Retirement Savings Calculator

This calculator projects how much you'll accumulate by retirement by combining your current savings, regular monthly contributions, an assumed annual return rate, and a time horizon. It applies the future value of an annuity formula to your contributions and separately compounds your existing balance, then adds them together. The chart makes the exponential growth curve visible — which is the most compelling argument for starting early that math can make.

FV = PMT × ((1 + r)^n - 1) / r × (1 + r)

Use this when you're trying to answer 'am I on track?' or 'how much do I actually need to save each month?' It's also useful for modeling the cost of delay — running the numbers for 'starting now' vs. 'starting in 5 years' makes the difference viscerally clear. If you're nearing retirement, use it to check whether your projected balance covers your expected annual spending at a safe withdrawal rate (typically 3.5-4%).

This calculator assumes a constant annual return, which real investment portfolios don't deliver — sequence of returns risk (getting bad years early in retirement) is a real factor this model can't capture. It also doesn't account for inflation reducing the purchasing power of your projected balance, taxes on withdrawals, Social Security or pension income, or the impact of fees on your actual returns. For anything consequential, work with a financial planner — this gives you the shape of the story, not the final answer.