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Retirement Savings Calculator

Projected retirement pot and the monthly income it could pay.

Use via API

Project retirement savings from current savings, monthly contributions (optionally rising each year) and an expected return, in nominal and today's money, with the monthly income from a safe-withdrawal rate. Send JSON, get JSON back.

POST https://pithlab.com/api/v1/tools/retirement-calculator

curl https://pithlab.com/api/v1/tools/retirement-calculator \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $PITHLAB_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"currentAge":30,"retirementAge":65,"savings":20000,"monthly":500,"returnRate":6,"increase":2,"inflation":2.5,"withdrawal":4}'

Fields and responseOpenAPI documentGet an API key

About the Retirement Calculator

Project your retirement savings from your age, savings and monthly contributions, in future and today's money, with a safe-withdrawal income and a yearly table.

How to use the Retirement Calculator

  1. Enter your current age, the age you want to retire and what you have saved so far.
  2. Enter your monthly contribution, the return you expect, how much you'll raise contributions each year, and inflation.
  3. Read the projected balance in future and today's money, the monthly income at your withdrawal rate, and the year-by-year table.

Examples

Age 30 to 65, 20,000 saved, 500 a month rising 2% a year

Input

30, 65, 20000, 500/month, 7% return, 2% increase, 2.5% inflation, 4% withdrawal

Output

At 65 you'd have 1,356,600.22 (571,632.08 in today's money). A 4% withdrawal gives 4,522.00 a month (1,905.44 in today's money)
Age 45 to 67, 150,000 saved, 1,000 a month

Input

45, 67, 150000, 1000/month, 6% return, 0% increase, 3% inflation, 4% withdrawal

Output

At 67 you'd have 1,105,895.27 (577,158.45 in today's money). A 4% withdrawal gives 3,686.32 a month (1,923.86 in today's money)

Frequently asked questions

How is the projection calculated?

Month by month, the balance grows at the annual return ÷ 12 and then that month's contribution is added. Each new year the monthly contribution rises by your increase percentage. Returns are assumed steady; real markets go up and down.

What does "in today's money" mean?

It removes inflation so the figure is comparable to prices now. 1,000,000 in 35 years at 2.5% inflation buys about what 421,000 buys today. Plan with the today's-money number.

What is the 4% rule?

A rule of thumb from US studies: withdrawing 4% of the starting balance a year, raised with inflation, has historically lasted about 30 years. It isn't a guarantee. Lower rates are safer for early or long retirements; edit the rate to test.

Are taxes, fees and pensions included?

No. Fees reduce returns (use a lower return to allow for them), withdrawals may be taxed, and state or workplace pensions add income on top. Treat this as an estimate, not financial advice.