Estimate your retirement savings balance
Enter your age, savings, monthly contribution, and expected return to see your projected balance at retirement.
Projected balance by rate of return
Starting from $50,000 saved at age 35, contributing $500/month until retirement at 65, at a few different assumed annual returns.
| Annual return | Balance at 65 | Total growth |
|---|---|---|
| 4% | $512,699.6 | $282,699.6 |
| 6% | $803,386.28 | $573,386.28 |
| 7% | $1,015,810.37 | $785,810.37 |
| 8% | $1,291,966.21 | $1,061,966.21 |
| 10% | $2,122,113.93 | $1,892,113.93 |
Want your own numbers? Use the retirement calculator above.
About this retirement calculator
This calculator gives you a simplified projection of your retirement savings balance, based on your current age, the age you plan to retire, what you've already saved, your monthly contribution, and an assumed average annual rate of return. It simulates your balance month by month from today until your retirement age, applying investment growth first and then adding your contribution, the same way most retirement accounts credit growth.
The default 7% annual return reflects a commonly cited long-run average for a diversified stock market portfolio before inflation, but it is only a starting point — you should adjust it to match your own investment mix and risk tolerance. A portfolio weighted more heavily toward bonds or cash will typically see lower average returns, while an all-stock portfolio carries more year-to-year volatility even if its long-term average is similar or higher.
This projection deliberately ignores several real-world factors to keep the math transparent: it does not account for inflation eroding purchasing power over time, taxes on withdrawals or contributions, employer matching contributions, changes to your contribution amount over your career, or Social Security or pension income. Because of this, the dollar figure shown is in "future dollars," not adjusted for what that amount will actually be able to buy decades from now.
Investment returns are also never smooth in real life — markets go up and down from year to year, and a single average rate of return can't capture that variability, sequence-of-returns risk, or the impact of a market downturn near your retirement date. Treat this calculator as a rough, order-of-magnitude planning tool to help you think about contribution levels, not a precise forecast of your retirement income.
The results shown here are estimates for informational and educational purposes only and are not financial or retirement planning advice. For a plan that accounts for your full financial picture, including taxes, Social Security, employer benefits, and inflation, consult a qualified financial advisor.
Sample retirement projections
Common starting balances from age 35 to 65, at a 7% return, already calculated.
$10,000 saved today
$50,000 saved today
Retirement calculator questions
How the projected retirement balance is calculated.
How is my projected retirement balance calculated?
This calculator simulates your savings balance month by month from your current age to your retirement age, applying your assumed annual rate of return and then adding your monthly contribution each month.
What rate of return should I use?
The default of 7% reflects a commonly cited long-run average for a diversified stock portfolio before inflation, but your own mix of stocks, bonds, and cash will affect what's realistic for you. Try a few different rates to see a range of outcomes.
Does this account for inflation?
No. The balance shown is in future, non-inflation-adjusted dollars. A dollar amount that sounds large decades from now will likely buy less than it would today, so consider that when interpreting the result.
Does this include Social Security or a pension?
No. This calculator only projects the personal savings and contributions you enter — it doesn't factor in Social Security benefits, pensions, or other retirement income sources.
Does this account for employer matching contributions?
Not directly. If your employer matches part of your contributions, add that matched amount into your monthly contribution figure to get a more complete projection.
What if I change my contribution amount over time?
This calculator assumes a constant monthly contribution for simplicity. In reality, many people increase contributions as their income grows, which would improve on this projection.
Are investment returns really this steady every year?
No. Real markets go up and down significantly from year to year. This calculator uses one constant average rate to keep the projection simple and easy to understand, not to suggest returns are ever actually smooth.
Is this retirement or financial advice?
No. This tool provides a simplified estimate for informational purposes only. It is not financial or retirement planning advice — consult a qualified financial advisor for a plan based on your complete financial situation.