 2% inflation, it'll only buy you about $550K worth of stuff in 30 years. That's why this calculator uses "real returns" — your investment return minus inflation — to give you a picture that actually reflects future purchasing power, not just a big number that might not mean what you think it means.
The 4% rule comes from a famous retirement study: if you withdraw 4% of your portfolio in year one and adjust for inflation each year after that, historically your money would have lasted at least 30 years in most market conditions. This calculator uses a similar approach to estimate your sustainable monthly withdrawal. It's a solid starting point, though real life has more variables — market crashes, healthcare costs, that kitchen renovation you've been putting off.
Green means you're in good shape — your savings can cover your planned spending through your expected lifespan with room to spare. Red means there's a shortfall. If you see red, try bumping up your monthly contribution, pushing back your retirement date, or trimming your expected spending. Play with the numbers until you find a plan that feels right.