Your retirement plan
$
$
%
%
$
Projected nest egg at retirement
$0
≈ $0 in today's dollars
On track
Compares nominal (non‑inflation‑adjusted) figures as a simplifying assumption.
Sustainable annual income (4% rule)
$0
Total contributions
$0
Total growth
$0
Years to retirement
0
Savings growth over time
How it's calculated
FV = S(1+r)ⁿ + C × [ ((1+r)ⁿ − 1) / r ]
S = current savings ·
C = monthly contribution ·
r = monthly rate of return (annual ÷ 12) ·
n = months until retirement
Real FV = FV ÷ (1 + inflation)^years
Sustainable Annual Income ≈ FV × 4%
The first formula projects your nest egg at retirement. The second converts it into today's purchasing power. The third estimates a sustainable first-year withdrawal using the 4% rule — a common planning rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Key concepts
The terms behind the numbers above, explained simply.
Definition
Investment returns earning further returns over time — your growth starts generating its own growth, which is why retirement balances tend to grow faster in later years than earlier ones.
Formula
FV = P(1+r)ⁿ
Definition
The money you personally add to your retirement account, separate from investment growth. Consistent contributions matter most in the early years, before compounding takes over.
Definition
The annual percentage your investments are assumed to grow, on average, over the long run. Real markets go up and down year to year — this is a simplified long-run average, not a guaranteed return.
Definition
Converting a future dollar amount into today's purchasing power, so a large future balance can be compared honestly to what that money buys today.
Definition
A widely cited rule of thumb suggesting a retiree can withdraw about 4% of their portfolio in the first year of retirement, adjusting for inflation after, with a low risk of running out of money over a ~30-year retirement. It's a planning heuristic, not a guarantee — actual safe rates depend on market conditions, retirement length, and portfolio mix.
Definition
Informal term for the total savings/investments set aside for retirement — the lump sum this calculator projects at your chosen retirement age.
Not financial advice. Finistack calculators are educational tools that estimate outcomes based on the assumptions you enter. They're not financial, tax, or legal advice, and Finistack is not a bank, CPA, or certified financial adviser. Projections assume a constant rate of return and don't account for market volatility, taxes, fees, or changes to your contributions — actual retirement outcomes will differ.