Am I ready to retire?

How the calculator works

1. 1

   What you will need

   We grow the monthly income you want by your inflation rate until the day you retire. Then we work out the lump sum that would pay that income every month until your life-expectancy age, assuming the money keeps earning your expected return minus inflation. Your emergency reserve, also grown by inflation, is added on top.

2. 2

   What you are on track to have

   Your current savings grow at your expected return, and your monthly investment is added and compounded each month until retirement.

3. 3

   Your score

   What you are on track to have, divided by what you will need, as a percentage from 0 to 100. A score of 100 means your projection meets or beats the goal. 0 to 25 is critical, 26 to 50 is behind, 51 to 75 is on track and 76 to 100 is excellent.

Default assumptions (you can change them)

Return5%, 7% or 10% a year

The conservative, moderate and aggressive presets. These are assumptions, not forecasts; a lower number gives a safer plan.

Inflation3% a year

A little above the Federal Reserve's 2% longer-run goal, to leave a margin.

Life expectancy85

At 65, U.S. women live 20.8 more years on average and men 18.4 (CDC). Many people live well past the average, so try 90 or 95 as well.

What it leaves out

• Social Security and pensions. Enter the monthly income you need from your savings after them. Your Social Security estimate is in your account at ssa.gov/myaccount.
• Taxes and fees. Withdrawals from pre-tax accounts are taxed, and fund fees reduce returns.
• Bad timing. The model uses one steady return. Real markets swing, and a fall just before or after you retire hurts more than one later on.
• Changing spending. The model assumes the same income, adjusted for inflation, every year. Real spending often changes through retirement.

Methodology last reviewed October 2026. For a plan that includes all of the above, see the free financial needs analysis.