Retirement Calculator

See whether your savings are on track, how big your retirement gap is and how much extra to save each month.

Estimates only. Results assume constant average returns and inflation, monthly compounding, and that your savings are drawn down over your chosen life expectancy. Not investment, tax or legal advice.

Understanding the Retirement Calculator

Planning for retirement can feel overwhelming, but The Fund Advisor’s Retirement Calculator turns a complicated problem into a simple answer. Enter your age, income, current savings and monthly contributions, and the tool projects how much you will have when you retire, how much you will need to support your lifestyle, and the gap between the two.

Unlike basic calculators, ours also accounts for inflation, salary growth, different investment returns before and after retirement, your life expectancy and any Social Security income you expect, so the projection is far closer to real life.

How to Use the Retirement Calculator

Enter your current age and retirement age. The difference is the number of years you have left to save.
Add your annual pre-tax income. This is the base for your retirement spending budget.
Enter your current retirement savings and monthly contributions. Include employer match for a realistic picture.
Choose your retirement budget. Many people aim for 70% to 80% of their final income because commuting, payroll taxes and saving costs usually fall.
Review the assumptions. Adjust returns, inflation, salary growth, life expectancy and expected Social Security if you wish.
Click Calculate. You will see three headline numbers: what you will have, what you will need and the gap or surplus.

What the Results Mean

You’ll Have: The projected value of your savings on your retirement date, based on your balance, contributions and expected investment return.
You’ll Need: The lump sum required on your retirement date to pay your chosen budget, rising with inflation, until your planning age, after subtracting any Social Security.
Gap or Surplus: The difference. If there is a gap, the calculator also shows how much more you would need to save each month to close it.

We also show every figure in today’s dollars, because a million dollars in thirty years will not buy what it does today. The cost-of-waiting table shows how delaying saving by five or ten years affects your result.

How We Calculate Your Retirement Needs

Your savings are grown month by month at your expected pre-retirement return, with new contributions added each month and increased every year in line with your salary growth. Your target spending is your projected final income multiplied by your retirement budget percentage. Social Security, if entered, is deducted and assumed to rise with inflation. The nest egg needed is the present value of those inflation-adjusted withdrawals over your retirement years, discounted at your expected return in retirement. This is more accurate than a simple rule of thumb such as the 4% rule or the 25-times-expenses shortcut, although both are useful sense checks.

Retirement Rules and Limits to Know in 2026

401(k) limit: You can defer up to $24,500, plus an $8,000 catch-up if you are 50 or older ($11,250 for ages 60 to 63).
IRA limit: The traditional and Roth IRA limit is $7,500, with an extra $1,100 catch-up at age 50 or older.
Social Security full retirement age: 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. Claiming at 62 permanently reduces your benefit, while waiting until 70 increases it by 8% a year.
Required minimum distributions: These start at age 73 for most current savers, rising to 75 for those born in 1960 or later.

Rules change often, so confirm the latest numbers with the IRS and Social Security Administration.

Why Use The Fund Advisor’s Retirement Calculator?

Personalised estimates: Results update instantly with your own numbers and assumptions.
Realistic assumptions: Inflation, salary growth, life expectancy and Social Security are all included.
Clear action plan: You see the exact extra monthly saving needed to close any gap.
Easy to understand: Simple cards, a chart and tables make the answer clear for non-experts.
Free and private: Calculated entirely in your browser.

How to Close a Retirement Gap

Increase your monthly savings, even by 1% of pay a year.
Take full advantage of any employer match.
Delay retirement or claim Social Security later to raise income and shorten the withdrawal period.
Review your investment mix and fees with a qualified advisor.
Reduce expenses and build an emergency fund so you do not need to dip into retirement accounts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do I need to retire?

It depends on your spending, other income and how long you live. A common guide is 70% to 80% of your pre-retirement income, which this calculator turns into a specific savings target.

What is the 4% rule?

The 4% rule suggests you can withdraw 4% of your portfolio in the first year of retirement, then adjust for inflation, with a good chance your money lasts about 30 years. Our calculator uses a more tailored year-by-year approach.

Which return rate should I choose?

Many people assume 6% to 7% before retirement for a stock-heavy portfolio and 4% to 5% afterwards for a more balanced one. Remember that real returns vary from year to year.

Does this calculator include taxes?

No. Withdrawals from traditional accounts are taxable, so you may need a larger balance than shown. Roth withdrawals are generally tax free.

Is my information stored?

No. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing you enter is sent to our servers.

Related Calculators

Continue planning with our 401(k) Calculator, Social Security Calculator, Pension Calculator and Budget Calculator.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for general information only and is not financial advice. Please speak to a qualified financial advisor before making retirement decisions.